This is a retrospective of sorts. The project started in the spring of 2013 when I saw this 1983 Honda GL1100i at a second-hand store on U.S. 41 in Hahira, Georgia.
![First day at home. First day at home.](https://www.drgerg.com/photos/rescuebike/gw-5-firstdayhomea.jpg)
The bike was loaded down with every conceivable piece of aftermarket bling known to man. I'm sure someone thought it looked good at some point, but I did not.
Although the bike was in working mechanical condition, there were a bunch of little things that needed attention. In 2014, this machine was 31 years old, so that's not terribly surprising.
I walked through all the normal maintenance items, fluid changes, replaced plugs, adjusted valve clearances, synced carbs and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned everything. I stripped literally 50 lbs of chrome junk off of it. When I was done, it ran smooth as a sewing machine and rode like a dream.
I had this bike just over a year when circumstances made it difficult to keep it. I sold it to a good friend for \$1.00. A year later things had changed, and I was able to buy it back for the same amount. I rode it home to Colorado from NW Florida. (pic coming here)
In 2018 I started a major tear-down and rebuild. I replaced every rubber part I could including valve seals and rear shock boots. The front-end got new slides and seals.
![2018 - about 80% torn down. 2018 - about 80% torn down.](https://www.drgerg.com/photos/rescuebike/scaled_1983-gl1100i-2018-teardowna.jpg)
I decided not to paint it. That almost seems crazy to me, but I have this thing about not doing something if I don't think I can do a good job. I have learned enough about automotive paint to know I don't really know what I'm doing. Besides that, I think all the scars add character. So I had a special bumper sticker made. See below.
![I had these stickers made. They say Wear Your Scars Proud.](https://www.drgerg.com/photos/rescuebike/scaled_1983-gl1100i-wearyourscars2019a.jpg)
"Wear Your Scars Proud" seems so appropriate for this bike and its rider. I will be waxing eloquent on that topic soon, I suspect.
![A 38 year-old motorcycle isn't necessarily ready for the junkyard. 38 years young.](https://www.drgerg.com/photos/rescuebike/scaled_1983-gl1100i-2019a.jpg)
In 2021 this 1983 GL1100i is 38 years old. It rides great and looks good too. Not bad for a dusty old $2,500.00 rescue, in my opinion.
![https://www.drgerg.com link to home page](https://www.drgerg.com/photos/basic/cropped-drgerg_wplogo-1-2a.jpg)