Kick Starting a ’75-’77 Honda GL1000

Starters are very reliable on GL1000s, but it’s nice to have a back-up. The back-up kick start lever is found only on ’75-’77 models. Honda deemed this extravagant redundancy was unnecessary and dropped the feature on later models.  I’ve actually needed the kick starter on several occasions to make it home when some aspect of the very reliable electric starting system failed. I also use my kick starter for another reason: it’s a good test of your bike’s overall state of tune. If it will start with the kick start lever, then you have a well tuned bike! There are many maintenance operations (like setting timing) where the kick starter provides some nice convenience.

hondagoldwing-1976-8-1024x682

Kick Start Lever Storage Location [Read more…]

Not so “Green,” No-Drop Idle Mixture Adjustment Method

I find the factory recommended idle mixture screw setting specs to be very close to ideal. They are listed here for the Honda GL1000.

Idle FUEL Mixture Screw on Honda GL1000

I do usually richen them up an extra 1/8 to 1/4 turn (out) to compensate for the leaner modern “gasoline” which is diluted with ethanol in most US markets.

But sometimes, you just need an excuse to do some high performance tuning on your bike! 🙂 

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Internally Collapsed Header on Honda GL1000?

Internally Collapsed Header on Honda GL1000?

Collapsed GL1000 Header

Example courtesy of Steve Seamans of NGWClub Forum

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JIS Screwdrivers for Vintage Japanese Motorcycles

Did you know? 

Every ‘cross-point” screw on every Japanese designed motorcycle from the 1950s right up to the newest bikes in the showroom today were manufactured with a unique JIS screw head design we don’t see on products made here in North America. JIS stands for Japanese Industrial Standard.

JIS Screwdrivers 2

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Recommendations for New Owners of a Honda GL1000

Here’s a list of specific recommendations I’d like to share with any new owner of an early Honda GL1000 (1975-1977). These are based on my many years of experience owning, riding, restoring and servicing these bikes. These address frequent questions I get and incorporate preventions for most of the common problems I’ve seen over the years.

Spring Fling - Elsie

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Honda GL1000 Tire Recommendations

Look familiar?

gl-1000-back

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Replacing GL1000 Side-Cover Latch Hardware

Advanced technical features abound on the GL1000. Even by today’s standards, the bike continues to impress. One simple example: the very positive side-cover latch hardware.

Sidecover LatchGL1000 Side-Cover Latch Hardware

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Clutch Reassembly Trick

Early ‘Wings have very reliable clutches that last a long time. I did upgrade the clutch in RC-003 ….one of many upgrades necessary to handle the increased output of the supercharger.

Disclaimers

Randakk’s Cycle Shakk LLC MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, except that the parts sold shall conform to the examples and representations contained in this website.

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Widowmaker 4-into-4 Megaphone Exhaust System for Honda GL1000

This custom exhaust system is currently out of production. Contact – Hank Thibodeau for more details.

For my exclusive Master Carb Overhaul Kits and other items…click here

Widowmaker

Honda GL1000 4-into-4 Megaphone Exhaust System by Widowmaker
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