1978 Honda Gold Wing

4MZAX14J743426681

1978 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing, roughly 86,000 miles showing on an odometer which isn't certified, according to the clean Michigan title. I'm not certain if the engine is original, as the VIN numbers on it and the frame don't match. It's always run strong and while it has a something white in the exhaust during startup, it clears up within a minute. I bought this from a dealer via eBay in 2002 and made it my baby for a few years. I have rebuilt, replaced or upgraded far more parts & systems than was smart, given the value of the GL100s. I mean, who spends $4000 on a GL1000 when you can buy a GL1200 for the same or less? But I'd wanted a 1978 since I saw them in magazines as a kid. I rode it for several years including a couple of great weekend trips, but I eventually bought a newer one, and found that insurance cost too much to keep it on the road just for a couple rides per year. Mechanically, current problems are: needs tuning or something perhaps worse (more about that below); headlight high beam circuit is intermittent (probably the Vetter connector); front wheel is still running a tube & has a slow leak (I have a tube eliminator valve stem set aside for it); stereo unit not currently installed (it's a Pioneer and I have an MP3/Aux interface & a 6-disc changer to go with it/add onto it); some issues with fairing wiring (horns aren’t connected, but original horns on motorcycle are working anyway.) The tuning issue is that it has the "slow return to idle" where rolling off the throttle leaves the engine taking a few seconds to drop from 3-4000 rpm back to 1000. I've worked on it several times over the years, but I can't seem to cure it, and my carb sync tools show a large difference in vacuum between the left & right cylinder banks. I honestly don't know if there's a burned valve or something, as I've stopped short of doing a leakdown test. But it runs pretty good at highway speeds and doesn't use oil or coolant, so who knows? Perhaps all it needs is a valve adjustment, but I can't do that myself, and the labor at the dealer should cost more than the motorcycle is worth. Approximately 1,000 miles on the tires, Dunlop Elite IIIs, but they're several years old. They should have another few seasons left in them unless weather checking sets in, depending on your riding. I've kept them off the garage floor every winter, using the center stand and a floor jack under the engine. I haven't had it on the road since 2007, even after a carb rebuild in 2008. So it's been sitting on the battery tender and getting warmed up once per week. I will include a full set of manuals (factory, Clymer, Haynes) a Randakk's carb rebuild video, also a cover and battery tender. The following items are some of the maintenance/modifications that have been done: Front wheel/suspension/brakes/controls: New fork seals, RaceTech cartridge emulators, fork brace Goodridge braided steel lines, 1981-82 GL1100 master cylinder & clutch perch (better choices for levers) & dogleg chrome levers Handlebar risers (moved up & back from stock) Throttle lock, new choke cable, and “Helmet hanger” chrome pins in place of bar-mount mirrors Spares: set of calipers/rebuild kits/brake pads; 2 sets of rotors; front wheel w/ axle; complete unmodified forks; NOS fork seal covers Engine/ cooling/oil: K&N air filter; new timing belts, chrome dipstick kit, Evans NPG lifetime coolant & thermostatic fan switch in 2007 Carbs rebuilt in 2008 with Randakk kit, Honda float valves/seats Spares: oil & gas filters; extra set of carbs (w/ damage to bowl screw holes and other issues) Electrical: New starter & battery 2009 Dyna S electronic ignition All instrument/indicator lamps replaced with LEDs (saves approx. 2.5 Amps/30W at peak) New sealed-beam headlamp GL1100 taillight (dual bulbs, with one LED bulb) Spares:set of spark plugs; H4 composite headlamp; NOS incandescent lamps for indicators, extra main fuses, battery retention strap Rear Suspension/brake/wheel/Exhaust: New Progressive 412 chrome shocks (1/2” drop) Good used stock exhaust in 2008 Spares:rebuilt caliper w/ new brake pads; complete rear wheel w/ axle, drive, rotor; NOS Lester 16" wheel with new Dunlop Elite III tire Pictures: right-click the first two and select "view image" (or whatever) to see the full-size shot. On Jul-17-10 at 13:24:03 PDT, seller added the following information: Here's a video of a warm afternoon start (I'd let it run for ten minutes earlier today) showing the lights, gauges, condition of the exhaust, dual tail lights, etc. Please note that the manuals are included but the Vetter top box shown here is from another project and is just sitting on the rack.