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GL1800 Maintenance Video available
September 9th 2004.... The famous Fred Harmon - author of dozens of online photo tutorials on maintaining, modifying and accessorising the GL1800 - has finally completed his recent project. He has now videotaped himself undertaking all these activities, and has arranged for a publishing company to convert the videos into DVD format and sell them direct to the public.
We have prepared a low-resolution extract from the video (but it is still a 16 MB AVI, so be ready for a long download). Call 903-455-2555 in the USA to order a full set of the DVD's. Ordering is easy and secure like the cashing out or registration process present in poker online.
Here is the table of contents from the 14-DVD, 28-hour duration set:
Disc 1
Intro GL1800 Maintenance--- :04
Tools & Jacking--- 1:02
Front Wheel/brake remove--- :33
Front Brake pad replace--- :15
Disc 2
Front wheel/brake install--- 1:11
Top shelter removal--- :45
Disc 3
Air Filter removal--- :30
Gas Tank Removal--- :25
Rear shock removal--- :24
Pre-load adjuster service--- :26
Disc 4
Rear Spring replace--- :23
Rear shock install--- :18
Air Box R&R--- :28
Air Filter Install--- :21
Gas Tank Install--- :27
Disc 5
Cruise Control Adjust--- :09
Fork Removal--- :31
Roller Bearing install (pt 1)--- 1:23
Disc 6
Roller Bearing install (pt 2) --- 1:36
Wheel Bearing R&R--- :24
Disc 7
Top Shelter Install ---:46
Windshield R&R --- :41
Cruise control adjust cheat --- :07
SmarTire tire sensor system --- :14
Disc 8
Rear Tire Change --- 1:21
Front Tire Change --- :39
Disc 9
Fork Oil Change --- 1:16
Coolant Change --- :46
Disc 10
Lower Cowl R&R --- :16
Clutch Fluid Change --- :42
Valve Clearance pt 1 (left head) --- 1:03
Disc 11
Valve Clearance pt 2 (right head) --- 1:09
Trunk Latch R&R --- :55
Disc 12
Valve Shim Swap ---1:38
Disc 13
Stem Bearing Adjust --- 1:21
Brake Fluid change --- :44
Disc 14
Total Fork Rebuild --- 1:30
Anti Dive operation --- :07
Frame Inspection --- :08
Headlamp R&R --- :12
Bloopers: --- :06
GoldWing stolen from Manchester
June 18th 2004.... A red GL1000 K1 with registration TGR 763R was stolen from the Manchester area on Friday night. It is not taxed or running well, and has a few distinctive things about it:
- there is no Honda badge on the right hand tank panel
- the side panel over the battery is held on with a screw instead of the spring clip
- the seat is red, which is a one-off, and has a small rip in the left hand side
- it has a frame for a Honda Rickman fairing, but the fairing is not fitted
Anyone seeing or being offered this bike is please asked to inform the police — and the owner, Pete Fisher.
STOP PRESS - JUNE 24th - BIKE RECOVERED IN SALFORD!
UK source of Hitachi-type connectors discovered!
June 11th 2004.... many GoldWing owners like to tinker with their bikes, and adding extra 'safety-gadgets' is a common desire. However, most tinkerers soon realise that, whilst it would be nice to have some of the special connectors used on the bike (the so-called "Hitachi-type connectors"), they are almost impossible to find.
Until now, the only source appeared to be Electrical Connection in the USA, but sterling detective work by this reporter has finally uncovered an EU-based supplier. SG Motorsport is a UK importer which is sourcing the connectors directly from Japan, and can offer them at quite competitive prices (e.g. less than £2.50 in small quantities for the complete 6-pin set used on the headset pigtail).
Contact Steve (a former champion bike racer) at SG Motorsport in Havant on +44-23-9278-9823 (websites: www.sgmotorsport.com and www.inter-bike.co.uk) or email him on sales@sgmotorsport.com. If you are a GWOCGB member, call him rather than ordering using the online shop and he will give a discount.
GL1800 cracks reported in a new location
March 17th 2004.... reports
are coming in of GL1800 cracks in a new location!
The reports have already been substantiated by Fred Harmon (the guy who almost
singlehandedly forced Honda to own up to and sort out the issue of bad frame
welds). He says "it looks like these new cracks may be the result of the
heating of the nearby area during welding" (though at least one of the
bikes has not been rewelded, so it does not appear to relate
to rewelding). Fred has informed the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration) and it is already being investigated by them.
Two bikes are affected so far, with cracks under the passenger footpegs. Note
that this is not a weld crack, but a failure of the frame itself. Photos of
the cracks are now available.
Investigation continues, but meanwhile 1800 owners are back in their garages
examining their frames yet again!
GL1800 Class Action Settlement
March 2nd 2004.... Honda US today published a Press Release concerning a Proposed Settlement for the Class Action suit which resulted from the infamous overheating problem on 01-03 GL1800s.