Newbie GL1500 Trike Questions

[northcoastmopar]

Hi,

Greetings from Cleveland Ohio.

I have a few questions regarding a 1995 GL1500 trike that my dad is looking at. Trying to get him on 3-wheels. He's 74 and is not able to handle his bike as well as he needs to.

He found a local bike. It has 58,000 miles on it. Supposedly everything works fine and it has new tires. I know nothing about Gold Wings or trike kits. He wants me to go look at it with him. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined but I have no idea what to look for. Outside of the bike running and going down the road well. The asking price for the bike is $8,200. I don't know what type of kit the bike has and the pros and cons of it. Is anyone able to identify the kit type/manufacturer from the pics? The current owner doesn't know what type of kit is.

I have some photos and I was hoping I could get some advice on what things to look for and any thoughts on the price and if it's within fair market value.

Sure would appreciate the insight of any Gold Wing trike owners. Thanks in advance!

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[LadyonaMission]

Welcome to TT. I can't help you but you may find someone near you in this thread: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/forums/357-Ohio

I hope someone living near you sees your posting and offers to look at the trike with you. Your dad is lucky to have such a wonderful son who is encouraging him to ride a trike instead of giving up riding. Once he gets the hang of riding on 3 he will love you even more.

Good luck.

Lola

 

[Keystone]

:welcome: to TT John!

It appears as if that is a GL1500 with what is called a third wheel kit or "Voyager" kit after one of the manufactures. IMO that price is high. I don't know exactly what that older GL1500 would sell for but I see them in my area (MN) sell for $1500-$3500 with out the kit. The Voyager kits new are @ $4k. Use around half or less in my area.

 

[northcoastmopar]

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking it was a touch high also. 95 GL1500s are listing for around $4k-$5k here. Don't know if they are selling at that price. I figured the kit if it was indeed a 3 wheel one, which obviously it is, would add another $2k to the bike.

What are the biggest drawbacks to a three wheel kit?

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

There are a couple of things I notice off the bat. First, that is not a trike. It's a 2-wheeled GL1500 with a bolt on kit that makes it like a trike, but it has 4 wheels, not 3. Therefore, if you buy it, you should pay more then a 2-wheeled GL1500, but less then a trike. Because it's not a trike, many who have similar kits will complain they are hard to steer.

Second, is getting one serviced and repaired. I have GL1500 owners stopping by all the time looking for someone to work on their Wing. Unfortunately like them, I have no idea where they should go for service. Most shops don't like working on Wings especially older ones. As a result, many 1500s do not run well making their exhaust stinks. For many, a GL1500s has turned into a DIYs bike, and most DIYs don't know how to balance the carbs.

You might consider a GL1800 trike with 3 wheels.

 

[Gideon]

Hi,

Greetings from Cleveland Ohio.

I have a few questions regarding a 1995 GL1500 trike that my dad is looking at. Trying to get him on 3-wheels. He's 74 and is not able to handle his bike as well as he needs to.

He found a local bike. It has 58,000 miles on it. Supposedly everything works fine and it has new tires. I know nothing about Gold Wings or trike kits. He wants me to go look at it with him. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined but I have no idea what to look for. Outside of the bike running and going down the road well. The asking price for the bike is $8,200. I don't know what type of kit the bike has and the pros and cons of it. Is anyone able to identify the kit type/manufacturer from the pics? The current owner doesn't know what type of kit is.

I have some photos and I was hoping I could get some advice on what things to look for and any thoughts on the price and if it's within fair market value.

Sure would appreciate the insight of any Gold Wing trike owners. Thanks in advance!

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Looking at the photos, the Kit appears to be a Voyager Kit.

The pros are the bike stays intact. The kit can be removed and used on another bike if needed.

All the best to you and your dad.

God bless,

Gideon

 

[Keystone]

You might consider a GL1800 trike with 3 wheels.

:GoodPost: Greg is our resident Wing expert.

Take a look at this trike for sale by one of our members. More $$ but you will get an idea just what is out there.

 

[trike lady]

Nice looking Wing. Its not even broken in yet.

Have you taken it for a test ride?

There are some shops that will work on older Wings, I have some in my bookmarks.

Price isn't too bad, I sold a 1993 GL1500A with a Voyager and 60,000 miles +/- for $5,000.00.

It's a Voyager style unit, possibly an old Komfort Kruz unit or Richland Roadster.

You're near Cycle Max in Ohio and they may offer you service.

 

[northcoastmopar]

:GoodPost: Greg is our resident Wing expert.

Take a look at this trike for sale by one of our members. More $$ but you will get an idea just what is out there.

That's beautiful but I'm thinking that's a bit out of his range.

 

[northcoastmopar]

You might consider a GL1800 trike with 3 wheels.

Thanks

Are the GL1800s more accepted by service shops? I definitely don't want him to get something that needs wrenched on or if it does something that people are willing to work on.

 

[KKILASER]

Looks like a mopeds and mor kit. Look at mopedsandmore.net

 

[trike lady]

Thanks

Are the GL1800s more accepted by service shops? I definitely don't want him to get something that needs wrenched on or if it does something that people are willing to work on.

Dealerships won't work on anything more than 10 years old, there are independent Wing shops out there that work on older GLs. Cyclemax in Ohio can be contacted. Once the bike is running it runs well it will not give you problems, Goldwings do not like to sit for a long period of time. Older GLs require attention, GL1200 with four carbs can be real picky and fun to work on.

NADA lists the price in very good condition at $6500.00

Ask me about a 1500 I owned one and had no problems with it.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

Thanks

Are the GL1800s more accepted by service shops? I definitely don't want him to get something that needs wrenched on or if it does something that people are willing to work on.

Many Honda shops will not work on trikes or anything over 10 years old. However, you'll most likely have better luck finding a shop to work on GL1800s then a 1500.

 

[trike lady]

Take the bike for a test ride. If you buy it change all the fluids, timing belts, run Seafoam in the gas and take it for a long ride, change the fuel filter, sync the carbs. Take care of this bike and it will last for well over 100,000 miles. A shop to work on your bike try riders choice they work on 1984 and older Wings. This bike will not spend endless days in the shop, a new bike can be troublesome right out of the crate. If you were near Bellaire I'd work on it.

If you have any questions about a GL1500 please ask me.

 

[trike lady]

I'm going to guess its this one. https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/mcy/d/honda-gl-goldwing-trike/6209595888.html

Probably like the neighbor I had when I lived in Florida, he had a boat rarely used it and eventually sold it.

 

[northcoastmopar]

I'm going to guess its this one. https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/mcy/d/honda-gl-goldwing-trike/6209595888.html

Probably like the neighbor I had when I lived in Florida, he had a boat rarely used it and eventually sold it.

Yep, that's it.

At this point my dad is passing on this bike.

 

[trike lady]

Keep looking you'll find a nice GL1500 trike. If you do find a GL1200 Limited or SEi as a trike they are both fuel injected but parts are impossible to find. If you can find an older GL1800 just make sure the frame recall was done on it and the brakes, I've seen some high milers for around $6,000.00 and you can sometimes find a used Insta-trike for around $1,500.00. The only cheap trikes are the scams on Craigslist.

 

[LadyonaMission]

You posted "I know nothing about Gold Wings or trike kits" so maybe you can find something other than a Gold Wing for him to look at. It amazed me after I went from a motorcycle to my trike that there are so many options.

 

[trike lady]

You bring up a good point, does it have to be a Wing trike? One of the small Suzuki or Honda Shadow trikes.

 

[David357]

Hi John,

:welcome: to Trike Talk from South Florida.:wave4:

 

[northcoastmopar]

You posted "I know nothing about Gold Wings or trike kits" so maybe you can find something other than a Gold Wing for him to look at. It amazed me after I went from a motorcycle to my trike that there are so many options.

I've been searching all the online marketplaces for options and yes he's not locked into a Gold Wing. The Harley trikes seem to be rather pricey and some of the non-Gold Wing metric trikes I've seen are "smaller" bikes (750cc and less).

I do have a question, how big of a deal is having reverse on a trike? I'm assuming it's really dependent on the size/weight of the trike and the strength of the rider?

 

[LadyonaMission]

I do have a question, how big of a deal is having reverse on a trike? I'm assuming it's really dependent on the size/weight of the trike and the strength of the rider?

My Freewheeler is the only trike I have owned, but I think your assumption is right on. I can back my trike without using reverse if I park in a flat place or a place that slants so I can roll back, but I don't hesitate to use it anytime I want to and love it when I do need it.

If I didn't have reverse, I would have to pick and choose a parking place carefully, like I did for many years while riding alone on two wheels. When riding with friends there was always someone willing to help with a little push. I even asked a few strangers for help.

 

[trike lady]

I had a GL1500 trike with reverse and never used it, I physically pushed it with one foot on the ground. Smaller trikes are lighter than big ones. If you're not going to rack up miles a 750cc one would be okay.