"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
07/26/2019 at 13:00 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good
3
7|
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
07/26/2019 at 13:00 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good | 3
| 7 |
So when I was planning my Indiana trip for last weekend I realized the Goldwing desperately needed a few upgrades. Time to bring this 1980 machine into the 2010s!
My Bluetooth speaker won’t survive a long trip and neither would my phone, so I added a switched fast charging USB hub.
Works great, even better than any charger I have at home!
Next, I’m tackling the lighting. I’m going to change out the headlamp housing for a LED unit, but if my experience with my Buell Blast taught me anything, it’s that a single LED headlight on a dark country road may still keep me in the dark when it comes to hazards.
So in addition to changing the candlestick of a headlight out (on order, not installed yet) , I added spotlights.
And for the best wiring job I’ve ever done, I was able to tuck almost everything away. The observant among you may notice these were the parts off Imperator Slowiosa III. Yep! These were no use to the scooter since it doesn’t have a powerful enough electrical system. But the Goldwing certainly does!
Switch for the lights blend in with the choke.
And in my test ride this morning, the lights are also pretty good for daytime visibility, too!
Next, I want to update the dashboard lights to LED, replace the return spring on the carb, finally trace down why my turn signals are wonky, and fix the hole in the right pipe.
CaptDale - is secretly British
> Mercedes Streeter
07/26/2019 at 13:05 |
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Nice!
and 100 more
> Mercedes Streeter
07/26/2019 at 13:08 |
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I love the look of naked Goldwings. I don’t know if its because they’re supposed to have fairings and it just subverts that expectation, but it’s like seeing an athlete stepping out of a bulky track suit.
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Mercedes Streeter
> and 100 more
07/26/2019 at 13:14 |
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Me too! Though I do admit that I sometimes want a windscreen on longer trips.
These older ones were actually available without any fairings at all! I think it was with the GL1200 that they went full fairings and never looked back.
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and 100 more
> Mercedes Streeter
07/26/2019 at 13:18 |
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There was a newer (maybe late 80s) Gold wing for sale near me, my really nice condition , for a reasonable amount of money, and for a moment I was tempted to buy it, and then I remembered that I have never ridden a motorcycle in my life.
Fuckkinja
> Mercedes Streeter
07/26/2019 at 13:29 |
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I had a 78 gl1000. No fairing or bags. They were an aftermarket option made by Vetter back then. Awesome bikes.
jminer
> Mercedes Streeter
07/26/2019 at 13:44 |
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You will want to be careful as the charging system is not that robust on an old goldwing. It’s easy to both burn out voltage regulators and the wiring from the stator or the stator itself.
The regulator is an easy fix, but the stator replacement requires the engine to be removed in the Goldwing.
The LED lights won't pull too much power so I think you're alright but compared to a modern bike the system is pretty fragile on the 4 cylinder goldwings. Honda just didn't anticipate all the lights and farkles people were going to add to the bikes.
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Mercedes Streeter
> jminer
07/26/2019 at 13:58 |
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Oh yeah, I definitely know that! :) I figure that so long as I keep the power draw lower than that of a fully dressed wing I should be okay. Power draw should be even lower once I ditch that halogen bulb up front.