1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

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cdwillis
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1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#1

Post by cdwillis »

My uncle just sold me his 1983 Goldwing Interstate. He was the second owner and (according to him) it had every piece of chrome you could get on one at the time. I believe it. This is my second bike, my first was a 450 nighthawk.

Anyway, I'm not big on chrome. I'm a pretty basic kind of guy. I've already started stripping all the junk off. I can already notice a huge difference because I can actually get it on the center stand alone now.

My uncle said it's already been converted to an alternator. He put a new battery in it and a couple other things I'll have to ask about again.

My plan so far:
Timing belts
Rebuild brakes (the rear brake started locking up on my test ride. I had to stop and let the pressure off the line just to get home using the front brake only.)
New tires
Get rid of the annoying heel shifter/floorboards
Remove the front fairing and mount the headlight+indicators

Switch to a slimmer seat
Chop a rear fender down and put a new set of indicators and brake lights on it
Dyna ignition


I'm sure I'll think of some more things as I continue to read the forum.
1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#2

Post by cdwillis »

Here the bike as it was when he pulled it out of the garage:
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I started stripping off the luggage before I realized I wasn’t going to have a brake like or license plate holder:
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1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#3

Post by wingrider »

Welcome to the forum! Might as well add a stator to that list, if you plan on making it naked, an alternator hanging off the side can be a sore sight.

Looks like a clean start to a good project!
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#4

Post by Track T 2411 »

You've got a good start, lol. It's amazing how quickly stuff comes off...
One thing you can scratch off your list is the Dyna ignition. All 1100's have an electronic ignition, factory stock. No muss, no fuss, for the most part. I might suggest you remove the chrome side panels just behind the engine, as well. Some people call them 'stator cookers' because they supposedly hold in engine heat and cause the stator to fail. May be true, or not. I do know they hide a lot of dirt and grunge that builds up over time (and I think they're ugly, lol!)
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
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cdwillis
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#5

Post by cdwillis »

Earlier I took those covers off and cleaned up the engine case, driveshaft, rear wheel, and a few other things with some purple power and soapy water. I’ll probably leave the covers off considering what you said about the heat. Plus I don’t really like the look either.


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Also, how in the heck do I get rid of these running boards? I was trying to loosen the last bolt in the front, but it just kept spinning and I don't see a nut or anything under the frame.
1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#6

Post by Track T 2411 »

Cleaning up nicely!
I'm not sure, but it looks kind of like the boards are attached using the lower motor mounting rod, which actually goes all the way through, from one side of the frame to the other. On a related note, when you're looking for stock foot pegs, make sure they are specifically for the '83 wing. There were changes between years, and they are different.
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
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cdwillis
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#7

Post by cdwillis »

Track T 2411 wrote:Cleaning up nicely!
I'm not sure, but it looks kind of like the boards are attached using the lower motor mounting rod, which actually goes all the way through, from one side of the frame to the other. On a related note, when you're looking for stock foot pegs, make sure they are specifically for the '83 wing. There were changes between years, and they are different.

I laid down where I could poke my head under the bike and turns of you're right about the running board frame being mounted on that front engine mount bolt. I'm going to look for some foot pegs before I mess with them. They're probably nice for long distance cruising, but I just didn't like them when I took the bike out for a quick run.

So far I've stripped all the luggage off, those aftermarket side covers, and left the front fairing on until I get a headlight bracket. I can actually get it up on the center stand alone now. :mrgreen:
1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#8

Post by cdwillis »

Got this thing pretty much stripped now.
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Unfortunately I got frustrated with the mounting bracket for the front fairing while trying to remove it and scraped the radiator pretty badly. Got some coolant leaking so it looks like I’ll be putting a new radiator in when I do the timing belts.
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My to do list for this weekend:
1. Timing belts
2. Radiator
3. Rear brake cleaned, new brake line and fluid
4. Ditching those front brake disk covers
5. LED turn signals swap
6. Headlight swapped to the brackets
1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#9

Post by Rat »

Be careful of the aftermarket dipstick when you change the oil .... it’s easy to over tighten and then it’ll leak ....

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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#10

Post by cdwillis »

Rat, thanks for the tip. Do you know if there's a copper washer or something creating a seal that I might need to replace? I'd like to make sure I have parts before I start something. I live in a small town and most of my parts are being ordered from the internet.
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#11

Post by Rat »

Yes .... there is a copper crush washer .... use a new one or at least anneal the old one ....

Gord
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#12

Post by cdwillis »

The heat index here is outrageous, so I'm not getting much done and what is getting done is slow going.

This morning I got my replacement radiator in the mail, with the fan on it. So earlier I drained my coolant, removed the radiator, and got my timing belts changed. The only hangup I had was I started on the right side first not realizing I needed to put the other belt on first. D'oh.

Below the radiator theres a second center stand (not sure what else to call it). Does anyone know what the purpose is? It can't actually touch the ground while it's on the actual center stand. It's in the way of the oil dipstick and I'm thinking about removing it.
belts.jpg
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I'm not a mechanic by any means, so this was a nice small victory for me. I still need to put the radiator on. I've got some radiator flush I think I'll run through it before I put some fresh coolant in and burp the air out.

I need to figure out the wiring mess. I read that removing the fairing should be as easy as unplugging the wiring harness then unbolting it, but there were lines for the CB and the radio, plus all kinds of weird crap that I ended up snipping some of the wires. So far I've removed the CB, radio, and fog light wiring, but there's a ton of stuff that was running back to the luggage.
1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#13

Post by Track T 2411 »

The front stand is called a 'ride-off' stand, and as its name implies, you can basically ride forward off the stand rather than going through the hassle of putting up and taking down the bike off the center stand. Many people have problems getting these bikes up on the center stand...
As to the wiring, there's a link in ShopTalk to downloadable, color coded wiring diagrams courtesy of sidecarbob. They are very useful in helping to figure out what is stock wiring and what might be added on. I'm sure it will be tedious work, but the job is coming along!
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
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cdwillis
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#14

Post by cdwillis »

Thanks. I'll have a look in the ShopTalk section. I've got a Clymers manual too.

I'm trying to figure out how to get that front engine mount bolt out so I can pull that floorboard and engine guard off, plus that ride off stand. It looks like a rod that's threaded on both ends. I tried clamping vice grips on one end while I used my ratchet on the other end, but the rod just spins. There's probably a simple way to do it that I'm just missing.
1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project
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Re: 1983 GL1100 Interstate bratty bobber project

#15

Post by Track T 2411 »

It is a rod threaded on both ends. If you've got the nut off one side you should be able to just pull the rod out from the other side. The upper engine mounts will hold the weight of the engine. Sometimes the original rod has been replaced by a longer regular threaded rod to accommodate the addition of the foot boards. They can also get crusty/ corroded and be hard to remove...
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
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