Your thoughts before purchase

[Pastor Ron]

Looking at a 1998 Honda GL1500 57,672 mi., with 300 mi. on Champion Trike. New belts for $17,000 ?Good price or keep looking? Advice please

 

[Gold Rush]

Looking at a 1998 Honda GL1500 57,672 mi., with 300 mi. on Champion Trike. New belts for $17,000 ?Good price or keep looking? Advice please

That seems high to me Ron. There are GL1800 trikes out there with comparable numbers for the same money. No matter how you stack it, that bike is 20 years old and the plastic is brittle. To me that is a MAJOR drawback. Body parts are nearly impossible to source on GL1500s

 

[bikerbillone]

Agree with GoldRush, a tad on the high side, keep looking on this forum, cycle trader, other sites that sell trikes, you'll find a much better deal if you're patient.

 

[Pastor Ron]

Thank you I will do just that

 

[trikeman]

Here’s a nice 1500 SE 1993 with recent Motor Trike Conversion. 10,500$ great condition. Think it’s got 40,000 miles. The owner also has matching Escapade trailer thinking it’s another 1500$ :wave4:

 

[trike tech]

View attachment 59456 Here’s a nice 1500 SE 1993 with recent Motor Trike Conversion. 10,500$ great condition. Think it’s got 40,000 miles. The owner also has matching Escapade trailer thinking it’s another 1500$ :wave4:

Not trying to step on any toes & sure don't mean to make waves here. But that is not a "recent" conversion. Based on the body that kit was likely put on in the late 90's; that was called a Classic 1 body.

Once again, not trying to step on toes or create any hard feelings, but if it's being presented as a recent conversion I felt I should say something.

 

[Pastor Ron]

Thank you trike tech

 

[FRR]

Go 1800

 

[trikeman]

Not trying to step on any toes & sure don't mean to make waves here. But that is not a "recent" conversion. Based on the body that kit was likely put on in the late 90's; that was called a Classic 1 body.

Once again, not trying to step on toes or create any hard feelings, but if it's being presented as a recent conversion I felt I should say something.

As I stated it’s a recent conversion. I said recent because it was installed on this 1500 goldwing bout 4 months ago. I think that’s qualifies as recent. I didn’t say new conversion or try to Insinuate it’s new. Again in my original post I stated RECENT CONVERSION. I’m familiar with this goldwing. I personally know the owner and the conversion shop that installed this motor trike kit on this 1500 goldwing. I saw it before it was converted to a trike, rode before it was converted to a trike and have ridden it since it was converted to a trike. You don’t know anything about this goldwing OR when it was converted. You are the one misinformed and don’t know what you’re talking about. Not trying to make waves or step on anybody’s toes or make anybody mad. just feel like I should say something. The difference between what you said and what I said is, I know what I’m talking about :wave4:

 

[Gold Rush]

It is still a 1500 with plastic that tends to fall apart easily. IMHO (regardless of it's condition) buying into any 1500 is not a good choice at this point. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[trikeman]

It is still a 1500 with plastic that tends to fall apart easily. IMHO (regardless of it's condition) buying into any 1500 is not a good choice at this point. :xszpv: :xszpv:

My last post is not about plastic or what’s the best or worst model or yr to purchase. It’s about trike tech’s post concerning this particular goldwing trike. Read his post. He said it’s was probably installed in the 90’s. And not a recent conversion. He felt the need dispute my first post. Without saying it,insinuating that I was misrepresenting or misleading the information about this trike. Other active threads on the forum have favorable reviews and several members own 1500 Wings and are very happy with their choice. Each to his own.

I don’t care what Pastor Ron gets or what you have, or other members ride, but I do care when trike tech or anyone else insinuates I’m misleading or misrepresenting or don’t know what I’m talking about.:wave4:

 

[Pastor Ron]

I am just trying to figure out my options....when you say a 1500 @ 20 year old plastic will fall apart, won't a 1800 @ 20 years old do the same? If that is the case, should I not look for a used no later than 8 years old ?

 

[Pastor Ron]

View attachment 59456 Here’s a nice 1500 SE 1993 with recent Motor Trike Conversion. 10,500$ great condition. Think it’s got 40,000 miles. The owner also has matching Escapade trailer thinking it’s another 1500$ :wave4:

David, please have your friend contact me 828-275-0215 ourshepherdschapel@yahoo.com

 

[Gold Rush]

I am just trying to figure out my options....when you say a 1500 @ 20 year old plastic will fall apart, won't a 1800 @ 20 years old do the same? If that is the case, should I not look for a used no later than 8 years old ?

Ron the key to that puzzle is availability should body parts be needed. The GL1500 is a workhorse just like the GL1800 and its mechanical parts are still pretty much available. Honda will provide GL1800 plastic for many years because for the most part the same pieces fit 2001 through 2010. Until recently that was also the case for the GL1500. Not so now. There just are not any new and anything coming off a used bike will suffer the same aging factors.

Yes, very early model GL1800 bike plastic is getting along in years. If you are lucky enough to find one that has low miles and spent its life garaged the ill effects of Mother Nature will be lessened but the fact remains that NO new GL1500 plastic is out there.

You are absolutely correct in you evaluation regarding age. I don't know what you budget is but looking for a newer low mileage trike will be more expensive for sure.

Good Luck with your search.

 

[Pastor Ron]

Ron the key to that puzzle is availability should body parts be needed. The GL1500 is a workhorse just like the GL1800 and its mechanical parts are still pretty much available. Honda will provide GL1800 plastic for many years because for the most part the same pieces fit 2001 through 2010. Until recently that was also the case for the GL1500. Not so now. There just are not any new and anything coming off a used bike will suffer the same aging factors.

Yes, very early model GL1800 bike plastic is getting along in years. If you are lucky enough to find one that has low miles and spent its life garaged the ill effects of Mother Nature will be lessened but the fact remains that NO new GL1500 plastic is out there.

You are absolutely correct in you evaluation regarding age. I don't know what you budget is but looking for a newer low mileage trike will be more expensive for sure.

Good Luck with your search.

Thank you for your info...I am trying to get as much info as possible so I can make an informed decision. All of the comments made on this forum ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE is most appreciated. Thank you all

 

[trikeman]

David, please have your friend contact me 828-275-0215 ourshepherdschapel@yahoo.com

He sold it and matching Escapade trailer today. Sorry :wave4:

 

[Pastor Ron]

I will keep looking. Thank you

 

[Red Wing One]

I’m not sure what type of plastic was used on the 1500’s.....but I do know that the plastic on the 1800’s is primarily ABS.

ABS plastic is very resilient.......not very brittle.

 

[trike tech]

As I stated it’s a recent conversion. I said recent because it was installed on this 1500 goldwing bout 4 months ago. I think that’s qualifies as recent. I didn’t say new conversion or try to Insinuate it’s new. Again in my original post I stated RECENT CONVERSION. I’m familiar with this goldwing. I personally know the owner and the conversion shop that installed this motor trike kit on this 1500 goldwing. I saw it before it was converted to a trike, rode before it was converted to a trike and have ridden it since it was converted to a trike. You don’t know anything about this goldwing OR when it was converted. You are the one misinformed and don’t know what you’re talking about. Not trying to make waves or step on anybody’s toes or make anybody mad. just feel like I should say something. The difference between what you said and what I said is, I know what I’m talking about :wave4:

Looks like I owe you an apology. When I read recent, I took it as stating a recent conversion with a current kit; that was my mistake for making the assumption. I was only trying to provide the information to prevent any surprises should someone call in to Motor Trike needing body parts, wheels, accessories, etc that are no longer available.

As originally stated I wasn't trying to make waves but seems I've done so anyway and that certainly wasn't my intention. Once again, my apologies.

 

[trikeman]

Apology accepted no problems at all:wave4:

 

[CrystalPistol]

As an owner of an '85 Wing (33 years old) and a 1997 Wing / '98 Lehman Trike (21 years old) I gotta say I have yet to see any evidence of the plastic (most of it ABS) being / becoming "brittle". ABS is used in a lot of buried plumbing intended to last. I have broke a couple things, but that was my fault. I don't plan on wrecking either and I bought each to ride with little thought to resale (bought '85 in 1995, bought the '97 in 2004).

The one time I hit a rock in a shadow with front wheel kicking it upwards , and found need of a couple parts (lower cowl, left exhaust shield), they were located that eve on E-bay cheap from a salvage yard in Fla., were even correct color.

Besides, the forces placed on a trike frame are somewhat different than a two wheeler sees, 1200s & 1500s have steel tube frames, somewhat more resistant to fatigue. Not saying an 1800's frame can't take it, but I don't recall any frame recalls for the 1200s or 1500s either. Time has shown, both the 1500 and 1800 make fine trike bases, both have their strong points.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

I will keep looking. Thank you

Pastor Ron,

I have a customer that is selling their 2006 GL1800 (NAV) Champion Trike Conversion (black) w/30,000 miles. I built the conversion 4 years ago and they have put less than 1000 miles on it since. It has E-Z Steer too. They are asking $21,300.00 for it which seems pretty fair to me.

Asheville is about 400 miles from me if you are interested. I will have it in my showroom next week and take some pictures.

Below not actual photo............

 

[Pastor Ron]

Thank you, no, I am going to buy new in a couple more years I think.