Howdy folks,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I dig the forum.
Got my license about two and a half years ago when I took the MSF basic course. Looking forward to taking the intermediate this year and the experienced later. I'm a few chapters into "Proficient Motorcycling", and just soaking it up. So still a newbie. Anyway finally got a bike of my own last March: a C50T that I am quite enamored with. Wait, what's with the thread title then?
Recently, I picked up this old beast to have a project and some company on the road:
It's a 1978 Goldwing. Older than I am. Just over 50K on the clock. Seems to run and drive well considering its age. I took it out for about 40 cold, cold miles just after purchasing it. Unfortunately, I don't know much about it. What should I expect from this bike? I'm not much of a mechanic, but I'm looking forward to getting some experience with this one.
The only thing that jumps at me right away is that the previous-previous owner seems to have preferred riding without the timing belt cover on (!?). I've read this is a "zero-tolerance" engine, and that if that belt goes, you can kiss it good-bye. The belt and gear surface look great, but the sides of the gears look like they have quite a bit of (surface?) rust:
Should I do anything about this, or just get the cover back on and pray for the best?
Other than that, some of the switches feel dirty/stiff, and the outside of the plastic front brake reservoir looks fairly aged/weathered. I could probably clean the former and replace the latter. A few gauges don't work, but I've read it's probably a 7vdc regulator gone out, so I have somewhere to start on that one.
Thanks for any and all advice!