1500 Goldwing upgrades. Where to start?

So my forks are not leaking. I was just going to rebuild them because the bike has 110,xxx miles on it and I don't know the service history. I was going to put progressive springs in them when I had them out.

Since no leaks can I skip the fork rebuild. I THINK I can do the springs with out taring the front end apart? Just loosen the clamps and slide the tubes up? I need 2'' to get my fork spring tool on the end.

Or should I just bite the bullet and rebuild the forks?

Please advise. Thanks

Cal, Caretaker of  Sidecar  Willie,  there is no need  to  fully  rebuild the  front  forks  on your  '96 Wing 1500.

All you need to do  is replace the  fork SEAL and Dust Seal on each leg, which is really  pretty  easy. 

If it was me, with 110,000 miles on the  bike,  and unknown  mileage on the  current  fork seals, I would  replace the  fork seals, and dust seals, and internal  springs....all at the same time. 

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on December 6, 2023, 7:58 pm

Ccal, Caretaker of  Sidecar  Willie,  there is no need  to  fully  rebuild the  front  forks  on your  '96 Wing 1500.

All you need to do  is replace the  fork SEAL and Dust Seal on each leg, which is really  pretty  easy. 

If it was me, with 110,000 miles on the  bike,  and unknown  mileage on the  current  fork seals, I would  replace the  fork seals, and dust seals, and internal  springs....all at the same time. 

Heck. As far as I know the seals maybe shot and there's no oil in there to leak out,,,,lol. So it looks like I'll be pulling the forks. I want to change the steering bearings any way.

Thanks

Cal............whoa whoa whoa whoa....whoa......why do you "want to  change the  steering  head bearings,  anyway "  ???

Is there  a noticeable  problem  ? Are they  notched ?

Since the plan was to...possibly...replace the  triple  trees with trail reducing  triple  trees, that is the  time to  replace the  steering  head bearings. 

Far too  many  Goldwing  owners  replace,  or have  replaced,  the steering  head  bearings  on their  bikes,  when  it absolutely  was NOT  necessary  or needed.  It was a  "fad" for  awhile,  as a rumored fix for  front wheel  shake on decel. That rumor was a  lie.

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on December 6, 2023, 9:27 pm

Cal............whoa whoa whoa whoa....whoa......why do you "want to  change the  steering  head bearings,  anyway "  ???

Is there  a noticeable  problem  ? Are they  notched ?

Since the plan was to...possibly...replace the  triple  trees with trail reducing  triple  trees, that is the  time to  replace the  steering  head bearings. 

Far too  many  Goldwing  owners  replace,  or have  replaced,  the steering  head  bearings  on their  bikes,  when  it absolutely  was NOT  necessary  or needed.  It was a  "fad" for  awhile,  as a rumored fix for  front wheel  shake on decel. That rumor was a  lie.

Well..... I may have spoke to fast,,,lol. I just figured it was a maintenance thing. I need to jack the bike up and check it out. I was actually going to ask if it could wait until the triple tree swap? But that's a long way off.

Should I at least pull them and repack? Or not mess with them if there is not a noticeable problem?

Cal, don't make me come to southern Illinois and remove Sidecar Willie from your clutches......

Unless there is a specific and immediate need to replace those steering head bearings, do NOT touch them, until you are in the process of replacing the triple trees.

I truly apologize to all the other brands of motorcycles out there that will be offended by this...BUT...this is a HONDA GOLDWING....not a xyz brand.

On my '94 Goldwing 1500 that I rode 90,000 miles in ONE year, I never touched the steering head bearings. On all of my 10 Honda Goldwings that I have owned since.........(a long time)..........the ONLY time I have ever had to touch the steering head bearings is when I replaced the triple trees on my '08 Wing, and them my '06 Wing, because of adding sidecars to those bikes. That means, all the other ones, never had to adjust them, never had to regrease them, never had to give them an attitude adjustment.

If you DO have a specific and immediate need, then go ahead and replace them. Otherwise, go play catch with Sidecar Willie.

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on December 7, 2023, 12:01 am

Cal, don't make me come to southern Illinois and remove Sidecar Willie from your clutches......

Unless there is a specific and immediate need to replace those steering head bearings, do NOT touch them, until you are in the process of replacing the triple trees.

I truly apologize to all the other brands of motorcycles out there that will be offended by this...BUT...this is a HONDA GOLDWING....not a xyz brand.

On my '94 Goldwing 1500 that I rode 90,000 miles in ONE year, I never touched the steering head bearings. On all of my 10 Honda Goldwings that I have owned since.........(a long time)..........the ONLY time I have ever had to touch the steering head bearings is when I replaced the triple trees on my '08 Wing, and them my '06 Wing, because of adding sidecars to those bikes. That means, all the other ones, never had to adjust them, never had to regrease them, never had to give them an attitude adjustment.

If you DO have a specific and immediate need, then go ahead and replace them. Otherwise, go play catch with Sidecar Willie.

Ah. You'd just give him back,,,lol. He thinks he's the boss. Tells me when to get up. Tells me when to go to bed. Tells me to take him for a ride in the truck. Hmmm? He just might be the boss,,,lol.

I'll get the bearings checked out soon. I'm hoping to get one more ride in before the winter rebuild. The top is supposed to be here Friday. I hope to to get it installed with out too much trouble. I can't wait to see how it looks. I personally think the tops add a whole nother level of "COOL" to the sidecar.

Well it's 3:30 am and "Boss Dog"  is telling me time to go back to bed,,,lol.