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Motorcycle Forum / General / Motorcycles / August 20071980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models
I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000 miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end. I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel efficiency. When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by 8-10 mpg. My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds. Am I right? And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better at interstate speeds? Many thanks in advance from a new rider (kids are out of the house (finally) so the wife and I can have fun again), Mike Nebraska > I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000 > miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds. > Am I right? No. > And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better > at interstate speeds? > > Many thanks in advance from a new rider (kids are out of the house > (finally) so the wife and I can have fun again), Your GL1100 should be perfectly happy at 75 mph. Gas mileage will go down a bit, but an 8-10 mpg drop from your 60-65 mph mileage sounds excessive to me. My GL1200 would get close to 50 if I rode *very* slowly (50 mph max), 45 mpg at normal highway speeds (60-65), and about 40 mpg at freeway speeds (~75 mph). These numbers are in US gallons. I have no first hand experience of gas mileage, other than short test rides on GL1500s and GL1800s, but from what I hear they get no better mpg than the four cylinder wings. I suspect you may have a carburetor issue. I would check fuel levels, perhaps strip and clean the carbs, verify the jets haven't been swapped for bigger ones, and check the air filter to see if it's dirty.  Signature'01 SV650SK1 '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13 OMF #7 Thanks for the input. My mileage is about 44-48 mpg at 60-65 and drops to 35-37 at 75. Hadn't thought about carbuerator issues; I'll get it into the shop for a check. I could certainly be wrong, but I feel that bike should just purr at interstate speeds - and it doesn't; it purrs at 60-65. > > I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000 > > miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > '01 SV650SK1 '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13 > OMF #7 > Thanks for the input. My mileage is about 44-48 mpg at 60-65 and > drops to 35-37 at 75. Hadn't thought about carbuerator issues; I'll [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds. > > > Am I right? Are you using the Stock dimension sized tires, nothing too different? Bg From: Chuck Rhode <CRhode@LacusVeris.com> Subject: Re: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:18:26 -0500 User-Agent: Pan/0.14.2 (This is not a psychotic episode. It's a cleansing moment of clarity.) Message-Id: <pan.2007.08.29.20.18.26.717279@LacusVeris.com> References: <1188392819.825731.187040@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com> <13datejdnjee6d7@corp.supernews.com> <1188395267.911632.24400@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com> To: Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_webb@whoopingcrane.org> X-Pan-Internal-Attribution: Mike_in_Nebraska wrote this on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:47:47 -0700. My reply is below. X-Pan-Internal-Sendlater-To: Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_webb@whoopingcrane.org> X-Pan-Internal-Post-Server: Excel.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Mike_in_Nebraska wrote this on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:47:47 -0700. My reply is below. > Thanks for the input. My mileage is about 44-48 mpg at 60-65 and > drops to 35-37 at 75. Hadn't thought about carbuerator issues; I'll > get it into the shop for a check. I could certainly be wrong, but I > feel that bike should just purr at interstate speeds - and it > doesn't; it purrs at 60-65. I'm running an engine with about 30K miles. I used to run an engine with 100K miles. Both worked noticeably harder at 75 mph than at 65. However, I, too, have had carburetor issues. I believe your 1980 GW is a GL1100 with electronic ignition and conventional carburetion. These things are tuned at idle. If spark timing is off a little, that might manifest itself as loss of power at high speeds. I should think that anything wrong with the idle circuits in the carbs wouldn't affect high-speed operation all that much, though, and after all your mileage is nominal. If float levels are not consistent, float-valve sieves are plugged, the fuel filter is plugged, or the fuel pump is weak, you may be running lean on one or more cylinders at speed, but these are marginal possibilities. (The fuel filter is cake to replace, and you ought to do it right away on a new used bike and check the condition of the fuel hoses and clamps, too.) My money is on poor carburetor synchronization as the diagnosis of your problem. Carb sync'ing can be done at home with vacuum gauges. It needs to be done frequently because the Oldwings don't stay synchronized very well for more than a few hundred miles. When all cylinders are pulling together, you'll have much more pep. You'll feel smarter acceleration, but the effect on high-speed operation is less profound. Concerning fuel additives -- one word: Marvel Mystery Oil. MMO is kerosene with oil of wintergreen for customer appeal. An ounce/tankful of gasoline will lube your carb sliders as well or better than leaded gas used to. Signature.. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA .. 1979 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (Geraldine) .. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX .. 68° — Wind NNE 10 mph — Sky overcast. Light rain; mist. On Aug 29, 9:06 am, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w...@whoopingcrane.org> wrote: > I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000 > miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Mike > Nebraska First off, try some Seafoam in the gas to clean any easy to remove gunk from the carbs. Your mileage is about spot on from my experience. I've owned a GL1100, 1200 and 1800 at some point. The 1100 was purchased with 21k on the clock and got what you're describing for mileage. The 1200 was a little hard to estimate, as it had a sidecar attached. ;) The GL1800 got 44mpg at any speeds over 65 and if I kept it under 65, it was a tad better. The best I ever got was riding with the GWRRA Chapter out to Americade. One tank netted 51mpg! Yeah, they were that slow. To answer the last question, yes, it cruised all day at 75+ without breathing hard and got 40 mpg at those speeds. There might be another in my near future if the two current bikes sell by spring. Its either that or a new Connie. <g> Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily available at car parts stores?) And then get it into the shop for a once-over on the carb. We just got this one (our first in over 15 years) in May and are already thinking of a newer model. Love the Goldwings! Mike > First off, try some Seafoam in the gas to clean any easy to remove > gunk from the carbs. Your mileage is about spot on from my [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > if the two current bikes sell by spring. Its either that or a new > Connie. <g> On Aug 29, 10:25 am, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w...@whoopingcrane.org> wrote: > Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily > available at car parts stores?) And then get it into the shop for a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Mike Yes, any major auto parts store should have it. Most dealers won't touch your bike anymore. It's too old and a carb rebuild is nearly $600 from them. Parts are not readily available from Honda either. Ride it a couple tanks with the additive and enjoy. I have a GL1200 ('84 Standard) and my local Honda dealer doesn't even bat an eye servicing it. Never had a problem with them getting parts either. They may not want to work on an old 750 or something like that, but I think the Goldwings are pretty much supported for life. > On Aug 29, 10:25 am, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w...@whoopingcrane.org> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > $600 from them. Parts are not readily available from Honda either. > Ride it a couple tanks with the additive and enjoy. Unrevealed Source wrote this on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:25:14 -0400. My reply is below. > I have a GL1200 ('84 Standard) and my local Honda dealer doesn't > even bat an eye servicing it. Never had a problem with them getting > parts either. They may not want to work on an old 750 or something > like that, but I think the Goldwings are pretty much supported for > life. I've had a dealer play hard to get about servicing Geraldine (1979). What a difference five years makes, eh? There are parts that are no longer in stock for her: Centrifugal spark advance, brake pistons, and swing-arm bearing collars come to mind. Brake pistons are available from third parties. Swing-arm bearing collars can be fabricated by your local machine shop. Signature.. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA .. 1979 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (Geraldine) .. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX .. 58° — Wind N 8 mph Thanks to all the posts; great info. > Unrevealed Source wrote this on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:25:14 -0400. My > reply is below. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > .. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX > .. 58? - Wind N 8 mph >Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily >available at car parts stores?) Don't waste your time and money with Seafoam. You're not trying to store an outboard motor. Seafoam has mild solvents and oil to stop the cylinder walls of a two stroke engine from rusting. Techron Concentrate is a waste of time too. It's designed to clean deposits off your intake valves. Fuel system cleaners won't do the job either. They contain oily solvents that clean fuel injectors. Berryman B12 Chemtool Choke and Carburetor Cleaner contains toluene, acetone, methyl alcohol, xylene, etc, and comes in a handy 15 ounce non-aerosol can. B12 quickly dissolves the gum and varnish clogging your carburetors. Just mix 4 or 5 ounces of B12 with a tank of fresh gas and go for a ride and it will clean your carbs. You'll know the carbs are cleaner when the idle RPM increases. If you don't know where your idle speed screw is at, find out, because you'll be turning the speed down. Thanks, I didn't know that. On Aug 29, 11:04 am, "Albrecht via MotorcycleKB.com" <u33665@uwe> wrote: > >Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily > >available at car parts stores?) [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > -- > Message posted via MotorcycleKB.comhttp://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/bike/200708/1 Incorrect. Seafoam works great. >>Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily >>available at car parts stores?) [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > you'll > be turning the speed down. On 29 Aug, 15:06, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w...@whoopingcrane.org> wrote: > I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000 > miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by > 8-10 mpg. I'd expect this. My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower > speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds. > Am I right? No > And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better > at interstate speeds? Yes >I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000 >miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >Mike >Nebraska Apparently, it wasn't that lovingly taken care of or you would not be experiencing this problem. Generally, carburetion problems happen at lower RPMs and ignition and valve problems manifest at higher RPMs. Find a good mechanic and get it checked out. That bike should be able to ride at 100mph with little effort. Ben On Aug 29, 11:43 am, Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000- doll...@pobox.com> wrote: Will do. The couple I bought it from used it for car/bike shows and rode it only a couple times a year. > Apparently, it wasn't that lovingly taken care of or you would not be > experiencing this problem. Generally, carburetion problems happen at lower RPMs [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Ben >On Aug 29, 11:43 am, Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000- >doll...@pobox.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> >> Ben Either that or it's actually the 2nd time around the speedo <g> Ben > On Aug 29, 11:43 am, Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000- > doll...@pobox.com> wrote: > > Will do. The couple I bought it from used it for car/bike shows and > rode it only a couple times a year. Don't know what you've got for carbs, but the carb slides on my Nighthawk 750 used to stick after sitting all winter. You might have gummed up carbs if they seldom rode it, but as others have pointed out you probably shouldn't expect to get better mileage at 75 than 65. Robert |
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