Goldwing? What are the usual suspects to watch out for ???

[LAB3]

Geeze, for $600 you would have had a lot of headroom to get it up to snuff. Any 40 year old bike is going to need a LOT of work, even if it's running when you pick it up.

Agreed, with a non running $600 bike you're likely to be going through it to check everything out. With the fully running $1000 bike you be crying when one of the belts snaps and wrecks the top end.

As to charging issues on 1200's I've heard the fail point is where the stator wires connect into the main harness. It's known to corrode and cause a short, the fix is to clip off the connector and solder the wires together.

[exdirtbiker]

Yes, I agree with everything stated above.... a $600 couch is kinda hard to go wrong... but I have lost all desire to spend months in the garage anymore.
The more I think (and type) the less I want to work on stuff.
My next bike will be a good runner, not a fixer-upper. I hope.

[Big T]

You are correct
A bike in that condition will take a good $1,500 of parts and who knows how much labor to get in good running order and look nice.
Better to spend that money upfront and get a bike that runs and rides

[850 Combat]

I bought a '79, as I recall, 1000. It had Comstars. I bought it from a high school auto shop teacher. It had been a project bike there. New belts, everything worked. New tires. It wasn't fun to ride though. It didn't handle all that well. Overall, a GS is much better, and way easier to maintain to boot. Pull the motor to change a stator? That is worse than having to pull the fairing lower and right exhaust head pipe to change the oil filter on a BMW RT or RS airhead. Needlessly hard to work on, and no comfort or performance upside.

Of course they sold well, so obviously there are differing opinions. A big GS is better though.

[chuck hahn]

Engine really does come out rather easy. follow the service manual on what needs removed and take the section of the frame that bolts on out and it slides right out. I gotta do it on my 75 1000 to do the primary chain and clutch plates. Doubt it will take 5 or hours tops to do the work and get engine back in.

[exdirtbiker]

I had always wanted a Wing... but since I now am a GS "expert" (??? HAH !! ) I may end up with a GK and the comfort of knowing I can fix ANYTHING it throws at me ( thanks to you all).

Subject to change without notice.

[Steve]

Yeah, some repairs on a Wing are a bit more involved than those on a GS, but overall, I have not had to work on my Wing very much.

Bought it 13 years ago with 91,000 miles on it. Since then, there have been the usual tires, brakes, oil and filters. The only unscheduled items have been a few light bulbs, one set of timing belts and tensioners, one thermostat (later found to have been unnecessary) a set of spark plugs and a shifter shaft oil seal. It is sitting in the garage right now with 187,556 on the odometer.

I think the only "problem" the previous (original) owner had was a failed alternator.

.

[kingofvenus]

I've had mine for about a year and a half now, the only thing i do not like about it is the weight. I love it, i do not see me ever getting rid of it. Plus my wife loves it too....

[wymple]

I've got one that was given to me, in running condition. And there is a lot that can be wrong. I barely consider it was worth it.

[Wingsconsin]

I have had a trail of Goldwings through my stable over the years -

(1) - GL1100 1980 - did a lot of work to the Fuse box & Carb rebuild -
(1) - GL1200 1985 - Stator (done by shop) and an oil port blockage cleared in the right hand rocker chamber
(2) - GL1500's 1996 & 1992 - I put 100K miles on the 96 - Fuel pump, final drive replacement , alternator , are the only major repairs
The 92 was only around for a short time and nothing major
(2) GL1800's - '02 & '03 - Currently in the stable are both of these bikes (No major work as of yet but they are each under 50K miles)

For the most part - The Goldwings have been as reliable as anyone could hope for -
But I realize that owning and riding a motorcycle requires maintenance and some repairs - especially as the ones I can afford are usually older models.
I am OKAY with that and prefer doing my own work as much as possible (then I know it was done right) when my skin depends on proper operation.

I have also had a number of 'others' in my garage -
1978 Cx500
1980 Cx500
1982 Cx500
1983 GS650
1983 GS850

SO far ....