Shadowfax-ST Blog

After riding home from Dublin through storms, I reversed into the garage and prepared to put Sherbert on their centerstand. During my proven technique, The solution for GoldWing Centerstand weaklings , I thought I had left the parking brake on since Dublin! Perhaps the technique is so subconsciously ingrained now, I just couldn't recall if I'd pulled the lever on now or hadn't released it after parking. It was a moment. Assuming the worst and unable to prove the best outcome, it was necessary to dig into the parking brake calliper and check the pads. This means only one thing: it's back to Chris Dickinson's Cruiseman's Garage video tutorials . Removing the rear fender I've installed the Vantrue F1 Dashcam on the rear fender and I was uncertain how easily I'd be able to disconnect its cable. On removing the rear fender, I recalled I had wrapped insulation tape around the connector to save it from all the crus it was inevitably to wade in.  This compl...

We don't spend all our time in the shed and recently I was given a handful of extra days off. It was a great early-year opportunity. After hosting riders around the Ring of Kerry and the southwestern Bere and Dingle peninsulas, I still can't get enough of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. With some unexpected time off, I jumped aboard Sherbert after booking a bed and breakfast in Baltimore and packing for an unknown number of days. We rode southwest from County Wexford to where the WAW starts at the Old Head of Kinsale. Day 1. Cold with showers The first hour dragged on. The roads are boringly familiar and a spring storm threatened to dampen my mood. Google Maps also did a sneaky route update, which cost me a pocket-searching toll to cross Waterford's River Suir. I approached Cork from its north and looked forward to my first stop and coffee break at the Lusitania Museum & Old Head Signal Tower. Arriving in the sunshine and blasted by an icy off-shore gale, I found ...

We've wanted the Traxxion Dynamics belly pan since collecting Sherbert from Germany.  I know many owners have done thousands of miles and "never" had a problem with debris breaking the engine. I've covered some miles on STs and Sherbert and not had a problem with debris either. I also know countless eye witnesses on the news telling us they've "never" seen a tornado, earthquake, flood, or other disaster like it. Anyway, a good friend in the USA helped to save me a 50% price hike on postage. It's still way more expensive than I believe it needs to be at $315.97 and there's the market for you. Fitting is easy enough when you know to follow the instructions on the bolt packets and watch all the videos to prepare. Cruiseman's video is OK and after watching Max McCallister's hesitant voyage of instruction it was obvious that Chris made an error. Although correcting the error, I'd have edited it out. Anyway, it’s now fitted and ready to r...

It's a fair let down to discover the $235 Honda Goldwing Homelink kit isn't catered for in Europe.  Sure, the adverts claim we can fit Homelink as an option and how? There's no loom and no connection to the dashboard display. I discovered this after spending too long installing the Homelink transmitter and loom supplied in the kit. This takes some time feeding the cables down the back of the pannier and then accidentally pulling the grommet all the way through the purpose-made hole. The instructions are easy enough to follow in the Wingstuff video with Fred Harmon on YouTube. There was much cussing and silicone spray trying to reverse that situation and quiet elation when finally all done. Imagine my dismay when my extensive search for the on-bike loom turned fruitless. I messaged on Facebook and owners were helpful in directing me to where the connector should be.  I only found a boot concealing a 3-pin connection.  I found out the bad news from a French Goldwing owners ...

I installed the Vantrue Falcon 1 motorcycle dash cam on Sherbert the Goldwing 2023 today. It took a while longer than I expected, and when you consider my learning to strip a part or two, then that's OK. If you are an expert with the Goldwing's skins, then you can take much less time. This walk through will help too. Research Before running any cables I watched the following three YouTube videos from Chris Dickman, Robert White, and Larry Ryan. Chris Dickman (Cruiseman's Garage) Don't Buy A Motorcycle Dash Cam Until You Watch This | Vantrue F1 | Cruiseman's Reviews Chris highlighted the need to mount the camera off-center to avoid being struck by the front fender. Robert White VanTrue F1 Dash Cam, Install Robert installed the rear camera on the licence plate light cover. He drilled a hole for the cable off to the left of the cover and taped the cable to the rear fender. I didn't like that bit although he does give the best hint on "finding daylight" t...

To recap, we'd been awake and travelling to Offenburg, Germany since 2:30 am. Bikemoto's offer of a free coffee felt overwhelmingly generous while we waited for Sherbert's paperwork to be readied. There was a hire agreement to cover our ride back to Ireland, the ownership documentation, Certificate of Compliance, manuals, sales agreements, and more. It all took time. All the time I was taking stock of the enormity of the day and second-guessing the plan. Self doubt I'd not ridden for nearly 5 years since fixing Arod's speedometer sensor and finding his fork seals were leaking. COVID 19 and working from home were little motivation to set things right. Now I am about to ride a new-to-me model of bike I've not ridden before. Sherbert is heavier than an ST1300, a weightier insurance liability, and has a dual clutch transmission (DCT). He's extra expensive to buy and more-so to fix. I'm riding on the right side of the road in Europe and with my wife rid...

Offenburg is a couple of hours south of Frankfurt.  Initial plans were to fly to Frankfurt, catch a train to Offenburg, and then a taxi to the bike shop. Unfortunately, RyanAir fly to Frankfurt Hahn airport and don't hint at the fact Hahn is two hours west of Frankfurt. We discovered that gem after booking the flights. No plan survives first contact, right? So we adapted and hired a car to drive the 3 hours to Offenburg. Adapt or fail We learned that RyanAir will only allow helmets on spare seats–one helmet per seat by the read of it. Otherwise your life-saving equipment needs to go in the hold to be crushed, battered, and invisibly compromised by damage. Our new Shuberth C5s had arrived only a couple of days ahead of the flight in two smart boxes within a single purpose sized box. Mrs G called RyanAir and confirmed a 'suitcase' can be a box and what the maximum dimensions can be.  The box fitted the bill. Into Hahn Typically, the Friday flight out was at around 6am and w...

Yes. Germany. We looked at buying a GoldWing from Ireland and found the mileage and used prices were higher than brand new bikes in the UK. A new GoldWing DCT with airbag is listed near €41,000 and a used 2023 with 18,000 Km was listed at €38,000. A 2018 on the same forecourt commanded €32,000. They all felt too used and too rich. The younger 2023 was scuffed up and black too. The options were otherwise 'baggers' and pretty as they can be I really wanted the tourer for two-up riding. Importing even used vehicles from the UK is made near impossible following Brexit. UK imports attract 23%VAT and Duty at 10%. Then there's the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) that Europe told Ireland to drop years ago. VRT for bikes is €2 per CC to 330cc and then €1 per CC from there. It al adds up to a plus 40% on purchase price–albeit you can claim back any VAT paid to a UK dealer. There's a little discount when you import a used vehicle. That's one with 6,000 Km on the clock and ov...

Introducing Sherbert, my white GoldWing recently brought over to Ireland from Germany. There's a story here and it doesn't quite begin with Arod, my second trusty ST1300 'STeed'. You may spot a long gap between blog posts? More stories, and all we need to know is that Shadowfax is resting and Arod is recovering and baying at the bit to return to our roads shortly. Meanwhile, I have the privilege to ride Sherbert. Stick around if you're interested in the differences between an ST1300 and a GoldWing 2018+. There's a lot to unpack beyond the typical "borrow a GoldWing for 20 minutes and write a full review".