Continue riding the Goldwing or Buy an Airhead?

[110997]

Ok, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I need a little advice about airheads. This spring I’ll be starting a weekend job, once or twice a month for the Naval Reserves in Brunswick, Me. Since, I’ll be commuting from Iowa, I’m thinking of taking my Honda Goldwing up there, and leaving so I’ll have something to explore the Northern states one on my time off.

However I’ve got this pesky feeling that I’m missing something every time I see an airhead. Since I ride an R1100GS (my first BMW) as a daily driver I have no experience with airheads, but I’m very curious.

I know this is a loaded question but, are there any years / models that would be good for a college student with little $$. I'm a pretty good mechanic so a little TLC doesn’t worry me. I need something with sufficient power to do some serious riding (long distances), a bike I can leave for a month (at the most) and get back on it without having to worry about "will it start”, will it break down on me?

If I’m asking for too much I’ll take the Goldwing up there and ride it (it’s a great bike, but I drag things), until I can afford an airhead.

Oh, yeah anyone near Brunswick who would be interested in showing me around in the spring?

Any advice will be helpful.

Thank you
Derek

[BubbaZanetti]

i just bought my first motorcycle in may of this year, it happened to be an 84 R100 (i'd had a non wanting to work cb 750 before that) and bought it due to its reputed reliability..........

needless to say this bike had sat outside unused for 15 years prior to 1999. the guy that sold it to me put 3000 miles on it in 4 years and since i've had it i've put 8K on it and the last 4500 miles have been on a 5 week cross country trip (still in progress) since i've bought it i've done a carb synch, replaced the rotor and just kept up with the fluid and the valve checks. it has performed nearly flawlessly on this entire trip and i consider it the best 1500 dollars i have ever spent


so if i were to in my very "newbie" position tell you wich airhead to get i'd say ANY OF THEM, some late 70's models have more power, some 80's models may be more reliable, but from the standpoint of someone who isn't a super mechanic by any means, these bikes are straightfoward as anything, providing you have a decent manual. i did my oil change and valve clearance adjustment in the middle of LA and it was no problem. these things can be nearly bulletproof if you treat them right.

[MarkF]

I think any mono shock is a good grab. But if I was to buy another bike it would be a K1100LT like this one. (http://wordsmyth.smugmug.com/gallery/243314)

Mark

[James.A]

If you are looking for an inexpensive ride, with decent power, I'd look at an R75/6 or Long Wheel Base /5. The LWB allows for, among other things, a larger battery. The 600cc models seem to trade at lower prices, but might not have enough power to suit you. You shouldn't have to spend much more than $2000 for a decent, un-restored example.

[The_Veg]

More importantly than any particular year or model, find one that has been well-cared-for, owned by a knowledgable person. You'll need to do much homework to learn all the Airhead quirks and wisdom but it's worth it. Some good places to research and learn are boxerworks.com and airheads.org.
These bikes will go forever with good care, or sometimes even without- I work with a guy who has a 1976 R75/6 with 350K on it and it has yet to see any major work.
As for deciding which one you want, there are many choices and I recommend learning about them.

[srb]

If any question contains the option 'buy an airhead', the correct answer must always be 'buy an airhead'.

[rtbuzz]

I may be blasted for this, but for the trip from Boone to Maine, I'd take the Wing. You'd probably get better gas mileage on a R bike, but for pure comfort on a interstate over a long period of time, the Wing is the one. I've ridden a 1980 GL1100 on a long tour crisscrossing Colorado, then up to Yellowstone and back and it was a great ride. Up in the mountain roads I'd rather have my '83 R80RT-its response is much quicker, but the Wing was more than spunky in the twisties as well. Some bikers tend to bad mouth Wings, but that '80 was a helluva bike-and a supurb touring machine. That being said, I took the RT out to California this summer and IT was awesome-----listening to the motor humming at 80mph for hour after hour across hwy50 in Nevada was nothing short of heaven. So if getting out there is a "commute" I'd go with the Wing. If getting out there is "ride" I'd get on an airhead , pack my watch away and head east.

[bprigge]

I road an '81 dresser 1100 Wing for a couple of years. Commuted a hundred
miles a day back and forth to work, road it from Minnesota to Atlanta and
back.

Now I ride a '76 R75/6 with a tiny bug screen windshield and throw over
saddle bags. I set my personal all time distance record on the R75 this year, 946 miles in about 18 hours. In the rain or at temps below about 45 degrees
I would prefer the Wing for obvious reasons. Any other time I would prefer
the R75/6. The Wing was a fine bike but did not have the charisma that
the R75 has. The R75 also is a lot lighter and has a seat more suited to my
personal tush. Also, I just love twins. I like the way a twin feels as opposed
to a four. Bruce