GoldWing World    

Frequently Asked Questions and responses:

The Gold Wing is a great bike, but there are always issues and workarounds pertinent to ANY design.  Since some of these are common to all models I decided to put this FAQ up.

COMMON:

Q: When I hit my Cruise control there is a delay before it clicks in.  Is this normal and is there a workaround or fix?

A: This is common on both 1500 and the new 1800 models and there is a workaround: Hit the "set" button, then immediately hit the "up" button as if you were accelerating.  This reduces the delay to an almost unnoticeable pause.

MORE: I know Honda claims this is an inherent issue with ALL systems that is simply amplified on a motorcycle which has a small vacuum reservoir, however since this workaround functions so beautifully I believe their response to be inaccurate or possibly even deliberately misleading.   When you hit the set button vacuum begins to pull the mechanism to take up the slack / hold the throttle open - when you hit the 'accelerate' that forces an additional electronic command to move that FURTHER then the set point - I can only surmise that they built-in some form of slow advance to prevent the possibility of a lurch or jerk forward on some models for liability reasons and don't want to fess up to that.

Q:  What is the best tire to run on my bike?

A:  I get asked this one a lot, and the answer is always the same: a question.  Before shopping for tires you need to ask yourself three things:

1. How did your existing tires feel and wear for you?

2. What do you want from a tire, what would you like it to do better then the existing set?

3. What is most important considering your riding style, finances and bike?

Once you get this data you can choose a tire.  For instance I was one of those who LOVED the Michelin Radial's on my Wing but enough trailer-pulling over-loading long-distance style riders complained about high-speed instability while pulling a trailer that they were actually pulled from the market.  If those riders had considered the fact that a sport-style radial was NOT designed to pull trailers they wouldn't have tried the tires to start with.  They would have been better with a Dunlop Elite II or maybe a Bridgestone Exedra.  Tires, like shoes are personal and as such cannot be dictated by others - you'll need to do some educated study based on your preferences and in the end, wear a few to see what fits.

Q:  What is the common CB channel for Bikers and how can I keep from getting a lot of noise when talking?

A:  Most often channel 1, sometimes 40 and in a few states channel 2.  This is actually rather odd when you think of the fact that the CB functions optimally in the center bands (19-20) and that many people with amplifiers (called linears) often test or communicate on channel 1 but hey, I didn't make it up I'm just reporting it.  Most truck drivers / common traffic is on 19 so a single rider may be listening to that channel to hear about road conditions ahead.  If you need the police they typically will have someone listening in on channel 9.  And remember, the lower the squelch the further away / quieter signals you can hear but you also pick up noise - if you're in a group turn your squelch up high enough that the people speaking go away, then back down to a point just below where they come back in.  That will enable you to hear close by transmissions but get a minimum of background noise.

1000

Q:  Where can I find parts?

A:  NOS (new old stock) is available from some dealers and close-out shops.  Some after-market may still exist too, but going to Honda direct or finding parts in junk yards may be your only option.  Hey, the bike is officially an antique now guys!

1100

Q: 

A:

1200

Q:  I'm worried about my stator ...

A:  You should be.  The 1200 has an issue with the stator, apparently caused by upping the output by using smaller wiring without changing other dynamics in combination with bad plug / wiring harness design that restricts current flow from the regulator and the connectors in front and behind the fuse box.  A common first indication of problems is the connector from the stator TO the rectifier becoming hot, corroding or melting it's plastic casing.  If this has happened odds are good you're too late to keep your stator from eventually going south.  Common 'fixes' that help minimize or eliminate the problem (which normally occurs after 30,000 - 60,000 miles) follow:

1. Replace the connector at the left of the fuse box (from stator to regulator) with direct connections or a fresh connector available from Honda.  Pack any new connector with dielectric (non-conducting) grease to prevent sparking and thus overheating as the connector wears.
2. Augment the wiring from the regulator to the battery with thicker wires to help prevent any current restriction / overloading.
3. Add cooling to the stator and / or regulator in the form of small CPU cooling devices or fans.
4. There was also a true "fix" of replacing the rear engine cover and stator with the unit from the SE model and adding additional wiring (The 1987 SE was fuel injected and had a larger stator unit and rear engine casing etc. to avoid this problem) but that is more expensive then most motorcycles!

Q:  I'm having problems getting parts and accessories.

A:  Yes.  The last 1200 rolled off the line in 1987 - 15 years ago, Honda still has most parts in stock and there are many after-market accessories but expect them to become more and more scarce as time goes by.  The volumes are not there - the 1500 (and now the 1800) are a much better bet if you want to buy toys and accessories all the time!

1500

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1800

Q:   Why doesn't the 1800 have the amenities of the 1500 SE such as lighted controls, onboard air compressor etc.?

A:  The 1800 was designed to be more sporting and is an introduction model for the new design concept.  All Wings early models lacked features that later became standard on models as the model was upgraded.  Just wait, the 1800 will evolve as well and I'm sure the design engineers planned on that!  On the bright side there are 15 years worth of 1500's out there to pick from if you really want those features.  Many with exciting add-ins and features that make it better then the stock 1800 in many ways ...

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