83 GL 1100 Aspencade restoration

So here goes, I bought an 83 Aspy and am taking it to the frame for a complete restoration. I will keep track of the process here and hopefully it will be a thing of beauty when done. I plan on color matching the frame to the body, and building it for comfort. I am getting rid of the air pump system and put valves on the front forks to fill them at the fork. The radio is being removed and replaced with a marine radio.

Here is the bike as I bought it.

Pete in Texas

I have torn down the bike to the frame so far.

Nice starting point, can't wait to see the completed project :good:

now you can get started ... nice strip down

You're off to a great start with a good lookin' bike. She should be awesome when finished! Enjoy!

I've always admired you guys that do these frame up restorations. :rocks:

~O~

I love a good suspense novel! opcorn:

I have the radiator out, handle bars off, getting ready to take the engine out today. Going to be ALOT of sanding and painting. Any advice on removing the silver spray paint from the engine?

What is the planned finish of the motor? Repainted you can prep with a good cleaning using a degreaser. If you want to polish it then all coating needs removed and surface will need smoothed so probably aircraft paint stripper followed with a pressure wash followed by bead blast will get you close.

I don't think I want to polish the whole engine, I will polish the valve covers and carb elbows, possibly more of a plain aluminum look for the rest.

okay it time to figure out whats going on ....it seems like one of my bikes ....it looks like 1100 but has 1000 ignition on the back of the head ...in the last pics you put up it obviously has 1000 cans in it ... it might be a 1000 motor....look on the back of the motor there should be a rear ignition on it ...need to take pic of back of motor and post it to figure this out ....

[url=https://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=107705#p107705:21gf20ky said:

PeterDas » Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:27 pm[/url]":21gf20ky]
I don't think I want to polish the whole engine, I will polish the valve covers and carb elbows, possibly more of a plain aluminum look for the rest.

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Then I suggest a strong degreaser and scrub brush should be enough to prep it for a recoat of paint. mcgovern61 did his several years ago and it still looks great.

[url=https://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=107712#p107712:tqybswxy said:

joedrum » Sun Jan 19, 2014 2:13 am[/url]":tqybswxy]
okay it time to figure out whats going on ....it seems like one of my bikes ....it looks like 1100 but has 1000 ignition on the back of the head ...in the last pics you put up it obviously has 1000 cans in it ... it might be a 1000 motor....look on the back of the motor there should be a rear ignition on it ...need to take pic of back of motor and post it to figure this out ....

Click to expand...

After looking into the engine, as I took it for granted being an 1100 as that is what the valve covers say, It is a 1978 GL1000 engine. Engine # GL1E-4015482. You are correct sir! I thought it was strange there was no vacuum advance on it as per the 83 manual, now I know why. I found an 83 parts bike with an 1100 in it here for $500 with no title, going to offer them 3 on Friday, payday. It has other parts I need also. Is the 1000 a good engine?

1000 is a good engine. 1100 ignition is a pain in the rear to get to. Easy to put C5 ignition on the 1000. For the 1100 you better do it while it's out. Combining the 1000 and 1100 motors will get you nice performance gains over either one as stock.

Yesterday I found someone had put the inner front right brake pad in backwards. It chewed up the rotor a bit. I suppose they had good intentions?! I included a shot of my shop, a 12X20 shed devoted to my restoration. Another thing I noticed is the removable part of he frame is square stock, I guess someone re-did it at some time.

[url=https://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=107721#p107721:306khewd said:

slabghost » Sun Jan 19, 2014 7:07 am[/url]":306khewd]
1000 is a good engine. 1100 ignition is a pain in the rear to get to. Easy to put C5 ignition on the 1000. For the 1100 you better do it while it's out. Combining the 1000 and 1100 motors will get you nice performance gains over either one as stock.

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Would I be just as well off with the 1000, I don't plan on racing, just want to travel around Texas and possibly a trip to CT where my parents live. I'm too old and fat to worry about speed any more, but speed limits here are up to 80MPH on some of the freeways. I am also thinking about building a trailer so we can go shopping in San Antonio and Houston, 2 to 4 hours away respectively. I also do plan on the C5 ignition mod, seems like a really good idea to me.

My next dilemma, I am a right below knee amputee from an 18 wheeler crash I had in 92. Is it possible to use the handlebar brake lever for the main brakes, the pedal now does rear and front together, which is of no use to me, I would only be using the front brake on the handlebars. I rode a Chinese scooter for about 6 months here and it was great because of the brakes both being on the bars, But alas it died at 2100 miles as it was not designed for 75mph with a 280lb rider everyday. DOH! :headscratch:

I would think the 1000 if it's in good shape will do you just fine but it does have a tall first gear. It will take some creative plumbing a a large master cylinder on the bars. Maybe one off a bike that has 6 piston calipers. But I see no reason they can't be linked to the bar master.

hmmmmm the 78 and 79 short block motors of the 1000 are the best ...but the cams and carbs are another story ...

actually when a 1000 is matched to the final drive of the 1100 ...like your bike is ..the 78-79 cans do better there than in a 1000 ... the only drawback as I see it is first gear is kind of tall ...I had an 79 1000 and still do that had a 1100 final drive in it ... I like it quite a bit ... it brought in taller gearing that matched the torque curve better ... I always hated having to shift gears in the middle of huge left turn in big intersections ...you wont have that problem any more ....its really not a bad set up at all ...

on your parts bike your looking at find out what yr 1100 it is ... as they changed dam near every year ... the 83 being the only yr that will compete with the 1000 on the hiway for lower rpm ..

as seasoned as it is it seems like someone did this on purpose to get taller gearing ...

the only big drawback here is if you wanted to pull a trailer or side car its not really set up for that in gearing .... 300$ don't sound bad if parts bike is rather sound looking might have great motor in it :mrgreen:

yes its possible we will help set that up...on your brakes