Potential owner of '83 GL1100

[riff raff]

You're gonna be suprised how light it'll feel once you get comfortable on it. The only time it'll feel heavy is when you're backing it up even a slight grade. That's some yellow! :music:

 

[bronzestarvue]

Yeah, if it would only stop raining here, I'd be out putting some miles on her! I painted the rear racks and grab handle with some black bedliner coating, and did the same with the case savers. Haven't installed the case savers yet, still need the bottom u-bolt for the right side saver, but I might put 'em on just for photo ops purposes. Once I get 'em on, I'll take some pics and post 'em. Looks like a big old bumble bee, lol!

 

[bronzestarvue]

Here's a "before" and "after" pic of the rear racks and grab handle before the bedliner coating. This was also a functional change, since a lot of the chrome back there was pitted, flaked off, little rusty, etc. So a good scrubbing with a scotch brite pad and rubbing alcohol prepped the surface, and off I went:

So the back end is pretty much done, now I have to concentrate on the front (handlebars, mirrors, headlight and mounting "ears", maybe fork lowers, etc). If you couldn't tell already, I'm not a big fan of chrome, just more stuff to keep clean, lol!

Anyway, I'm hoping to get the case savers installed pretty soon, and more pics to follow!

 

[Tory]

That is a great looking bike,the front brake thing is probably related to the link brakes,remember the front handle only operates one caliper.You will adjust to it as well as the seating position.

P.S.
I noticed the lack of air deflectors on the radiator,or just didnt see them,You will want to find a pair.They are on standard models only as the dressers have it built into the lower fairings.

It looks asthough your bike is a 83 interstate that has been striped down to a standard wicth would explain why they are missing.(No tank badges or air deflectors so its a dresser,cast whels make it an 83,but not digetal like an 83 aspy)
These are very important to proper cooling.
Did you notice the bike run a bit warm in the heat?

 

[bronzestarvue]

Tory - thanks for the info on the bike, much appreciated. I'll look around for those wind deflectors (eBay, BikeBandit, etc), definitely wouldn't want the bike to overheat. When I rode it home after buying it, the temp gauge was a little under the halfway mark. This was a couple of weeks ago, and it was a bit warm outside. I checked the coolant reservoir, and it's right at the full mark, so that's good to go.

I was looking at the front of the bike last night, comparing it to what I painted on the back, and I think if I got a set of black mirrors, maybe changed the grips from those ISO-style to "normal" black rubber grips, I'd be happy with that. Kinda balance things out in my first-born brain!

 

[Tory]

Yes EBAY would be a good place to look,unless somebody here has a set.

I personally like the stock rubber grips over anything Ive tried.I think you are right on the mark.

 

[bronzestarvue]

Got the case savers painted with bedliner coating and mounted. Thanks Dan for sending the lower right mounting clamp! Got some new washers and acorn nuts at the hardware store, so the case savers are looking pretty decent (the spot that looks like I missed is from the flash, lol!):

Replaced the chrome mirrors with some black rectangular mirrors after these pics were taken, and got a new set of black rubber grips, but haven't installed them yet. I think once the grips are on, the amount of black on the upper front will in be balance with the black racks in the back, and I'll be good to go for a while. Some of my friends accuse me of being OCD, but I have no idea what they're talking about! If I was anything it would CDO, you know, where the letters are in alphabetical order, like they're supposed to be!

Anyway, looks like we're finally getting a break from the rain here, so once it dries out, I'm goin' riding!

Just noticed something on that bottom pic...a set of black rubber fork boots sure would look nice...and be functional...anyone know what size those forks are?!

 

[dan filipi]

The black case savers look good. I see why you did it, chrome would have looked odd.

What color is your front wheel?
Got a better shot of that?

 

[bronzestarvue]

Hey Dan - thanks again for sending that lower clamp! I think what the PO did was bead blast the wheels down to the bare aluminum, then either painted them silver, or clear coated them. They look silver, like aluminum. Not sure if it comes across that way in the pics, but that's how they look in person...

 

[mcgovern61]

The color changes with the black and yellow are real sharp!! I really like it!! :clapping:

 

[simbaboy]

Welcome aboard. The 83 1100 is a totally different kind of ride.

Cool, that's what I'm expecting. The Ascot really isn't a good freeway commuting bike, even though I get 50+mpg consistently, all while running it between 6000-8000 rpms in the twisties. I'm expecting the GW to be a good freeway bike, comfortable, good range on a tank of gas, adequate acceleration and passing power, good for a passenger, etc. If I get this bike, I don't think I'll be disappointed, as long as it doesn't nickel and dime me to death.

Robert, Love your bike. What paint/technique did you use?
thanks
simba

 

[bronzestarvue]

The previous owner did the yellow paint, I think he said it's Ryder truck yellow, lol! As for the black bedliner stuff, I used a small can of Rustoleum bedliner, because that stuff isn't as "lumpy" as Herculiner or some of the other stuff that's out there. I used a small Scotchbrite pad and either rubbing alcohol or paint thinner to prep the metal surfaces. I went to the dollar store and bought a pack of sponge brushes (I think they're for marine use), and used those, as opposed to "normal" bristle brushes. One thing about the sponge brushes: they apply the coating nicer than a bristle brush, but they absorb the coating a lot more, so I probably went thru six sponge brushes by the time I was done. I don't clean them, just throw them away and be done with it. I did have to mask off some areas, like around the base of the rear turn signals, and the area right above and below the metal piece that goes around the fender, and used blue painter's tape for that. Also, make sure to wear some disposable gloves when doing this, because that stuff sticks to your skin, and unless you wipe it off right away, you'll have to use paint thinner or acetone to remove it later. By the time I was done, I probably ended up with three coats on those parts. It dries fairly quickly, but give it time to dry or at least be tacky before applying more coats. And based on past experience, that stuff probably won't hold up to repeated contact with things like bungee cord hooks and such, so keep a brush or two handy for touchup purposes.

 

[simbaboy]

thanks for prompt reply
today I will go to Walmart and see my choices---Bright Yellow is high on the list
thanks,
Simba

 

[bronzestarvue]

Got to put a few more miles on the bike today, and have some observations. Seems to have a fairly linear power curve, in that there isn't a sudden rush of power when you roll on the throttle. It does seem to wake up a bit in the neighborhood around 5000 rpms, and likes to loaf along around 3000 rpms. It's a pretty comfortable ride, and I'm getting used to the angle of my feet on those pegs. Still getting used to those linked brakes, and I'm hoping I'll grow to like them. Otherwise, I'll tinker with de-linking them, and having the front discs work off the front brake lever, like a "normal" bike does. But I'll try a set of s/s lines, and maybe new pads, before I go that route.

Never had a big standard like this, so I'm getting used to how it handles. Seems to ride a little on the rough side, so I'll play around with the spring preload settings on the rear shocks, and the psi in the front forks. Right now I'm running 0 psi in the forks, and the shocks are set in the middle preload position. I had a passenger on the back for a short while today, and something bottomed out when I went over a speed bump in a supermarket parking lot. When I got the bike back in the garage, I took a look underneath, and it looks like what bottomed out was the exhaust clamp for the muffler. Maybe more air in the forks and one click stiffer on the rear springs will take care of that next time.

Noticed there were numerous folks looking at it when I was on the freeway, and riding around on some of the local surface streets. It doesn't have badges or emblems on the bike (except for the front fender and gas tank lid), so this one guy was looking it over at a stoplight, and finally asked me what kind of bike it was, lol! Gotta love that engine!

 

[dan filipi]

Sounds like a good day.

Mine 2 up will sometimes bottom on speed bumps.
Hard bumps and dips the center stand will spring down and hit the ground lol.

 

[mcgovern61]

If you are ever interested in the original emblems and decals, you can get them here:

https://www.crescentmooncycles.com/html/ ... 11004.html

Also, these bikes normally have air shocks. Yours has aftermarket spring shocks on the rear. Doesn't mean they cannot be set for a smooth ride, but there isn't much comparison to good working air shocks to absorb road noise! Try 12 lbs in the front forks!

 

[dan filipi]

A heads up, Crescent Moon has closed up sad to say. :crying:

 

[mcgovern61]

A heads up, Crescent Moon has closed up sad to say. :crying:

OHHH NOOOOOO!!! When?

 

[dan filipi]

Just in the last week or so.

Major bummer man.

I'm posting a message to see if he'll still be selling parts on the side or what and let ya know.

A link to NGW where I first read the news https://ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=375079#p375079

Sorry for hijacking this thread, we'll get back on track now.

 

[bronzestarvue]

I'll keep it badgeless for now, it'll keep those less knowledgeable folks guessing what kind of bike it is, lol! Finally found a spanner wrench to adjust the rear springs, of all places, at the local Harley shop. Went to two different Honda shops today, no joy. Figured I'd try the local HD store, and they had a wrench that looked like it would work. They let me walk outside with it to see if the opening and angles were right, and they were. So $11 later, I now have a spanner wrench that sits in the tool tray under the tank lid.