Buffalowing
Member
Hi!
My name is also Gilbert. I've been lurking here for a long while, deciding, between 1000, 1100 or 1200, although the 1200 I saw on Craigs list were way out of my budget. I currently ride a Honda rebel (tiny) to and from work, every day, take it to the lake, etc.
This Labor day weekend my Girl friend and I where going to make a road trip leaving on Friday to Atlanta, GA area ; returning to the Memphis, TN on Sunday night. I saw an ad on CG south of Atlanta, on a 1984 GL1200 Aspen, for 900 bucks, emailed them asking a bunch of questions, including what would be their best deal, knowing the ad has been there for about a month. They told me cash in hand 600 bucks, title, key, bill of sale bike, and all the dust and dirt it has collected over time. So instaed of taking one of the compact cages, I hitched the trailer to the Jeep and of we went on our road trip. I thought to myself, if I don't like it and don't buy it, that's fine, we still get to have fun this weekend.
When I saw it, it was rough, dirty, non running, stator not charging, 102K miles, etc.
I saw POTENTIAL, my GF discretely asked you are planing to pay 600 "grand" for a non running bike? I told her that if the motor spins freely I had a very good shot at fixing it, and if I couldn't, just by getting it "naked", seling the fairing, bags and trunk I could easily get my money back, not counting the countless parts, plus a rolling frame with title, so with the help of two guys (the sellers) we rolled her/him (haven't determined that yet) We got to Memphis past midnight Sunday night, trip was a blast, we went to different places in the Atlanta area. My GF went to work on Monday, yes her schedule really sucks. So I slept in 'till about 9:30 am, invited a couple of firneds for brunch/bribe so they could help me roll him/her down the trailer and up a lawn to the back yard. DANG! this thing is heavier than a hernia! specially compared to the humble 300 pounds Rebel.
One key, the original key with the eagle logo and the cylinder code, it works on EVERYTHING!, the CB, the radio, the ignition of course, saddlebags, etc.!!!I tinker with it from noon around 7:00 pm while the battery (looks new) was on a 2 amp charger, able to turn and fire up the Beast around that time, I INMEDIATELY called my GF, put the phone close to the exhaust and asked her: How do you like my piece of junk now? she laughed, and complained that I spend more time with my toys than her -you know- but she was also glad, perhaps not as excited as I was, just like a 6 year old kid on Christmas day!. When I first saw her in Georgia, it was tilted on the kickstand, so when I fired it up, it smoked big time, leaks, stator is blown, I wouldn't rev it above 3000 rpm, 'cuz don't know the condition on the timming belts, I fired it up last night, it runs on the hot side, but doesn't overheat. I'm looking at belts, poor boy + alternator, oil change, gaskets, and a few other things before I can take it for a real spin, but I'm in love already, I just hope i can get used to the weight and balance of the 1200, even jockeying it, is a challenge.
I'll post the progress of the bike under the proper forums.
Thank you all I've been reading for a while and really apreciate all of your knowledge.
Gil.
My name is also Gilbert. I've been lurking here for a long while, deciding, between 1000, 1100 or 1200, although the 1200 I saw on Craigs list were way out of my budget. I currently ride a Honda rebel (tiny) to and from work, every day, take it to the lake, etc.
This Labor day weekend my Girl friend and I where going to make a road trip leaving on Friday to Atlanta, GA area ; returning to the Memphis, TN on Sunday night. I saw an ad on CG south of Atlanta, on a 1984 GL1200 Aspen, for 900 bucks, emailed them asking a bunch of questions, including what would be their best deal, knowing the ad has been there for about a month. They told me cash in hand 600 bucks, title, key, bill of sale bike, and all the dust and dirt it has collected over time. So instaed of taking one of the compact cages, I hitched the trailer to the Jeep and of we went on our road trip. I thought to myself, if I don't like it and don't buy it, that's fine, we still get to have fun this weekend.
When I saw it, it was rough, dirty, non running, stator not charging, 102K miles, etc.
I saw POTENTIAL, my GF discretely asked you are planing to pay 600 "grand" for a non running bike? I told her that if the motor spins freely I had a very good shot at fixing it, and if I couldn't, just by getting it "naked", seling the fairing, bags and trunk I could easily get my money back, not counting the countless parts, plus a rolling frame with title, so with the help of two guys (the sellers) we rolled her/him (haven't determined that yet) We got to Memphis past midnight Sunday night, trip was a blast, we went to different places in the Atlanta area. My GF went to work on Monday, yes her schedule really sucks. So I slept in 'till about 9:30 am, invited a couple of firneds for brunch/bribe so they could help me roll him/her down the trailer and up a lawn to the back yard. DANG! this thing is heavier than a hernia! specially compared to the humble 300 pounds Rebel.
One key, the original key with the eagle logo and the cylinder code, it works on EVERYTHING!, the CB, the radio, the ignition of course, saddlebags, etc.!!!I tinker with it from noon around 7:00 pm while the battery (looks new) was on a 2 amp charger, able to turn and fire up the Beast around that time, I INMEDIATELY called my GF, put the phone close to the exhaust and asked her: How do you like my piece of junk now? she laughed, and complained that I spend more time with my toys than her -you know- but she was also glad, perhaps not as excited as I was, just like a 6 year old kid on Christmas day!. When I first saw her in Georgia, it was tilted on the kickstand, so when I fired it up, it smoked big time, leaks, stator is blown, I wouldn't rev it above 3000 rpm, 'cuz don't know the condition on the timming belts, I fired it up last night, it runs on the hot side, but doesn't overheat. I'm looking at belts, poor boy + alternator, oil change, gaskets, and a few other things before I can take it for a real spin, but I'm in love already, I just hope i can get used to the weight and balance of the 1200, even jockeying it, is a challenge.
I'll post the progress of the bike under the proper forums.
Thank you all I've been reading for a while and really apreciate all of your knowledge.
Gil.
k: :good: :yahoo: :clapping: :mrgreen:
