Input on used 82 Goldwing

Hey,
Other than taking care of normal maintenance items like we do on our XJs, is there anything else good or bad about buying a used 82 'Wing?

I haven't seen it yet, but heard about 1 or 2 for sale from a friend (thru my wife) so I have not detail or prices yet.

One of them apparently has a tow pac (or similar brand) installed on it. (Good to have down the road or let the wife practice with).

Acceptable price range with and without the training wheels?

 

If you haven't already, best idea is to join a Wing forum

 

I'm not sure when the issue was resolved, but you need to be aware that there were stator issues....I kind of recall it being around 84 or even later, before they started putting better stators on. the problem comes up a lot, because people try and make the earlier 'wings look like the later fancier ones with all the lights, accessories, etc..... and the stators just werent made for that kind of load.

The repair is simple in concept--replace the stator.

the procedure is rather involved--tear the whole bike apart....you can leave the forks attached. The engine MUST come out to replace the stator since it is at the rear of the engine, and the frame is in the way of pulling the cover. Later ones were made so that there was clearance to do it in-frame.

Either put in a higher output stator, or get rid of the excess lights, radios, cb,, intercoms, etc.....

I put a higher output stator from "RICK'S" in mine......I'm in the middle of hooking things back up. TIME CONSUMING!!!!!

Dave Fox

 

As far as price, $1800-$3500 seems to be the market around here, depending on mileage, accessories, etc. Should be about the same range in your area.

I've seen some '85 and '86 models for less than $3,000. Wish I would have had the money at the time.

 

I've owned a '79 Goldwing for a few years and haven't had any issue with the stator but it was almost a naked Wing.

 

I love my '82 1100 and have really had no issues with it. One of the first things that you're going to want to do is put in new timing belts as this is an interference engine, and it may very well be 32 year old rubber that you find in there keeping everything in sync. Not a bad project though, I've found goldwingdocs.com to be helpful, and they have a how-to section which illustrates that and many other procedures. As far as the charging goes, I have never had an issue. My bike has the Hondaline luggage and a Vetter Windjammer with Vetter Sound audio. Ready to tow a trailer too, and if it ever gets warm in N.E. Iowa I'll be trying that. Honestly, it's hard to get on my XJ with the Wing in the garage also, the Wing is so smooth I catch myself speeding on it quite a bit. My 750 feels like a crotch rocket after being on the Wing, so when my wife doesn't want to ride along I have fun hard accelerating on the XJ. If youget a good deal on an 1100, I'd say you won't regret it.

 

I seriously want a Gold Wing that I can strip down & turn into something.

The one I rode was a later model 1800.

I'm convinced that the only way any other bike would really catch one is in a really tight, cramped city environment where cornering is more important. Otherwise, those things friggin' FLY.

 

Gunbunny.....I just sent you a PM.

Dave Fox

 

I have not seen the 82 wing in person yet or have any idea what issues it might have, but it's $3500 including the $2800 towpac kit. 44k miles and seems complete... Deal assuming no major issues?

Anything specific to look for besides bad tires? Try to do a compression test? I have the kit somewhere in my basement.



The TowPac is New.
The bike needs a battery/charge - I Don't know much else yet.



EDIT: Stored in garage for 5 years

 

I passed today and probably won't go back for it.
Very hard to start eventually - Old gas, sticky carbs, leaky carbs, very stiff choke cable.
Other than tires and replacement seat everything looked original including the rubber brake lines.
It might be a runner after carb cleaning, but I don't really want a project bike/moneypit . I already have one of those.

EDIT: That year wing might be more comfortable for my wife, but my legs felt cramped and I wasn't very comfortable in non-stock seat either.

 

I found another over price but cool (to me) 80 GL1100 with full vetter setup and a sidecar (mom can ride until I take it off).

I suck at making offers especially cheap in my favor... Thoughts?

FYI: This interest in a comfier touring ride is actually fueled by the wife... GO FIGURE!!!

 

I would say that's not a bad price. I found an '86 with a sidecar locally for $4,500, and it had over 40,000 miles.

The girlfriend's daughter is in a wheelchair so I've been keeping my eye on a few sidecars.

I'd go $3,200 and see what he says, after a good going over of course.

 

It looks nice and clean and well taken care of.

 

I had an 82 a few years back when i was flipping bikes i traded a 750 kawasaki for it bike hasd 23k miles on it. Was a nice bike turns much less rpms then the 81 did. It needed a starter so i took a chance when i traded it. Put the starter on it cranked it up was smoking pretty bad i figured the rings were shot. Problem was it was a little over full on oil changed it everything was fine. It was just way to big and bulky for around town driving especially with the traffic in the Atl area. About 20 years ago i had an 81 drove really nice also. The faster you go the smaller they feel . I sold mine for 1500 this is what my 82 looked like.

 

OFF TOPIC but it's my topic...

I found a Honda ST1100 and ST1300 for sale both about 3hours away in different directions.

The 1100 is a 1991 with some upgrades and recent work done $3900 obob
The 1300 is a 2006 with a trunk with backrest and bar risers added (less leaning forward from what I've read) $4250.

Our so called fun budget per my wife is right around $4000. Not necessarily limited to a motorcycle but a possibility.

Unfortunately, I've never sat on a Honda ST. In fact I rarely sat on Sport Tourers at the International Motorcycle Shows that last few years. I always figured out of my price range and they didn't look super comfy. However, they MUST be comfy if people are riding them cross country/cross europe on them and similar bikes.

Any feedback or thoughts on the STs and sport tourers are appreciated.

FYI: I've only ever owned my 82 XJ750 Maxim and 2003 Suzuki Burgman scooter (and the 3 250cc bikes I rode during MSF course).

P.S. I do like the STYLE of the ST1300.

I guess I'm a sucker for the non-standard-everyone-has-the-same-bike-with-different-addons-bike.

 

Put,almost 30k miles on a Ducati ST3, absolutely loved it. Super comfortable, with the right windscreen and bars I could ride 100mph+ for two to three hours at a stretch and barely feel like I was moving (I hated riding I-10 through the Florida Panhandle, so I would get across it as fast as I could). Ok that's probably not a virtue in the strictly legal sense, but it was nice and smooth and reliable. I wouldn't hesitate to get a Honda ST.