[Cobram]

I pulled the tarp off the GL500I today. Starting the process of getting it road worthy. I picked this bike up about 2 years ago, it had last been on the road in 1985. I bought it from an estate, it had belonged to a guy who bought it new, rode it for 3 years prepping for his police motorcycle test, and parked it the day he became a motorcycle cop. I took out a 2nd mortgage to buy a couple of gallons of gasoline, checked oil and hooked up battery booster.....it started, quietest twisted twin I've ever heard, idles like a champ, mechanical seal is leaking.



Enough back ground, here is what I found hanging in the fairing:

Are these original wires, or are they wiring for the emergency lights, siren and CB the bike evidently had as some point?



The buckhorn handle bars as they are is not an option for me, I hate them. The handle bars are the main reasons I haven't put this on the road before. Has anyone adjusted the existing handle bars by rotating them forward? It looks like they might be bearable if rotated until the brake reservoir is level? Or, I would appreciate any BTDT with replacement bars. I was thinking of using '78 CX bars, but it looks like they may come up short.

As Columbo would say: "One last thing." Didn't the tank, fairing ect. come from Honda with the pin striping? I checked carefully, and I can't see any signs this things ever been painted. Did some come without the decals/pin stripes?



No pin striping anywhere.

 

[Cobram]

Cobram,nice looking bike.i know we are talking different markets......

my gl has the same wireing in that panel.i think,an earth floating,perminant live and switched live,all protected by inline fuse,s.i think its for all the accessories that can be added



whats your plans for the bike,other than change the bars.

.

That's good news, I'll keep the wires, see what's what, will come in handy to wire GPS.



Plans for it? Get it on the road so I have a bike to ride, then I can start repairs to my downed CX500. Barring any unforeseen hurdles, she will be my ticket to ride for the Canadian and Amish Rally's this year.



The short list:



New tires

Rebuild front calipers.

Brake Lines

Water Pump Seal

Install trunk extender

Change thermostat, radiator flush etc.



Undecided: Engine removal for complete Oring/gasket service and general inspection.



Things never go as planned, who knows what goodies a bike which sat for 26 years has to reveal. If the engine is an indicator, and with 14k miles on it, I'm optimistic. Fingers crossed.

 

[Cobram]

I concur with bandit on the wiring, my fairing has it as well. As far as the handle bars go, I adjusted mine forward and I am much happier with them in the new position. Try adjusting them, and if you still don't like it, change them out.

Just what I was looking for, some BTDT about turning the bars and not interfering with the fairing or cable/wire routing. Gracias.

Wow, I'd like to see pics of the aft rack and it's design behind the trunk..

Makes it very easy to get the bike on/off of the center stand with this as a grab point. It's very solid, I thought it was original equipment until I read your post.

Looks like an excellent anchor point for easy bungee attachment too.

 

[Cobram]

First thing I did after getting my GL650I was to put the bars from a CX500 Deluxe on. Much better. No issues with wiring or things like that. I am going to change out the reservoir so that it is level.

Are they the same as the standard bars, or a bit different? The two pics I posted in the OP are the '78 bars.



Do you have a pic you can post of the Interstate with the Deluxe bars fitted?