[slumlord]

A former student of mine keeps telling me I should get a nice Goldwing. Well, I did, but such motorcycles do need work in my price range. The project 1976 GL1000 is on hold for a while because of time more than money.
So I get a call from John telling me he was in the area and that I need to see this 1200 Aspencade. I was not expecting much for the asking price of this machine. Let's just say that I was very surprised to see a well loved bike that is as nice as I have ever seen for its age. The seller let us take it for a spin and that was it.

I will get some piccs of it when I get time to finish the paperwork and insurance and ride it home. A really nice one at a dollar a cc. Probably time to thin the herd a bit after buying a solid machine such as this one....

 

[Unkle Krusty]

Sweet.
The dead bike yards often want a dollar per cc just for the engine, minus carbs and starter motor.

UK

 

[Critter]

Sounds like a great deal, can't wait to see it.

 

[rje58]

Congrats on the new bike!! Sounds like you got a great deal. Wish I could find one of those. What year model? Didn't they make the 1200cc Aspencade only from '84 to '87?

 

[cmonSTART]

Some of those 80s Goldwings can be had for pretty short money right now - nice ones too!

 

[slumlord]

Really bad pictures, but that is all I can get for now. Not bringing this bike home until it is licensed and insured.

 

[DGS65]

Very nice enjoy!
What year and how many miles?

 

[slumlord]

A 1984 with 97xxx on the clock if memory serves.

 

[Critter]

Looks good Slum, you say it also runs well?

 

[slumlord]

It runs very nicely indeed. Plenty of torque and power. The only thing we noticed is that the air compressor [onboard air] was not running. I am not a bling bling guy, but this bike is beautiful. I am not sure about the heel-toe shift and running boards, but we will see.

I am going to assume this engine has interference between the valves and pistons if a timing belt should break, so that might be something to check out. As far as I know, this is a two owner bike and the last owner put at least 5000 miles on in the last 12 months.

When I get it home [ it is at a buddy's house] I can look into my concerns. I need still to get it titled in my name and insured [only 78.00 to add to my policy] My impression remains this purchase was a slam dunk. Even the tires are very nice. If anyone has any suggestions about where to start or what to look for, I am all ears

 

[Offcenter]

Before anything!!
CHANGE THE TIMING BELTS!!
If one breaks, the engine is trashed.
Use only GATES belts, or NAPA which are made by Gates.
It's not that difficult to do.

 

[Porky]

Very nice!:grin:

Sam:nerd:

 

[slumlord]

I would say right now that there will be a learning curve on this bike. I caught myself using the heel-toe shifter backwards to upshift instead of downshift when coming to a stop. Not that I need a radio, but I had to find an online owners manual to even have any understanding at all of how the thing worked. The radio/cb/and casette player all share control pods located over a big tract of real estate. I don't really care about music while riding anyway

Floorboards are nice, but I am concerned about needing the foot brake in a hurry and am starting to wish for pegs The windscreen is easier to see over than the ancient Vetter on the CB750, and yet the wind does not even touch the top of my helmet. Outstanding. There were some glimmers of nice cornering skills here and there, but I have a ways to go before muscle memory will happen.

Just got the title transferred and legal with insurance yesterday

 

[Critter]

You will get used to the shifter, heel to upshift, toe to downshift, all from the top nothing underneath.
Radio - once you get it figured out you will probably just leave it in one positions.
Cornering - you will get there once you quit worring about the weight.

 

[hogcowboy]

I don't think you are going into this with an open mind slum. It's like any new bike, there is a learning curve. If the only thing you ever used was a shifter from pegs, then yes, it might seem strange. With a heel/toe shifter I move my foot and just tap down on which ever direction I'm going. I'd say stomp but I don't do it that hard but it looks like that's what I do. Some say they can just shift slightly and tap down. I've never been able to do that. It's a deliberate lift leg/foot and stomp. Just don't really STOMP. The thing with me is it felt so much more natural and easier than the toe only shifter. But I had pictured it in my mind for months before I got a Harley that had one. And even then I messed up a few times. But now I'm lost without a heel shifter. I go to stomp and there is nothing there. Then I have to search for the toe and get my foot under it. And since I'm used to lifting my foot, I don't have the toe lift thing engrained so my first shifts up are usually lifting the toe AND leg together. So I'd feel the same as you in reverse about just a toe shifter. Since you do have more bikes with just a toe shift you may never get good at it. I'm simply lost on just pegs too. I'm used to moving around on the floorboards. And that rear brake I seldom use. I'm a front brake guy that only uses the rear in U-turns and emergency situation. So in an emergency I'm hitting the rear second and have never locked it in a skid because it's second. But I do practice where it is. I have to force myself to as 99.999% of the time I don't need it. Give your bike a chance. Heck, the thing is barely used even. Your floorboards are much shorter than mine by the way. If you have big feet you might be one than can "learn" to just barely move your feet to shift and just use a rocking motion with slight moving to get over the shifter. To do that you'll have to adjust them to a lower position. one that would be worthless for getting a toe under. Or you might have to remove the heel part. Many do. But give it a chance. You've not ridden much at all yet. Put 5k on it then decide. Anything less just isn't giving it a chance.

 

[slumlord]

I am going to give this bike plenty of chances. I am not sure how I gave off the impression that I was going to give up so soon.

Anyway, the onboard air system might not survive--I really do not see saving all the complicated controls when you have to take it apart to add air-drying Dessicant to it. BTW the dessicant is NLA from Honda Out of all that mess is two air hoses that exit from the fairing. One goes to the front, and one to the back. If I can get push lock connectors and a Schrader valve on there, a Harbor Freight 12 volt air compressor and a paint gun inline air dryer would work just fine.

One of the disconnect fittings was knackered anyway , so I am out nothing trying a Pushloc connector on that one. The system was not holding any significant amount of air, so I hope no damage happened to the shocks....

 

[Critter]

Well Slum if it is anything like my Yamie, 0 pressure is a setting in the suspension.

 

[slumlord]

I got the shocks sorted by adding a manual fill valve common to many Hondas. The on board air compressor is out of the bike and not going back in. The water is a bit low, but i need to buy some Honda brand silicate free anti-freeze just to be on the safe side. Better to buy it from a Honda car dealer than a motorcycle dealer because of the cost.

I probably ought to just change out the anti-freeze entirely.

The bike is running great and feeling more natural as I put the miles on...

 

[hogcowboy]

I got the shocks sorted by adding a manual fill valve common to many Hondas. The on board air compressor is out of the bike and not going back in. The water is a bit low, but i need to buy some Honda brand silicate free anti-freeze just to be on the safe side. Better to buy it from a Honda car dealer than a motorcycle dealer because of the cost.

I probably ought to just change out the anti-freeze entirely.

The bike is running great and feeling more natural as I put the miles on...

Too bad you aren't closer to me slum. I got a quart of the stuff you could have by just stopping by. Too much of a hassle to ship in todays world with all the hazard regulations.:surprise: Does my Indian no good at all so it is just collecting dust and in the way.:smile:

 

[pladt]

I'm considering trading my Road King for a Gold Wing Valkyrie. More on that subject later....