1200 Goldwing questions - Dodger maybe?

The cheap-as-chips DR650 I bought to tide me over until I get the "real"
bikes registered[1] appears to be vibrating apart faster than I can
screw it back together. To be fair, it was extremely cheap by local
standards and seems to have spent at least as much time exploring the
scenery without the benefit of a rider than with a rider...

Anyway, given my preference for big sod-off tourers for daily use, I
couldn't help that you can find 1100 & 1200 Goldwings for very
reasonable money out here. Basically, within a 20 mile radius there's an
1100 Aspencade w/ 37k on the clock and a 1200 Interstate with 27k on the
clock. I'm pretty sure I could find more around these price levels if I
looked over in California...

Anyway, apart from the usual stuff like traces of horizontal biking and
consumables, anything specific to look for[2]?

[1] While I do finally have all the paperwork, I do appear not to be
able to insure them for daily use because they're weird furrin' bikes.
[2] Yeah, another dirt bike. I know. But for off-roading I better get my
ShiteOldJeep fixed up again because I'd rather take Ann out in the Jeep
than on the back of a dirt bike.

 

My 1200 needed its head gaskets replaced twice, a buddy's 1200 took
*three* sets of head gaskets before it stopped leaking coolant into the
combustion chambers. YMMV.

 

Sounds like the perfect bike for me then :/.

 

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/usedgoldwing.htm

I don't know much at all about the buzzy little four-pot Wings, I'm
afraid.

 

As is befitting for the pilot of the only 'fitted for in flight
refueling' Wing on the planet.

 

Bwaaahahahahaha! Excellent.

 

Thanks. From doing a little more research outside UKRM, it sounds like a
nekkid GL1000 would be the way to go Wing-wise if I wanted a four pot
one.

 

Here's another flavor to consider. I see these coming up for sale
for not too much dough on a regular basis.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/mcy/2386108011.html

I well remember the reviews in the bike magazines at the time, the
original Venture Royale was quite the bike[1]. Better handling and power
than the 1200 Wing. Yamaha used the V-R 1200 V4 as the starting point
for the V-Max powerplant.

[1] Not to be confused with the later cruiser-style Royal Star [Venture]
and its variants. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Venture

 

I think that's the same model that I've seen up for sale around here.

At the moment I'm still undecided if I'll try to find another dirt bike
(probably a 250 for lower weight) or go for another ShiteOldTourer...

 

I refer the gentleman to my earlier comment. I remember hacking one of
those things round Rimini circuit, believe it or not.

 

Ah, wasn't paying attention I guess- I thought you were talking about
the 2nd generation Ventures.

I've never had a go on one but I am tempted to buy one when I see low
mileage examples occasionally being offered for less than 2 grand.