Hi from South Africa, new member here, i wasn't gonna lurk without saying hello

[thunderdome74]

Hi there
Great site guys, and a good lot of info here, Thanks.

Well i went and bought myself a '82 GL 1100(42 000 miles on the clock), as the the bike i normally take the girlfriend on (Fz6) was turning out to be too uncomfortable for her.

Something to do with the bum and seat area not getting on with each other.

So the GL came up at a very good price(800$) , and once i finish a restoration job i think it's just the ticket.

So far

New tires
Cleaned out 10 years of old fuel from the carbs, balanced them, fired her up and rode around the block.
Wow, it really is comfortable.
Fork stanchions are shot, so busy looking round for a set, or going to go the hard-chrome route.
Replaced timing belts

So that's where i am at the moment, as i have only been able to work on her for a day, but loving the wing.

So that's me
Thanks
Thor

 

[joedrum]

welcome to classic thor .....great you got through carbs and belts and riding already ....

 

[brianinpa]

Welcome to Classics from the other side of the Pond!

 

[backlander]

Welcome to CGW.

 

[mcgovern61]

Welcome to the site from across the pond in New Jersey! :clapping:

 

[Ansimp]

Welcome from the other Great South Land

 

[zman]

Welcome to the forum, You have allot done for just a day. You did look in the gas tank or clean it out too? 10 years is a long time to sit.

 

[Joep]

Welcome from North TEXAS DFW area...

 

[Steve83]

Welcome, Thor, from Southern California! Great work so far, lets see some pics!

 

[backyardtrouble]

Welcome, glad to see you here.

 

[Omega Man]

Welcome to the forums Thor. Sounds like you have a handle on things. Is it difficult to get parts there?

~O~

 

[Winger 82]

Welcome Thor :hi: :hi:

 

[thunderdome74]

Hi and thanks for the welcome

Ok, getting a handle on things ...? Not quite, lol, originally i slapped a new battery in, changes the belts and oil and thought what the hell, lets see if she fires up. An she did , but only on 2 cylinders.
kept firing her up in the hope the carbs would clear themselves but the cylinders on the LHS had filled with fuel , whilst not firing (unbeknownst to me ) and i had a nasty craaack when i tried to turn her over. (vapor lock i think you call it?)
Was terrified i had messed a valve or something up.
Pulled the carbs and gave em a good clean (all the jets and stuff had the petrol varnish everywhere.)
Did the float levels (way out) put her together and she fired straight up (i love old Hondas).
Then did a carb balance.

Parts? thought they would be fairly easy to come by, but the problem with the wings is they just keep running so there aren't too many off the road being parted out, a mixed blessing.
So the front fork tubes are shot and a scrap dealer has a set for me but the wants about 300$, which is way more than i was willing.

So as soon as i'm back home in Cape Town on the 25th (I'm In Johannesburg shooting a movie ATM) i will be sending the forks for re-chroming.
My only concern is where the stanchions are rusting, just below the triple tree, which may be indicative of a slight bend in the forks... a front end accident mebbe.
I'm hoping not, but will roll em on a piece of glass to check.

Master cylinder is shot , with the plastic fluid res having bulged over the years so i have an aftermarket one coming in from the states.


Rubbers are hard, so gonna do a wintergreen oil treatment on them.

Other things... the bike has quite a bit of rust having been outside, paint faded etc.
Some of the chrome/rust is beyond repair so i will sandblast and paint, as chroming here is just crazy in price.
Engine will come out and get a couple of pieces polished and the rest resprayed.
Inside fairing has a large crack so i will be getting some plastic of the same type and repairing it on the inside.
B(asically take acetone in a glass jar, stick a few pieces of plastic in for a day or 2 until they melt into a thick goop, then i sand the crack into a "v" shape on the inside fairing and fill
with the acetone goop which "melts" it way into the plastic forming a pretty strong bond. )

I have done this on a couple of cb750 side panels and the bond is very strong.

Will respray her, and was debating whether i was going naked wing of fully dressed.

Fully dressed it it, as i have enough naked/sports bikes for that end of things, i just wanted something for those unhurried tours in the countryside and i reckon for a 30 year old lass , she fits the bill.

She had no panniers on, so i picked up a set of beemer panniers, which i will spray to the same color.

So it's going to be a lot of work and i got a couple of bikes i've promised myself i have to finish first, but i must say i'm loving the wing more n more.

Looking forward to getting advice form you guys as things progress and i will keep you updated, but the projects take time as cash flow ebbs and falls, lol.


So here is, some pics, and yip, she needs alot of TLC, but that engine sounds sweet and the clutch and ride is good.






Tx again for the welcome
Thor

 

[slabghost]

Very nice looking old girl. Check through some of the modification threads. You can make her even better than new with a little effort and not too much cash. I must warn you though. Once you and the lady (bike) get to know each other. Those other bikes will get lonely.