Introductions:

Shooter · 12-30-2008

Just stopping by to say hello. Took a while to get authorized, and I forgot about the site until the e-mail showed-up.

Got my cycle license in 68, and have been riding 1200 series Wings since 86. Good to be here...

Lori · 12-30-2008

Hey Shooter, welcome to the site. Sorry it took a while to get approved but our fearless leader Adrian is out traipsing around the state of TX over the holiday's with his family and probably wasn't online much.

It's been very quiet the last week or so with everyone busy with family stuff and playing with all our new Christmas toys.

Feel free to post up, start new threads and invite cool friends...

we are growing and always looking for fun, interesting people to add to our site.

Where in Western PA are ya? I'm from lancaster, PA myself, just moved to TX 4 1/2 years ago. There's 1-2 others from PA and VA area too.

Post of pics of your bike too...

adrian · 12-30-2008

Sorry it took so long to get you set up; I got preoccupied with holiday cheer and by the time I checked the approval que there were tons of accounts registered and I had to go weed through all the spammers which takes a while. Thanks for taking the time to post up, though.

Like Lori said, we are small and looking for good people to keep company with us. Welcome to the site, and tell a friend about us.

So, with all that said: did you get anything cool for Christmas?

Shooter · 12-30-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lori

Where in Western PA are ya? I'm from lancaster, PA myself, just moved to TX 4 1/2 years ago. There's 1-2 others from PA and VA area too.

Post of pics of your bike too...

This one is my camp-site at a Wing rally in Georgia this past September.

About 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, town of New Castle.

Nothing special for Christmas....

Mark · 12-30-2008

Hi Shooter. Welcome to the forum from a fellow PA resident... Nice weather we've been having lately.

Jump right in and enjoy the site. There is a ton of info packed in here.

Custom85VT · 12-31-2008

Welcome, feel free to join in!

...and stay.

LowRiderGhost · 12-31-2008

Morning Shooter and welcome.

I'm saying I wonder if the 1200 GL wasn't probably the best of the series - you tell me? Had the solid and proven Flat Four but with the benefit of Hydraulics to take up the Valve Lash - pure heaven far as I'm concerned (I hate adjusting Valves!). Now of course the 1500 and later 1800 Sixes use (ugh!) blankety-blank Valve SHIMS to take up the lash. Can’t think of much worse then that….

I’d put on about 160,000+ miles between two past Wings, 1978 GL1000 (first year for the Comstars and Triple Gauges on the false Tank) then years later a GL1100 – natch’ dressed these out myself. Just sayin’ sometimes “new and improved” ain’t always better?! Least’ ways that’s how I feel about my Harleys these days (too), nuff’ said?!

LRG

__________________

Mistakes in this post have been placed there intentionally, and are present for those always looking for mistakes so they won’t be disappointed!

Shooter · 12-31-2008

Thankyou all for the welcomes.

LGR, I'm somewhat biased. This is my second 1200 in 22 years. My 1st was an 84 Aspencade that I bought in 1986. That was a wonderfull machine, should never have let it go. I'm showing my age, but I believe the 1200's are the best looking Wings ever.

The 1200 series isn't with-out it's faults. 1. Too many electrical connectors which, if aren't maintaintained can cause some major repairs.(the fried stators are the biggest hit)

2. Having to pull the engine to do a HUMANE clutch replacement, or stator repair.

3. Having to remove the case-guards, to drop the exhaust so you have access for starter repairs.

4. Having a grossly under-powered electrical/charging system.

But having said all of that, I still lov'm. I would like to try a 98/99 1500, but my common sense tells me all I'd really have is a better riding,roomier,100lb. heavier,12/13 years newer, with an extra gallon of fuel capacity,(to make-up for the reduced mileage), wing that most Honda dealers across the nation won't work on because of some lame ten year age policy.

Seems that Wyo-Tech isn't teaching basic motor-cycle mechanics any-more in this age DFI,ECU's, and puterized engine management...

Sorry to be so long winded, not sure if this is a rant or a rave...

Lori · 12-31-2008

cool, thanks for the pics....

I'm not too familiar with the west side of PA, I stuck mainly to the East. But I've been to Pitt a few times over the years and Seven springs to ski so I know the general area.

LowRiderGhost · 12-31-2008

1. Yeah, gotta' agree with that. Seems the connector 'clusters' were real sensitive to corrosion due to (?) washing the bike on a regular basis? Mind you didn't start seeing problems until 30,000-40,000 on the GL1000 but they did crop up.

2. I never did have to pull the engines on my past wings - installed a Barnett Clutch and heavier Springs around 84,000 or so on my GL1000. We did have to pull a bud's GL1100 Interstate engine to repair the Stator. I did pull the heads on my 78' GL at both 90,000 and 100,000+ just to repair individually burned at a time Exhaust valves. The first time it happened I had thought (maybe?) I'd let one Valve Adjuster (on the Rocker Arm) get too close. Second time NO for sure - the clearance was pefect. We just concluded by 134,000+ miles when I sold the 78' (90%+ compression and no more then 2% varience between cylinders) that just a bit of carbon must of gotten under the Valve Seats. Yikes? I think that sweet old bike probably ran on (leaded) regular most of it's life, without a complaint?!

3. Did drop the STOCK exhaust twice for head removal - the guards I did use though did not interfer - even for a Glymer Belt Change at about 80,000 (honest, the belts WERE perfect! Changed em' anyways...).

4. Absolutely! Though I didn't install anywhere near amount of extra lights most folks did on they're Wings!

LRG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooter

Thankyou all for the welcomes.

LGR, I'm somewhat biased. This is my second 1200 in 22 years. My 1st was an 84 Aspencade that I bought in 1986. That was a wonderfull machine, should never have let it go. I'm showing my age, but I believe the 1200's are the best looking Wings ever.

The 1200 series isn't with-out it's faults. 1. Too many electrical connectors which, if aren't maintaintained can cause some major repairs.(the fried stators are the biggest hit)

2. Having to pull the engine to do a HUMANE clutch replacement, or stator repair.

3. Having to remove the case-guards, to drop the exhaust so you have access for starter repairs.

4. Having a grossly under-powered electrical/charging system.

But having said all of that, I still lov'm. I would like to try a 98/99 1500, but my common sense tells me all I'd really have is a better riding,roomier,100lb. heavier,12/13 years newer, with an extra gallon of fuel capacity,(to make-up for the reduced mileage), wing that most Honda dealers across the nation won't work on because of some lame ten year age policy.

Seems that Wyo-Tech isn't teaching basic motor-cycle mechanics any-more in this age DFI,ECU's, and puterized engine management...

Sorry to be so long winded, not sure if this is a rant or a rave...

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