What thinky Goldwing - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

4dtvman · 11-09-2006, 12:38 PM

Thinking of buying use goldwing 1988 with 8502 miles but I'll have to get rid of my LC1500, can't afford both any advice.

DrBob · 11-09-2006, 03:19 PM

The Goldwing is a great bike. But do you really want to buy something that is almost 20 years old? The low miles looks good on paper, but in reality that means that not a lot of maintenance has been done, and you may be looking at a bike that has all the original parts, fluids, hoses, tires, etc, so it will need some work before it is ready to be used regularly. How many years since that thing had an oil change?
Nothing destroys a machine more than a sudden increase in how much it is used. So if you plan to put 600 miles a year on the bike, it will probably be fine, but if you try and put 10,000 miles on it you are going to see a lot of things break, leak, and fall off. If you are a good wrench, this might not be a concern, but if you are paying someone to wrench for you a 20 year old bike might not be the best choice.

4dtvman · 11-09-2006, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm going to look at it sunday but I can't see myself selling my bike to buy a 20 year old bike either. Having too much fun with mine. Right now I'm going thru mine changing all the fuilds and brakes. Next spring the tires and I'll be set for a while. And I am my own wrench.

Thanks again

blackie1491 · 11-09-2006, 06:27 PM

If you are wrenching yourself and the bike has been serviced every year or 2, you can afford to replace parts as the new cost is considerable.
There are people around who have put 250,000 miles on them.

I had an 84 for 11 years and the best bike I ever had, just found the weight too much for a short a** guy.The ride is great, some guys wifes kept telling me they would fall asleep all the time.

stp1971 · 11-09-2006, 09:37 PM

+1 with Bob. I wouldn't trade the LC on an old Wing. If I get rid of the LC (which I am not) it will be for a new Wing. But with all the future to do lists I have coming up with this house ownership stuff I guess the Wing will have to wait.

blackie1491 · 11-09-2006, 11:01 PM

With your growing to do list, riding may have to wait.....

11-09-2006, 12:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
4dtvman Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: Suzuki LC 1500 and 2005 Honda VTX1300 Location: Tiverton RI Posts: 841	What thinky Goldwing Thinking of buying use goldwing 1988 with 8502 miles but I'll have to get rid of my LC1500, can't afford both any advice. __________________ Back in the saddle again

11-09-2006, 03:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,765	The Goldwing is a great bike. But do you really want to buy something that is almost 20 years old? The low miles looks good on paper, but in reality that means that not a lot of maintenance has been done, and you may be looking at a bike that has all the original parts, fluids, hoses, tires, etc, so it will need some work before it is ready to be used regularly. How many years since that thing had an oil change? Nothing destroys a machine more than a sudden increase in how much it is used. So if you plan to put 600 miles a year on the bike, it will probably be fine, but if you try and put 10,000 miles on it you are going to see a lot of things break, leak, and fall off. If you are a good wrench, this might not be a concern, but if you are paying someone to wrench for you a 20 year old bike might not be the best choice. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

11-09-2006, 04:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
4dtvman Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: Suzuki LC 1500 and 2005 Honda VTX1300 Location: Tiverton RI Posts: 841	Thanks for the quick reply. I'm going to look at it sunday but I can't see myself selling my bike to buy a 20 year old bike either. Having too much fun with mine. Right now I'm going thru mine changing all the fuilds and brakes. Next spring the tires and I'll be set for a while. And I am my own wrench. Thanks again __________________ Back in the saddle again

11-09-2006, 09:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	+1 with Bob. I wouldn't trade the LC on an old Wing. If I get rid of the LC (which I am not) it will be for a new Wing. But with all the future to do lists I have coming up with this house ownership stuff I guess the Wing will have to wait. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

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11-09-2006, 06:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,332	If you are wrenching yourself and the bike has been serviced every year or 2, you can afford to replace parts as the new cost is considerable. There are people around who have put 250,000 miles on them. I had an 84 for 11 years and the best bike I ever had, just found the weight too much for a short a** guy.The ride is great, some guys wifes kept telling me they would fall asleep all the time.

11-09-2006, 11:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,332	With your growing to do list, riding may have to wait.....

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