76 Goldwing...

[Steve Bass]

I can't explain it but I keep getting drawn to the classics that I grew up with.
One of my favs was the original Goldwing, a friend's dad had one in yellow when we were haring around on our first road bikes and I always loved it. Seemed so cool, big, classy and just ran so well. Trips on the back were always an occasion.

So this little beauty has popped up local to me and I'm seriously tempted, especially as I might have sold the Black 1098S so there's room in the garage.

Or is it a case of never meet your hero's???

Edited by Steve Bass on Wednesday 30th April 15:35

[the cueball]

Love it... buy!

Could always sell it on if it doesn't suit you..

[Steve Bass]

the cueball said:

Love it... buy!

Could always sell it on if it doesn't suit you..

You're no help!!

[the cueball]

Steve Bass said:

the cueball said:

Love it... buy!

Could always sell it on if it doesn't suit you..

You're no help!!

Do it!

[MrAndyW]

I wouldn't buy one of them

Always wanter one when I was 17,but couldn't afford one. About 4 years ago I did.
Normally ride a GL1500, This is light and really good fun.

[MrAndyW]

The only concern would be the exhausts. See ifthe carbs have been jetted to suit,if needed.
original exhaust are very,very rare and expensive.
They are just like an old car (or woman) Need a little bit of tinkering with,every now and then.

[Steve Bass]

MrAndyW said:

The only concern would be the exhausts. See ifthe carbs have been jetted to suit,if needed.
original exhaust are very,very rare and expensive.
They are just like an old car (or woman) Need a little bit of tinkering with,every now and then.

Tinkering is part of the appeal for me. The seller says it's nearly showroom condition but there's a couple of little things that need addressing. The sticker on the lift up cover is missing and you can see the telltale paint ark that's less faded, so maybe a paint job is on the list. Spokes look like they are needing attention so vapour blasting the hubs and rebuilding the wheels is another thing to consider.
I might pop along and give it a look over and gauge the sellers flexibility.
I suspect I'll be visiting the model specific forums but at least I have relatively easy access to the US market where there's lots of support for these bikes......

[Triaguar]

I'd get it...how to pay for it? How to justify it? ...easy get rid of one of those grossly overrated Ducati thingy mi bobs you have.

........now ..you've picked yourself up!...you should have a baseline of how much you want that Gold Wing....

I've added a smiley face, some hearts and an angel...just that it's impossible to do it on this site

[Steve Bass]

Triaguar said:

I'd get it...how to pay for it? How to justify it? ...easy get rid of one of those grossly overrated Ducati thingy mi bobs you have.

........now ..you've picked yourself up!...you should have a baseline of how much you want that Gold Wing....

I've added a smiley face, some hearts and an angel...just that it's impossible to do it on this site

Too late me thinks!

I've gone right past the justification phase to figuring out spares sources, common problems, carb rebuild kits etc... I even have eastern ontario's best bike painter around the corner...... Hmm, I feel a rabbit hole approaching.

Now for the chilled Barbour riding jacket, hipster goatee and impossibly cool shades...

[Benni]

Go for it, at 23.000 mls this is just properly ridden-in, looks well-kept and has good Honda basic quality.
I would not renew the paint, those classic candy lacquers fade and it does not look bad for almost 50 years,
all part of the bike´s history, there is only one paintjob done in the factory.
Wheel refurb reads OK, I would do some subtle upgrades that do not change the looks,
check out if there are new springs & internals available for the fork, maybe drill the discs 70s style,
new headstock bearings, swingarm bearings & shocks ?
Those floating brake calipers need to be cleaned, lubed and looked after, but it seems the previous owner knew that.
The seat foam ages sometimes, although Hondas of that age had Bridgestone padding with India rubber content.

[RJO]

My first road bike, pictured here in Broome around 1978.
Had Honda 400/4 bars, a bad idea, and custom exhaust, with nothing in them so sounded good.
They have toothed belt drive for the cams, so make sure that has been properly serviced.

[srob]

Steve Bass said:

Too late me thinks!

I've gone right past the justification phase to figuring out spares sources, common problems, carb rebuild kits etc... I even have eastern ontario's best bike painter around the corner...... Hmm, I feel a rabbit hole approaching.

Now for the chilled Barbour riding jacket, hipster goatee and impossibly cool shades...

Justification works itself out.

I just bought a really beautiful little Amal TT type carburetter for a 250cc engine. It's tiny but lovely, rare and suitably expensive.

I was talking to my old man last night about it and he asked why I wanted it. I said I'm going to build another engine for the MOV Velocette, but I plan to build it as a faster engine. Get it ported, higher compression, different cam etc.

Great he says, how much of the engine have you got?

Well, soon I'll have a carburettor...

That's how justification works