3) Motorcycle Build Project Planning Begins

The Beginning Process includes Space, Tooling, and Concept Planning:

Let's talk about space;
Ok, where am I going to park this Large thing so I have the room to work on it for possibly a year or more and not have to move it because it is in the way of other small projects?
(Parked in the carport)

This needs to be one of the first decisions after of course buying it, getting home and telling your spouse it will be fine, "I know what I am doing (?)".  The plan is to strip it down to the engine and frame so everything that comes off may or may not be put back on. My intent is to only put back on what is needed to run and be the future bike I have envisioned. So with the expectation to sell everything I do not need, after I have determined what parts are not needed or parts of parts I will. So everything has to be stored somewhere. Somewhere dry and protected for possibly a log time. Well, my carport has room but is not well protected and my new shied is more weather tight than the carport but there is no lighting or shelving yet (And I am not sure I can wait). So that puts the build in my Shop.

(Just cleaned up the Shop)

This would be fine except I already have other things (toys) parked in there.

Can't store the Hot Rod outside!

Also there is the concern of all the past projects that I really never cleaned up from.The shop shelves will be the best place to store all of the Goldwing parts and pieces, (Once I clean them off), at least until I get the shied shelves and lighting installed. 

So lets see how everything is going to fit;

The shop door closes so this will work (?).

 In my next Blog I will discuss the new tools I want to buy, I mean that I need for this project.  Also start to discuss my concept and the problems/concerns that I can foresee turning a Goldwing into a cruiser.

2) the Motorcycle Build Process:

The Key to a Project is the Process

A project needs to have a logical beginning, middle and a successful end. Not being done in that order does not mean a project will not succeed but there is a high potential for issues, concerns and problems that may result in errors, rework, lost time and added expenditures. This lesson was hard for me to learn especially after many project restarts. For this project I am going to follow the process.

Beginning;

I need to develop clear objectives on what I want and expect the motorcycle to do and as much as possibly look like. So what do I want? The final components and looks/function may vary (will vary) as a project develops. I have never own or even worked on a Honda Goldwing and I have only ridden a couple Harley Davidson, so I really right now don’t have a clue of what I am in for.

      

           

May be something like this.

With one of these.

And a couple of these.

I need a place to do the work with the room and storage necessary to keep removed components, pieces and part organized. My last project was a 1955 Chevy Pickup. I did a frame up stock restoration. The Pickup came out pretty good.

                  

But a truck when taken apart took up a lot of space and the VERY large components like fenders, doors, bed, and the cab which cannot be moved around easily need to be put out of the way. Also every screw, bolt, bracket and plug, if you plan on reusing them needs to be stored so they can be found and separated by use. 

The motorcycle will take up a lot less space but not knowing what I will need or reuse I will still need a plan on storage and separation of all the components, brackets and wiring. And once the bike comes apart it needs to be where it can be worked on for possibly a long period of time. And be out of the way from potentially impacting all of the other minor projects that will arise over the next year or so. So planning ahead on location and location prep is important to insure a smooth project and minimize ancillary impact as the project progresses.

So my first action is to clean up my shop, find a lot of plastic bends and make sure my label marker has tape. Also make a list of the new tools needed for this project which always must be done before you start any new project. 

Project prep begins tomorrow.

1) the Motorcycle:

I want to build a Motorcycle;

Been retired from a job I loved about 20 months after a 32 year career. What I loved about the job was it allowed me to solve problems. Problems that had impact on the facility I worked at, problems that would effect the community I lived in and problems that impacted the people I worked with. I guess I enjoyed the challenge and that people trusted me to find solutions. Retired I initially focused on my health, my home and my family. My son played high school baseball and I watching him play and as retired I did not miss a game. Now heath is good (still need to work on a healthier diet), home repairs have slowed, and there will not be any college baseball (however I'm still hopeful). So I needed something I could focus on.  I have had a motorcycle since I was 15 years old. First was a Honda 90 which I road to high school and my various jobs. Next when I went to college I bought a used Honda CB 350 with a fairing and hard bags.  After college and into my dream job I bought a new Kawasaki KZ 1000 which I fully dressed with, at the time the only real option, a complete Vetter package, fairing, bags, and trunk. I put over 75,000 miles on the KZ until I ran into a wall in Yosemite. The KZ got me hooked on sport touring, it took me to the Canadian Rockies, Montana and other great trips. So my next bike had to fill that void, be reliable, and fun to ride. In 1985 I bought my new BMW K100rt. I loved this bike. It was everything I needed and I put over 90,000 miles on it. Just before I retired  I bought a 2005 Ducati ST3. This is a beautiful and fast motorcycle. The plan was commute to work on the BMW and on weekends quick road trips on the Ducati.

When retirement came earlier than expected the need to commute was gone and I had two motorcycles with different purposes. My spouse and I would use the BMW for trips and I would use the Ducati for quick errands. Those errands had to include hills and back roads because it hated being under 4000 rpms.

Again 20 months into retirement I needed a project and I decided to build a motorcycle. The 1985 BMW K100 is a great bike but the idea of stripping it down to become a cruiser or Bobber I just couldn't do it. But to buy another bike, bring my collection to three, was not going to happen.  So I gave the BMW to my brother, problem solved. Now I needed another bike.

I wanted a bike big enough to tour, fun to ride and that is or could be good looking. I like the looks of the Harley Davidsons but there are so many and all my friends have them. The Goldwings are the ultimate in touring but so big and again it seems everyone has one.  So I was thinking maybe I could blend and come up with something I could build myself and meet all my needs. The Honda Valkyrie could meet that need but if I just wanted to buy a bike what kind of project would this be.

So I started my look for an older Goldwing.  I initially found some on Craigslist in my area. There were two 1987 GL1000 for $600. But they were a mess, stored outside, no title and would not turnover. I offered $300 for both thinking I could build one from them, but no deal so I left. As I researched Goldwings I decided I would focus on six cylinders like the GL1500 and GL1800.  Well the 1800s were all more than $9000 and all too nice to cut-up.  Looking at local GL1500s I found one with 100,000 miles, that ran, and had a clear title. It has problems and needs a lot of work to even make roadable, but that means I could feel free to cut it up. Also most of the Goldwing tech and plastic (fairing, bags, and trunk) can be sold on E-Bay. I made a low ball offer and got it.

 I ordered a shop manual, registered it as non-op with the DMV and my project begins!!!