Honda Goldwing

I bought this bike a little while back and before this i have always owned a v-twin engine motorcycle. I'm amazed with the power and the smoothness of this bike. No rattles or loud pipes just a quiet, comfortable motorcycle to go on a long trip or commute around town. I also love the look of it. Mine is a candy blue-green and it is in mint condition. I have complements on this bike all the time and for the price i payed it's very well worth it. i highly reccomend this bike to anyone who truly enjoy riding for the feel of the open road not for to compare whos bike is louder and who is the baddest biker out there. The only issue i have had with this bike is that i'm a big guy and like i said i rode v-twin crusers and those are a totally different sitting position then the goldwing. It took me a few rides to get used to the shifter and the feet being almost traight with my beck. Its no longer an issue i got used to it and also i find that in this position you have better controll over your motorcycle. I'm 34 yrs old my bike is 37. i wish i wasnt so stubbern and wanting to look cool all these years of riding (18) and would have find this bike earlier. Never going back to a v-twin rattle, loud rides again.

My first 1800 was an 04, and my first impression was great. However, after 18 months and 24,000 miles, the gearbox packed up. In that I lost 1st, 5th and reverse gear. Honda, despite the bike was still under warrantee would not honour the warrantee. I forked out £2,703.85 for the repair. Overall, the bike is a great machine, but Honda need to sort out the gearbox. My new bike 'clunks' when put into first. I've ridden all my life with many machines and necer experienced any gearbox problems until the goldwing. I've also learned that other bikes have suffered the same fate. So BEWARE.

I own a 1975 Goldwing GL 1000. Bought it used 7 years ago and it still looks almost new, so it turns heads regularly. Have had several guys tell me it was their first bike and they'd love to have one again. It's turquoise blue & stock, without the bags & other accessories of later models. All I've added is a windshield, & I enjoy its smooth, quiet ride and unassuming powerful acceleration. First-year issue of this bike, so it has points, not electronic ignition. Plus it has manual, not hydraulic valves, that need periodic adjustment (cost = $300). Honda corrected these two issues in later models. Have had several offers to sell, but it'll be awhile before I let go of this great bike. Only has 28K miles, so don't ride it a lot, but just enough to keep it looking and sounding good.

I have two early models of the Honda Goldwing, a 1976 GL1000 LTD and a 1979 GL1000 that I have owned for more than 20 years. This early model is among the best handling and quickest due to the much lighter weight, since Honda did not dress these early bikes. The 80 hp, 1000 cc opposed 4 cylinder engine has a great power curve, as well as very low vibration level, perfect for either cruising for hours at 80 mph, or commuting daily through town. The center of gravity is very low, due to low engine mass and the gas tank under the seat. This 600+ lb bike, easily handles the canyons of the Colorado Rockies. I have had no issues keeping up with my sport tourer friends and leave V-twin riders in the dust. This bike was well before its time in design, as was witnessed by the recent Valkyrie. With a Corbin seat, and progressive suspension mods, this bike just performs...one up or two up. Parts are easy to obtain, however the engine is bulletproof, good for well l over 100,000 miles if properly maintained.

I love this bike so much that after owning my '79 for so many years, I bought my '76 LTD as a collector. I can't imagine spending $6000+ for a newer 1500cc V-twin when the only time I stop is when my V-twin friends need to stop for gas or to rest their numb butts. I have customized my '79 with a small windshield and leather bags, and with a full set of cool Kuryakyn pegs. Find a great garage queen for cheap and run it for years!

I've owned motorcycles for over 40 years, but ridden the same '79 GL1000 Goldwing for 27 years. I have found that with the GL's great 80 hp power curve, it has remained a perfect bike, whether commuting or riding all day at 80 mph. It's just heavy enough to manager any road conditions, but since this early model has no fairing, it fits into the current "naked" vintage style. She can ride easily with any of my sport tour friends in the Colorado Rockies' canyon curves, and easily out powers my V-twin buddies on our long highway rides. The only time I need to stop is when my buddies must refuel or rest their numb butts. This 1000cc opposed engine rides low in the saddle, so the bike handles the tight curves surprisingly well and the mileage is high enough that I can stretch my 5 gallons far longer than the typical cruiser. It's a very well balanced at 600+, so it rides steady at 80 mph even in cross winds...and has enough power to pass comfortably from 50 to 80 mph. What more could one ask for.

I found I loved this bike so much that I bought a garage queen 1976 GL1000 LTD that registered only 9000 miles on it's frame as a collector. I love the bike, it's perfect naked cruiser feel, it's amazing cornering and it's ability to provide double duty as a 2-up cruiser. Why spend $6000+ for a late model V-twin, when you can find a bulletproof Goldwing for $2000+ and get better ride and power. I do love my GL's.

The 81 Honda GoldWing Standard, is a awesome bike, great body style, smooth trans, shaft drive, air shocks front and rear, this bike was, was truly made before its time.

Overall, It's a great bike with ultimate machine. However, would like to share a few of my suggestions.

Additional Features

1) Retractable Pair Of Wheels To Support The Bike Upright For Reversing or Moving Forward At Speed Below 20 Km/h 2) A Good Windshield Quality With Its Wiper 3) Better Reception For CB Communication With Smaller Earpiece.

The above good and bad points are referring to GL 1500 SE model whereas the general comment is for both the 1500 and 1800. That's about all.

I owned a Honda Goldwing a few years ago it was an 1100cc model on a V plate (1979) I was at a time in my life when I believed (wrongly) that I'd grown out of sports bikes and needed something comfortable with which to tour on. I naturally went out an bought a 'wing' or 'Lead sled', or 'Aspencrate' or 'flying mattress' - there are so many nicknames for this enormously heavy mile cruncher which since it's introduction back in the mid seventies has grown bigger and fatter (like me) as the years went by; what started as a 1000cc 4 cylinder machine has ended up today at nearly twice the capacity and currently stands at 1800cc with 6 cylinders. This new 21st century monster is just short of 18k to buy and has just about every luxury you could think of and will take you wherever you wish to go be it Tesco's round the corner or around the world if you're the adventurous type. The original bike was designed to take you a long way in relative comfort (compared to other large capacity machines of the day) and there really wasn't anything like it on the road back then. Never enormously powerful but always possessing adequate power to be able to cruise comfortably for as many miles as you needed to and being a Honda was remarkably reliable too. A thirsty beast was the Wing and the weight and width made you nervous of any parking that might require moving it backwards, but once on the move, especially on big A roads and motorways the wing comes into it's own, the vast fairing would keep you snug and dry, the overpadded seats cosseting your behind and the panniers would hold an enormous amount of luggage as you glided towards your destination music blaring and the envy of everyone you passed. The big engine was as smooth as a velvet codpiece and suspension whilst on the soft and floaty side still managed to cope with virtually everything you threw at it. The Goldwing has been through many changes and guises over the decades and will probably always have it's imitators but echoes of the original will always be there and the original concept remains intact - to be able to go a long, long way in supreme comfort.