1980 GL1100 Custom - The Dirt Bagger

[WesleyJ]

Are you going to add some engine guards for the trip?, mine always seems to find an opportunity to take a "nap" in the dirt when I'm camping!

Not sure, depends on priorities/time. Any tip overs should be low speed, low impact so I'm considering doing carbon fiber protection on the valve covers/timing cover type of thing. The goal will only be to protect from cosmetic damage.

[WesleyJ]

kudos on PCing those rims. My buddy Tom did his 78 in gold and they look pretty sweet. I had an 82 for 23 years and loved it...A-B all over California with no problems. I sold it for more than what I paid for it 23 yrs later!

They're actually not powder coat, they're Cerakote. Its a spray ceramic polymer that's very thin (0.001") and quite abrasion resistant. Mostly used in the firearm world for coating guns.

A number of other parts on the bike are Cerakoted as well, details in a later post.

[WesleyJ]

It's a very nice bike! I got a '82 gl1100 standard as a project in 1982. Everything is unique, and I intend to maintain it that way.
The importance of changing the timing belts on these ancient beauties is pounded home on the goldwing forums. It's important to keep them on the roadways.

Thanks!

I did take the few minutes to swap out the timing belts when I had the covers off.

[WesleyJ]

Hey Guys,

A few updates, I've been tinkering away on it as I have time.

I finished off the exhaust and the brackets. I powder coated the brackets gloss black and sprayed the exhaust headers with Cerakote - Tungsten, a dark grey that I really like.

While I was at it I cleaned up the kickstand and powder coated it as well









I couldnt find the proper foot pegs so I ended up with '79's I believe. They were a bit rough and needed some mods to fit the '80 so I rejuvenated them and of course powder coated them as well. Feel and look better than new!



I cut off the original locating nub and spot welded a new one on





My wife thinks I'm a baker...







Cerakoted header:





Fresh powder coat on the upper triple tree



I took the spark maker to the turn signal mounts so that I could swap sides with the headlight brackets and lower the headlight





I'll end it there for now, I'm not sure what limits this forum has on photos etc in a single post.

I'm really looking forward to riding this thing!

Cheers,

Wes

[WesleyJ]

I couldnt bring myself to leave the valve and timing belt covers in such sad shape so I blasted and cerakoted them as well. This time in Titanium, I really like the mat finish.











I need to clean the tape glue off of the letters



Fresh fork seals and of course fresh powder coat.



Into the blast cabinet goes the front wheel



And voila, a cerakoted front wheel



I also gave the front calipers a full rebuild, mounted and balanced the new front tire and bolted the front end back together.







Thats how it sits today.

I got the metal working tools out and am just getting started fabbing up a front fender. More to come as that progresses.

Cheers,

Wes

[DCSparrowhawk]

That front end when put together really changed the look of the bike. I prefer big headlights - but the way you have it really works. Great job!

What's your opinion on the Cerakote? Do you use the air cure or H series?

[Whiskerfish]

Love the idea of lowering that headlight.

[WesleyJ]

Hey Guys,

I like the cerakote, I spray the C and the H depending on the application, they both work really well. My oven is still just an old wall oven so size tends to dictate what I spray. They're both very smelly. I wear a full face respirator and make sure its tightened down very tight...

Question: I'm changing out the controls, does anyone have a suggestion for a throttle assembly? I'm running the NUUT (Nuut.ca) switchgear and need a decent quality throttle. Based on the strength of the spring on the carb assembly, I'm more than comfortable running a single throttle setup.

Took her for a rip today, I'm liking the handling and the power!

[WesleyJ]

I get accused of putting speedholes in anything sheet metal that isnt moving... Accurate, but thats almost as bad as my need to blast and coat shit...



Titanium Cerakote











Tossed on some fresh belts while the covers were off

The forks weren't moving so blast, coat and rebuild...



Dear dog these wheels are ugly... And they too weren't moving...





Getting better



I found the radiator just lying there, not moving...

The side winglet thingamawhatsits needed some repair and coolness added so I started by straightening them out.





Oh jeez, what happened here...













Not moving...















I then built some custom length cables with the throttle and clutch cable kits from Revival Cycles. Great stuff. Oh, and I converted it to single cable throttle.



She's back up on the stand right now but this is about how it looks right now.



Now to get to work on the fenders. Here's a preview of things to come:

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

You're going to town on this build. I imagine you might not want her to get dirty once you're done.

I think I must've missed the post describing your decision to relocate the choke cable. Nice. Understated. I'm pocketing that idea and will pull it out sometime.

[Fred Camper]

My oven is still just an old wall oven so size tends to dictate what I spray. They're both very smelly. I wear a full face respirator and make sure its tightened down very tight..

Ah, that explains why painting these parts did not result in "life partner anger". You had me scratching my head...

[Chainman]

Beautiful work. Thanks for the great pics.
The metal shaping is facinating; hard to believe that's a fender.

[WesleyJ]

Thanks guys.

I'm really enjoying the build. Its nice to have a bit of creativity and not just be doing a restoration. And its simple work, no complex mechanical design or Engineering.

[Whiskerfish]

Might be simple for you!!! Some of us are talented folks but not in the fabrication area!

[toomanybikes]

looks like a future "Bike of the Month"