The long awaited Naked Wing Video

Third Ride

Here is a picture from today's ride. I had a heck of a time getting it running today. It takes is some time to warm up. I thought that I'd top off the tank with some Chevron 91 and a splash of Sea Foam to see if it didn't smooth out the carbs some.

I put about 15 miles on it and here are my findings. The low end, 1000-3000 RPM's runs really rough even after it warms up. It has a fair amount of back firing in that range as well. Above 3000 she'll run away from you if your not holding on. Out on the airport road, after riding for bit at the speed limit (50 mph) I decided to push it a little. In fourth gear the speedometer climbed right along side the tach and wasn't backing down. I came out of 4th at 80 (and still had plenty to go) and about 6000 rpms. I don't red line until 9000.

If I can get the low end to match the top she'll be a fast machine.

I spent a little over an hour bleeding the rear brake and finally had some success. It burped out a lot of air and started to firm up to where I couldn't move the rear wheel by hand with the bike on the center stand. I figured that a ride would help burp some more air to the surface. Before I got home the rear brake felt soft again and I'll bleed it the first of next week after it has had some time to think about what it has done.

I'll try and get some video up soon. 

Drum Roll Please....

Yes I did finally get the long awaited phone call. The Naked Wing is ready for pick up. So today after work Rachel and I rode out to see if this was some kind of joke. Here is my assessment.

The bike runs and sounds good. They adjusted the valves, cleaned and tuned the carbs, fixed the exhaust leak and the ignition. The new Dyna S seems really good. The bike is responsive and feels pretty good.

They did not however, pump up the rear brake(which I found out after attempting to stop on the highway) despite my incessant asking specifically about the brake. They marred up my powder coating, covered the lower half of the bike in grease and what looks like antifreeze, broke my radiator overflow cap and left greasy hand prints all over the bike. Lots of dark black grease. Not just finger print looking smudges. It was more like they used the bike as a rag to wipe their hands on.

After cautiously riding it home I began disassembly again to re route wires and cables that they had moved. Found several loose nuts and bolts and more grease.

I was told that the bike had been in the shop the entire time. After seeing the shop I can believe such a statement. I would have to guess that while working on every other bike in the shop they they started them with the tail pipes in a bucket of oil and antifreeze to see how far each of the bikes could blow the oily mixture. Lucky for me, my bike remained in the shop for all those demonstrations.

Well at least she is home now and I can give her the proper care she deserves.

Next step. Fix brakes and Horn so I can legally put her on the road. 

I'm a precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics.

Well... at least the bike will be. I dropped by Sprockets to check on my naked wing today and found out that it was indeed the old Martek electronic ignition that was bad. Some surprise I guess. All the forums that I read said that they weren't that great and that they've switched them out for the Dyna S by Dynatek. The picture and caption below are from their site: http://www.dynaonline.com

Product Overview : Sportbikes - Dyna S Ignition System

Dyna S Ignition System is a complete self-contained electronic ignition system built with the latest state-of-the-art engineering. This is the same ignition used by top racers over the past 2 decades.

The Dyna S is completely housed behind the ignition cover and uses a magnetic rotor with the original spark advancer, so the factory advance curve is maintained.

The venerable Dyna S ignition System is a time proven solution to the basic ignition needs of the vintage muscle bike. As a stand alone ignition the Dyna S is the standard of performance and reliability.

The precision instruments of speed and blah blah blah. My hope is that between the new ignition, synchronized carbs, K&N filters and Jardine Rumblers, that this old wing runs like a champ.

You better pour some Sea Foam through your carbs Ty because I'm coming after your Suzuki first. And if the Monster ever makes it up to Utah it better be ready for the track. I aint scared.

Sprockets?

In my frustrated state of not being able to get this bike to run smooth, despite a quart of Sea Foam, I payed a visit to the local Honda dealership. As soon as I mentioned that I had a '78 Goldwing the guy at the counter said, "We wont work on any thing that old."

Some mumbo jumbo about not being able to get parts and can't find tools that old, no bikes use carburetors any more, blah blah blah...

So I called another local bike shop called Sprockets in Monroe UT. The owner answered the phone and knew just what I was trying to explain about the bike starting but only running at certain RPM's. He said that by adjusting the jets and synchronizing the carbs we should be running like a champ. That's what I like to hear. Tomorrow the Naked Wing will take her first road trip, via trailer, to the shop to get a good one over.

The next time I see her I'll be saddling up to ride her home. Whoot whoot!

Pop No Kick

So I got adventurous tonight and tried to breath life into the old wing. After chasing a few wires with the help of a free wire diagram, I was able to find the allusive black wire from the rear brake switch and make the connection.

A little fuel, a little choke and few shots of ether and she starts. But. She won't run. It has to be a timing issue. When I can keep it going it gets a lot of backfiring and smokes like it is running rich.

I looked on Randakk's and the firing order is 1-3-2-4. The front two cylinders are fired off of the right coil and the rear two fire off the left.

Where my bike has the Martek electronic ignition it might be a bit of a chore to get it timed properly as it is really hard to find the literature for Martek Industries. There is plenty out there for the contact points that Mother Honda originally installed but Honda didn't adopt the electronic ignitions until the GL1200.

No recordings of engine sounds tonight. But what I did hear sounds good.

Gold in your Grill?

It has been a slow go for the past few weeks for a few reasons. One, no time and two no parts. I finally received the air shock fittings and air line only to find out that the fittings wouldn't fit. So I over paid for the lines but now the rear shocks are finally doing their job.

I also ordered the last of the headlight rings and all the associated spring locks and bolts to put it together. It is plugged in and working like a champ.

I had to wait for a calm-ish day to paint the few remaining pieces that I had forgotten. Two of them were radiator trim and I couldn't bolt it up until they were done. In the process I painted the radiator grill gold and I am happy with the way it turned out.

The goal for this week is to get the electronic ignition connected, and see if we can hear what those Rumblers sound like. Oh, I hope the seat will be done this week too. Pictures will follow.