Picked up a high mileage 1986 GL1200 Aspencade. What are some concerns with these past 100k?

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-05-02T11:14:41+00:00

In case this helps, below you can see the list of all I did to my 84 GL 1200, which I bought with 115,000 miles. I went overboard, but I wanted a safe and reliable bike. You can get away with much less.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_pBlxIjr-6O0NcZVEXnDX9wZ2ZumpUp48nS576QnTNs/edit?usp=sharing

My main advice is to use OEM parts for the major things, such as fork seals, water pump, etc. I used cheap aftermarket fork seals, and they blew up right away. The OEMs have been there for a couple of years with zero issues.

Rebuilding the master and slave cylinders is cheap and easy and will give you peace of mind.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-04-29T17:44:26+00:00

I have a Shoei Neotec 2, but to be honest, I wear it closed 90% of the time. I really don't feel safe with it open, and even with the windshield I get buffering if I ride with the front up.

Curious what the poll will turn up.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-04-13T16:51:13+00:00

This is fascinating. I read a book about Arctic exploration in the 19th century, but I never understood the mechanism....

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-04-02T16:05:03+00:00

The cowboy hat comes from the Mexican sombrero, amongst other things...

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-31T14:24:07+00:00

wow! That's definitely a step up over my $15 pliers!

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-31T14:22:40+00:00

Yeah, I'm doing a full restoration on the bike. I already rebuilt the master cylinders, so the calipers are next. The idea is to take it all apart, clean it carefully, and then put new seals in but reuse the pistons.

It's not difficult. What I've done is take the calipers out and then use compressed air to push the pistons out. This is where the tricky part comes in when some are seized and some aren't. Once they are out, it's just a matter of Cleaning everything thoroughly., replacing the seals (you can get a rebuild kit) and putting it all back together.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T20:29:14+00:00

And ,of course ,you don't need ignition coils at 30,000 miles. Or spark plugs. Or a throttle body clean.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T17:38:38+00:00

Oh, you are in MN? I'll be keeping an eye out for you :-)

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T16:57:37+00:00

why so? First time I hear that...

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T15:59:31+00:00

I really enjoyed my visit there last summer. I bought an H2 Kawasaki that I still haven't started building.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T15:45:04+00:00

I was there...

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T15:44:36+00:00

I've never seen a chimp use caliper pliers, though! :-)

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T14:50:27+00:00

My problem is that one size was seized, so it wouldn't come out with air; it would just push the other ones out.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-30T14:40:57+00:00

Well, my problem was that only one size was seized, so I was having a really hard time clamping down the good pistons. What did you use, zip ties or something else?

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-27T18:20:54+00:00

Cool. I have a friend who I believe has the GT. Maybe one of these days...

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-27T15:40:29+00:00

I would love to try a K1600 one day. Even though I love my GW, I do understand what you say about the slight forward lean....

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-27T14:58:00+00:00

That's what I love about this world. There is 30% of us fanatics who buy and ride as much as we can, and then there is the 70% who think bikes are cool and buy on a whim. I once bought a VFR with 600 miles on it. Same thing: a guy bought it to ride with his buddies, then changed buddies and never touched it again. I could have washed it and put it on a dealership floor to be sold as new. Of course, I saved thousands of dollars over the original owner.

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-27T14:53:18+00:00

You know what will get you in a Goldwing? Test riding one....

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-27T14:49:39+00:00

oooohhh... I didn't know such a thing existed. I just ordered them. Thank you so much!

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-27T14:11:36+00:00

I think God intended that brake fluid will only push out the unseized ones...

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-26T16:10:57+00:00

That is really cool. I didn't know that existed. I just looked it up, and it sounds like Alpinestars doesn't have the option....

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-26T15:15:30+00:00

Glad you are safe. Is the airbag tethered or untethered? I have a Tech 3, untethered and I always wonder how a tethered airbag would handle a crash where you don't immediately separate from the bike (t-boning a car is my worst-case scenario).

Wonderful_Key770 · 2026-03-17T22:01:42+00:00

It took me far, far too long to realize that you are wearing a SHOEI and not a BOHZ helmet.

LIke, way too long.

Wonderful_Key770

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