Questions for the 1500 owners out there.

[Omega Man]

I just had a talk with the wife and she agreed to help me over the summer to get to a budget of $5,000...because I've decided I want a 1500. I loved my 1100 but want to go bigger, and while there are some beautiful 1200's out there it really isn't that much of a bigger bike. Then there is the stator problems the 1200's can have around 50K-60K miles. Anyway the decision has been made and I have some questions regarding the 1500.

What kind of mileage can one expect to get from a well maintained 1500? There are many cosmetically nice 1500's out there with 80K-120K on the clock and these owners are asking a lot for these 10-12 year old bikes. Is a 1500 with 80K+ on the clock worth the money they are asking?

What are some of the things one needs to look out for when looking at 1500's?

Tires...what kind of costs are involved when buying new tires? I understand that depends on the tire, but since most of you have 11,1200's how do the installation costs vary?

Is it difficult to change the alternator? I've changed many on cars. Is it very difficult on a 1500?

Are they very much heavier than the 1100? I've been wondering what it would be like to put my feet down at a stop and my foot slips on some debris/sand/what have you on the ground. An 1100 is bad enough, how much worse is a 1500? I realize I could just Google the weights but I want to know how they feel in this regard.

That's it for now, I'm sure I'll many more questions when the time to buy gets closer.

~O~

 

[mcgovern61]

What kind of mileage can one expect to get from a well maintained 1500? There are many cosmetically nice 1500's out there with 80K-120K on the clock and these owners are asking a lot for these 10-12 year old bikes.

I have friends that expect no less than 150K miles on their 1500.

Is a 1500 with 80K+ on the clock worth the money they are asking?

What kind of money are they asking?

What are some of the things one needs to look out for when looking at 1500's? Tires...what kind of costs are involved when buying new tires? I understand that depends on the tire, but since most of you have 11,1200's how do the installation costs vary? Is it difficult to change the alternator? I've changed many on cars. Is it very difficult on a 1500?

Don't have enough experience with 1500's to answer these questions other than the tires are bigger. My buddy has an 1800 with slightly larger tires and they are not inexpensive!

Are they very much heavier than the 1100? I've been wondering what it would be like to put my feet down at a stop and my foot slips on some debris/sand/what have you on the ground. An 1100 is bad enough, how much worse is a 1500? I realize I could just Google the weights but I want to know how they feel in this regard.

The 1500 I rode was well balanced with the weight down low. I did not notice much difference at a stop between my '82 and the 1500 for keeping it upright.


There are others with 1500's here that I hope chime in! :whistling:

 

[joedrum]

1500s hmmmm triple A gets a little angry when you call them to help you pic up 1500 off the ground not take it to shop ...when you call and say your bike need s pick up :smilie_happy: ....oh ive never seen so black wire with no wire in it ...all vacume lines ...like a persom in a hosipptal hooked up to every machine kown to health care ....somewhere along the way your going to miss the old girl ...during tire change or somthin simple but takes a day plastic removal ....

but its probably the best touring bike ever made ....so there you go ive really over the top with things just some humor ....im sure William is the one to chime in with some really good info he has them both 1200 and 1500 and I know he likes the 1500 better ...and his experience with both is yrs so he the man on this issue :mrgreen: im just flapping the gums

 

[toytender01]

if you are an old fart like I am, you need to carry a passenger for the pick-ups :smilie_happy: They are well balances and handle well. My son took mine to 120 with no problem(well just me) :sensored: I will let you know about gas milage :lazy: :lazy: weight is in the 850 range. don't belive that guy that shows you how to pick up a 1500, I think he used camera tricks :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: Mine is a 91 SEI that I got at a terrific buy. My first trip was 600 miles and a great ride it was. The onlu issue I have had is the books are heaver than the bike :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy:

 

[Omega Man]

Is a 1500 with 80K+ on the clock worth the money they are asking?

What kind of money are they asking?

5-12K :roll:

~O~

 

[joedrum]

is een one on ngw for 3500 ...not sure at the moment where
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3774837771.html
hmm my woods if I had the money it would be mine

 

[detdrbuzzard]

despite the extra weigh and complexities i'll take a 1500 wing over a dressed 1100 or 1200 wing

 

[dan filipi]

Is a 1500 with 80K+ on the clock worth the money they are asking?

What kind of money are they asking?

5-12K :roll:

~O~

There's a MC dealer down south of me near Torrance.
When I was there a few years ago they had 1500's on the floor in $5k-$6k range.
All well maintained models and some custom fitted jobs.
I don't remember the name but I'll try to find out. Might be worth a trip to have a look.

 

[Piper]

I think I can be a little help here. I have two 1500's, a 92 and a 95 plus an 83 1100 Aspencade. The 92 has 113,000 miles on it and it still runs like new. There was one down in Phx that had almost 500,000 miles on it and was still ridden daily without problems.
I have driven all three of mine to Phoenix and back from Chicago without any significant problems. To be honest, to me riding the 1100 feels like riding a moped after riding the 1500 for a while.
Alternator replacement takes about an hour after you've done it once but they are pretty reliable. They have hydraulic valve lifters so there is no setting valve gap. 1800's went back to solid lifters.
Fuel mileage is a steady 35 mpg no matter how I ride it. 210 miles, 6 gallons, everytime. Where you really appreciate the 1500 is two up. My regular riding partner is 135 pounds and I feel very little difference in the handling or stopping with or without her back there. She very much prefers the 1500's seat over the 1100
Holding it up at a stoplight takes just a little getting used to (it's almost 900 pounds) but you learn to balance it rather quickly.
The automatic fuel shutoffs are a known problem but the newer replacements ($100) are supposed to be a much better design and it's easy to by-pass if it fails while on a trip.
The electronic cruise control is a great feature. On a long interstate trip, I usually set it on 75 and it pegs the needle like it was glued there, It's very smooth and quiet at 75, the 1100 not quite so much.
The reverse is nice when needed but I almost never use it, only use it when parked on a downhill and have to back up.
Dan will be riding one of the 1500's at least part of the way to Joe's house in August.
All this good stuff about the 1500's being said, I still love riding the 1100 and wouldn't ever think of selling it.

 

[mcgovern61]

To be honest, to me riding the 1100 feels like riding a moped after riding the 1500 for a while.

:whip:

Honesty is the best policy.......but man that really hurts!!! :smilie_happy:

 

[dan filipi]

To be honest, to me riding the 1100 feels like riding a moped after riding the 1500 for a while.

:whip:

Honesty is the best policy.......but man that really hurts!!! :smilie_happy:

Hmm, you may not get the keys back for the 1500 til we get BACK to your house :smilie_happy:

 

[joedrum]

well this is why I have a 1100 ...I can pic up a moped :smilie_happy:

 

[OldWrench]

Fuel mileage is a steady 35 mpg no matter how I ride it. 210 miles, 6 gallons, everytime.

I just love the looks of the 1500 but that fuel mileage is not good. I use my 1100 as a commuter and I'm averaging 47-48 mpg on a daily 100 mile round trip. I would love to have a 1500 but it wouldn't be for commuting to work, not at that fuel mileage. I rented a 1800 from Eagle Rider for a weekend and I didn't keep track of the fuel mileage but I do no it was terrible, but wow what a bike and more power than anyone should want.

 

[Piper]

Sorry McGovern, I guess I could have worded that a little better. What I meant was if you get off the 1500 and immediately jump on the 1100, it feels small at first but it doesn't take long to realize you're still on a big bike.
Dan, I think it might be in poor taste for the president of a 4 cylinder Goldwing group to ride to a group get together on a 6 cylinder bike. I guess I could always pull a couple of plug wires and it would probably be alright maybe. Maybe I should disable the cruise control too I suppose.

 

[toytender01]

A little off subject but years ago when I bought my first bike after we got hitched I told my wife that the 175 would be the only bike I would ever need. :smilie_happy: Used that line for the 250, 300, 365, 400, 500, 600, 650, 750, 1000 and it still worked for the 1500. :Egyptian: May try it again if I decide on an 1800. opcorn: opcorn:

 

[Ansimp]

Still a good line Bob. I am just surprised "would be the only bike I would ever need" worked when you have more than one bike :yahoo:

 

[detdrbuzzard]

part ofthe poor fuel milage problem when going from an 1100 / 1200 wing to a 1500 wing is rpm's , you just don't need to rev a 1500 / 1800 wing like you do a with an 1100 / 1200 wing. my 1500 has no problem with 5th gear and 30mph. gear shifts are done at 2500rpm. now you may say thats low butwith a 5500 rpm red line 2500 is almost half way around the tach. at what rpm are you shifting your 1100 or 1200 wing

 

[detdrbuzzard]

lets talk windshields. i have a wraparound windshield on my 1200 but that patio window on the 1500 make the windshield on the 1200 feel like a plexifairing

 

[mcgovern61]

Sorry McGovern, I guess I could have worded that a little better. What I meant was if you get off the 1500 and immediately jump on the 1100, it feels small at first but it doesn't take long to realize you're still on a big bike.
Dan, I think it might be in poor taste for the president of a 4 cylinder Goldwing group to ride to a group get together on a 6 cylinder bike. I guess I could always pull a couple of plug wires and it would probably be alright maybe. Maybe I should disable the cruise control too I suppose.

That is OK, all in good fun!! :hihihi:

 

[joedrum]

1100 :Egyptian: 1500 there both great bike for there time and even today ...