gravityisnotmyfriend
Active member
Just introducing myself as a first time Goldwing owner. Not really new to motorcycles or even Goldwings. My dad has been an avid 'Wing rider since about 1994. When I was 14 my dad, my brother, and I were going to take a motorcycle trip from WI out to Colorado. My dad had a GL500 and my brother had a CX500. The plan was for my brother to drive his bike and for me to ride behind my dad. Well, my mom convinced us that a 500 was too small for a 2up trip to colorado. My dad found a 1983 GL1100. He bought it with the intentions of selling it when we got back. The trip was awesome - and when we got back, dad couldn't stomach riding that puny 500 anymore and kept the bike. That bike got sold for a 1500 and now my dad rides his 1800 Goldwing. I've driven all of his bikes and am pretty familiar with them.
Anyway, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. I had always gotten along good with him and I'm the only person he knows that's really into motorcycles. He recently passed away and that's when I found out he had left his bike to me - a 1983 GL1100 Interstate. I talked to some people and found out that he hadn't ridden the bike in years. So, I went to pick it up with a truck - fearing the worst.
What I found was not what I expected. Clearly my uncle loved the bike. It was in a garage under a bike cover. In the trunk were meticulous maintenance records. Recent oil change, new tires, new timing belt and nearly new battery. My uncle's friend had recently taken the battery out and put it on a tender - so when I went to pick it up the battery was ready to go.
I installed the battery, turned the gas on, pulled the choke and hit the starter. Unbelievably, it fired up almost immediately. She smoked - alot at first, but eventually it burned off. I wasn't terribly concerned. It was just smoke out of the LH exhaust and the bike had been parked on the side stand for a long time. I remember that my dad's 1100 did the same thing when sitting on the side stand for very long.
She ran, and ran really well. The tires were low, the back brake didn't work, but everything else seemed to be in good shape. So, I loaded it in my truck and took it home.
Anyway, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. I had always gotten along good with him and I'm the only person he knows that's really into motorcycles. He recently passed away and that's when I found out he had left his bike to me - a 1983 GL1100 Interstate. I talked to some people and found out that he hadn't ridden the bike in years. So, I went to pick it up with a truck - fearing the worst.
What I found was not what I expected. Clearly my uncle loved the bike. It was in a garage under a bike cover. In the trunk were meticulous maintenance records. Recent oil change, new tires, new timing belt and nearly new battery. My uncle's friend had recently taken the battery out and put it on a tender - so when I went to pick it up the battery was ready to go.
I installed the battery, turned the gas on, pulled the choke and hit the starter. Unbelievably, it fired up almost immediately. She smoked - alot at first, but eventually it burned off. I wasn't terribly concerned. It was just smoke out of the LH exhaust and the bike had been parked on the side stand for a long time. I remember that my dad's 1100 did the same thing when sitting on the side stand for very long.
She ran, and ran really well. The tires were low, the back brake didn't work, but everything else seemed to be in good shape. So, I loaded it in my truck and took it home.
