gl1800 with salvage title

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groupus
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gl1800 with salvage title

#1

Post by groupus »

I've found a 2003 1800 for sale that has a salvage title. Trying to determine if it would be worth the risk/effort to buy and fix as my new "daily." My current gl1000 is getting a bit long in the tooth. I've ridden it across the country twice and commute 80 miles a day a couple of times a week when it's not hatefully cold out. I would love the power and comfort of a modern bike if I want to keep doing that. Here's what I've been able to get out of the seller, although communications have been sparse and he has not sent pictures of the bike that I requested:
Hard damage seems to be isolated to the top right front with some damage to lower right.
He says the triple tree and handlebar broke with right fork bent, left looks straight and true
Many parts for repair included, and already color matched to Illusion Blue.
Parts included - New forks, headlights, gauges, crash bar, etc. - though I wish he would expand on what is included in the "etc." :IDTS:

The interesting info is that picture of the salvage certificate he sent shows the certificate was issued in July 2004 with less than 1000 miles on the bike. Yes, one thousand. Essentially, it was bought and wrecked within the first year. It was probably written off by insurance and has sat in pieces for 15 years. The current owner acquired almost $5000 in parts with plans to turn it into a trike, but he has got another trike and is selling this for $1800 firm.

SOOOO, I think that is a pretty good deal for an almost new bike once reassembled. I'm not afraid of the work or riding a rebuilt bike, I've been doing that for years. I also do not care that it would have and R-title if I intend to keep it (I've done all the research on what needs to be done to get it titled). The only concern I have is if there is any damage to the aluminum frame. This would also make the 5th motorcycle that I am cramming into a 1 car garage, with a car! Room is tight, so someone will have to go.

Well, let me know what the experts think! :lol:
Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. ~Hunter Thompson

every now and then, when things are not going to well in the shop, i ask myself why i do it. and the answer is that riding is good....but time in the shop is also good. - CYBORG

78 gl1000 cafe build: http://ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=51461

79 full fairing - current status: Haunted http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60334
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Liam
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#2

Post by Liam »

Earlier this year I did a similar job. I bought a 2006 that was damaged from the previous owner losing control and ending up in a hedge.
There was no frontal impact damage to running gear, it was all cosmetic stuff to the plastic bits.
The forks were not bent and there was no frame damage. Had they been bent or the frame damaged I think I would have walked away.
I managed to source all the painted bits used and in the right colour from a few sellers on ebay.
I had to buy some bits new, and to be honest these bits new were less expensive than some
sellers were looking for used parts.
Very important is to make a comprehensive list of the parts that you need to do the job, along with prices of these parts.
Essential when you go shopping for bits to know the new prices so you can at least haggle.
The bike you are looking at has been dismantled, and has been laying in pieces for a number of years.
There are a lot of special fasteners used to hold these together, make sure you get all these.
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#3

Post by Liam »

This is what mine looked like when I got it
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Liam
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#4

Post by Liam »

This is what she looks like now. There are still a few bits to do.
IMG-20190512-WA0007.jpeg
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#5

Post by desertrefugee »

Hard to go wrong if you are not concerned about resale and if no ugly surprises crop up during the rebuilding process.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#6

Post by groupus »

Here are some picture he just sent me.
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Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. ~Hunter Thompson

every now and then, when things are not going to well in the shop, i ask myself why i do it. and the answer is that riding is good....but time in the shop is also good. - CYBORG

78 gl1000 cafe build: http://ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=51461

79 full fairing - current status: Haunted http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60334
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#7

Post by ritalz »

Looks like a lot of work but a great deal. In Missouri, salvage titles are not a big deal. Bought a car with salvage title a while back and when I registered I received a clean title. Check with your state dmv.
Al

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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#8

Post by rcmatt007 »

looks like a lot of damage. I would worry about frame damage
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#9

Post by Jonesz »

+1 on Rodgers comment. I would be very concerned after seeing that amount of damage.
Jonesz

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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#10

Post by desertrefugee »

Agreed. It would take a lot of damage to total a new Goldwing. Looking at those photographs, I think there was a lot of damage to “that” once-new Goldwing. And what you can see there is likely the tip of the iceberg. That’s what I meant above when I mentioned ugly surprises…

Completely agree to stay away from that one.
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#11

Post by pidjones »

I had a ~50 mph get-off of my '06 in 2016. I was surprised what is charged for some seemingly minor parts. Places like Western Honda had some of the best prices. I was able to work with my local dealer service manager and get the repair cost down to where insurance didn't just total it. I have to agree that I'd pass on that one. An '03 has the older radiators, fans, frame welds, stereo, etc. Keep an eye out for a clean <100 k mile '06 or later. Their prices dropped a lot when the '18s came out.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#12

Post by Liam »

Looking at the pictures that bike was subjected to a serious impact. Not only are the forks bent but the triple tree looks to be smashed also. A concern would be if there is headstock damage. Bear in mind too that the frames on early 1800s had cracking problems and there was a major recall to attend to these. There are a load of parts missing from the front like the fairing and all the plastic bits around the front end. There would also be a load of brackets missing to support those plastic bits. The previous owner as you state has a lot of the parts needed to rebuild, but I would be of the opinion that these are the bigger obvious bits. There are a ton of smaller bits missing probably, and as you did not dismantle it then putting it all back together could be frustrating as these are a complicated machine. The engine bars look mashed up, so maybe there is engine front damage too. Cant see but the shelter and dashboard are probably smashed too.
If the frame after a detailed inspection is deemed ok it would be still a big job to fix that bike up. It would also require a fair amount of space to work on. It would of course be possible to get a replacement frame if that one is damaged which would get you a clear title. Have a look at what these change hands for in the market price wise. Don't worry about mileage, 100,000 is nothing on one of these.
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#13

Post by groupus »

Yeah, I'm going to pass.
The main concern I would have is the frame cracking, which is already a known issue and would no doubt be exacerbated by the severity of the impact. It was wrecked too early on for the frame recall to have been done, and I'll eat my hat if Honda would honor a recall on a salvaged bike. Not worth, not worth it.
I'm cheap, so probably won't own one of these for another decade or so. Especially when a 1500 could be had for a fraction of the price.
Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. ~Hunter Thompson

every now and then, when things are not going to well in the shop, i ask myself why i do it. and the answer is that riding is good....but time in the shop is also good. - CYBORG

78 gl1000 cafe build: http://ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=51461

79 full fairing - current status: Haunted http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60334
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#14

Post by rcmatt007 »

remembering the recall on the early 1200 stators... once the bike changed hands you were s out of luck on the warrenty
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
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Re: gl1800 with salvage title

#15

Post by pidjones »

I've seen '06 and later with <80k miles for <$4k. I wouldn't buy older than '06 - there are differences.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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