A lot has happened since I was here last

[Easter]

Hello old wingers and new wingers. I have been out of circulation for a while. In June of 22 we sold our place just south of San Antonio and bought land about a hundred miles south of Houston. The idea was to be closer to my daughter's family in Houston. (Now she is making plans to move to Ecuador!!) Anyway just about the time we started clearing the property for a house, I took a ride on my BMW 1150 GS and encountered a deer that failed to yield rite of way. I was life-flighted to a hospital in Austin where I spent the next month. Then to Sugarland (Houston) for a month of rehab, then a month at my daughters place for in home rehab. Except for a crooked pinky which makes typing extremely frustrating, I am back to my pre-accident condition, minus a spleen. We now have our home built but I do not have a garage or shop. I am working out of a cargo container. A shop is planned. Let me suggest strongly, WEAR RIDING GEAR.

Anyway after a long discussion with my longer suffering wife I am getting ready to start a project and probably do a little riding as well. I just purchased an 83 GL with title. In a previous post of some years ago I advised buying a Wing in the best condition you could find in order to save money in the long run. I also admitted that I never do. This is no exception although it is much better and cleaner than most of the ones I have taken on. The PO started the process of building a cafe racer but decided it was more practical to ride and repair the other three bikes he had in his garage. Heads and carbs were redone. Whether correctly or not remains to be seen but if I was the one doing the work, the same would apply. Now the question is what to build?? Dragon Wing II or Red Belly II or ?? Let the party begin.

[ritalz]

Welcome back Easter. Glad to hear your recovery went as well as it did. For the new build, I would get the basics done and let the bike talk to you about its future. I like the layout of your Dragon Wing.

[Old Fogey]

Wow, sounds like a lucky(?) escape; could have been so much worse. Glad to hear you are recovered well.

[Rat]

Joining the chorus welcoming you back …

Gord

[Fred Camper]

Welcome back Easter, you were missed. I like the bike as it is, so focus just on mechanicals until she tells you something different.

[wingrider]

Welcome back! I second getting it back to running, riding shape, and then let it decide what it wants to be. I have always liked your Dragon Wing....

[Easter]

Thanks guys. The first job is getting those terrible rusty pie tins off the front axle. Not an easy job! I spent about two hours removing the front brakes and wheel to get to them. I also removed the front fender to better clean things for paint. The original paint is not bad on the frame and can probably be touched up if I stay with the black frame. I no longer have a paint booth or shop so that restricts what can be done economically. The front tire is a special Dunlop run flat model that requires no air. It is so wide it would barely come out of the forks. I am not looking forward to removing it from the rim. Tried to look in the gas tank but all I could see is orange.

When I moved I tried to give away my stockpile of spare parts etc. but ended up hauling most of it to the dump. A friend of mine took my hydraulic lift but offered it back to me since he hadn't needed it. He and his wife stopped in to visit a couple days ago and brought the lift back. Makes life so much easier!

[Easter]

The teardown is well underway.

Anyone recognize the electronic gizmo fastened to the bottom of the tool tray? It is connected to the black/green/gray with black stripe wires. Never run across one of these before.

[Fred Camper]

Perhaps a turn signal cancel device? Not so smart as all my bikes are older.

[CYBORG]

definitely aftermarket

[ritalz]

Aftermarket for sure. Hard to tell what it might be without knowing where the wires go.

[Easter]

Aftermarket for sure. Hard to tell what it might be without knowing where the wires go.

What is the gray wire with the black stripe for?

[Easter]

I am starting a build thread entitled "Meet the Camel" so if you wish to keep up with that I will be adding new stuff there. Thanks all.

[LastMohawk]

Hello Easter,
nice to read from you. I'm happy for you that you're healthy again. I myself am not yet fully recovered. My BMW threw me off in September and my right upper body was a bit defective. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the GL. I really like your Dragon Wing.

Greetings Harald