First Ride

[Jcol]

I bought my 81 back in March. It had been stored for 3 years but it was running. I've be going over it and have replaced both tires, rear brake pads, timing belts. and spark plugs. I've adjusted the clutch, both cable and inside adjuster, flushed the brake fluid and changed the engine oil. I also adjusted the valves while I was doing the timing belts. After each step I would ride it around my block to make sure everything still worked. Yesterday I got my insurance and plated it. Today I drove it to work. About 10 miles highway and 3 miles city. After my first real ride I have a few questions and observations. First it certainly is by far the smoothest and most comfortable ride I've had in a long time. The full fairing does a good job isolating me from the wind. I found the motor to be responsive but I was a little surprised about the low end torque. This motor doesn't seem to like it if I hang on to 4th or 3rd too long and get down below 2000 RPM. My KZ 1000 doesn't mind this at all but the Wing starts to sound a little upset using the same shift pattern. After I figured that out I did find that the engine revs right up to 6000 RPM with no complains what so ever. My other observation and this could be because it's a shaft drive is I noticed a fair amount of gear and possibliy primary chain whine while driving in traffic. A lot of this could be because the engine is relatively quiet and these sounds are normal. It not a bad sound, its just there. All this disappears above 50 mph and above and that is where the bike feels the best. These are early observations but I thought I would share them.

 

[CBH]

Congratulations on your bike. Please post photos for all of us to enjoy!
My Wing has the same high pitched whine sound when in high gear, and it also disappears just above the 50 mph mark. I believe it must be the nature of the beast.

 

[scdmarx]

My 82 Standard has a very loud whine in 3rd gear. It was alarming when I first got it, but from what I've gleened, this is a normal sound. Although my 83 Interstate is not like this, or at least not anywhere near as loud.

I think anything below 2,000 rpm in any gear, this engine is lugging. Heck, I gotta rev up to 2k just to shove off.

 

[joedrum]

carbs ron ...the 82 has the lowest first gear of all wings and sould take right off .....its should be noticably faster than the 83 if running right....anyway thats what i think when you said its stuggling to take off ...the wiening think im not sure of but all my wings seem to thereown charictor noises

 

[mcgovern61]

My '83 engine whines real loud in third gear also....real gear sound like the rear in an '77 Ford LTD. If you hear the whine when you rev the engine at the front, it could also be your timing belts are too tight and the adjustment rollers are whining.

 

[dan filipi]

Boy you should hear mine whine in 3rd pulling a hill 2 up!
You'd think it was a dump truck coming up the hill.

It's the straight cut gears I guess.

 

[mcgovern61]

It's the straight cut gears I guess.

Sure is!

Off topic...but....On Z-drive tugboats they use gears that are cut with a special machine that puts several different curves into the gears. Can hardly hear them when turning even at full RPM (4000 HP).

Back on topic! YOUR FIRST RIDE!! :clapping: :clapping: