Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihu1g.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!ihu1g!rls From: rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) Newsgroups: net.cycle Subject: Re: Info on 82 Silver Wing wanted. Message-ID: <652@ihu1g.UUCP> Date: Wed, 10-Jul-85 08:40:41 EDT Article-I.D.: ihu1g.652 Posted: Wed Jul 10 08:40:41 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jul-85 00:18:17 EDT References: <15568@watmath.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 37 > My wife has fallen in love with a 500 cc 82 Silver Wing interstate. > I need information on performance, parts availability, reliabilility > and ease of handling etc....... Before I buy, I want info from the > experts on the net who have used these machines or variations thereof. > --Kim. I don't know about the motorcycle market in Ontario but in the Chicago area last year there was a surplus of 1982 GL500 Silver Wings, brand new still in the box from the local Honda dealers. I don't just mean one or two lying around, one dealer where I know a salesman had a stack of 8 boxes in the corner of his store room. The prices were so low I finially decided to sell my old 1974 XL350 and buy a real street bike. The price was $1800 out the door which included all dealer costs and the 6.25% Illinois sales tax. So the first part of my message is don't pay too much you may still find a deal. Next I would to say that I really like the bike and so do two of my friends that bought identical bikes (not to be cute, the price was too good to pass up). Having had to fool with a dirty chain in the past the shaft drive is wonderful. The front and rear pnematic assisted suspension gives the bike a very smooth ride. The water cooled engine seems to run much more predictably than other bikes I have ridden and always starts with no problem. One trick with starting that fooled me for a while was the vacuum controlled gas line shut off. If the bike sits long enough for the carbs to dry up (10 days or so) don't touch the throttle when trying to start the bike. Openning the throttle plates in the carb effectively kills any engine vacuum so the vacuum fuel shut off never opens and no gas to the engine. With the throttle plates closed it starts with no problem. The only real complaint I have heard is from a GL500 Interstate owner that complained of not enough power on the highway with his wife on the back, the saddle baskets full and all that fairing to slow things down..... What did he expect from 500 ccs and two cylinders?? Rick Schieve ...ihnp4!ihu1g!rls