I traded my VStar for a one owner 1984 GL1200A about a month ago, just in time to ride it twice before they salted the roads. So far I have changed the timing belts, coolant hoses, thermostat and radiator cap. I've removed some old halogen fog lights and a bunch of wirng the previous owner installed and have been sorting out the lights. The bike came with a Hartco seat that is very comfortable for me but left precious little room for my wife (we're not skinney people). I got an adapter that moved the trunk back 2" and I think it will be much better for my wife now. I had to remove the chrome trunk guard in order to move the trunk back. I think I may also remove the saddlebag guards and trailer hitch also as I can't see myself ever pulling a trailer and I want to clean up the back of the bike. With less than 47,000 miles I feel the bike is just getting properly broken in and is way more comfortable than my VStar.
Welcome from Sunny Southern California.
I too purchased a one owner 1984 but mine is the Interstate and the PO put 104K miles on her before he passed. He was 80 years-old.
You may also want to consider changing the main fuse located in the starter solenoid (the ‘dog bone’) with a 30 amp blade style fuse if that hasn’t already been addressed.
Go here for assistance:
http://www.gl1200goldwings.com/gl1200/sh...t=dog+bone
You may also consider reading all the Important Threads listed at the beginning of each category in the TECH CENTER to see if any of these apply to you and your ‘new’ bike.
Yippie, Yo, Kie Yaaaaaa!
-Ride On
These are dependable long life Motorcycles thats why so many of us have them,this many riders can't be wrong. The trunk extension is a must if you ride with an adult passenger.I'd think twice about taking the hitch off,it gives you a place for a hitch rack for an extra luggage bag or a small cooler for food and drinks on longer day trips even if you don't plan on pulling a trailer. The saddle bag guards may look like a nuisance to you but lay your bike over once and you'll quickly learn why they are there.I layed my 83 down at 60 mph.the pavement wore half way through the saddle bag guard but did'nt touch the saddle bag,saved me a bunch of money in repairs.But its your bike..just sayin. Just my 2 cents worth.
welcome from mid md/pa area
Ya what Neoracer said, I'm just a little further west
(12-03-2013, 10:21 AM)bs175dths Wrote: [ -> ]Welcome from Sunny Southern California.
I too purchased a one owner 1984 but mine is the Interstate and the PO put 104K miles on her before he passed. He was 80 years-old.
You may also want to consider changing the main fuse located in the starter solenoid (the ‘dog bone’) with a 30 amp blade style fuse if that hasn’t already been addressed.
Go here for assistance:
http://www.gl1200goldwings.com/gl1200/sh...t=dog+bone
You may also consider reading all the Important Threads listed at the beginning of each category in the TECH CENTER to see if any of these apply to you and your ‘new’ bike.
Yippie, Yo, Kie Yaaaaaa!
-Ride On
Thank you for the reply. I noticed that the main fuse had been changed to a blade type by the PO, so that's all set. I have been pouring over this and several other forums looking for important things needing attention. The other three bikes in my garage are mid 70s to early 80s, each of them bought new. I know it takes paying attention to keep these old bikes running properly.
(12-03-2013, 12:24 PM)sparky65 Wrote: [ -> ]These are dependable long life Motorcycles thats why so many of us have them,this many riders can't be wrong. The trunk extension is a must if you ride with an adult passenger.I'd think twice about taking the hitch off,it gives you a place for a hitch rack for an extra luggage bag or a small cooler for food and drinks on longer day trips even if you don't plan on pulling a trailer. The saddle bag guards may look like a nuisance to you but lay your bike over once and you'll quickly learn why they are there.I layed my 83 down at 60 mph.the pavement wore half way through the saddle bag guard but did'nt touch the saddle bag,saved me a bunch of money in repairs.But its your bike..just sayin. Just my 2 cents worth.
Thank you for the reply. I never thought about a hitch rack, that's a great idea.
The saddlebag guards I'm talking about are not the ones in front of the bags, but they go down the sides and around the backs of the saddlebags. I didn't see them in pictures in the manual and on-line, so I assumed they were an add-on by the PO. They looked nice with the guard that went down both sides and across the back of the trunk, but since I had to remove that one, it makes the saddlebgs look kind of busy. Am I wrong in thinking they are aftermarket?
(12-03-2013, 12:24 PM)sparky65 Wrote: [ -> ]These are dependable long life Motorcycles thats why so many of us have them,this many riders can't be wrong. The trunk extension is a must if you ride with an adult passenger.I'd think twice about taking the hitch off,it gives you a place for a hitch rack for an extra luggage bag or a small cooler for food and drinks on longer day trips even if you don't plan on pulling a trailer. The saddle bag guards may look like a nuisance to you but lay your bike over once and you'll quickly learn why they are there.I layed my 83 down at 60 mph.the pavement wore half way through the saddle bag guard but did'nt touch the saddle bag,saved me a bunch of money in repairs.But its your bike..just sayin. Just my 2 cents worth.
Thank you for the reply. I never thought about a hitch rack, that's a great idea.
The saddlebag guards I'm talking about are not the ones in front of the bags, but they go down the sides and around the backs of the saddlebags. I didn't see them in pictures in the manual and on-line, so I assumed they were an add-on by the PO. They looked nice with the guard that went down both sides and across the back of the trunk, but since I had to remove that one, it makes the saddlebgs look kind of busy. Am I wrong in thinking they are aftermarket?
(12-03-2013, 07:35 AM)becken Wrote: [ -> ]I traded my VStar for a one owner 1984 GL1200A about a month ago, just in time to ride it twice before they salted the roads. So far I have changed the timing belts, coolant hoses, thermostat and radiator cap. I've removed some old halogen fog lights and a bunch of wirng the previous owner installed and have been sorting out the lights. The bike came with a Hartco seat that is very comfortable for me but left precious little room for my wife (we're not skinney people). I got an adapter that moved the trunk back 2" and I think it will be much better for my wife now. I had to remove the chrome trunk guard in order to move the trunk back. I think I may also remove the saddlebag guards and trailer hitch also as I can't see myself ever pulling a trailer and I want to clean up the back of the bike. With less than 47,000 miles I feel the bike is just getting properly broken in and is way more comfortable than my VStar.
Welcome from Central Illinois.
Unless you have a record of a recent oil change, I'd also change the oil & filter before the season started up again. I'm assuming you changed the coolant when you replaced the hoses & thermostat. Many of the long time riders pull the rear wheel during the winter to change the final drive oil & lube the fingers with Moly-60.
If you don't have an owner's anual, they are several available at
http://goldwingdocs.com/Manuals. You may also want to check out the steve saunders goldwing web pages. (But this is the best Goldwing web site!!)
Yes thats right the saddle bag chrome you described is aftermarket and not a critical component.The ones in front of the saddle bags though are the factory ones and those will save the saddle bags and likely your leg as well (speaking from experience). Welcome to the site from Sunny Southern Vancouver Island BC
a little cold for riding at the moment -2 Celcius but it'll warm up soon it always does here, and when it does the note on the door will say..."Gone Riding"
(12-03-2013, 07:47 PM)PurpleGL1200 Wrote: [ -> ]Welcome from Central Illinois.
Unless you have a record of a recent oil change, I'd also change the oil & filter before the season started up again. I'm assuming you changed the coolant when you replaced the hoses & thermostat. Many of the long time riders pull the rear wheel during the winter to change the final drive oil & lube the fingers with Moly-60.
If you don't have an owner's anual, they are several available at http://goldwingdocs.com/Manuals. You may also want to check out the steve saunders goldwing web pages. (But this is the best Goldwing web site!!)
Thank you for the reply. I automatically change oil and filter as part of my winterizing. I put in new coolant and changed the cracked hose to the overflow tank while I had it apart. I also changed the final drive lube and I will be changing the tires in the spring and will lube all the splines at that time. The rear tire has lots of tread but is 6 years old. The front is worn a bit and is 11 years old, so they're both getting replaced. I really don't want to start a tire thread here but has anyone any feedback on the Continental Milestone tires on a Goldwing? I have a set of Conti-Gos on a smaller bike and I love them and once read a glowing article on the Milestone tires on a cruiser.
I've downloaded 4 or 5 manuals from the Goldwingdocs site and already have the factory manual from Helm. I like to have a book in front of me as I work. Out of all the Goldwing sites out there, this one feels like the friendliest and the homiest. I'm looking forward to my time here.
Tech support here is pretty good..like I said before these are long life Motorcycles and quite bullet proof when looked after, but face it they are now 26,27,28,and 29 years old so a Bike model and year specific site is valuable to us. Like you I'm happy to be here where I don't have to look through pages and pages of info which does'nt apply to my particular motorcycle when it comes to mechanical questions,suggestions, or for that matter to offer suggestions because we're talking GL1200 here not like apples and oranges. Good luck with your 84 GL1200A she's a good old girl,take care of her she'll get you there..and back to.
Greetings from Massachusetts!
Welcome to the forum from Ontario Canada !!