GL1100 from Down Under.

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WingnutGL
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#16

Post by WingnutGL »

Belated (and embarrassed) thanks for all the warm welcome's.
Health issues have been intruding. Apologies.

I had promised more re the story of this Wing, sooo ... ... but I'll stick to the NGW relevant parts for now, and leave the Streamliner part for later.

I've admired the Wing and its engineering since its arrival in 1976 (?), but until 'now', I had never ridden one.
Went through all the usual stuff to get it fully rideable again (ohhh boy :evil: ).

Anyway - once on the road - I WUZ AMAZED at the stability, handling, and sure-footed feel 'everywhere' :shock: :shock: :shock:

By nature, I'm a canyon-carver. Two or four wheels - if the Law is not around - I totally fall into this riding "groove".

The more I understood the Wing, the more I fell into my 'groove'. OMG. :-)

Found I could lean until the horizon was at a silly angle, even on fast, choppy, bumpy surfaces. (70mph+), staying with sports riders. Tires had become so hot and sticky that they picked lots of small stones and gravel as I stopped. Whoo hoooo. :-)

Very quickly I found myself scraping (dangerously) side and center stands. And this was after I had put heavier 'Progressive' springs in the rear shocks, and pumped to max pressure. :-((((

Soooo ... I found/fitted a set of longer (14.5" vs 13.25"), Progressive 416 (air) shocks for more rear cornering clearance.

Yay - solved the clearance problem ... for the moment ... but it was only a matter of time before I found the pegs touching again. }}}:-O, but much less than before. Bike still feeling v.stable, up to a point ... more later ...

I was running Dunlop D404's front and rear. Be in no doubt - the harder they're pushed, the stickier they get. Muahh harrr harrr. ):-]]]

BUT ... BUT ... looking at the rear tire, it was obvious that I was using the last 1/4 - 1/2" of the shoulder (or less), and so not far off a disaster. }:-0

So - decision time: am I a Tourer or a Canyon Carver, given that, IMHO, the Wing can be happy in either role.

As I had already removed most of the tourer junk, as well as raised the rear, everything was pointing at Canyon Carver:

Image

Then THIS happened c/- not thouroughly washing degreaser off rear tire. OMG GRRRR:

Image

and

Image

Sort of quickly made up my mind - touring vs sport. :-D LOL

Answer: Sport. :-)

But there's much more - watch this space ...
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5speed
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#17

Post by 5speed »

ouch..glad you are okay.
I own the twin to your bike..except for the fairing..
being a rookie rider I ride very conservatively and still managed to dump it in a corner. riding past my capabilities and pulled a rookie mistake, hauled on the front brake.
fortunately the damage to the bike wasn't as bad as the damage to my ego. lol

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1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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desertrefugee
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#18

Post by desertrefugee »

Welcome and ouch. It's not too often we get the ole Goldwing/Canyon Carver conversation. They're capable, but more often used for mile eating.

Since I see a bit of grey in the beard, I'd say you were lucky. It has been my experience (don't ask) that bones that earlier in life would have been left intact now have a tendency to break in certain situations...
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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5speed
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#19

Post by 5speed »

desertrefugee wrote:Welcome and ouch. It's not too often we get the ole Goldwing/Canyon Carver conversation. They're capable, but more often used for mile eating.

Since I see a bit of grey in the beard, I'd say you were lucky. It has been my experience (don't ask) that bones that earlier in life would have been left intact now have a tendency to break in certain situations...
I'll ask..I posted about my dumb assery. :mrgreen:
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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desertrefugee
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#20

Post by desertrefugee »

Wasn't a motorcycle crash. Broke my danged hand hitching a trailer if you can believe it. Tried to go one link too far on a weight distribution hitch and it kicked back on me a couple of years ago. Felt dumb. Doctor asked what I'd punched. Seems that particular bone is commonly broken when punching something. Boxer's break. Who knew?
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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CYBORG
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#21

Post by CYBORG »

a man has to know his limitations,..........the bike does!
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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rcmatt007
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#22

Post by rcmatt007 »

body slam to the pavement.... threw away the scratched helmet
bruise from MVA.jpg
bruise from MVA.jpg (75.64 KiB) Viewed 135 times
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5speed
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Re: GL1100 from Down Under.

#23

Post by 5speed »

desertrefugee wrote:Wasn't a motorcycle crash. Broke my danged hand hitching a trailer if you can believe it. Tried to go one link too far on a weight distribution hitch and it kicked back on me a couple of years ago. Felt dumb. Doctor asked what I'd punched. Seems that particular bone is commonly broken when punching something. Boxer's break. Who knew?
easy to do..
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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