OK, so, I got this brilliant idea that I could sell my 2015 CB500X and buy a GL1500 and get it cleaned up and ride it. So, I found these 2 bikes, a 1984 GL1200 Aspencade and a 1989 GL1500/6 for $500 for the pair. I had to take a trailer to the Spokane area, arrived at midnight, looked at them in the dark with a flashlight and loaded them up.
The next day in the light I got to examine my new bikes. The 1500 has 174K on it and the 1200 has 57K. The 1500 is beat, very few plastics are any good, but all there, it runs, but leaks coolant. I rode it down the road and it seemed fine, but the coolant crossover tube needs to be redone. Tires are near new, but yet several years old and I would not trust them E3's.
The bad news is that the GL1500 has a title issue and it is worse than I thought when I got it. Due to all the work it would need and the hoops and trouble to get the title I rendered it a parts bike.
The GL1200 on the other hand has a clean title that I transferred right after I got it. It also runs fairly well and I have ridden it. The shocks are shot so it was bottoming out the whole time, but it rode well otherwise. The cosmetics on it are not too bad other than some faded paint on the trunk typical of being old and allowed to sit in the sun. So, logic would say that I should have fixed up the 1200 and rode it. However problem #1 is that, no offense intended to 1200 owners, I think they are just Butt Ugly. I have never liked the headlight and fairing on them, I hate the goofy digital dash, the whole bike just is not my cup of tea from a style stand point. Second issue is that I wanted a bike for my wife and I, so 2 up needs to be comfortable and the 1200 is just not comfortable like the 1500.
So, I went out and bought a 1996 GL1500 SE, beautiful pearl white, very nice near perfect bike.
So, now I am left with a 1500 parts bike and an ugly 1200. So, missing my ADV bike I decided to build the 1200 into a Faux ADV bike. I have un-uglied it buy pulling off all the fairings and luggage, made it naked. I need to reshape the shelter to match the lines, but that will be easy. I pulled the front forks, wheel, tire, brakes and fender off the 1500 and installed them on the 1200. Yes they bolt right on. Next I am pulling the rear wheel, tire, and final drive off the 1500 and it is going on the 1200. This give me the better final drive and wheel from the 1500, it gives me better braking, and 16in rear with a 18in front that is better to get ADV/Dual Sport tires.
I will be installing a new 7in round headlight and LED turn signals front and rear. I have found a dash on Amazon that will work just fine. I have 2 spring shocks from 1500's that will go on the rear. This will add a little lift. A skid plate made by a local shop with a Waterjet will protect the bottom from damage.
This bike will never be a R1200GSA, but the way I look at it, if Emillio Scotto can go around the world on a stock 1100 Goldwing, this modified GL1200 should get me everywhere I would want to go. My buddy and I like to do Back Country Discovery Routes, dirt and gravel roads, forest service and fire roads, that kind of thing and this should be great for that while still giving me a great on road bike that will be comfortable for the long paved roads that take us to the off road stuff.
So, that is the story in a nut shell
opcorn: 
