Nice video. I was a teenager when the GL1200 came onto the scene in 1984. Never thought I would own one until fate brought me a great deal in 2013. The bike has all the features I like and it still rides like a dream. Additionally, I can work on it myself.
Writing as a UK viewer.... The market differed here. The GL1000 was a massive, strange beast when it appeared. It was aimed at a market that didn't yet exist... Clever old Honda! At the time, a 1000cc water-cooled flat four seemed insanely huge. To me, the GL1000 and 1100 are peak Gold Wing. The 1000, with no fairing, is perhaps the purest. It was never even remotely attractive. All its proportions were wrong... But like the VW Beetle, the Citroën 2CV, the Lancia 037 and many other devices, it was not about the looks. The GL1000 remains one of the metal icons of my youth. I still beam when I see one.
I just bought a 83 GW. I was not looking for a bike like that, being that old, and I already have 2 bikes. I bought it from someone I knew for $500 US, and he just had the carbs serviced, so I really couldn't say no. It's older and taller on the seat than my others I have now, but everything works on it, and it surprised me how quick it gets moving being that old.
G'day and thanks for taking the time to give me some positive feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it, a bike as iconic as the Goldwing deserves a good video!
I had a 1976 GL1000. Absolutely fabulous machine. Many years later I owned a 2006 GL1800. Absolutely fabulous machine. But for me they are not a bike to own/run if it's your only bike.... My garage would have: GL1800 Hayabusa NC750X-DCT
@@motorcyclecafe You too have wide ranging tastes! Alas at the mo I own only 2 motorcycles. 2023 Gen3 hayabusa 1991 Kawasaki Voyager xii I am however on the lookout for a third bike. Not sure what yet, but possibles include an older FJR, a newer NC750X-DCT, or possibly a Gen2 hayabusa. Sadly it doesn't stop there as I also have a rather varied ensemble of cars too...
Currently I own a red 1976 GL1000K1 in standard undressed spec with 23000 miles on the clock. It is still a lovely bike to ride. Also I have 2019 GL1800 DCT Tour. It is interesting to ride them back to back and make a direct comparison. Alongside those I have a 1979 CBX1000 in standard trim and just for fun have a little 1972 CB175K6. I get what you mean about the 1800s but I do actually use my GL1800 as my daily driver from April to October. These days I find the UK winters a bit cold, wet and icy to ride all year round.
I bought a new 1975 GL1000 and it was a great bike only problem was I had no end of mechanical issues with it and I had to work on it practically every weekend to keep it running properly. The issues were - head gasket failure due to incorrectly installed gasket at the factory, spokes in rear wheel constantly breaking, fuel filter constantly becoming clogged up and the carbs suffering from blocked idle jets, hard starting from cold, dangerous handling when cornering on the limit and hitting a bump in the road which produces a tank slapper, timing belt failure due to crank sprocket coming loose, the original Japanese Dunlop tyres would only last 700 miles rear and 1200 miles front and that's not particularly driving the bike hard, a change to Continental tyres proved to be a dangerous move as the wet weather grip was non existent, they came straight off when I nearly crashed and I went back to the Japanese Dunlops. I tried some specially made Avons and they weaved all over the place and came straight off again in favour of the Dunlops, eventually I gave up on the tyres and stuck with the original type which I ended up being able to purchase new for £10 a pair from a Honda dealer who was fitting brand new unridden bikes with Continental tyres thus having the Dunlops left over and sold them off cheap. The bike would return 36 mpg thrashed and 45 mpg ridden carefully, I did love it as it would hold 120 mph on the motorway sitting upright and would beat all my friends 750 sportbikes at the time in a tearup
Crikey! I knew there was a reason I didn't buy one lol. You must have got a lemon, they did have a fairly good rep at the time but it was a different era ay? At least you learnt mechanical skills something not many have these days...
