GL1100 is the best ADV bike ever made. It’s good to see others recognizing it. Pro-tip: double the recommended air pressure in the suspension before going off-road. Helps a lot, and we’ve never blown a seal even on the MX track.
How do you fill and measure the pressure? I'm having some trouble with my 1200 regarding to manually pressurizing the front suspension. I have a mountainbike suspension pump from rox shox but the scales are not precise enough?
@SaabZimri I use a small bike pump. I pump it up higher than the pressure I want and using a pressure gauge I check it. Every time you check it the pressure will drop. I check it until I am about 1 psi over the pressure I want.
Excellent. All my riding buddies are on adventure bikes of one sort or another and want me to do the same. All my buddies are richer than me. It ain’t happening. Now that I have discovered this video I know exactly what I’m going to do (kind of). You see, they ride BMW, KTM, and Honda adventure while I tag along on my ‘84 Honda standard goldwing. Any road that isn’t paved is a no go. None of them have done anything more challenging than a gravelled dirt road but they are all signed up for an off road training course this spring. I’m going to be left behind. Or am I ? The kicker here is that all of us are over 65 now. Our motto is “die young as old as possible”. Might be this summer? Anyway, this video has breathed new life into me. And for me, the switch to adventure is now more affordable. Hang on guys! Wait for me! Thanks for the video.
I own an 82 Goldwing gl1100... Best ride I've ever had.. So much dam fun.. Love it! Did the same thing with my driving lights, wired to hi beam look for a striped screw in the top of the cap on that carb.. Just sayin
Have been thinking about doing this with my GL1100 as well. Low center of gravity means easy off road handling. I stand up a lot on dirt so i am unsure what that will be like on the GL. Happy riding!
I used to own that bike. Bought it from the original owner in Boulder City. I think my dad sold it to you (on my behalf cause I was outta town.) got mixed feelings about it being a adv bike, but real cool nonetheless.
Fix the air suspension. Pump it up for offroad. Bleed air iff for your ride home. Install a Single Solex Carb. 1 carb is easy to adjust the mixture when you do radical elevation changes. No carb balancing issues either. Cheaper to install a single Solex or a dual throat downdraft Weber carb. Why spend so much on carb kits when a single carb is more efficient?
Beautifully explained and the setting, wow ! Your soul brother is Nick Adams in Canada....he has taken his old Moto Guzzi Eldorado across all of Canada and the Yukon. Good Job ! keep up the good work ! PS- yes the Dos Honduros guys are bad ass !
The mufflers if I remember correctly are double walled so be careful if you start cutting them apart they were made to keep the chrome from discoloring.
First gen GL1000s, '75 thru '77, had black painted exhaust with the rear muffler half having a removable(?) chrome shield. While I'm pretty sure they would bolt right up to the GL1100 motor, I could not speak to how running with them would affect performance.
Bash plate and front mudflap strike me as useful additions. Oops should have waited until the end before commenting. It strikes me though that back in the 80s we rode whatever, down dirt roads, because they were in the way. For mine, I think your tyres, mudguard clearance, and soft luggage (no noise), are what works and of course, not getting too extreme. Damn, it happened again, I should have waited before commenting. Thanks for this. I have a GL1200 and I have enjoyed it a lot but its place is about to be taken by a 1500. What to do? Where I live - an all-roads GW makes a lot of sense. Enjoyed the video.
Awesomely helpful!! Just bought an '83 for a cross country and wondering if I could outfit it with some offroad capabilities. Stoke to have seen this!!
I have an 83 as well that I'm trying to decide what to do with. This is an option I've thought about, nice job. Can you post the parts you used, bars, lights etc? I've been struggling to find a headlight to use, mine had the full dress so I need to buy a headlight and brackets.
Seeing as have recently been in Twin Falls with bike issues a few times just know you have a fan in southern ID that has a a truck and trailers and a basic shop that you're welcome to use. Think of it as pay back for the free info you put out.
A plastic bag next to the engine air inlet might have something to do with your "carb problems " 😮 Nice ride, mines an 85 interstate, ive found its very good on gravel roads, as long as its not deep and loose!😅
How was the ergonomics of the handlebars? Plan on keeping mine setup for touring but having some better bars would be ideal. Gotta ditch those old lap bars.
enjoyed your video buddy with useful tips.bought myself a gl, 1000, k2 model early this year,lots of problems with electrics, fuel, etc, so had engineers build a 4 into 1 inlet and fitted a single weber carb, but winter here in uk posed a problem with jets freezing, thats sorted now with thermal wrap around manifold.love the idea of adv tires,as i,d like to do some travelling and not always on tarmac.the 3 gauges on the tank is something i,d like to get rid of, any thoughts on that would be helpful,as mine are rusty and in the way. the tank, flip up lid is a better design than what i have on mine,78 model. one worrying problem is the first gear is crunchy to engage, so maybe i,d have to take the engine out to determine whats wrong??any useful tips would be appreciated, thanks. from barry uk
Install a single VW Solex carburetor and no longer worry about those "delicate" carbs. The stock carbs are great on the highway but not for an ADV bike. Gl1000-1100-1200 are really great engines that run better with a single carb.
GL1100 is the best ADV bike ever made. It’s good to see others recognizing it.
Pro-tip: double the recommended air pressure in the suspension before going off-road. Helps a lot, and we’ve never blown a seal even on the MX track.
Dos Honduros, I'm in Washington upon the Kitsap Peninsula and you guys captured the Northwest, love your videos, keep them up.
How do you fill and measure the pressure? I'm having some trouble with my 1200 regarding to manually pressurizing the front suspension. I have a mountainbike suspension pump from rox shox but the scales are not precise enough?
@SaabZimri I use a small bike pump. I pump it up higher than the pressure I want and using a pressure gauge I check it. Every time you check it the pressure will drop. I check it until I am about 1 psi over the pressure I want.
Excellent. All my riding buddies are on adventure bikes of one sort or another and want me to do the same. All my buddies are richer than me. It ain’t happening. Now that I have discovered this video I know exactly what I’m going to do (kind of). You see, they ride BMW, KTM, and Honda adventure while I tag along on my ‘84 Honda standard goldwing. Any road that isn’t paved is a no go. None of them have done anything more challenging than a gravelled dirt road but they are all signed up for an off road training course this spring. I’m going to be left behind. Or am I ? The kicker here is that all of us are over 65 now. Our motto is “die young as old as possible”. Might be this summer? Anyway, this video has breathed new life into me. And for me, the switch to adventure is now more affordable. Hang on guys! Wait for me! Thanks for the video.
Would love to see an update on this bike. I’m trying to build something kind of similar with an 81 GL1100
Holy sheet ya skinned a bear cub for that seat ??? Awesome
Sold my 1980 gl1100 last year. Riding a 1987 gl1200 now. I love the old wings
I own an 82 Goldwing gl1100... Best ride I've ever had.. So much dam fun.. Love it! Did the same thing with my driving lights, wired to hi beam look for a striped screw in the top of the cap on that carb.. Just sayin
Back in the day I had a 79 Gold Wing and put many road miles on it. Now I have the 2017 Africa Twin DCT and love every minute on that bike.
Have been thinking about doing this with my GL1100 as well. Low center of gravity means easy off road handling. I stand up a lot on dirt so i am unsure what that will be like on the GL. Happy riding!
Have fun and keep us posted
I used to own that bike. Bought it from the original owner in Boulder City. I think my dad sold it to you (on my behalf cause I was outta town.) got mixed feelings about it being a adv bike, but real cool nonetheless.
Fix the air suspension. Pump it up for offroad. Bleed air iff for your ride home. Install a Single Solex Carb. 1 carb is easy to adjust the mixture when you do radical elevation changes. No carb balancing issues either. Cheaper to install a single Solex or a dual throat downdraft Weber carb. Why spend so much on carb kits when a single carb is more efficient?
Beautifully explained and the setting, wow ! Your soul brother is Nick Adams in Canada....he has taken his old Moto Guzzi Eldorado across all of Canada and the Yukon. Good Job ! keep up the good work ! PS- yes the Dos Honduros guys are bad ass !
One of the best bikes ever made.
The mufflers if I remember correctly are double walled so be careful if you start cutting them apart they were made to keep the chrome from discoloring.
I have the downwards pointing mufflers on the 82
First gen GL1000s, '75 thru '77, had black painted exhaust with the rear muffler half having a removable(?) chrome shield. While I'm pretty sure they would bolt right up to the GL1100 motor, I could not speak to how running with them would affect performance.
dos honduros are solid gold! adventure bike love it!
Bash plate and front mudflap strike me as useful additions. Oops should have waited until the end before commenting. It strikes me though that back in the 80s we rode whatever, down dirt roads, because they were in the way. For mine, I think your tyres, mudguard clearance, and soft luggage (no noise), are what works and of course, not getting too extreme. Damn, it happened again, I should have waited before commenting. Thanks for this. I have a GL1200 and I have enjoyed it a lot but its place is about to be taken by a 1500. What to do? Where I live - an all-roads GW makes a lot of sense. Enjoyed the video.
You could put on Harley Sportster mufflers on these fairly easily. They sound great. Have them on my 82
Ok sweet. Thanks for the tip
Oh, I owned one of them. It was nice bike!
Awesomely helpful!! Just bought an '83 for a cross country and wondering if I could outfit it with some offroad capabilities. Stoke to have seen this!!
Radness!! Do it. Off road it all the way
Bad ass Mike.... dig the vibe..
thanks G-Man
I have an 83 as well that I'm trying to decide what to do with. This is an option I've thought about, nice job. Can you post the parts you used, bars, lights etc? I've been struggling to find a headlight to use, mine had the full dress so I need to buy a headlight and brackets.
Dude no way😂 I’m looking at this on market place right now.
Awesome! Thank you for sharing!
Seeing as have recently been in Twin Falls with bike issues a few times just know you have a fan in southern ID that has a a truck and trailers and a basic shop that you're welcome to use. Think of it as pay back for the free info you put out.
you're amazing and a gentleman all the way.
Awesome mike
I love it iv got 1977 I'm working on
The 80 and 81 models used the Comstar rims in 19” front and 17” rear which make using dual sport rubber MUCH easier.
Great tires for a heavy bike...my favorite 👍
A plastic bag next to the engine air inlet might have something to do with your "carb problems " 😮
Nice ride, mines an 85 interstate, ive found its very good on gravel roads, as long as its not deep and loose!😅
I am doing the same in Okinawa, a remote island in Japan.
Thanks for sharing , very interesting 👍🏻🌞
How was the ergonomics of the handlebars? Plan on keeping mine setup for touring but having some better bars would be ideal. Gotta ditch those old lap bars.
Very cool.👍
What a great idea... good imagination. =] Only one like it!
I put straight pipes in 3 and 1/2 inch Echo tips on mine
enjoyed your video buddy with useful tips.bought myself a gl, 1000, k2 model early this year,lots of problems with electrics, fuel, etc, so had engineers build a 4 into 1 inlet and fitted a single weber carb, but winter here in uk posed a problem with jets freezing, thats sorted now with thermal wrap around manifold.love the idea of adv tires,as i,d like to do some travelling and not always on tarmac.the 3 gauges on the tank is something i,d like to get rid of, any thoughts on that would be helpful,as mine are rusty and in the way. the tank, flip up lid is a better design than what i have on mine,78 model. one worrying problem is the first gear is crunchy to engage, so maybe i,d have to take the engine out to determine whats wrong??any useful tips would be appreciated, thanks. from barry uk
How well does tires do on freeway
Install a single VW Solex carburetor and no longer worry about those "delicate" carbs. The stock carbs are great on the highway but not for an ADV bike. Gl1000-1100-1200 are really great engines that run better with a single carb.
Hey @tacomoto any update on this bike. How did the carbs hold up with riding at that elevation?
Had them fully rebuilt by bear cycles in Wisconsin and the bike was completely transformed
Rebuilt to OEM specs?. Just wondering if the carbs caused any issues at that elevation on Logan pass, I think it’s about 6600’
Nice
Que bello lugar!!! donde es??
Montana
Tube type tire run hotter than tubeless.
drilling holes is your first mistake no wonder the carbs don't work right, the restriction is what makes CV carbs work and draw fuel
Nice bike. The rear tyre is Chinese, but I think they have a plant in the US.
here is some advice, get rid of the carbs and get a 34pict single carb kit
get a GL650 it has a prolink rear suspension
I will never not be jealous of how cheap Americans can get second hand motorbikes. Just looked up a GL1000 in my country. $6000 in rough condition :(
Levver. It's called a lever. Pronounced as leeever
Having a speedo/tach that is mechanical and a bike that will run eons.
Idk, looks like you put a lot of money into a bike that should be able to take all the bumps and bruises of the out back, a little too "REI" for me.
bikes cool otherwise