Hello from Western Australia 1976 GL1000

[Manfriday]

Hi there Chaps and Chapesses,
I'd like to introduce myself as a new member.
My name is Laurence Mitchell. My username is Manfriday, which is part of my email address and the name of a previous handyman business I ran while my kids were young and I was still living in the UK (Manfriday was Robinson Crusoe's mate who could do most things to a reasonable standard - the dictionary lists 'Manfriday' as a trusted right hand man, which fits me).
I am 45 years old. Very happily married. 2 beautiful daughters 14 and 15 years old. I'm an Education Assistant (crayon distributor) in a high school having been lucky enough to take the lead with raising our girls when they were younger.
I have rebuilt a few bikes in the past and I know my way around motorbikes and cars quite well, but I am wise enough to know that model specific information is best learned from a forum like this. I have previously restored a Suzuki GT750, a Honda Z50J1, a Yamaha RD50 amongst others. In fairness, I am used to smaller engined bikes, but as I age I find larger bikes more suitable for the kind of riding I do. I love the early Goldwing heaps and have just bought a 1976 GL1000. It needs loads of work and I'm hoping that you will all impart your wisdom to me and help keep another 'wing' on the road. In return, i will participate in discussions and add my honest opinion where needed. Thanks for having me and please be patient while I find my way around. I'll see if I can put up a few photos.

[Sugs]

Welcome to the site!

[CYBORG]

Welcome. Looks like a project with good bones

[5speed]

welcome to our corner of the interweb..
you won't want for answers to any questions you have about the old girl..this place is the go to site for old wings.

[Rat]

Welcome to the 'Wingdom.

The timing belts are an early chore .... ShopTalk has all manner of help ....

Gord

[chewy999]

The timing belts are an early chore
Gord

Welcome to the site from the Motherland Laurence, you are now in a good place, all the help you need is here. I can already see why it wont go at the moment, you need fuel lines!
What are your intentions for the bike? Keep posting pics as you start to strip her down.

[desertrefugee]

...and radiator, exhaust, plug wires, etc. etc. Pretty much what we've all been through. But, if the motor is spinning free, chances are you'll have a runner soon.

[Manfriday]

Thanks guys. Plans are for a rideable resto. It's a dual project in so much as I've done a few bikes before, but I've farmed a lot of my work out; spraying, shotblasting etc.
My aim is to not only restore the wing and ride it around Western Australia (which I believe it will be well suited to), but to also equip workshop capable of doing much more of the work myself as I go along - in the hope that as I age (only 45 now) I can take in other people's resto's and bits of resto's to provide me with a hobby business at retirement.
I've got a nice little shotblasting cabinet which should be suitable for sodablasting aluminium which I've yet to try (having only sorted out the extraction system this weekend.
I want to do home powder coating,which doesn't look too hard, but it's going to be a parallel journey for my workshop and wing.
I took the tank out over the weekend also - it was buried pretty deep!
Can anyone point me towards stainless spokes and aluminium rim supplier please?
Don't expect quick progress, but it should be steady.

[5speed]

I will be ordering stainless spokes from these folks soon.

https://www.buchananspokes.com/

[Manfriday]

Thanks 5speed.

[chewy999]

Never bought rims and spokes but a google search found plenty of places in the UK. Not sure about postage though!

[77Gowing]

Welcome, looks like you've had a good start at it already. Best of luck Manfriday.

[rcmatt007]

Welcome aboard... if you haven't you might start a build thread to follow your progress

[Gc33]

Hey mate...another one from WA as well...getting my 1100 on Saturday

[Sugs]

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