Re: New Ride

Posted by sgtslag on Jun 26, 2013; 2:33am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/New-Ride-tp4042792p4042841.html

Correct on the timing belts.  These are excellent bikes if properly cared for.  It will last for 100k miles, easily, if all is solid.  It sounds like you have an excellent grasp of what, and how, to restore this fine example of its era.  I would suggest dumping the air-assisted front/rear suspension, as it is a real hassle to deal with maintaining proper air pressure within both systems.

I see it has the OEM Honda luggage, complete with the trunk.  Does it have the snap-on passenger back rest for the trunk?  If any of that stuff needs to be re-upholstered, it can be done.  There are companies in most communities which can do the work for you -- anybody who can upholster car seats, can do the bike's backrest.

If you are interested in a driver's backrest for it, I have a Wing backrest I picked up years ago, hoping to adapt it to my 750 -- then we purchased our Voyager (had a driver's backrest), and the project evaporated.  I would part with it for the cost of shipping (no idea what it will cost, if interested, I will check into it).

There are passenger arm rests (universal, really) available on e-Bay:  brand new, aftermarket, really quite good, and effective.  Just search for "GL1100 Arm Rests".  I bought a pair, mounted them on my 750, then transferred them to my Voyager -- love them!

Don't know if you are a chrome junky, but you can virtually cover that thing, top to bottom, with chrome.  Please, fix the innards first, then go crazy with the chrome...  Had a friend with the same bike.  He developed a near-fatal case of Chrome-itus:  spent all of his money on chrome, ignored maintenance, and something broke, the front wheel locked, and he crashed.  He suffered some cracked ribs, and a concussion (no helmet).  Bike has been sitting in a heap, for nearly three years, while he is still trying to figure out what to do with it.  Cheers!