Vivacious Victoria - A GL1100 Affair

[Track T 2411]

It is nice when you finally get to experience the fruits of your labor!

[bigscheaf]

It is nice when you finally get to experience the fruits of your labor!

And it was glorious. I forgot how enjoyable of a ride she is. I pulled off about 30 miles Memorial Day weekend, just bombing up and down 2-29. Seems to be running well enough to put some actual miles on this weekend.

Excellent progress! Post a picture of Victoria in her current running condition.

Of all the things I’ve forgotten to do, I can’t believe taking a current running pic was one of them. I’ll get a few this weekend. Seems too easy to get distracted from taking pictures when you could be riding it.

[bigscheaf]

Excellent progress! Post a picture of Victoria in her current running condition.

Ask and ye shall receive!

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First stretch of the inaugural run for the season was from Sioux Falls to Brandon to Crooks. Stopped to fill her up with some 91 octane and headed to Dell Rapids - only premium doesn’t have ethanol around here, because we’ve got the corn.

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On historic Main Street in Dell Rapids, SD. I chose this backdrop primarily because I might take the wife there; helps that the building covered in beautiful red pipestone.

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And this one’s for my coworker that said I’d get “that old Honda” back on the road when pigs fly. I guess Honda decided to give this little pig wings.

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And the final shot of the day was outside of Jasper, MN. After I ran through Valley Springs to Brandon to Sioux Falls. Kind of a mini poker run to kick it off. She pulled hard pretty much all the way up to 7,000 RPMs - I think they drop off a little around 6,000 RPMs, but I wanted to see what she’s made of.

I think she’s looking pretty good to kick off the season, and running better than ever (for me).

[CYBORG]

looks really good

[Track T 2411]

Looking great, and sounds like she's running well. Enjoy the ride!

[bigscheaf]

looks really good

Thank you, good sir! I’ll be postponing any hardcore modifications until the end of the season - unless I rip apart the 750’s carbs and get that old girl running right.

Looking great, and sounds like she's running well. Enjoy the ride!

Many thanks! Definitely owe Oldewing a 6 pack for the heads to speed things along. Also, the technical documentation is simply awesome - and I do mean awe inspiring.

Might need to find some gold pinstriped side panels to match the tank. I’ll have to share some of the details from when I got the faux tank off of eBay, it was really quite the treat. I do believe a picture says a thousand words in some circumstances.

[bigscheaf]

So I had been thinking of powder coating the mags on Victoria gold since it's going to be one of the colors used on the bike. Besides, who doesn't love black with gold accents? It's a timeless combination.

However, whenever I think of the perfect gold set of rims, I always think of the gold Boomerang Comstars, aka the Boomies.

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Don't get me wrong, the mags look good, especially when they're all cleaned up and looking their best, but I just can't get the image of a black and gold 'Wing with gold boomies out of my head.

I know, I know, let them have their one victory while we enjoy on of the smoothest engines Honda has produced for a motorcycle. I've lost count of how many people come up to me while I'm putting in gas and tell me they regret ever getting rid of theirs. There's still a part of me that says, "put on the gold boomies."

That little voice in my head, sometimes known as the Good Idea Fairy, told me just to look around the internet and see what I find. Low and behold, there was one model range of Hondas that used the gold Boomerang Comstars (also silver) that could work. The CX500/650. Stateside, there was only one that sported those wheels, and there weren't a lot of them produced, the CX500 Turbo.

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Jackpot! Rare, but a rear wheel that could potentially mount up does exist. This lead to a bit more digging, a dose of frustration, and a few beers being consumed. However, it paid off. I couldn't find anything about Gold Wing owners swapping for CX500 wheels - because who would do that? - but I did find instances where CX500 owners put Gold Wing wheels on their bikes to get wider tires.

This brings me to the grand question, what should I do about tires if I pursue this option? Victoria currently wears a 140 out back and a 120 up front. The CX500, on the other hand, only has an 18x2.5" rear wheel. So to put on a wider tire I'd have to find another Boomerang Comstar and either swap the hub or the rim between one or the other. Alternatively, I could put on a 130/80-18 instead of a 140/70-18. But then should I go with a 110 in front instead of a 120? This is where my mind's clutch slips and doesn't want to progress.

[pidjones]

You are talking a very expensive and complex swap here. It might be safer, less expensive, and less involved to have a CNC shop machine what you want from a blank and gold anodize it.

[bigscheaf]

You are talking a very expensive and complex swap here. It might be safer, less expensive, and less involved to have a CNC shop machine what you want from a blank and gold anodize it.

The cost is a bit worrisome, but I might be able to get it done without murdering my wallet too badly, and maybe even keep the wife from noticing.

I have considered getting an F Boomerang Comstar and having it machined so I can use the 1100 hub; however, I'll have to see if the internal area for the hub is the same size between the two. I do have a CB1100F wheel I can measure, but I'll have to take off the rear wheel on Victoria. Essentially, I just don't want to take it apart during the middle of riding season since she's finally on the road again.

I'm going to rip into the carbs for my CB750F and get it up and going... soon. Feels like the summer is going by too quickly to set any concrete timelines. Fortunately all of the 'Wing planning will be executed this fall when all of South Dakota goes into hibernation.

[LastMohawk]

Hello,
nice work to your old lady. Hope you have many good miles with her. And yes, with golden rims, your Victoria would look excellent.

Harald

[txtriathlete]

I just swapped out a set of 5 spoke comstars on my 82 for the wheels you have on your 83. I too found very few wheel options for the GL1100.

[Fred Camper]

She is no longer an old girl, but now more of a newlywed. She needs more of your time now.

[bigscheaf]

Hello,
nice work to your old lady. Hope you have many good miles with her. And yes, with golden rims, your Victoria would look excellent.

Harald

The real work will be coming in the next few months - hopefully. The gold rims are definitely a must, but probably not in the style I was originally going for.

[bigscheaf]

I just swapped out a set of 5 spoke comstars on my 82 for the wheels you have on your 83. I too found very few wheel options for the GL1100.

I'm not positive on this, mainly because I haven't done a ton of research on it, but I'm thinking the wheels from the VF1100s of the time might have potential. Shaft drive, rear disc brake - fits the basic criteria. Didn't explore it too much though.

The 83 mags are beautiful wheels. I've also kicked around the idea of using a 1200 front wheel for that chunky front tire look. Kind of like a bulldog.

[bigscheaf]

She is no longer an old girl, but now more of a newlywed. She needs more of your time now.

And money. Can't forget about the money. The beautiful thing about 'wings, as long as their well maintained, they remain young at heart. And everyone always comments on how smooth she is compared to their V twins, there's a lot to be said about that boxer 4.