1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models

On Aug 29, 9:06 am, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w... RemoveThis @whoopingcrane.org>
wrote:
> I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000
> miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end.
>
> I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel
> efficiency. When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels
> like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by
> 8-10 mpg. My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower
> speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds.
> Am I right?
>
> And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better
> at interstate speeds?
>
> Many thanks in advance from a new rider (kids are out of the house
> (finally) so the wife and I can have fun again),
>
> Mike
> Nebraska

First off, try some Seafoam in the gas to clean any easy to remove
gunk from the carbs. Your mileage is about spot on from my
experience. I've owned a GL1100, 1200 and 1800 at some point. The
1100 was purchased with 21k on the clock and got what you're
describing for mileage. The 1200 was a little hard to estimate, as it
had a sidecar attached. The GL1800 got 44mpg at any speeds over
65 and if I kept it under 65, it was a tad better. The best I ever
got was riding with the GWRRA Chapter out to Americade. One tank
netted 51mpg! Yeah, they were that slow. To answer the last
question, yes, it cruised all day at 75+ without breathing hard and
got 40 mpg at those speeds. There might be another in my near future
if the two current bikes sell by spring. Its either that or a new
Connie. <g>
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily
available at car parts stores?) And then get it into the shop for a
once-over on the carb.
We just got this one (our first in over 15 years) in May and are
already thinking of a newer model. Love the Goldwings!

Mike
>
> First off, try some Seafoam in the gas to clean any easy to remove
> gunk from the carbs. Your mileage is about spot on from my
> experience. I've owned a GL1100, 1200 and 1800 at some point. The
> 1100 was purchased with 21k on the clock and got what you're
> describing for mileage. The 1200 was a little hard to estimate, as it
> had a sidecar attached. The GL1800 got 44mpg at any speeds over
> 65 and if I kept it under 65, it was a tad better. The best I ever
> got was riding with the GWRRA Chapter out to Americade. One tank
> netted 51mpg! Yeah, they were that slow. To answer the last
> question, yes, it cruised all day at 75+ without breathing hard and
> got 40 mpg at those speeds. There might be another in my near future
> if the two current bikes sell by spring. Its either that or a new
> Connie. <g>
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

On Aug 29, 10:25 am, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w....TakeThisOut@whoopingcrane.org>
wrote:
> Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily
> available at car parts stores?) And then get it into the shop for a
> once-over on the carb.
> We just got this one (our first in over 15 years) in May and are
> already thinking of a newer model. Love the Goldwings!
>
> Mike

Yes, any major auto parts store should have it. Most dealers won't
touch your bike anymore. It's too old and a carb rebuild is nearly
$600 from them. Parts are not readily available from Honda either.
Ride it a couple tanks with the additive and enjoy.
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

On 29 Aug, 15:06, Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_w... RemoveThis @whoopingcrane.org>
wrote:
> I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000
> miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end.
>
> I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel
> efficiency. When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels
> like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by
> 8-10 mpg.

I'd expect this.

My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower
> speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds.
> Am I right?

No
>
> And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better
> at interstate speeds?

Yes
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:
> I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000
> miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end.
>
> I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel
> efficiency. When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels
> like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by
> 8-10 mpg. My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower
> speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds.
> Am I right?

No.

> And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better
> at interstate speeds?
>
> Many thanks in advance from a new rider (kids are out of the house
> (finally) so the wife and I can have fun again),

Your GL1100 should be perfectly happy at 75 mph. Gas mileage will go
down a bit, but an 8-10 mpg drop from your 60-65 mph mileage sounds
excessive to me. My GL1200 would get close to 50 if I rode *very*
slowly (50 mph max), 45 mpg at normal highway speeds (60-65), and
about 40 mpg at freeway speeds (~75 mph). These numbers are in US
gallons.

I have no first hand experience of gas mileage, other than short test
rides on GL1500s and GL1800s, but from what I hear they get no better
mpg than the four cylinder wings.

I suspect you may have a carburetor issue. I would check fuel levels,
perhaps strip and clean the carbs, verify the jets haven't been swapped
for bigger ones, and check the air filter to see if it's dirty.

--
'01 SV650SK1 '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

Thanks, I didn't know that.

On Aug 29, 11:04 am, "Albrecht via MotorcycleKB.com" <u33665@uwe>
wrote:
> Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:
> >Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily
> >available at car parts stores?)
>
> Don't waste your time and money with Seafoam. You're not trying to store an
> outboard motor. Seafoam has mild solvents and oil to stop the cylinder walls
> of a two stroke engine from rusting.
>
> Techron Concentrate is a waste of time too. It's designed to clean deposits
> off your intake valves.
>
> Fuel system cleaners won't do the job either. They contain oily solvents that
> clean fuel injectors.
>
> Berryman B12 Chemtool Choke and Carburetor Cleaner contains toluene, acetone,
> methyl alcohol, xylene, etc, and comes in a handy 15 ounce non-aerosol can.
>
> B12 quickly dissolves the gum and varnish clogging your carburetors.
>
> Just mix 4 or 5 ounces of B12 with a tank of fresh gas and go for a ride and
> it will clean your carbs. You'll know the carbs are cleaner when the idle RPM
> increases.
>
> If you don't know where your idle speed screw is at, find out, because you'll
> be turning the speed down.
>
> --
> Message posted via MotorcycleKB.comhttp://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/bike/200708/1
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

On Aug 29, 11:43 am, Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000-
doll....RemoveThis@pobox.com> wrote:

Will do. The couple I bought it from used it for car/bike shows and
rode it only a couple times a year.

>
> Apparently, it wasn't that lovingly taken care of or you would not be
> experiencing this problem. Generally, carburetion problems happen at lower RPMs
> and ignition and valve problems manifest at higher RPMs.
> Find a good mechanic and get it checked out. That bike should be able to ride
> at 100mph with little effort.
>
> Ben
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:06:59 -0700, Mike_in_Nebraska
<mike_webb DeleteThis @whoopingcrane.org> wrote:

>I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000
>miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end.
>
>I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel
>efficiency. When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels
>like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by
>8-10 mpg. My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower
>speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds.
>Am I right?
>
>And what about newer models (2001 and newer)? Do they cruise better
>at interstate speeds?
>
>Many thanks in advance from a new rider (kids are out of the house
>(finally) so the wife and I can have fun again),
>
>Mike
>Nebraska

Apparently, it wasn't that lovingly taken care of or you would not be
experiencing this problem. Generally, carburetion problems happen at lower RPMs
and ignition and valve problems manifest at higher RPMs.
Find a good mechanic and get it checked out. That bike should be able to ride
at 100mph with little effort.

Ben
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:
> Thanks for the input. My mileage is about 44-48 mpg at 60-65 and
> drops to 35-37 at 75. Hadn't thought about carbuerator issues; I'll
> get it into the shop for a check. I could certainly be wrong, but I
> feel that bike should just purr at interstate speeds - and it doesn't;
> it purrs at 60-65.
>
> On Aug 29, 8:34 am, Mark Olson <ols....DeleteThis@tiny.invalid> wrote:
> > Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:
> > > I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000
> > > miles. No complaints, but am curious about it's top end.
> >
> > > I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel
> > > efficiency. When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels
> > > like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by
> > > 8-10 mpg. My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower
> > > speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds.
> > > Am I right?
> >
Are you using the Stock dimension sized tires, nothing too different?
Bg
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

From: Chuck Rhode <CRhode.RemoveThis@LacusVeris.com>
Subject: Re: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:18:26 -0500
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<1188395267.911632.24400.RemoveThis@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>
To: Mike_in_Nebraska <mike_webb.RemoveThis@whoopingcrane.org>
X-Pan-Internal-Attribution: Mike_in_Nebraska wrote this on Wed, 29 Aug 2007
06:47:47 -0700. My reply is below.
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Mike_in_Nebraska wrote this on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:47:47 -0700. My
reply is below.

> Thanks for the input. My mileage is about 44-48 mpg at 60-65 and
> drops to 35-37 at 75. Hadn't thought about carbuerator issues; I'll
> get it into the shop for a check. I could certainly be wrong, but I
> feel that bike should just purr at interstate speeds - and it
> doesn't; it purrs at 60-65.

I'm running an engine with about 30K miles. I used to run an engine
with 100K miles. Both worked noticeably harder at 75 mph than at 65.
However, I, too, have had carburetor issues.

I believe your 1980 GW is a GL1100 with electronic ignition and
conventional carburetion. These things are tuned at idle. If spark
timing is off a little, that might manifest itself as loss of power at
high speeds. I should think that anything wrong with the idle
circuits in the carbs wouldn't affect high-speed operation all that
much, though, and after all your mileage is nominal. If float levels
are not consistent, float-valve sieves are plugged, the fuel filter is
plugged, or the fuel pump is weak, you may be running lean on one or
more cylinders at speed, but these are marginal possibilities. (The
fuel filter is cake to replace, and you ought to do it right away on a
new used bike and check the condition of the fuel hoses and clamps,
too.)

My money is on poor carburetor synchronization as the diagnosis of
your problem. Carb sync'ing can be done at home with vacuum gauges.
It needs to be done frequently because the Oldwings don't stay
synchronized very well for more than a few hundred miles. When all
cylinders are pulling together, you'll have much more pep. You'll
feel smarter acceleration, but the effect on high-speed operation is
less profound.

Concerning fuel additives -- one word: Marvel Mystery Oil. MMO is
kerosene with oil of wintergreen for customer appeal. An
ounce/tankful of gasoline will lube your carb sliders as well or
better than leaded gas used to.

--
... Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA
... 1979 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (Geraldine)
... Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX
... 68° — Wind NNE 10 mph — Sky overcast. Light rain; mist.
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:
>Great info! I'll do that with the Seafoam (I assume it's readily
>available at car parts stores?)

Don't waste your time and money with Seafoam. You're not trying to store an
outboard motor. Seafoam has mild solvents and oil to stop the cylinder walls
of a two stroke engine from rusting.

Techron Concentrate is a waste of time too. It's designed to clean deposits
off your intake valves.

Fuel system cleaners won't do the job either. They contain oily solvents that
clean fuel injectors.

Berryman B12 Chemtool Choke and Carburetor Cleaner contains toluene, acetone,
methyl alcohol, xylene, etc, and comes in a handy 15 ounce non-aerosol can.

B12 quickly dissolves the gum and varnish clogging your carburetors.

Just mix 4 or 5 ounces of B12 with a tank of fresh gas and go for a ride and
it will clean your carbs. You'll know the carbs are cleaner when the idle RPM
increases.

If you don't know where your idle speed screw is at, find out, because you'll
be turning the speed down.

--
Message posted via MotorcycleKB.com
http://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/bike/200708/1
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:53:45 -0700, Mike_in_Nebraska
<mike_webb RemoveThis @whoopingcrane.org> wrote:

>On Aug 29, 11:43 am, Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000-
>doll...@pobox.com> wrote:
>
>Will do. The couple I bought it from used it for car/bike shows and
>rode it only a couple times a year.
>
>>
>> Apparently, it wasn't that lovingly taken care of or you would not be
>> experiencing this problem. Generally, carburetion problems happen at lower RPMs
>> and ignition and valve problems manifest at higher RPMs.
>> Find a good mechanic and get it checked out. That bike should be able to ride
>> at 100mph with little effort.
>>
>> Ben
>


Either that or it's actually the 2nd time around the speedo <g>

Ben
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models 

"Mike_in_Nebraska" <mike_webb RemoveThis @whoopingcrane.org> wrote in message
news:1188406425.437637.139720@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 29, 11:43 am, Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000-
> doll... RemoveThis @pobox.com> wrote:
>
> Will do. The couple I bought it from used it for car/bike shows and
> rode it only a couple times a year.
>
Don't know what you've got for carbs, but the carb slides on my Nighthawk
750 used to stick after sitting all winter. You might have gummed up
carbs if they seldom rode it, but as others have pointed out you probably
shouldn't expect to get better mileage at 75 than 65.

Robert
 >> Stay informed about: 1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models