cowpuc

The only kind of apples I am concerned about when out CTFW are the bag of apples I carry next to the water jug that hangs on Tweeks side from time to time. Generally speaking,, one of the huge things I have enjoyed about CTFW thru the years has been escaping from the phone ringing and music blaring in the world around me. Tip and I do carry a pair of MP3 players in Tweeks tank bag just in case but, at the start of last ride season I put new batteries in them just in case and while out in California touring the coast last year our camera's batteries went dead and I stole the new batteries out of the MP3 players to use in the camera. The batteries were still new cause we never even did use the Tweeks audio system.. I do suppose if Tip ever decided to stop CTFW with us I would probably be interested in some of this new fandangled high end stuff so I would have someone to yak with and share the journey with but I don't see much of a chance for that cause Tip seems to be handling the south side of the bell curve of life a lot better than I do physically..

Yep,, you are on to it!! 1st Gen Mk 1 = 83 thru 85, 1st Gen Mk2 (no clam shell bags and other small changes including different drive shaft length but same tranny) = 86 thru 93, 2nd Gen = 99 up and have the bat wing fairing. The "gear ratio change" 2nd Gen tranny swap you hear about is ONLY applicable for certain years of the 2nd Gen's I believe.. That may only apply to the RSTDs even (the ones that have no fairing - cruisers with V-4's they made from 96 up but not sure. If you are interested in doing a total tranny swap so you get the different ratio's we will need to rattle some chains here and get a good guru so you can be sure and get the parts your looking for.. If you are going to just rebuild back to stock = yes, 86 to 93 1st Gen MK2 parts should work as far as I know. Also, if you look at the pics I posted - take note on the model number pic - notice the VIN number on the bottom one being stated? I think that "1413" at the end of the VIN is the last of the bad thrust washer business that caused 2nd gear failure. That simply means if you are looking at an 85 and the VIN is higher than that number = your good to go on the tranny issue.. Make sense?

While my "M.O." has always been to by em missing 2nd gear and short shift em out to 2 or 3 hundred thousand miles so I have never actually had one down as far as you have yours Johnny (I commend you though, looking good there) I may have an answer to your question here.. Looks to me like it is actually both the washer and the plate you want to replace to be sure and also check that shaft groove very closely. I have done many other bike trannies in the past and if it were mine, I would also check those 2nd gear dogs and engagement window edges closely too.. Also the shift forks for wear (be surprised how people like to rest their toe on a shifter when they ride).. Anyway,, here is what I found in some of my accumulation of paper work.. Hope this helps!!

WOWZY WOW WOW WOW RIV!!! THAT is absolutely priceless IMHO = wayyyy way cool!! Excellent find brother, THANK YOU!! Noticed a number of very interesting things.. One of them, I spent a number of years turning steel back in the 70's and some of those years were doing turret lathe work.. It was amazing to me to see how little things had changed in that field from the 20's to the 70's!! Seriously!! Watching them cut steel took me right back to those early years for me!! Also,, I couldnt help but notice that they used a screw (not a bolt), tightened with a screw driver (not a wrench or socket) to capture the little gear on the end of the crank and, no lock tight .. Watching them slide in the lifters reminded me of working on my buddies Harley a couple days ago. Did you notice how absolutely simple the carb was = now THAT is what I been talking about = K.I.S.S.!! Burning off the pre lube at the start of the test ride = sooo obviously for real this video was!! Watching them get "air" on those early scoots = OUTSTANDING!!! Also,, I could not help but notice how sure of themselves those early riders were - noticed when going side by side the one guy had his hand on the others shoulder = .. Point of curiosity was = I noticed what looked like army tank tracks in the dirt on top of the bridge, could have been boards making up the bridge but I dont think so = you notice that? Also, the guy sitting on the fence watching the scoots go by = I am bored = "wish I was riding one of those" . Last but not least = the very end shot in the mud hole = inverted = can relate!! Thanks Riv = you made my day!!

Hmmm,,, maybe a better approach with potentially less down time would be to go test ride one and forget to take it back at the end of the demo ... That way, when the show up at your door you can plead ignorance and tell em ya thought they said you won the bike and that they gave it to ya .. If ya decide to that though DanL' PLEASE let me know ahead of time cause I wanna ride down there and video the whole shananigan and post it on you tube .... :happy65::rotf::rotf:

Maybe we could all save our Hot Dog cash up,, petition our club President to write a letter to Mom Honda for us and get us some kind of a club discount/group buy thing going.. Buy 5 = 8%, 10 or more = 12% discount??? Keep a little money in the Hot Dog fund that way brother!! Man cant live on Hot Wings alone,, gotta have an occasional Hot Dog tossed in there too

Bar none,, that right there is exactly what I would do if I were ever to undertake the tranny repair/update on a MK1.. Fool is spot on here,, I know that @VenturousRandy has also done a lot of figuring on the gear ratio's and also knows exactly what you would end up with percentage wise (up and down) by doing this.. As I understand it, the drop in gear ratio is significant enough in 1st gear that idling around in the woods at a snail's pace in 1st is much easier if your into such nonsense. Yep,, this is the direction I would head iffen I was gonna rip er all apart like you got goin Johnny.. Either way though,, LOOKING GREAT THERE = all the best in a good outcome with high anticipation for a great 2018 ride season brother!!!

Includes a lot of detail, even has a dyno chart showing a comparison between then and now.. I also noticed the base model (replacing the F6B) manual tranny weighs less then 800 pounds - NICE!!! Good read for anyone interested in the new one!! http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/honda/first-look-2018-honda-gold-wing-and-gold-wing-tour.html

Look what I just found!! This guy may be as far out in left field as I am in my debate theory platform but he is stating exactly,, and in a whole lot easier fashion to follow,, what I am saying... Definitely a simplified method of understanding compared to the other stuff we have been watching/reading while debating this BUT - IMHO,, very well done and very supportive to my case !! Besides,, he is using actual parts n pieces = I LOVE pictures!!

:sign yeah that::sign Rock On::sign Rock On:

Back at cha Mike = 100%!! That is an EXTREMELY profound statement when ya consider what Honda just revealed, an 850 pound 6 CYLINDER world class full touring bike with all the same goodies (parking assist, reverse ect.. = and then some) all at 150 pounds LESS in curb weight than the Yam? Plus the Honda is water cooled and shaft drive = one would TOTALLY think those weight numbers would be the other way around!! Maybe,, just maybe,, there is some actual justification for my "OHH POOP" comment when that new Venture was unveiled after all

100% right there with ya Cammy!! Being the cheapo', always enjoy yard sales and Good Will stores type of lop eared varmint that I am I can sure appreciate your find on the 89 and totally CONGRATULATE YOU brother!! Just watched this video on the new Honda you guys.. I noticed in the specs that they decided to go with one 50mm Throttle Body to feed this new 4 valve motor and that caused me to some as I know for a fact that each of the jugs on my 4 valve 1200cc 1st Gen is fed with 34mm of flow. I also noticed during the unveiling that this new one tachs out very early for what its capible of according to its stroke length of 73mm. I couldnt help but wonder early on just how much of a performance boost Mom Honda was gonna show with this one after all the smoke clears from the announcement.. I know it weighs considerably less then the pre '18 1800's which will give it a better HP/weight ratio BUT = I was really curious just how much more umph Honda realised with the new 4 valve, square bore/stroke, 1800 thinking it didnt sound like it could be that much. In this video (below) they clearly say = 5 more ponies... That dont sound like much after all the design changes IMHO.. I am no Wing guy by any stretch of the word and, as a matter of fact,, have never had the pleasure of lining up one of my 1st Gens with an 1800 so I personally have no benchmark to work from BUT - everything I have seen/read on dyno reports, the earlier 1800's tipped the dyno curve at about 95 horse = feel free to correct that if you know better.. If that is accurate, it looks like this new one is about a 100 horse machine? Not sure, but I think the 1600 Beemer is destined to retain it's honorable control as King of the Hill for touring bike's if one is considering get up and go as a plus... Ratss,, was hoping Mom Honda was going for the title and DOG GONE IT Mom Yam,, ya coulda detuned that V-Max and,,,,,,,,, That Wing is still a wayyyyyyyyyyy cool scoot though!! Definitely lookin forward to a possible demo ride,, with accompanying video reporting should that ever take place!! Of course,, will be looking forward to ANY of our club members doing the same!!!!! Here is the vid from You Tube with the stated HP:

Me too brother but,, when ya think about it,,, a guy could buy a LOT of hot dogs for the cover charge at the entrance door of getting to be part of that party!! Not saying it's out of line with Yam, HD, Polaris or who ever but still,,, WOWZY,,, thats a LOT of hot dogs!!

If I had won that multi million dollar lottery a while back, I would seriously buy all of our club members in good standing a new Wing so we could give Mom Yam a like she did us .. :7_6_3[1]::7_6_3[1]::7_6_3[1]::7_6_3[1]: Notice there are only 9 new Wings above? That represents the 9 club members that I can recall when I think real hard who are in good standing and who would actually get one of the new ones..

Right there with ya brother,, almost like they snuck into our 3rd Gen request area and read our play book or something.. Matter of fact, after watching the unveil I had to come back to the club house here and check the sign on the front door to make sure I was entering the right place = thought for sure I was gonna read something like "WingRider.org" on their or something ,,,,,,, opppppsss = gotta tack on another 6 months probation for that one:big-grin-emoticon: Yea,, nice scoot!! You see that recent teaser about the new Kawasaki Len? Looks like maybe someone may finally start toying with some boost? I think it said something about a November release... Something else to look forward to but really,, I think this one has the potential to be hard to beat.. I suspect the Kawi will be belt drive and, personally, I would rather see shaft driven on an out and out full touring scoot.. What say you brother?

Ya know,,probably sounds like some kind of paranoia but I am not so sure I like the looks of those little linkages that connect the bars to the steer neck.. Looks like a lot of pivot points for potential wear if a person when off roading some = wonder what would happen if one of those little bars got a little play in it... .. I am kind of use to having my bars connected directly to my forks and forks connected directly to the front wheel

200/55-16 rear tire? Isnt that that $575 tire like on the new Venture?

Wowzy is that sharp IMHO,,, just noticing it's a square motor = 73x73mm bore/stroke.. Pretty cool.. Have always heard that being a square if your a motor is totally different that being a square when we were in High School = it's actually considered really neat for some reason.. Ahhh oh,,, think I feel another debate coming on with @Flyinfool I think I will take the platform on this debate that a square motor, plus it being a flat 6, is actually the best design possible in an engine,, could be fun!!!!!!! :witch_brew:

Type wayyyyy to slow these days!!!

Indeed,, just caught the unveil in California.. WOW = nice scoot!! Here is a link to the new video release = definitely a step in the right direction and then some IMHO... I cant wait to see the specs on this new 4 valve motor. They said they dropped over 90 pounds off the total weight = would LOVE to calculate a HP/weight ratio!! Could be really interesting!!!! https://powersports.honda.com/2018/gold-wing.aspx#

completely revamped motor, 4 valve,, performance centered = think Mom Honda was reading our wish lists!!!!

​plus it has a === centerstandddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!t

https://www.facebook.com/pg/HondaPowersports/videos/?ref=page_internal

Yea,,, and why is it so much harder for them to fall up than it is to fall down??

Yea,, why did @bongobobny do what he did when he done that??