The water cooled F4 has proven to be a super reliable motor. I hope this one cleans up easy and I can ride it a good amount this summer. Socials: linktree.com/navsgarage
I remember motorcycle shopping in 1975. The Gold Wing was presented by dealers as a sport tourer. It was designed to beat the Kawasaki Z900 that could be a cafe racer or a tourer. Vetter frame mounted fairings were popular on CB750s during that time and riders started putting them on Gold Wings. So many Gold Wings were modified with fairings and saddle bags that Honda embraced the touring aspect of the bike and introduced a model already touring equipped.
I was Road racing motorcycles back in the 70s and 80s. There was a five hour endurance race at Summit point raceway Winchester Virginia, one weekend after the Saturday qualifying races .. there were approximately 50 motorcycles entered, Kawasaki, 900s, Ducati, RDs, CB 400 F, Honda 750s, and one 1975 Honda Goldwing.. The Goldwing was only on the market for one or two years, and nobody really knew what it was supposed to be. this Goldwing had two riders.. like the other teams, they would switch riders at every gas pitstop. every time that goldwing buyer?? came out of the last corner up and then down the 3500 foot long straight, it was practically silent, you could not hear intake or exhaust.. it just switched past, and it was that way for the entire race, which it walked away with, beating all the other entries with ease.. at that time, I had Honda sport bike, a Honda, CB 750 F as my street bike. I bought it new. My riding buddy had a 1975 Honda GL 1000 Goldwing, also totally stock.Call me he bought it new. of course we wanted to see which one was quicker when we got on the interstate. That Goldwing walked away from my CB 750 F every time by about 5 miles an hour… That first few years of the Goldwing, it was a wolf in sheep’s clothing
My roommate in the 70's owned a Honda dealership which I bought a 1976 750 SS. He rode a GL which was faster smoother with shaft drive. 50 years later I own a 1976 GL1000 in blue with 9000 original miles, original exhaust, seat, everything. Being 74 I don't ride it as much as I would like, but wonderful memories of past road trips come to mind just looking at it. Instantly young again.
I think you'll find it needs to have spoked rims, check your diameters your rear wheel looks small ? Maybe why it's hard to get on the stand. I have found with my 76 put plenty of weight down on that lever, on the centre stand , it wil help you get it up ! The radiator does have side sheilds normally but painted , you can clean the idle circuit individually by doing one at a time , use a heat gun to warm up the rubber elbow remove then remove the mixture screw, squirt brake clean through passage and compressed air . There is also a air jet on the side of each carb in the brass elbow , just get the hose off and brake kleenex them to . Synchronize the carbs . Maybe replace your timing belts first then do the points and static time them to the F marks 1 and 2 under the big alloy screw plug left side .cheers .
Center stand should be easier than that. Find where both legs of stand are equally on the ground. Put weight straight down on the stand should pop right up
I had a '77 in high school. But mine came with a windjammer fairing and samsomite sidebags (Got rid of them) I put a different windsheild on it. Those bars are there for a reason, And contrary to what you just said, They are there to protect the timing belt cover and the valve covers, So yes, They are there for a reason
in the late 90's I found a gorgeous, low mile, GL 1000 that'd been stored for many years after the original owner was spooked when he tipped it over. I rode it on several small road trips and around town on poker runs. It's a very smooth engine, like turbine smooth. Really heavy, and not a terrific handler - but nice and stable on the freeway. What's going to drive you nuts is the carbs. There're several "o"-rings that go bad and Honda has long since discontinued them. Must've had those carbs of a half dozen times and the bike would run great for a few hundred miles before it started sputtering and loosing power at higher speeds. Years later I'm back into motorcycling and much prefer my '96 Harley. A ton more character and so much more aftermarket support... give one a try, they're cheap and plentiful these days. Always have a soft spot for the GL tho !
Like I said in the video I’m not a cruiser fan. I live in Wisconsin ironically but I have a buell and that’s close enough to Harley for me atm. Other than older ones. I’d love a 30s Harley
Nice to see another GL1000 going to get a bit of TLC. I've owned my K1 since 1985 and still use it in the summer. You've got a bit of work on your hands...it has 2 different wheels? None of which came with the bike. Good luck hope to see it when it's all ticking over like a Swiss watch.
Yah it has a few parts that in the 2nd video I mentioned everything that’s incorrect. All of that will be fixed over time. It’s not all too bad should be mechanical sound in a few short weeks here.
I had two...one for parts. I don't recall your troubles with putting it on the center stand. I think I had a handle on the side for my right hand. I think it was stock. If not then it is a worthy addition! And lube your cables...coukld be original 49 year old plugs, too.
Like I said. The handle is missing from the seat. When the po put bags on it they probably tossed it. And the cable is junked. Otherwise yah lube will fix it.
Looks amazing ! I’m on my second GL 1000. My first was a ‘75. Now. I have the same but a ‘77. You wheels are not original, in Europe at least. Mine are spoked.
I stupidly didn't buy one of these, about 20 years ago. I knew the owner, he was an aviation engineer. He offered me the bike for a ridiculously low price, stating that it needed a new timing belt and tyres. Foolishly, I said that I couldn't be bother fixing it and let it go.
Nice bike! I think you will like it. The wheels are not original. You have 2 different wheels from younger GL's. A '75 wing had spoked wheels. As far as I can hear and see the carbs will probably need ultrasound cleaning and overhaul. The clutch cable is probably the reason why the clutch is slipping. don't drive it like this, you'll burn your clutchplates. Keep the good work up! I'm looking forward to see this "work in progress"
It shouldn't be spoked wheels? Something doesn't seem right. The front of the motorcycle looks too high and if you take the motorcycle off the central stand, the back will go down even more and the front will look even higher relatively and then it all together will look strange. Maybe the front wheel, which probably doesn't fit the year, came with a complete fork from a newer year?
I like the rocket 3 it's comfortable the bags and floorboards were definitely weird at first ,but it is comfortable. I like the vmax better though. It's a cool bike.
@@navscycles Motorcycles are not an investment at the moment. Bikes were a Boomer thing. The population has declined, people with disposable income has declined and interest in bike as declined as well. I predict that very few bikes, even the really nice ones, are going to find a home at the price the owners want. If there is a bike you want it's best to wait and make low ball offers.
@@JR-bj3uf Bike market is a little down right now. But everything goes in cycles and the market will come back. It is a buyers market and these bike will be hard to find as people like me and my dad find them and hang onto the good ones.
Beautiful bike. Those are not the original shocks though. Looks almost like an automotive part. There is also something going on with your wheels. The back and front do not match. A 75 should also have the spoked D.I.D wheels. The engine covers are missing the Honda logo, which is odd. Never seen one without it.
@@mementomori4972 It was a good deal but Ive seen a few for sale for about that much just did not want to travel and this one came locally and was cheaper than the rest too.
I never really 'got' the gold wing or GL1000 or whatever you want to call it. I'd call it the led wing, cos that's what it is. It was heavy not particularly powerful and wouldn't go around corners but we always look at seventies bikes with rose tinted spectacles. If it was a 'better Harley ' that's not necessarily a good thing.
I’d rather have that bike than ANY new bike…by ANY manufacturer. It lasts, and you can work on it.
I remember motorcycle shopping in 1975. The Gold Wing was presented by dealers as a sport tourer. It was designed to beat the Kawasaki Z900 that could be a cafe racer or a tourer. Vetter frame mounted fairings were popular on CB750s during that time and riders started putting them on Gold Wings. So many Gold Wings were modified with fairings and saddle bags that Honda embraced the touring aspect of the bike and introduced a model already touring equipped.
I was Road racing motorcycles back in the 70s and 80s. There was a five hour endurance race at Summit point raceway Winchester Virginia, one weekend after the Saturday qualifying races .. there were approximately 50 motorcycles entered, Kawasaki, 900s, Ducati, RDs, CB 400 F, Honda 750s, and one 1975 Honda Goldwing.. The Goldwing was only on the market for one or two years, and nobody really knew what it was supposed to be.
this Goldwing had two riders.. like the other teams, they would switch riders at every gas pitstop.
every time that goldwing buyer?? came out of the last corner up and then down the 3500 foot long straight, it was practically silent, you could not hear intake or exhaust.. it just switched past, and it was that way for the entire race, which it walked away with, beating all the other entries with ease..
at that time, I had Honda sport bike, a Honda, CB 750 F as my street bike. I bought it new. My riding buddy had a 1975 Honda GL 1000 Goldwing, also totally stock.Call me he bought it new.
of course we wanted to see which one was quicker when we got on the interstate. That Goldwing walked away from my CB 750 F every time by about 5 miles an hour…
That first few years of the Goldwing, it was a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Also soak the inlet elbows in oil of wintergreen and isopropyl alcohol for approximately 3 to 4 days it helps soften them, to reduce air leaks .
I always loved this bike!
Great video and nice bike
Nice find! You have exceptional good taste in motorcycles Sir.
Thank you!
My roommate in the 70's owned a Honda dealership which I bought a 1976 750 SS. He rode a GL which was faster smoother with shaft drive. 50 years later I own a 1976 GL1000 in blue with 9000 original miles, original exhaust, seat, everything. Being 74 I don't ride it as much as I would like, but wonderful memories of past road trips come to mind just looking at it. Instantly young again.
That is beautiful!
Nice bike, I see the front rim has been upgraded. Got my 75 a few years ago here in WI also. Enjoy!
The rear rim is a Comstar introduced in 78
I think you'll find it needs to have spoked rims, check your diameters your rear wheel looks small ? Maybe why it's hard to get on the stand. I have found with my 76 put plenty of weight down on that lever, on the centre stand , it wil help you get it up ! The radiator does have side sheilds normally but painted , you can clean the idle circuit individually by doing one at a time , use a heat gun to warm up the rubber elbow remove then remove the mixture screw, squirt brake clean through passage and compressed air . There is also a air jet on the side of each carb in the brass elbow , just get the hose off and brake kleenex them to . Synchronize the carbs . Maybe replace your timing belts first then do the points and static time them to the F marks 1 and 2 under the big alloy screw plug left side .cheers .
Center stand should be easier than that. Find where both legs of stand are equally on the ground. Put weight straight down on the stand should pop right up
There isn’t a grab bar under/ behind the seat. That’s why it’s hard to pull back. Someone took it off
I had a '77 in high school. But mine came with a windjammer fairing and samsomite sidebags (Got rid of them) I put a different windsheild on it. Those bars are there for a reason, And contrary to what you just said, They are there to protect the timing belt cover and the valve covers, So yes, They are there for a reason
I don’t recall not saying that they don’t serve a purpose. I believe I mentioned that it wasn’t factory.
water cooled not liquid cooled? Most Hondas of that ear were air cooled. The Gold Wing was the first water cooled Honda of the time.
I meant air cooled if I said that haha.
in the late 90's I found a gorgeous, low mile, GL 1000 that'd been stored for many years after the original owner was spooked when he tipped it over. I rode it on several small road trips and around town on poker runs. It's a very smooth engine, like turbine smooth. Really heavy, and not a terrific handler - but nice and stable on the freeway. What's going to drive you nuts is the carbs. There're several "o"-rings that go bad and Honda has long since discontinued them. Must've had those carbs of a half dozen times and the bike would run great for a few hundred miles before it started sputtering and loosing power at higher speeds.
Years later I'm back into motorcycling and much prefer my '96 Harley. A ton more character and so much more aftermarket support... give one a try, they're cheap and plentiful these days. Always have a soft spot for the GL tho !
Like I said in the video I’m not a cruiser fan. I live in Wisconsin ironically but I have a buell and that’s close enough to Harley for me atm. Other than older ones. I’d love a 30s Harley
Nice to see another GL1000 going to get a bit of TLC. I've owned my K1 since 1985 and still use it in the summer.
You've got a bit of work on your hands...it has 2 different wheels? None of which came with the bike.
Good luck hope to see it when it's all ticking over like a Swiss watch.
Yah it has a few parts that in the 2nd video I mentioned everything that’s incorrect. All of that will be fixed over time. It’s not all too bad should be mechanical sound in a few short weeks here.
I had two...one for parts. I don't recall your troubles with putting it on the center stand. I think I had a handle on the side for my right hand. I think it was stock. If not then it is a worthy addition! And lube your cables...coukld be original 49 year old plugs, too.
Like I said. The handle is missing from the seat. When the po put bags on it they probably tossed it. And the cable is junked. Otherwise yah lube will fix it.
The pilot jets are still dirty, released. It only runs at 2500rpm, idle is 1100rpm
Just put a PICT 34 carb on it, I had one of those with a single webber on it way better than the 4 carb setup
Nice bike. I'm in WI too. 👍
Thank you! Good to see some other Wisconsinites into old bikes too.
@@navscycles +1 another Wisconsinite looking to buy a GL1000!
Looks amazing !
I’m on my second GL 1000. My first was a ‘75. Now. I have the same but a ‘77. You wheels are not original, in Europe at least. Mine are spoked.
Mine should also be spoked in America lots of people ruined them.
I stupidly didn't buy one of these, about 20 years ago. I knew the owner, he was an aviation engineer. He offered me the bike for a ridiculously low price, stating that it needed a new timing belt and tyres. Foolishly, I said that I couldn't be bother fixing it and let it go.
And not the original wheels and I had one in blue with bags and faring that looked pretty d*** good
Yah I don’t like the faring. I rip them off all my bikes if they aren’t factory. I also have original wheels lined up to get on the bike.
Somebody watches Doug Demeuro lol
Nice bike! I think you will like it. The wheels are not original. You have 2 different wheels from younger GL's. A '75 wing had spoked wheels.
As far as I can hear and see the carbs will probably need ultrasound cleaning and overhaul. The clutch cable is probably the reason why the clutch is slipping. don't drive it like this, you'll burn your clutchplates.
Keep the good work up! I'm looking forward to see this "work in progress"
Yah needs a few things that I’ll fix over time. Clutch cable could be the reason but all old Hondas when you rev them high want to slip a little.
DID rims check the sticker
What do you think of the Danish motorcycle Nimbus ?
I’ve seen a couple. Similar design to the ace. Cool motorcycle, but I don’t know a lot about it.
It shouldn't be spoked wheels?
Something doesn't seem right. The front of the motorcycle looks too high and if you take the motorcycle off the central stand, the back will go down even more and the front will look even higher relatively and then it all together will look strange. Maybe the front wheel, which probably doesn't fit the year, came with a complete fork from a newer year?
The wheels and rear shocks are wrong which is why it may look off.
Why does it have a Henry Abe front wheel and a comstar rear wheel
po put them on, the stock spokes will be returned
Rims are not right, no grab bar. Those can be corrected if you wanted original look.
I’m aware they will be corrected.
I like the rocket 3 it's comfortable the bags and floorboards were definitely weird at first ,but it is comfortable. I like the vmax better though. It's a cool bike.
The front is missing it's Comstar wheel.
That’s what parts bikes will be for lol
@@navscycles point well taken
The price was right considering what this needs. Lucky people sell these bikes cheap enough where one part can equal a bike sometimes.
@@navscycles Motorcycles are not an investment at the moment. Bikes were a Boomer thing. The population has declined, people with disposable income has declined and interest in bike as declined as well. I predict that very few bikes, even the really nice ones, are going to find a home at the price the owners want. If there is a bike you want it's best to wait and make low ball offers.
@@JR-bj3uf Bike market is a little down right now. But everything goes in cycles and the market will come back. It is a buyers market and these bike will be hard to find as people like me and my dad find them and hang onto the good ones.
Beautiful bike. Those are not the original shocks though. Looks almost like an automotive part. There is also something going on with your wheels. The back and front do not match. A 75 should also have the spoked D.I.D wheels. The engine covers are missing the Honda logo, which is odd. Never seen one without it.
Yah I’ve never seen the non Honda covers either. For the price I got it for the couple things will be fixed. Po had a whole faring kit on it.
@@navscycles Yeah, those bikes are getting very expensive. Can you say how much you paid for it?
@@mementomori4972 I paid around 2k for this one.
@@navscycles That's a steal.
@@mementomori4972 It was a good deal but Ive seen a few for sale for about that much just did not want to travel and this one came locally and was cheaper than the rest too.
I never really 'got' the gold wing or GL1000 or whatever you want to call it. I'd call it the led wing, cos that's what it is. It was heavy not particularly powerful and wouldn't go around corners but we always look at seventies bikes with rose tinted spectacles. If it was a 'better Harley ' that's not necessarily a good thing.
It was reliable fast enough and designed to be a cruiser. It set the groundwork for the bikes to follow. First of its kind.
it was a dad bike when it came out, nowadays it looks a little sporty. but it's still too heavy, too complex.
No man, it’s apples and oranges. Neither could be or replace the other.
Those wheels are not original.
I’m aware. That’s not the only thing that’s not original.
@@navscycles I can't help but think that front wheel is a Yamaha unit, which was originally on the XS650/850/1100.