GL1000 Cafe

Figured I would start a build thread for my 1975 GL1000 Cafe. The bike has low miles and was said to have run well a couple of years ago. I hope to change the timing belt, rebuild the carbs, and get the motor running in the next couple months. Along with that I want to rebuild the braking system and get the bike back on the road so I can enjoy the summer weather.

So far I have removed the Vetter fairing, crash bars and floor boards. Also started to remove the stock bars and replace them with a set of superbike ones. I also have done a couple photoshop pictures of the seat area to try to find the look I want. Trying to find a seat cowl that looks proportionate to the rest of the bike is were i am having my problem for now.

Where I started:

After an afternoon of working on it:

Where I am heading:

or ( Aaron's thought. on the cowl.. lol)

Im not really digging the bigger cowl, but who knows....

Any opinions or ideas are more than welcome!

Thanks!

Sean

Bigger bike needs bigger cowl.

The words have been spake. Make it so!

The smaller one is a lot better. Some say a cafe seat should not extend past the rear axle. I don't think that is the case, but it should not be bigger then the tank!

The smaller one with a flat bottom (to match the tank lines) would look a lot better.

Are you going to make it yourself? Get some foam and start trimming away. It is cheap and not too hard.

Here is what I did:

And this is what I came up with:

After I paid $300 to have my seat cut and recovered, I found these.

http://www.hotwingglass.com/seats/dark-wing.shtml

I have some bits & pieces left from my build, do you need anything?

Dan

I've looked at the darkwing seat, just not sure if I like how square it is compaired to the rest of the Wing.... It is one of my leading choices though.

I am looking for pegs (rider and passanger) and a shifter lever. What do you have left over? Shot me a PM if you like and we can see if I can use any of it.

Oh been meanig to tell you... Thanks, this is all your fault.... LOL

Sorry, I bought a donor for $50 because mine had floorboards, robbed the pegs and shifter. I may have some rear pegs from another bike, how bizaare are stock GW pegs?

I've got some electrical, radiator, ignition and a box of junk.

My fault? You're welcome.

I've got floor boards off a 78? Been a long time since i had a GL1000......found them in a box this weekend while cleaning...

I like the middle pic the best. Lose the big ol' instruments and the heavy front fender as well, that will lighten the bike up a lot!

The one thing I sort of regret about my tracker is the seat is on the short side, making it difficult to ride two up. 'Course, that keeps the fat chicks off... Rusnak, that home brewed seat came out nice! Did you dissolve the foam or leave it in place?

Hey what do the foot peg mounts look like? For some reason i think i've got'em. I've got 4 pegs that have two holes in the arms with ruber bushings. They were in the box with the floor boards.....maybe i got'em from the salvage yard years ago ? who knows...

Love the seat Rusnak! Nice work.

Dan, I am so glad you opend my eyes to NGW's, I love these bikes! Ill let you know about the electricals, I may need a set of hand controls if you still have them.

44Dwarf, I'm not sure what the pegs look like.. Ill have to do some searching to find out. If they are the right ones, would you part with them?

Oh and..... To further prove my Motorsports A.D.D. I am having a hard time with a project vision... This is my current vision of hottness..

Yes i'd part with them sold the bike over 10 years ago....why the hell do i still have E36 M3 for it i don't know....

sanyarcosean wrote: ...Oh and..... To further prove my Motorsports A.D.D. I am having a hard time with a project vision... This is my current vision of hottness..

That is quite a vision and quite hot.

Mental, they ride like they look. Nothing nimble about it, just low, heavy, brutish, loud and sexy.

The heavy, brutish, loud and sexy fit my KZ1300.

I bought it, had it repaired, road it, got sick, couldn't ride it and am selling it for about my cost.

GregW

At a little over 600 lbs, I am not sure I would call them sport bikes, but from what I am reading a properly built and well ridden "Wing" can hold its own against most. That said, with me on it, it will probably be a pig......

That last one is really cool. I want a GL even more now.

Should I go look at this one tomorrow?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/mcy/2309547549.html

For a grand or less, that's a great starting place. On the GWs, there is enough space to mount an adapter plate and make the pegs fully adjustable and even more comfortable than the factory settings. Youse guys in Red Lion are smart, I know you 'll figure out something slick, cheap, and good looking.

I never thought you would hear me say this:

1977 is one of the first years of Gold Wing, back when they were just bikes with a goofy engine, not the two wheeled car they are now.

It's so rare I would not alter it.

Dan

914Driver wrote: I never thought you would hear me say this: 1977 is one of the first years of Gold Wing, back when they were just bikes with a goofy engine, not the two wheeled car they are now. It's so rare I would not alter it. Dan

who's using Dan's login?

and don't tell him mine is a '75 (First year) GoldWing..... LOL

In reply to sanyarcosean: I have a '75 GL1000, love it. I am looking for a seat like this! Any idea where I can get one? Thanks for your time. This is a great looking bike.

Hey i forgot to ask did thos pegs bolt on?

Even though mine is going in a different direction, I still think this one is cool.

Hey. Maybe I can find another $650 Goldwing?