GL1800Riders Forums banner

Getting Traxxionized...at Freds

2K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  Nando 
#1 ·
I just had to tell somebody:

My bike is at Fred Harmon's getting a triple tree and springs.

I tell ya, meeting Fred personally has been the honor I expected to be. He is a good guy patiently answering all my dumb questions.

I ain't saying that I am gonna snoob-nose you guys now that I have actually shaked Fred's hand and meander about his shop, but my status as a Windinger must have gone up a notch--I can feel it.
I expect respect now!!!

MORE BLABERINGS: the '05 I had long ago was Traxxioned and the different was so great, that I knew I would never own a Wing again without Traxxion. I am just holding to my own promise.

I know a lot of guys frown on 1500 bucks (or more) worth of 'front-end' Honda forgot to install, but if you ride a lot, and did it, you would say its worth every penny...to most people...(I better qualify that cause around here everyone has a different opinion about everything)

I be willing to bet the only thing we ALL agree on is breathing!
 
See less See more
#5 ·
SEE! whatta I tell ya: here is a perfectly good argument against the application of breathing as a Windinger praxis.
 
#4 ·
Thanks Hoosier Dad,

I had the AK on my '05 so I am well aware of its efficacy.

I just wanted to get rid of the wobble since I am not really a hot-rodder, but I do enjoy the feel on my bike at times...if you get my meaning.

But yea, that's som' to think about. Maybe next Summer when I pass by TX I can have Fred do the shock also.

Right now I am good with this...it ain't cheap! Remind me of Clearwater light: good-n-expensive
 
#6 · (Edited)
You are going to like Fred's service! Whatever he does to your bike you can be assured that it has Fred's full attention and will be done correctly! Fred is the man when it comes to Goldwing or Concourse maintenance or upgrades.
I need brakes and a front tire and am seriously considering taking it to Fred if he has time. I can do it myself but.... the 2 hour round trip for me is well worth it!
I have a nuisance ABS light that bugs me and is probably beyond my skill level. I think new pads and a good washing of the sensors will cure it but Fred has the skills to diagnose it correctly and fix it permanently.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#12 ·
I have a bad wobble most of the time from 45mph down to 35mph. It seems to be higher mph than normal on my '12. New tires all around and tightened the steering bearings to 2.5# pull because they were pathetically loose and still have the wobble. Some roads are worse than others.

The '12 is supposed to have a stronger triple tree than previous years.

Probably have to put in tapered rollers this winter and that might cure it. Since the '12 has the stronger triple tree i don't know if it is worth replacing the tree pieces and I don't want to spend a bunch of money on my SS income if i don't have to. I am just a normal Wing rider that will ride without going crazy on curves and get myself into trouble. I lean and use to scrape pegs a little until a put a CT on rear and supposedly since the tire doesn't bevel down so fast on the side as a MT i have more clearance because the corner of CT is keeping the rear raised higher. Makes sense since i haven't scraped in peg in almost 4k miles.
I didn't look up price of new aftermarket trees lately to see how expensive they are now and would not be a good thing if i replaced them and still had the wobble.
 
#13 ·
I have a bad wobble most of the time from 45mph down to 35mph. It seems to be higher mph than normal on my '12. New tires all around and tightened the steering bearings to 2.5# pull because they were pathetically loose and still have the wobble. Some roads are worse than others.



The '12 is supposed to have a stronger triple tree than previous years.



Probably have to put in tapered rollers this winter and that might cure it. Since the '12 has the stronger triple tree i don't know if it is worth replacing the tree pieces and I don't want to spend a bunch of money on my SS income if i don't have to. I am just a normal Wing rider that will ride without going crazy on curves and get myself into trouble. I lean and use to scrape pegs a little until a put a CT on rear and supposedly since the tire doesn't bevel down so fast on the side as a MT i have more clearance because the corner of CT is keeping the rear raised higher. Makes sense since i haven't scraped in peg in almost 4k miles.

I didn't look up price of new aftermarket trees lately to see how expensive they are now and would not be a good thing if i replaced them and still had the wobble.


I had Fred install Progressive mono tubes, traxxion billet tree (upper and lower),all balls tapered bearings and a Progressive rear spring 2 years ago and I could not believe the difference in handling! I never had the wobble some complain about but was definitely felling the lack of suspension upgrades. The traxxion billet tree and tapered bearings alone made a huge difference in how my bike handled. I am almost 40k miles into those upgrades so it is probably wise for me to take it back to Fred for a tire, brakes, fork seals and a fork oil change just to be ready for my next long ride whatever and whenever that might be.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pricejh61
#14 ·
I just had to tell somebody:

My bike is at Fred Harmon's getting a triple tree and springs.

I tell ya, meeting Fred personally has been the honor I expected to be. He is a good guy patiently answering all my dumb questions.

I ain't saying that I am gonna snoob-nose you guys now that I have actually shaked Fred's hand and meander about his shop, but my status as a Windinger must have gone up a notch--I can feel it.
I expect respect now!!!

MORE BLABERINGS: the '05 I had long ago was Traxxioned and the different was so great, that I knew I would never own a Wing again without Traxxion. I am just holding to my own promise.

I know a lot of guys frown on 1500 bucks (or more) worth of 'front-end' Honda forgot to install, but if you ride a lot, and did it, you would say its worth every penny...to most people...(I better qualify that cause around here everyone has a different opinion about everything)

I be willing to bet the only thing we ALL agree on is breathing!
You're going to love the difference it makes. I just did the same thing to mine myself & can't believe how different it rides, it is a night and day difference. Now instead of turning like an aircraft carrier, it turns like a mid size yacht :) Fred is a great guy, hopefully I have the chance to meet him someday. Enjoy your new bike and the way it rides.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nando
#18 ·
Interesting:

Even after the Traxxionization, my Wing was pulling hard to right. I put a new E4 in the front and now it goes straight even with 'no-hands-mom'.

The Stone that was in the front was deformed; and it made for lousy tracking also.
 
#20 ·
Hey, Nando, is this the Nando that was from some place like Hawaii years ago? We communicated but never met. Then, it seems like you sold your Wing and got something different.
 
#22 ·
Trialsman,
How you doing kid?
Yeap, same knucklehead from the o' days but older...not that the years have added one iota to the immaturities, but well, certainly more grey hair.

I see you are still Opaque Siding...ain't that what you call them flat motorcycle tires some cars use nowadays.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top