New bike for mr. softie

mr. softie · 03-13-2009, 08:53 PM

I just bought a 1983 Honda GL650 Silverwing Interstate today and will pick it up tomorrow morning. I took a little 180 mile ride this morning (@33 degrees F!) to go see it over near Lancaster, PA. Took the Silverwing out for about an hour and it runs nice. Easy cruising... 65mph@5000rpm and 50-55 mpg. Good roll on in 5th to about 95mph (that's where I backed off). Very nice wind protection even at 75-85mph cruise. Perfect for riding to distant points. It reminds me of the Moto Guzzi 850T I used to own. The Honda "twisted twin" motors are known for their reliability with 200,000 miles between overhauls not unheard of. It has new Dunlops, new stainless brake lines, cam chain, fork seals, rear shock bushings, and water pump seals done. Even a full shop manual and original tool kit. A machinist/maintainance mechanic owned it for last 18 years, he was second owner.

Here's some pics from the ad...

alanmcorcoran · 03-13-2009, 09:47 PM

Congratulations softie.

Water Warrior 2 · 03-13-2009, 10:10 PM

Great buy. A lot of riders have wonderful memories of a Half Wing.

mr. softie · 03-13-2009, 11:03 PM

Thanks, the GL650's and the CX500's and GL500's have a loyal following around the world. The GL650 was only sold here for 1 year, but in Europe and Japan they were sold through 1986, a 4 year run. I paid $1200 for this one and I think I done good. It uses 1 key for everything, all the bags lock, and it doesn't need anything but to be ridden. 65 HP 673cc V-twin by the way, air assisted forks and pro-link Showa rear, the cutting edge in '83! k&N filter too. I may repaint it at some point, I like this scheme....

I guess I like red Motorcycles...

primal · 03-14-2009, 12:22 PM

Very nice! I was looking at one of those myself before I picked up the KZ550. Unfortunately, it was a bit top heavy and the seat was just a tad high for me. Very cool!

mr. softie · 03-19-2009, 07:20 PM

New pics of my GL650I: The one next to the trailer is right when I got it home. I removed the trunk extender and rear seat and moved the trunk up to solo position. It is running good.

alanmcorcoran · 03-19-2009, 07:34 PM

Looks like it's ready for a nice tour!

BusyWeb · 03-19-2009, 10:00 PM

Great........
How did you find it?
When I saw the first picture, I felt some old jap. animation???
I don't know why, but pitures gave me some old memories.. ha ha ha
Anyway, that's great buying.
Specially, I like those trunks .... you might saved extra money not buying luggage accessories.

roncg41677 · 03-19-2009, 10:08 PM

Great find! I test rode a CX500 years ago before I ever actually got my first bike, and I loved it. Shaft drive and transverse mounted V twin. Awesome!

lockman · 03-21-2009, 05:27 PM

I'm new to the board....and just read this post. I was wondering if you would be interested in selling the trunk extender you removed. I have been looking for one for quite a while now. Lemme know either way.

Thanks

03-13-2009, 08:53 PM	#1
mr. softie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bucks Co. PA Posts: 361	New bike for mr. softie I just bought a 1983 Honda GL650 Silverwing Interstate today and will pick it up tomorrow morning. I took a little 180 mile ride this morning (@33 degrees F!) to go see it over near Lancaster, PA. Took the Silverwing out for about an hour and it runs nice. Easy cruising... 65mph@5000rpm and 50-55 mpg. Good roll on in 5th to about 95mph (that's where I backed off). Very nice wind protection even at 75-85mph cruise. Perfect for riding to distant points. It reminds me of the Moto Guzzi 850T I used to own. The Honda "twisted twin" motors are known for their reliability with 200,000 miles between overhauls not unheard of. It has new Dunlops, new stainless brake lines, cam chain, fork seals, rear shock bushings, and water pump seals done. Even a full shop manual and original tool kit. A machinist/maintainance mechanic owned it for last 18 years, he was second owner. Here's some pics from the ad... __________________ The real money in a gold rush is in supplying liqueur and women to the miners.... May the wind always be at your back and the sun overhead as you make your way down the ever winding, smoothly paved, traffic free road! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-13-2009, 09:47 PM	#2
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: New bike for mr. softie Congratulations softie. __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More…
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03-13-2009, 10:10 PM	#3
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: New bike for mr. softie Great buy. A lot of riders have wonderful memories of a Half Wing. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-13-2009, 11:03 PM	#4
mr. softie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bucks Co. PA Posts: 361	Re: New bike for mr. softie Thanks, the GL650's and the CX500's and GL500's have a loyal following around the world. The GL650 was only sold here for 1 year, but in Europe and Japan they were sold through 1986, a 4 year run. I paid $1200 for this one and I think I done good. It uses 1 key for everything, all the bags lock, and it doesn't need anything but to be ridden. 65 HP 673cc V-twin by the way, air assisted forks and pro-link Showa rear, the cutting edge in '83! k&N filter too. I may repaint it at some point, I like this scheme.... I guess I like red Motorcycles... __________________ The real money in a gold rush is in supplying liqueur and women to the miners.... May the wind always be at your back and the sun overhead as you make your way down the ever winding, smoothly paved, traffic free road!
	0

03-14-2009, 12:22 PM	#5
primal Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hurricane, WV Posts: 446	Re: New bike for mr. softie Very nice! I was looking at one of those myself before I picked up the KZ550. Unfortunately, it was a bit top heavy and the seat was just a tad high for me. Very cool! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-19-2009, 07:20 PM	#6
mr. softie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bucks Co. PA Posts: 361	Re: New bike for mr. softie New pics of my GL650I: The one next to the trailer is right when I got it home. I removed the trunk extender and rear seat and moved the trunk up to solo position. It is running good. __________________ The real money in a gold rush is in supplying liqueur and women to the miners.... May the wind always be at your back and the sun overhead as you make your way down the ever winding, smoothly paved, traffic free road!
	0

03-19-2009, 07:34 PM	#7
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: New bike for mr. softie Looks like it's ready for a nice tour! __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More…
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03-19-2009, 10:00 PM	#8
BusyWeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 626	Re: New bike for mr. softie Great........ How did you find it? When I saw the first picture, I felt some old jap. animation??? I don't know why, but pitures gave me some old memories.. ha ha ha Anyway, that's great buying. Specially, I like those trunks .... you might saved extra money not buying luggage accessories. __________________ BusyWeb
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03-19-2009, 10:08 PM	#9
roncg41677 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dunnellon, FL Posts: 96	Re: New bike for mr. softie Great find! I test rode a CX500 years ago before I ever actually got my first bike, and I loved it. Shaft drive and transverse mounted V twin. Awesome! __________________ ~ Matthew 6:33 ~
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03-21-2009, 05:27 PM	#10
lockman Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: perry, ohio Posts: 1	Re: New bike for mr. softie I'm new to the board....and just read this post. I was wondering if you would be interested in selling the trunk extender you removed. I have been looking for one for quite a while now. Lemme know either way. Thanks
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