Pics from resurrecting '81 Std with Vetter

[toomanybikes]

As mentioned in the welcome section and a few tech questions, I recently picked up an '81 in good shape with low mileage (19k miles). It's always fun as when you uncover bits that are still in excellent shape, such as the pics below.

Plan is to keep it 99% original, with minor mods to rear signals, handlebars (maybe), and seat (maybe).

Has not yet fired up, but valves are set, belts replaced, and carbs being re-assembled once replacement parts arrive.

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[NotSoLilCrippseys]

Damn! It looks to be in way better shape than the PO described in the listing - and in my email exchanges with her.

Now I'm really wishing I had managed to connect with the seller. You know we were both eyeballing that bike on CL. I chose not to drive 2 hours to play rock-paper-scissors with you for the right to buy it. Good for you.

[toomanybikes]

Damn! It looks to be in way better shape than the PO described in the listing - and in my email exchanges with her.

Now I'm really wishing I had managed to connect with the seller. You know we were both eyeballing that bike on CL. I chose not to drive 2 hours to play rock-paper-scissors with you for the right to buy it. Good for you.

Yeah, finding good deals involves timing and luck. Glad you opted out. I could see from the ad that it looked reasonable, just had a layer of dust. As you know, making connection with the PO was tricky. The bike was in the repair shop of a friend and the shop was going out of business, so limited access and no power.

Haven't found any gotchas yet, but we'll see. Some previous mechanic did a tear down of some form because some bolts were suspiciously loose, like the rear axle and the top rear engine bolt, and some of the carb mixture screws were missing springs. Engine turns but compression is unknown until I can get a decent battery in there. the inside of the tank is a mess, but uncertain yet if it's varnish/crud, rust, or both.

[Liam]

That baby looks to be in really great shape. I wouldnt worry too much about missing small pieces like springs and bolts, they are easy. The big bits all seem to be there and in good order. Are you going to remove the fairing? Have you looked at the headlight ears to see if the indicator tangs have been cut off?

[toomanybikes]

That baby looks to be in really great shape. I wouldnt worry too much about missing small pieces like springs and bolts, they are easy. The big bits all seem to be there and in good order. Are you going to remove the fairing? Have you looked at the headlight ears to see if the indicator tangs have been cut off?

The biggest bit that's not there are the original exhaust. Someone replaced them with Jardine's along the way.

Re: the fairing, I plan to keep it as a cold weather buffer. All my other bikes are nakeds and I live in MA, so it's good to have one ready to go in colder temps.

The headlight and signal mounts were taken off previously and I don't have them. One of my previous wings w/Vetter had the tangs cut off, so I know the frustration that causes (see pic below). Ironically, that earlier wing was extremely similar to this one (year, mileage, condition, color) so I probably should have just kept it. At the time I also had a super clean Yamaha VStar 1100 and didn't feel the need for both. End up selling the Yammie and then found this, so I was able to correct a past mistake.

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[AZNGW Rider]

Great looking project, shouldn't be too much to handle.

[toomanybikes]

UPDATE - Carbs back in, battery connected, aux tank of gas, and ... she's alive!

Needed a booster shot of starter fluid to get it going the first fire, but that wasn't needed the second time. Filled up the garage with white smoke, so I'll get it closer to the doors tomorrow and try to fine tune the idle, choke, etc.

Here's a video after extended running, idle adjustment set, etc. Temp gauge works, fan comes on, revs up and returns to normal, just as it should ...
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipM ... QKqx0vhfoq


Still a long way from a test ride (de-rust tank, new tires, overhaul brakes, re-assemble), but that's OK given the temps & snow.

[Geropat]

Keep up the good work! I appreciate you sharing your progress. As you've already seen, I am also restoring an '81 1100. It's my first Goldwing and only my second bike so I'm learning lots from seeing what others do.

[Easter]

Nice original bike. If your going to have a fairing the Vetter is a nice clean design and certainly period correct.

[rcmatt007]

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

I'm still watching this bike happen - with interest. Glad the project is moving along.

[toomanybikes]

Here's the ~complete bike. Now 100% roadworthy and out for a few test spins. Starts easily, runs great, no leaks (UPDATE - scratch that. oil leak under the coolant pump). Didn't have the original rear signals and mirrors, so I sourced some period correct Honda parts.

Aside from the normal stuff (carb clean, timing belts, battery, tires, etc.) I had to replace the fuel pump, overhaul the petcock, and seal the tank with POR15, as mentioned in various Tech Help threads.

The current screen puts wind right at the top of my helmet, so I might still tweak the screen a little, either up or down. The seat cover has a few rips, so a new cover may be in the works as well.

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[toomanybikes]

UPDATE - After riding with the heavy Vetter a few times, I'm opting to bring this back to it's intended naked form. The vetter blocks a ton of wind, which is nice in colder weather, but I have other bikes with similar wind screens that are easily removed in summer.

The goal is to make it a traditional naked with a few minor mods and creative sourcing. The intended parts are:
- rear shocks from HD
- front signals from a VT600. the angle isn't quite perfect due to diff frame geometry, but close enough. The rear signals are currently the round versions from Hondas of that era, so I'll keep an eye out for some VT/bullet rears.
- chrome headlight and brushed aluminum mounts from 4into1. These are pretty good replica parts and the bike did not have the original headlight mounts
- normal emgo hbars.
- chrome front fender from CB900C, to make it visually smaller. Staying with the factory rear fender & light, at least for now.
- maybe modify the seat towards more of a bench with minor passenger raise, rather than stock.

Below is the 'wing with the Vetter removed, but not yet the harness or brackets. I'll add more before pics once the rest of the parts come in.

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

And she's naked. Looking forward to the next installment, as I'm interested in your seat/bar choices.

[toomanybikes]

Below are the intended bits. Working on it today, in between rounds of snow clearing. I'm going to pull off the Vetter brackets and disconnect the sub-harness, then start with the front end mods.

Open questions are:
1. Will the 900C fender be a bolt on or require some fabbing? The GL mounting holes seem a little lower than the CB, so it might be tight. UPDATE - Nope. The 110 front tire is too high for the fender to fit without extension brackets. It might have fit with a 100 and certainly with a 90, but fabbing brackets is easier and cheaper than switching to a smaller tire.
2. Once I get to the shocks, can I used the rubber isolators from the factory air shocks on the HD shocks?
3. HBar is the right shape, but might be too wide. I'm sure the cables and brake lines will fit, but ergos might be weird
4. The front signals might point down a little since the steering angle from the VT is more shallow than the GL. TBD if the angle will be too much, cosmetically. Also, the front and rear signals don't match, so I'll look for a matching set for consistency.
5. Seat is a big TBD. I have a spare stock seat that I could mod and recover, go aftermarket, or just leave it alone.