Honda Gold Wing
The original Honda Gold Wing was
too heavy (635 lbs. fully fueled) and too slow (80 horsepower) to be a
performance bike, and it was too big (60.5” wheelbase) to be considered a
standard. Honda billed it as a “do-it-all” bike, but by the end of 1975 Honda
Gold Wing owners understood exactly what the bike was meant for — comfortable
long-distance riding. Thus the touring bike was created.
What set the Honda Gold Wing apart from other motorcycle
was its liquid-cooled, flat four-cylinder engine, start motor, spark plug — up to that point it was the
smoothest engine to ever power a motorcycle. Launched without a fairing or
luggage, Honda Gold Wing owners themselves defined what the evolution of the
bike would be by purchasing and affixing Vetter Windjammer fairings to their
Gold Wings. Honda noted this commonplace addition and in 1980 produced the
GL1100 Gold Wing in both standard and fully-faired versions.
The 1980 Honda Gold Wing Interstate was the first
motorcycle to feature a fully integrated color-matched fairing and luggage. Two
years later the Honda Gold Wing Aspen Cade (named after a popular Gold Wing
rally) was launched and made standard equipment such as the stereo, built-in
intercom system that was optional on the Interstate as well as introduced new
components such as an on-board air-compressor for adjusting the Aspen Cade’s
suspension. The GL1200 Honda Gold Wing of 1984 was more of an evolution than a
revolution for the Gold Wing line. Honda constructed a naked version for the
first year of the 1200 but it was dropped for 1985 and a naked Honda Gold Wing
would never be produced again.
In 1988 the GL1500 Honda Gold Wing was launched and, like the original
Interstate model, it set a new benchmark for what a touring motorcycle could
be. A horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine displacing 1520cc powered the
new Gold Wing. With a 66.9” wheelbase and weighing 876 lbs. full of liquids,
the new 1500 Honda Gold Wing was larger and heavier than the GL1200, but the
new bike handled better. Also helping move the large Gold Wing was another
motorcycling first, an electrically-operated(stator comp) reverse drive.
The GL1500 Honda Gold Wing enjoyed an incredible 13-year run with
various upgrades until being replaced by the GL1800 Honda Gold Wing in 2001.
Still utilizing a flat, six-cylinder engine but with an increase in
displacement to 1832 cc, the new Gold Wing’s biggest difference over the
previous model was the use of an aluminum, sportbike-esque frame. In 2006 the
GL1800 Honda Gold Wing was the first production motorcycle with an airbag.
From 1981 to 2009 Honda Gold Wing models
were constructed at Honda’s first
Gold Wing motorcycles were produced in the plant’s 30-year history, before Gold
Wing production was moved to
