Project Goldwing RR Begins.. Goldwing Cafe with a twist...

[BusaRider]

Imagine my surprise when I learned I wasn't the only guy with a naked Goldwing.... I really couldn't believe there was a whole forum dedicated to them.. I've been lurking and reading for the past couple weeks and buying lots of parts after looking and reading about your builds... Many thanks to all that post here and have made my life much easier trying to figure out what will work and what wont......

I guess its time to post up what I have been doing. Basically this bike was 1981 GL1100 interstate. All luggage etc stripped down. Kawi 7" headlight. 65 bug trim ring around headlight. Kawi 1200 seat. Rear fender cut and rolled forward. Front fender cut all up. Forks dropped 2". Unknown donor rear turn signal/ brake lights. Widened Clubman bars 2". Aftermarket mirrors and front turn signals . I changed the exhaust to sportster slip ons, after seeing that mod on here. I used a 4" length of 1 5/8" pipe (Napa 41429) welded to the stock header to connect the sportster pipes. It fits perfectly inside the harley slipons and perfectly outside the factory GW header. Actually a little too perfectly. I am having a hard time getting the slipons back off after mockup to put clamps on. I have adjusted the valves and changed all fluids, oil 3 times. Radiator had some kind of dark green fluid in it. Might have been anti-freeze but I have never seen it forest green. It was very clean just an odd color.. I spent a whole day getting the turn signals to work. Wiring is a bit of a mess......

The carbs I think may need Randakk's kit and video. The bike stumbles around a little and backfires here and there, but runs very well for the most part. I dumped 1/2 can of seafoam in and am seeing how that works out. I am really trying to get this bike running well before I continue with my bastardization of this Japanese classic

Left Side

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Right Side

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Rear

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Plans. Paint fun will commence in 5 weeks. Corvette yellow with some funky cafe graphics. I'll post up some low res pics (ipad) of the graphics. The Goldwing RR this started as a joke and kind of stuck..... The graphics were done with very new technology. They are high res done in metallic, with no laminate. Perfect for burying in clear coat. These pictures don't do them justice. Even seeing them indoors doesn't do them justice. The metallics really sparkle once cleared and in the light. I am going to paint the bike while the weather is still decent. Over the winter I will do a complete dismantle, clean, polish, powder coat etc.

The twist. Cafe bike theme with a sidecar. 1970's California sidecars brand. Learning curve was a little steep, but I am gradually learning to ride the bike and not fight it. It gets easier to ride every day...

[BusaRider]

Graphics: All graphics are white, metallic silver and black....

Tank

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Skunk Stripe (2 in picture, only 1 stripe down center of bike)

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Side Cover Logos

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Side Car number plates:

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[fish]

'busarider welcome here and I bet the riding is nice in PA this time of year?
Needles to say we get a lot of noobs who are eager to tear into their carbs & get theor NGWs running goodly.
Let me mention it is better to make sure your ignition system is 100% before tearing into the carbs.
The '81 1100 has electronical ignition...no points.
The coils have replaceable plug wires.
Remember those wires and caps are 30+ years old.
Everybody changes the sparkplug wires on their cars when performing a tune up but no one ever thinks of that when trying to get their 'wings running good.
So before getting after those carbs replace your wires and caps and plugs
Also adjust your valves.
After these two simple procedures see how it runs......

[Fred Camper]

Good advice from Fish of course, ignition always pristine first. Love the bike and sidecar. Looking forward to learning more about the build.

[robin1731]

The coolant you saw may have been Honda brand coolant. It is a dark green like that.

If I may make one suggestion. You may want to stiffen the forks up a little. Dropping them 2" is quite a bit. Under very hard braking, especially with the hack, they could bottom out on the lower triple tree. That wouldn't be fun.

[Brant]

Thats a good looking hack, any info on that ? The bike is lookin good to, goes without saying.

[cbghia]

Love a sidecar, and that hack looks better than most! That nose is cool!

[ericheath]

Your bike looks like it's been here. Sweet.

[BusaRider]

Thanks for the replies. I'm considering doing the Dodge Neon coil swap out, but will head the advice and build a set of plug wires today for it..... I hadn't considered any adjustment to the forks, as I hadn't noticed any dive in the front end. I'll have to take it out today and get into the front brake really hard and see what happens....

I don't really know anything about the sidecar. The PO said it was a "California Sidecar". That's about all I know. The only one I can find online that resembles it, looks like it was made for a Vespa scooter....

[Roady]

Very cool rig.

I don't recall any mention of timing belts ... just askin'. They are very important.

[BusaRider]

I ordered everything to do the Neon coil swap. I ordered air fliter, fuel filter and got new fuel lines. I also ordered timing belts, hoses etc. Ordering Randakk's carb kit as I think the accelerator pump is jacked. I might as well rebuild just to be done with it.

I test fitted the cafe fairing and don't really like the look. It needs to go lower. So I ordered digital gauges, new ignition, fork mount headlight ears and some dummy lights so I can ditch the big factory gauges and bring the cafe fairing down low. I also have a set of drag bars that I might widen and install. The clubmans look great, but do touch the tank on full turn. I also dont like the look of the clubmans with the fairing on.......

Here's a much better picture of the way the bike sits now....

[Roady]

That front fender is killer. And I like the way you laid in the HD pipes.

[cbghia]

I love the look of open belts! So nice. That is a great looking wing.

[BusaRider]

Thanks again for the comments.. I'm trying to figure out how to keep fuel and temp gauges with my aftermarket vapor pod.... I ordered headlight ears a new headlight and the rest of the maintenance items...

I'm really also trying to figure out what to do for a seat/fender/tail lights.. I have been reading tons of threads and the use of a speed triple seat piqued my interest... The posts are vague.. One post says 02 speed triple seat... But it is nothing like the seat on my speedie... The seat in question is longer and one piece where my speedie seat is 2-piece... Think I am going to have to take a look when I get home and see how well it matches up....

[BusaRider]

I have been ordering parts up and getting ready for my return home. While reading a book about side cars, I came across something interesting... The author suggested using a car battery if there is room behind the side car seat. It provides much more power, but also some ballast... Not only do I have room, I also have a spare battery and box... Any reason I can't use this set up on my bike? I don't know --- a lot about stators or possible issues with them charging a car battery...
Thanks!