Standard 1200 Fix-Up- ...Or Not.

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Lucien Harpress
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Standard 1200 Fix-Up- ...Or Not.

#1

Post by Lucien Harpress »

It seems my GL1200 Standard was getting envious of the attention my 1000 was getting, so it decided to do something about it. Namely by putting itself into a ditch.

Image

BUT- it's okay. The bike's out, I'm fine (albeit a bit sore) and, now that I get to looking at it, it may be entirely fixable. It's not going to be painless, mind you, but it may be fixable.

First off, damage:

Image

It slid on its left side for about 100 feet before it decided to go swimming, so all the damage was on that side. The saddlebag is toast, as are the crash bars. On the bright side, because the crash bars are toast, the valve covers are just fine. Along with the front turn blinkers, which surprised the crap out of me. On the other hand, the handlebars are completely totaled, and I'm going to need a whole new left control cluster. (The bars are just temporary. I sliced the ends of the bars that were there, then plugged them into the mounts so the brake and ((I'm assuming)) clutch reservoirs weren't upside down anymore)

Image

Image

The left radiator wing got pretty bent up, and the bottom piece broke. The good news is that I know a guy who's willing to sell me a set (maybe). The bad news is that I'm not sure how much it's going to hurt yet... :( And speaking of hurt...

Image

Work of the handlebar as she slid across the pavement. Could've been a lot worse, but it still sucks, especially since you can't find this piece anymore. I had a tentative plan to bondo it and repaint the whole bike the stock black and yellow (along with a new set of saddlebags) along with my 1000 in a stock yellow. The important thing right now is to get some handlebars and a clutch lever to see if she still rides straight and the frame isn't tweaked.

She runs, but the clutch isn't working. The hose connection up by the bars came loose, so I'm wondering if that did it. I tightened it up, but still haven't tried using it- not sure if the system needs re-bled or not. In any case, the road rash isn't making moving fun, so I'm taking it easy for a while. Hopefully soon I can get some more information.
Last edited by Lucien Harpress on Mon Aug 15, 2016 8:29 pm, edited 21 times in total.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Neil
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#2

Post by Neil »

From the looks of it definitely worth the time to make it right again. All in all not too much damage to contend with.
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roncar
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#3

Post by roncar »

Yeap! Just as I thought.......non-repairable. You might as well drag it down here and sign the title. lolol

Seriously, doesn't look too bad.....on the surface. I'd almost be tempted to NOT repaint it and leave that scar as a reminder, "Things happen fast!"
"I periodically misspell words just to annoy the word police."

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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#4

Post by Lucien Harpress »

The clutch is the biggest thing I'm worried about at the moment. I've never had a good track record with hydraulics.... O_o'

I'm also going to have to change the coolant (was overdue for it anyway). The lower hose got pushed up so I've got a bit of a leak. I'm going to take it in to a friend of mine who's got a radiator shop, just to make sure it's still good. And hey, while it's off, why not change the timing belts, eh?
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Roady
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#5

Post by Roady »

And, the adventure begins again!
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Fred Camper
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#6

Post by Fred Camper »

Yup, time for belts. Wish it was that easy for you. Worth the efforts as she is a fine ride.
Proud member of the NGW Cartel (Rochester MI)
1977 GL1000 BADDOG (April 2012 BOTM)
1976 LTD - '993 LTD...and so it begins'

You should remember that it's peace of mind you're after and not just fixing the machine. R.Pirsig
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#7

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Well, I'm slowly getting the important bits together. Have handlebars coming in the mail, and I have a line on some left controls. Still looking for a new clutch master cylinder, but the one I have will do for now. I also managed to track down the radiator wings and settle on a price. A LOT more than I wanted to pay but... eh. It happens.

In the meantime, I think I'm going to start selling stuff. The whole back end luggage rack is going to go, along with the crash bars and floorboards. I'm probably going to covert it back to footpegs, if only because I can't afford to drop another 300 bucks on some more boards. Besides, my 1000 taught me that pegs aren't that bad, so I'm going to roll with it.

(Also, the bars and saddlebags are going to be replaced- I just want some that aren't all bent up. I laid it down on its left side, and I'm sure it was laid down on its right before I owned it. May as well go whole hog and clean up everything. That being said, they DID save my engine, for which I'm grateful.)
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#8

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Not much to report lately. Ordered some handlebars, got the bags taken off, have a line on some controls, spent way too much on radiator fins, and (for gits and shiggles) e-mailed a guy in Texas about parting out a wrecked Standard he wants to sell for $550. In an ad posted two months ago.

In the meantime, I got to thinking about paint. On the one hand, I like the idea of a "stock" Standard, which leads me to re-paint it black with the yellow pinstriping. On the other hand, I AM repainting it, so.... I can use whatever color I want. And I kind of like the "blue-with-yellow-pinstripes" look some of the '78 1000s had. BUT my only problem there is that, if I paint my 1000 yellow (going to happen), then I'd have a blue and yellow bikes. And I'm a Michigan State fan. Locals will know my plight here. (and no, I'm not going to ride a green and white bike. Sorry.)

Any opinions? (Nothing set in stone, not by a long shot.)
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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robin1731
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#9

Post by robin1731 »

I'm a black and gold fan myself. ;)

Not everyone will get that either. :8)
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
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polkadot
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#10

Post by polkadot »

Lucien Harpress wrote: . . . And I kind of like the "blue-with-yellow-pinstripes" look some of the '78 1000s had. BUT my only problem there is that, if I paint my 1000 yellow (going to happen), then I'd have a blue and yellow bikes. And I'm a Michigan State fan. Locals will know my plight here. (and no, I'm not going to ride a green and white bike. Sorry.)

Any opinions? . . .
No brainer . . . Scarlet and Gray!
Hope for the best, expect the worst and take what comes!

1977 Candy Sirus Blue Wing (gone but not forgotten!): Ernie's 77 Resto
1998 Yellow/Creme Valkyrie (sold): Valk Redo
1976 Sulfur Yellow Wing (sold): Melloyellow to live again
1976 LTD #1353 (sold): And away we go . . . . LTD style
1970 CT90 (sold): Had too much time on my hands so . . .
1/4 of 1975 Wing #898 (Sold): Team 898 - raised from the ashes
70ish Benelli Dynamo Scrambler (sold): Erector Set/Treasure Hunt aka Benelli Dynamo
1/6 of 1976 LTD #993 (Sold): LTD 993 . . . and so it begins
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#11

Post by robin1731 »

:IDTS:
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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polkadot
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#12

Post by polkadot »

cream and crimson? Seriously I once saw a copper and black bike that I always thought if I ever paint one of these beasts, that will be it!
Hope for the best, expect the worst and take what comes!

1977 Candy Sirus Blue Wing (gone but not forgotten!): Ernie's 77 Resto
1998 Yellow/Creme Valkyrie (sold): Valk Redo
1976 Sulfur Yellow Wing (sold): Melloyellow to live again
1976 LTD #1353 (sold): And away we go . . . . LTD style
1970 CT90 (sold): Had too much time on my hands so . . .
1/4 of 1975 Wing #898 (Sold): Team 898 - raised from the ashes
70ish Benelli Dynamo Scrambler (sold): Erector Set/Treasure Hunt aka Benelli Dynamo
1/6 of 1976 LTD #993 (Sold): LTD 993 . . . and so it begins
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#13

Post by Fred Camper »

The stock color is pretty outstanding already it you need to think about it a spell and decide as this is your best window for change.
Proud member of the NGW Cartel (Rochester MI)
1977 GL1000 BADDOG (April 2012 BOTM)
1976 LTD - '993 LTD...and so it begins'

You should remember that it's peace of mind you're after and not just fixing the machine. R.Pirsig
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#14

Post by Lucien Harpress »

polkadot wrote:
No brainer . . . Scarlet and Gray!
But then I could only ride it when you guys played Michigan.... lolol
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- Behaving Itself Rather Nicely
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Learning The Joys of 4 Cable Carbs
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Roady
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Re: Standard 1200 Fix-Up

#15

Post by Roady »

Let's keep it civil guys ... don't make me lock this thread.
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