Slick 60's

Was the oil bath air cleaner ever offered in chrome?

Although not correct for my 66, Im thinking about a black engine, gold valve covers, and a chrome oil bath for my 66.

It reminds me of the early Goldwings I used to ride.

Get it chromed or if you want to save some bank get it powder coated. I had my grill powder coated and it looks nice. Had my gauge bezel chromed and it looks very nice. Up to you.

I have a powder coating place nearby, Ive been meaning to go over and talk to them.

Did you powdercoat an aluminum or steel grill?

Mine is aluminum and is in great condition, except for the finish. I have heard that there is a bright powdercoat that looks like shiny aluminum, but have never seen it.

Ive been wondering what to do with mine.

I've had both aluminum and steel done using both "Powder by the Lb." and Eastwood powders. Both have been quite satisfactory. The brightness is very similar to that of a friend's fresh anodizing, IMO. I'll dig up some pics tonight of the grilles, both anodized and "chrome" powder-coated. Some of the early Eastwood powders turned "grayish" after a while, but the latest powders have shown no sign of that tendency.
Paul

I had some aluminum valve covers powder coated. While never to be confused with chrome, they did look spectacular.

bmcgc
where is the place you are considering talking to about powercoating. I am just south of Macon. Eastman actually. I would like to possbly get my grill powercoated.

Its a place in Byron, I will look them up.

bmcgc wrote:Was the oil bath air cleaner ever offered in chrome?

Although not correct for my 66, Im thinking about a black engine, gold valve covers, and a chrome oil bath for my 66.

It reminds me of the early Goldwings I used to ride.

how hard would you rate those bikes to ride? i am by no stretch of the imagination a "rider", but i know my way around the controls and have ridden several times. i know they are a bit heavy for a beginner, but i am 6'0 and 200 lbs. could i consider one of those for a ride?

Uh, Chris, my 120 lb. ex rode, and probably still rides, one. You will have no problem enjoying one!
Paul

Goldwings are a big bike to handle because they are top heavy, at your height your feet will be on the ground, thats a bonus. The pre fuel injected models have 4 carbs, at 25+ years old its pretty tough to find those bikes in good running order. I still love those bikes, 50 mpg, plenty of power, and still some excellent buys at $2500-3500 when you can find them. Although once you start having carb problems its all downhill. The charging system is also weak, to replace the stator the entire engine must be removed. Those two issues have sent a lot of otherwise nice bikes to the boneyard.

A good bike for someone your size is a Yamaha Roadstar 1600. Air cooled, much lighter. and a lot of super nice bikes in the 4k range.

Goldwings:

75-79 1000cc 4 carbs
80-81 1100cc 4 carbs
82-88 1200cc 4 carbs except for an 85 model that was FI.
89-00 1500cc 4 carbs
01+ 1800cc FI

The pic I posted is a 76 GL1000 LTD. Gold wheels and gold trimmings. Very sought after. A guy had one still in the crate at a m/c show last year, he was offered 30k and turned it down.

Awesome bikes. I would love to have a 75-79 to restore. Ive had 4 Goldwings, 79, 81, 85, 01. I liked the 85 FI model the best.

Might want to search "Goldwing center of gravity". Yeah, it's a heavy bike, but "top heavy"? Maybe, with my fat --- on it
Paul

I bought a 04 Honda Rune still in the crate in 08 for 17.5k I thought it was crazy to pay over 17k for a bike.

Last month I paid over 30k for the misses new Harley. Still crazy, think of teh Slick 30k will buy.

My 04 Rune


An 01 RoadStar, asking price was 4k, he took $3750

Not sure what the Rune is worth currently, but I would think it will prove to be the better investment! Nice bike!
Paul

It was like riding a rocket. No rear seat or rear pegs. Anything you took with you had to be in your pocket.

Investment you say? LOL

If I could get back a nickle on every dollar I have spent on booze, women, bikes, and hotrods I would be one of the wealthyist men in America.

Also one of the most boring...

Pretty accurate comparison! Not a cheap bike to own by any means, but what an attention-getter

bmcgc wrote:It was like riding a rocket. No rear seat or rear pegs. Anything you took with you had to be in your pocket.

Investment you say? LOL

If I could get back a nickle on every dollar I have spent on booze, women, bikes, and hotrods I would be one of the wealthyist men in America.

Also one of the most boring...

The rocket would be a pretty accurate comparison, not just from the performance stand-point! It's certainly an attention-getter, though. Honda HAD to lose money on 'em, even at 25K. I don't have a clue as to value, but I would expect the revolutionary engineering and design, as well as limited production, would tend to raise their future value, as long as it needed no repairs or replacements!
I certainly woudn't be wealthy, even if I'd been frugal, but as they say, it's been a long strange ride, and I would change little! Well, maybe be a little more discriminating
Paul