Comments on: Buying a GoldWing Part 3 – Buying from a dealer

By: Stuart Mackay

Stuart Mackay — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:15:07 +0000

A man who needs help, I have purchased a 1980 GL1100 trike which is in need of TLC a winter project having finally got the engine running I find that the rear axle diff is to my mind way below ratio, it sits 6500 rpm at 70 mph, I think its off a bedford mini van but not confirmed, Ialso have oil running from n/s brake housing so where can I buy an appropriate axle/diff that will give me the nearest ratio to the two wheel bike.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:52:19 +0000

Very helpful Barry, thank you.

By: barry walton

barry walton — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:32:57 +0000

If the Trike you are looking at in the USA does not have a parking brake fitted, DO NOT BUY!

Many of the older trike conversions in the USA (and some new ones) don’t have handbrakes and in some cases no handbrake kits are available for them from the builders either. In UK you cannot register a trike, without a handbrake.

Trying to source parts and fabricate a handbrake can cost a great deal. I know of one person who spent £3000 on a handbrake for his GoldWing trike conversion. It would have worked out far cheaper for him to buy a trike which already had one in the UK. It also took him 5 months to sort his handbrake out in his own time.

So buy a trike in the USA with care, there are many pitfalls.

By: winger

winger — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:39:56 +0000

It will probably not have a parking brake fitted so you will have to make sure the kit fitted supports the fitting of one.You will have to disconnect some lights also to get through msva test.Get one that has raked steering as the can be a bit heavy to steer if no fitted.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:36:47 +0000

I’m not a trike expert but the trike conversion kits which are used in UK to convert GoldWings are (lehman and California) are of US origin so if the trike you are looking at is one of those there should be no insurmountable difficulties getting it through a UK Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) Test on importation, but that will involve ensuring it meets UK lighting etc regulations, which usually means some work on any US bikes. It is possible to get trikes shipped to UK as a part container load at reasonable cost.

But there are no free lunches in life and if you buy a trike off EBay in the States there are bound to be some extra risks compared, for example, with buying from a US dealer. It’s up to you to decide whether those risks are worthwhile.

Will you fly over to inspect it before buying or just take a chance that it’s as described? Will the Seller store the trike while you organise collection and shipping? Who will prepare the trike for shipping? Do you understand how to arrange shipping and how much it costs? How will the trike be transported to the port of exit, which can be expensive? Do you understand the limitations of shipping insurance – for example it doesn’t usually cover damage in transit, only total loss? Are you saving enough (taking into account the exchange rate, shipping costs, import duties, VAT if applicable) to make it worthwhile?

By: ERIC TINDALL

ERIC TINDALL — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:55:09 +0000

I AM LOOKING AT A TRIKE FOR SALE ON EBAY IN THE STATES WHAT SHOULD I BE AWARE OF TO AVOID BEING STUNG OR END UP WITH A BIKE THAT IS NOT UK LEGAL.

ALSO IF I DO GO AHEAD AND BUY IT ANY TIPS ON GETTING IT HOME TO THE UK

By: juan carlos villalonga

juan carlos villalonga — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:19:47 +0000

Good morning:
I’m looking for a Gold Wing years 1975-1979 , can you help me ?
Best regards
Juan Carlos