This page will list products and links to items I've found to be useful and /
or that I think look interesting. I will comment on each as to whether or
not I've had personal experience with the company and product.
Air Lake Trigger Wheel
I have not yet installed one of these but plan on doing so. When used
correctly (with higher octane fuel) a noticeable improvement in performance is
seen on the Wing. When manufacturers create the vehicles you drive optimum
performance is not their goal: passing EPA testing, longevity of the vehicle and
giving a margin for error all require them to set the timing outside the optimal
position for your bike and / or car. A trigger wheel is a device that
changes the timing in much the way you can adjust it on a vehicle with a
distributor manually: by changing the firing point to advance the timing.
A great and amusing site on how to install the Gold Wing trigger wheel can be
seen here.
Battery Tender by Deltran
I own five of these. Yes, FIVE. At the price and convenience they
offer it's worth it to me ... one is the full unit the other 4 are the "jr"
models which pay for themselves by keeping my batteries fully-charged by simply
plugging in when I park. For those of you who don't know much about
batteries you can read more
here, but the sum of it all is that the electrro-chemical process used is
damaged slightly every time the battery is discharged. The more fully-discharged
it becomes the more likely it is to wear, and the longer it stays discharged the
more likely it is to sulfate and become unusable. Those guys who get five
and six years from their batteries? They keep them charged - either by
running the bikes all the time or by using a tender. Your call but if you
don't ride daily it may be worth the $30 to keep your battery usable for more
then 2 years ...
Canyon Dancer Bar-Harness™
A really useful accessory to tie-down your motorcycle quickly and easily. It
slips over the grips of the handlebars and you attach your tie-down straps thru
the loops that are left hanging. The design is really straightforward and works
especially well on sport bikes and lighter machines - I hesitated to try them on
my Gold Wing although I know many who have with good results. All materials for
the Bar-Harness are made in the U.S., and the nylon webbing has a tensile
strength of 5500-12,000 lbs. The quality is really excellent. You can contact
them at (530) 527-7926 or check out their
web site.
Heli Corp. X-TRACTOR
It's louder, gives more power and looks cool. I'm talking about the X-Tractor
from HELI Modified Corporation located in Cornish, Main.
What they have done is remove the exhaust chamber that is between the exhaust
pipes and the muffler replacing it with a stainless steel unit that can supply a
8-9hp and 8 more foot-pounds of torque over the stock unit. They also
claim the added bonus of better fuel mileage but THAT I have not seen.
Most importantly the increase in HP is right where you need it the most:
middle-range grunt!
If you don’t have a fairly new motorcycle you need to trot on down to your local
Honda Shop and pick up some new gaskets. You will need 2-part #l8391MAM-OOO, and
2-part #l8392-MAM-000.
These are the gaskets that go on the pipes. You might also need 6 Part
#18291-MN5-650, these are the copper rings where the header pipe meets the head.
Heli can be reached at (800) 859-4642 or check out their
web page.
Kisan Technologies
I rarely get products that I install and say "hmm, that's well worth the money"
but EVERY unit I've ever used from Kisan has had me saying that. I
especially like their brake-light modulator the TailBlazer which I've used in
various incarnations on four separate bikes now. Check them out at their
web page.
Progressive Shocks: I have used these
and find them to be a great improvement over the Wing's standard performance.
I also have a PDF from their web site on
how to install them.
Shoei
I have used both the Syncrotec and the RF-800 units so I will comment on both
below:
The Shoei Syncrotec Helmet offers the protection and quietness of a
full-face helmet, and the convenience of an open face but at a price. This DOT
approved helmet doesn't pass SNELL but has a shell constructed of fiber
composite. The suggested retail price is a bit high at $452 -$465
but it can be found as cheap as $389 from discounters like
The Helmet Shop. The Syncrotec is
Shoei’s second-generation flip-front helmet. The flip up convenience permits you
to easily communicate with someone else nearby. I enjoyed the helmet but
it's nosier then the RF-800, not as comfortable and difficult to add a headset /
speaker into.
The Shoei RF-800 Helmet has been my lid of choice now for six years.
Much cheaper then the Arai (which is lighter and quieter) it is a comfortable
and snug fit that I have come to know and trust. The RF-800 has a vents
that function to reduce face shield fogging. It also has a lever that adjusts to
half open or closed to allow you to position the shield's "tightest" fit. The
lower air intake has been designed and positioned to allow just the right amount
of air into the helmet while also reducing turbulence. This helmet comes with
the "silent cheek-pad" which is integrated with neck pad and liner. Another
completely new feature developed by Shoei is the "Tail-fin". This small
extension at the rear of the helmet diverts air off the back of the helmet to
reduce lift, drag and wind noise. I found it very comfortable on long rides and
even on hot days.
Simpro
Simpro makes some great add-ons and gear for the Wing. My favorite is
the Combo Light, which has since been updated to a "versa" light. Check their
web site out for more cool stuff, including
a NEW higher output alternator.
Wolfman Tank Bags
The Wolfman XL Magnetic Tank Bag I use on my FZ1 has
lots of pockets and expands to carry more then you could imagine. There is an
inside mesh pocket just inside the large main compartment. A flat, zippered
pocket can be found just under a removable 7 ¾” wide x 8 ½” long map pocket that
sits on top of the bag. In addition, there are two outside, side pockets and
another one in the front by the carrying handle. The bottom has a zipper that
opens on three sides to expand the large main compartment to a size large enough
to store your helmet if you so wish.
Plastic and foam stiffeners help to keep the shape of this tank bag. There is
even a key clip inside. Wolfman uses non-slip Toughtek™ on the bottom of the bag
for a secure hold. The rear webbing straps fit nicely under the ignition key
panel of my bike. The webbing is attached to quick releases on the bottom back
of the bag. This gives me a little more security in case I get in a very windy
situation. Wolfman can be reached by calling (800) 535-8131 or check out their
Web Site.
OTHER SITES WITH PRODUCT REVIEWS:
http://www.goldwingproductreviews.com/ProductReviewListing.htm
