Non Ford not even 4 wheels! Honda GL650i Silver Wing Interstate

[FuzzFace2]

Back a few weeks ago I was looking over CL to see what was around for bull nose trucks with in 200 miles and under $2K and nothing came up.

So I just happened to hit the motorcycle area for under $2k also and did nto see anything that cough my eye so I hit the parts area and come across this 83 Honda GL650i Silver Wing Interstate for $1200.

Not run in a year but plates & insureance with 37,6xx on the clock. Still looks in pretty good shape for the year and miles.

I did a little on line checking and found it is a 1 year only bike. Gov. raised the import taxes on bikes of higher CC to help HD who was going under. This is about the same time AMF bought HD and made a cheap bike to get back on their feet.

Sent and email I wanted to look at the bike if still around, been listed for a week by now.

Went and looked at it and it was in pretty good shape. Some scratches and looked like it fell over but was not moving when it happened. Front & rear suspension bushings felt good. Cranked it over, battery low so not fast, but did not hear any knocking. Oil I cooling, water cooled, looked clean.

Made a deal for $900 cash and would be by next day if I got out early enough to get a trailer from Uhaul.

As it was I was done with the deal so I was able to get the trailer on the way home but was to hot, 95*+ and now 5pm, been up since 3am so next day for pick up.

BTW I was trying to do this under the radar of the wife but when I asked what money was in the bank and the trailer I had to come clean LOL

She was not happy and said I never told her I wanted a bike.

I then told her yes I did back when we had to change our driver lic. when we moved and I needed to take the bike test on the computer. ATT she was "why take the test?" I told her the weather is 90%+ good down here for riding a bike and would like to get one some day ......... 7 years latter LOL

Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

I have had the baike a few weeks now so after the show a few towns over with the crew for our car club and a little nap I hit the garage to work on the bike.

Pulled the carbs as I was told the bike had not been run in over a year and would not run unless the carb was sprayed so I never heard it run before I bought it.

I was told the cooling fan did not work, switch or fan could be bad?

The tank was full to keep it from rusting and it had to come off to pull carbs.

Figured pull hose off carb and run it into a clean can, gas was still good ad it was the good stuff.

Well that did not work as I got no fuel out? Open tank and run a hose in and use air hose to push the fuel out enough to pull tanks then dump the rust in the can. Once empty I pull the petcock and check into it. I dont know how it works but think it uses vacuum from the motor to open a rubber valve?

Think it was stuck as I could not blow through it before I pulled it apart but think it will work now but going to pick up new rubber parts to rebuild it.

Got the carbs off, someone has been there before as I found hoses not where they should have been?

Got the carbs apart and they were pretty clean in side. I think if they got fuel to the bowls it would have run.

Sprayed all jets and passages just to make sure they were clean.

Only thing I did not like was a o-ring that goes between the fuel bowl and body that seals the accel. pump passage looked like it may cover the brass weight?

Got the carbs back on, filled a oil bottle with gas and filled the carbs, no leaks so thats good LOL

Battery was low and would not crank it over to fast. It did the same when I looked at it and he had it on a tender so may have a bad battery?

Put a just pack on it, pull choke on and hit the stater and it fired right up but RPM went pretty high so shut it down to check & adjust things.

Next fire up idle RPM still to high and need to look into it more but I wanted to check for vacuum leaks.

I had to reuse the rubber o-rings between the manifolds and heads and they leaked damn!

And they dont come in the carb rebuild kits. I let it run a bit to the point the cooling fan should have come on and sure enough it did not.

I also checked to make sure it was charging, 14 volts so good there!

Was happy it runs and other than the vacuum leak it sounded pretty good!

Left my son's little tender charger on battery over night.

Today I got out before it got really hot but did not get much done, not because I did not try.

Beside the vacuum leak causing the high idle RPM the throttle did not have any free play so fixed that I hope.

Did I say I bought a factory service manual? I looked that over for the cooling issue, I used it for the carbs.

After pulling more stuff off just to find the temp switch so I can jump it to see if the fan comes on or not and that will tell me if the fan or switch is bad, I bought 1 of each just in case or wiring is bad. Fan is good, switch is bad and to fix either the radiator has to come out!

Got looking at the old switch and it looks a lot BIGGER than the one I bought? Because I may want to run the motor after the vacuum leak fix I did not want to drain the cooling system just yet.

Hit the hardware store for manifold o-rings, not the right size but hope 1 will work, NOPE will not work!

I dont want to force anything because if the manifold breaks I am screwed as you cant get them anymore - did I say this is a 1 year only bike!

So I got a list made up for the dealer who is closed till Tues. Need manifold O-rings and temp switch the most but want to get the tank petcock rubber parts if they can.

Think the battery may (hope) be ok as the volts were up to 12.8 before I closed up the garage and the charger was off it for 2+ hours.

I think the guy's tender either was not hooked up or not working when I went to look at bike?

Dave ----

[grumpin]

I have had the baike a few weeks now so after the show a few towns over with the crew for our car club and a little nap I hit the garage to work on the bike.

Pulled the carbs as I was told the bike had not been run in over a year and would not run unless the carb was sprayed so I never heard it run before I bought it.

I was told the cooling fan did not work, switch or fan could be bad?

The tank was full to keep it from rusting and it had to come off to pull carbs.

Figured pull hose off carb and run it into a clean can, gas was still good ad it was the good stuff.

Well that did not work as I got no fuel out? Open tank and run a hose in and use air hose to push the fuel out enough to pull tanks then dump the rust in the can. Once empty I pull the petcock and check into it. I dont know how it works but think it uses vacuum from the motor to open a rubber valve?

Think it was stuck as I could not blow through it before I pulled it apart but think it will work now but going to pick up new rubber parts to rebuild it.

Got the carbs off, someone has been there before as I found hoses not where they should have been?

Got the carbs apart and they were pretty clean in side. I think if they got fuel to the bowls it would have run.

Sprayed all jets and passages just to make sure they were clean.

Only thing I did not like was a o-ring that goes between the fuel bowl and body that seals the accel. pump passage looked like it may cover the brass weight?

Got the carbs back on, filled a oil bottle with gas and filled the carbs, no leaks so thats good LOL

Battery was low and would not crank it over to fast. It did the same when I looked at it and he had it on a tender so may have a bad battery?

Put a just pack on it, pull choke on and hit the stater and it fired right up but RPM went pretty high so shut it down to check & adjust things.

Next fire up idle RPM still to high and need to look into it more but I wanted to check for vacuum leaks.

I had to reuse the rubber o-rings between the manifolds and heads and they leaked damn!

And they dont come in the carb rebuild kits. I let it run a bit to the point the cooling fan should have come on and sure enough it did not.

I also checked to make sure it was charging, 14 volts so good there!

Was happy it runs and other than the vacuum leak it sounded pretty good!

Left my son's little tender charger on battery over night.

Today I got out before it got really hot but did not get much done, not because I did not try.

Beside the vacuum leak causing the high idle RPM the throttle did not have any free play so fixed that I hope.

Did I say I bought a factory service manual? I looked that over for the cooling issue, I used it for the carbs.

After pulling more stuff off just to find the temp switch so I can jump it to see if the fan comes on or not and that will tell me if the fan or switch is bad, I bought 1 of each just in case or wiring is bad. Fan is good, switch is bad and to fix either the radiator has to come out!

Got looking at the old switch and it looks a lot BIGGER than the one I bought? Because I may want to run the motor after the vacuum leak fix I did not want to drain the cooling system just yet.

Hit the hardware store for manifold o-rings, not the right size but hope 1 will work, NOPE will not work!

I dont want to force anything because if the manifold breaks I am screwed as you cant get them anymore - did I say this is a 1 year only bike!

So I got a list made up for the dealer who is closed till Tues. Need manifold O-rings and temp switch the most but want to get the tank petcock rubber parts if they can.

Think the battery may (hope) be ok as the volts were up to 12.8 before I closed up the garage and the charger was off it for 2+ hours.

I think the guy's tender either was not hooked up or not working when I went to look at bike?

Dave ----

Oh boy! Nice bike!

Wish I could ride. Occasionally I’ll look at bikes, then wonder why.

Always keep my MC endorsement on my license, just in case.

[Gary Lewis]

I have had the baike a few weeks now so after the show a few towns over with the crew for our car club and a little nap I hit the garage to work on the bike.

Pulled the carbs as I was told the bike had not been run in over a year and would not run unless the carb was sprayed so I never heard it run before I bought it.

I was told the cooling fan did not work, switch or fan could be bad?

The tank was full to keep it from rusting and it had to come off to pull carbs.

Figured pull hose off carb and run it into a clean can, gas was still good ad it was the good stuff.

Well that did not work as I got no fuel out? Open tank and run a hose in and use air hose to push the fuel out enough to pull tanks then dump the rust in the can. Once empty I pull the petcock and check into it. I dont know how it works but think it uses vacuum from the motor to open a rubber valve?

Think it was stuck as I could not blow through it before I pulled it apart but think it will work now but going to pick up new rubber parts to rebuild it.

Got the carbs off, someone has been there before as I found hoses not where they should have been?

Got the carbs apart and they were pretty clean in side. I think if they got fuel to the bowls it would have run.

Sprayed all jets and passages just to make sure they were clean.

Only thing I did not like was a o-ring that goes between the fuel bowl and body that seals the accel. pump passage looked like it may cover the brass weight?

Got the carbs back on, filled a oil bottle with gas and filled the carbs, no leaks so thats good LOL

Battery was low and would not crank it over to fast. It did the same when I looked at it and he had it on a tender so may have a bad battery?

Put a just pack on it, pull choke on and hit the stater and it fired right up but RPM went pretty high so shut it down to check & adjust things.

Next fire up idle RPM still to high and need to look into it more but I wanted to check for vacuum leaks.

I had to reuse the rubber o-rings between the manifolds and heads and they leaked damn!

And they dont come in the carb rebuild kits. I let it run a bit to the point the cooling fan should have come on and sure enough it did not.

I also checked to make sure it was charging, 14 volts so good there!

Was happy it runs and other than the vacuum leak it sounded pretty good!

Left my son's little tender charger on battery over night.

Today I got out before it got really hot but did not get much done, not because I did not try.

Beside the vacuum leak causing the high idle RPM the throttle did not have any free play so fixed that I hope.

Did I say I bought a factory service manual? I looked that over for the cooling issue, I used it for the carbs.

After pulling more stuff off just to find the temp switch so I can jump it to see if the fan comes on or not and that will tell me if the fan or switch is bad, I bought 1 of each just in case or wiring is bad. Fan is good, switch is bad and to fix either the radiator has to come out!

Got looking at the old switch and it looks a lot BIGGER than the one I bought? Because I may want to run the motor after the vacuum leak fix I did not want to drain the cooling system just yet.

Hit the hardware store for manifold o-rings, not the right size but hope 1 will work, NOPE will not work!

I dont want to force anything because if the manifold breaks I am screwed as you cant get them anymore - did I say this is a 1 year only bike!

So I got a list made up for the dealer who is closed till Tues. Need manifold O-rings and temp switch the most but want to get the tank petcock rubber parts if they can.

Think the battery may (hope) be ok as the volts were up to 12.8 before I closed up the garage and the charger was off it for 2+ hours.

I think the guy's tender either was not hooked up or not working when I went to look at bike?

Dave ----

That is a really nice looking bike! I think you made a whale of a deal.

 

[Rembrant]

Dave,

That's a great looking bike for the price. I am a long time motorcycle enthusiast but haven't had a bike for 4-5 years now. My helmet, boots, and gloves are all still on shelf in case I should get the urge again lol. Living in NC you are close to some of the finest motorcycling roads on the continent in the Smoky Mountains. We used to ride down to NC every year in May and hit the mountains. We usually stayed in Robbinsville, or right at Deals Gap a couple times. If I lived within a reasonable distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, I'd still have a motorcycle. In the last years that I had one, I was averaging 20k miles per year on 2 wheels.

In any case, nice find and congrats. I'll be following along.

[FuzzFace2]

Dave,

That's a great looking bike for the price. I am a long time motorcycle enthusiast but haven't had a bike for 4-5 years now. My helmet, boots, and gloves are all still on shelf in case I should get the urge again lol. Living in NC you are close to some of the finest motorcycling roads on the continent in the Smoky Mountains. We used to ride down to NC every year in May and hit the mountains. We usually stayed in Robbinsville, or right at Deals Gap a couple times. If I lived within a reasonable distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, I'd still have a motorcycle. In the last years that I had one, I was averaging 20k miles per year on 2 wheels.

In any case, nice find and congrats. I'll be following along.

Thanks guys

So far I think I did pretty good on the deal.

I picked up a dealer brochure and from what I get from that the bike has just about all options.

The large trunk out back is a option as it comes standard with a small one.

It has a marine AM/FM/BT/USB radio just not the Honda line radio but that is ok with me and it sounds pretty good too!

Only thing it dose not have is crash bars and high way pegs.

I have given a vary quick look for them, pegs more so, and have not seen anything yet.

Once on the road and know it is good I will look into making it prettier.

As said the decals are shot and I am thinking of painting ones in place of them.

The factory decal is a darker gray metal flake and silver duel pin stripes on a lighter gray metal flake paint.

Thinking black / red metal flake with red pin stripe.

Something a little different but still close to factory.

You know I am like that, dual tanks on a flare side, metal ribbed bed floor both look factory LOL

Dave ----

 

[FuzzFace2]

Thanks guys

So far I think I did pretty good on the deal.

I picked up a dealer brochure and from what I get from that the bike has just about all options.

The large trunk out back is a option as it comes standard with a small one.

It has a marine AM/FM/BT/USB radio just not the Honda line radio but that is ok with me and it sounds pretty good too!

Only thing it dose not have is crash bars and high way pegs.

I have given a vary quick look for them, pegs more so, and have not seen anything yet.

Once on the road and know it is good I will look into making it prettier.

As said the decals are shot and I am thinking of painting ones in place of them.

The factory decal is a darker gray metal flake and silver duel pin stripes on a lighter gray metal flake paint.

Thinking black / red metal flake with red pin stripe.

Something a little different but still close to factory.

You know I am like that, dual tanks on a flare side, metal ribbed bed floor both look factory LOL

Dave ----

We have a running and driving motorcycle

I had the day off from work so drove 40 miles to the only open Honda dealer close by to see if they had the O-ring gaskets for the intake to head, the old ones leaked when I tried to reuse them.

There was only 1 o-ring in the whole state and it was 50 miles in the other direction from my house and i was 40 the other way and I needed 2 rings.

I checked for some other parts, petcock rebuild parts & temp switch for the cooling fan, for the bike but nothing came up in his system.

On the way home I hit a different hardware store and found some o-rings if they were just a little thicker would have been great. Plan B the new o-rings and a thin coat of forum a gasket.

Got the carbs back on and started it up and the idle RPM is at 3000 and dont know why?

And checking for vacuum leaks at the manifolds and I still have one?

Then I remembered there was a vacuum hose in that area, plugged it and all was good.

I let the motor run long enough that the cooling fan should have turned on and checking the switch it is not working, I bought one just in case and I knew the fan worked from testing before.

I got lucky and was able to drain the cooling system and not make to big a mess and was able to pull the bottom of the radiator out to swap out the switch.

Afrter refilling the cooling system I backed off the idle speed knob some more and then remembered reading something about the choke having fast idle. There is no adjustment for this and the knob was in all the way but got thinking maybe the cable was not right? I moved hold down to where it wanted to sit and give that a try.

Well the idle is now to low so had to raise it some and running it to get up to temp for fan cut on.

It did not so looked into that and it started to work? going to need to keep an eye on it but it was working till I shut the bike off for the day.

Checked the tire PSI, they were low, still need to check the air in the suspension but need to find my low pressure tire gauge as the rear only get think 10 PSi.

I did take it for a few laps around the yard, got it up to 3rd gear, it is a 5sp, and broke the rear tire loose on the grass in 2nd gear with out even trying.

Before I put all the body panels back on I want to de-grease / wash it as a start to detail it and check any leaks it may have.

Need to get insurance for it and then plate but think I will sneak a spin around the block or 2 before then

Sorry no pictures, it was in the upper 90's here, just to hot / wet & tired and talking of 100* tomorrow!

Dave ----

[mat in tn]

We have a running and driving motorcycle

I had the day off from work so drove 40 miles to the only open Honda dealer close by to see if they had the O-ring gaskets for the intake to head, the old ones leaked when I tried to reuse them.

There was only 1 o-ring in the whole state and it was 50 miles in the other direction from my house and i was 40 the other way and I needed 2 rings.

I checked for some other parts, petcock rebuild parts & temp switch for the cooling fan, for the bike but nothing came up in his system.

On the way home I hit a different hardware store and found some o-rings if they were just a little thicker would have been great. Plan B the new o-rings and a thin coat of forum a gasket.

Got the carbs back on and started it up and the idle RPM is at 3000 and dont know why?

And checking for vacuum leaks at the manifolds and I still have one?

Then I remembered there was a vacuum hose in that area, plugged it and all was good.

I let the motor run long enough that the cooling fan should have turned on and checking the switch it is not working, I bought one just in case and I knew the fan worked from testing before.

I got lucky and was able to drain the cooling system and not make to big a mess and was able to pull the bottom of the radiator out to swap out the switch.

Afrter refilling the cooling system I backed off the idle speed knob some more and then remembered reading something about the choke having fast idle. There is no adjustment for this and the knob was in all the way but got thinking maybe the cable was not right? I moved hold down to where it wanted to sit and give that a try.

Well the idle is now to low so had to raise it some and running it to get up to temp for fan cut on.

It did not so looked into that and it started to work? going to need to keep an eye on it but it was working till I shut the bike off for the day.

Checked the tire PSI, they were low, still need to check the air in the suspension but need to find my low pressure tire gauge as the rear only get think 10 PSi.

I did take it for a few laps around the yard, got it up to 3rd gear, it is a 5sp, and broke the rear tire loose on the grass in 2nd gear with out even trying.

Before I put all the body panels back on I want to de-grease / wash it as a start to detail it and check any leaks it may have.

Need to get insurance for it and then plate but think I will sneak a spin around the block or 2 before then

Sorry no pictures, it was in the upper 90's here, just to hot / wet & tired and talking of 100* tomorrow!

Dave ----

this is very cool. it is certainly a nice find. the gl650 was always a very interesting bike to me with the v type engine and mounted the way it is. I was lucky enough years ago to buy an 83 gl1100. that was back in 1993. I loved it! travelled from central Maine to the Grand Canyon and as far south as Galveston. not all in one trip . we even went to the top of pikes peak one year. I really miss those days. but just happy to have had them. I think I sold that bike around 2003.and it was the last bike . trying to stay on four wheels now as ms ann is not as into "sport" as i am.

[FuzzFace2]

this is very cool. it is certainly a nice find. the gl650 was always a very interesting bike to me with the v type engine and mounted the way it is. I was lucky enough years ago to buy an 83 gl1100. that was back in 1993. I loved it! travelled from central Maine to the Grand Canyon and as far south as Galveston. not all in one trip . we even went to the top of pikes peak one year. I really miss those days. but just happy to have had them. I think I sold that bike around 2003.and it was the last bike . trying to stay on four wheels now as ms ann is not as into "sport" as i am.

That is a lot of riding on a bike even if not in 1 trip.

1 summer a few of us went from CT (NY line on I95) to Cape Cod for a week that is the farthest I have gone on a bike in 1 shot.

Saturday after doing the last few checking over of the bike I took it for a ride to drop off truck parts down the road. Well not long after get going I knew something was not right, could not go faster than 45 MPH?

Dropped the parts off and came back home to figure out what is up with it.

I pulled it in to the house garage out of the sun and I went in the house to the AC, was 90* out!

After cooling off & thinking about this I moved it to my garage with tools.

I felt the 2 exh pipes and found the right side cool? So compression test is in order.

I break the plug loose and pull the socket out to use just the socket and see the end is wet?

I pulled the plug and as it is coming out thinking "where is the wetness going to go?"

So after plug is out a crank the motor over and blow out some vapor but not what I think was in the plug hole. So I fire up the motor with out the 1 plug till no more vapor came out.

I believe it was water from when I washed the bike. I am a member on a Honda site and someone said there is a drain hole so this should not happen.

So today I check into this and sure enough the drain is plugged. Cleaned it and the plug wire, it was wet up inside, best I could with air and checked the other side and all is good now.

Took the bike out for a test ride of 36 miles, most of that at 55 MPH but ran it up to 70 and still pulling just to see. Wife dose not want me up on the high way just yet, more seat time needed she said, but I know the bike will do good. It was a little windy and with the front dress / windshield I did not feel it and the bike only moved a little.

The Honda site also pointed me to someone that makes decals for older bikes.

They dont list them for my 83 GL650i interstate and they want the person looking for decals to check with dealers first as they dont have the time to do it and then make them if they have to and make a profit.

So when I have the time I will lookup the part numbers for the decals and then check with a dealer to see what they can come up with.

Dave ----

[nic55kel]

Wow that is a nice looking bike.

Funny I was looking at motorcycles this spring too, think it must be the price of gas.

I had always liked the Honda CX and GL motorcycles and ended up finding a deal

I couldn't ignore also.

It is a CX500 with about 20,000 miles on it. The guy I bought it from was one of those guys

that I judge to be totally honest and who is meticulous in how they look after things.

I paid a few hundred more but the bike had new tires, new updated ignition, rebuilt forks,

new battery etc.

I am not a long distance rider at all but just wanted something for quick runs to town etc.