First and Last Generation Goldwings

[Nexus]

Well, I'm thinking of purchasing a latest generation Goldwing for 2up riding ("You see honey, the Goldwing is your bike while the ST is mine").

Anyway, I was hanging around the local dealer, waiting for my bike to be wheeled out from the shop when I saw these two:



It's a first generation Goldwing (I assume since it's a 1000, I didn't get the year) next to a 2021 Goldwing. Cool having them next to each other and seeing how much they've changed and stayed the same (Flat 4/6).
In case you're intetested, the 1000 is sold but the 1800 is still available.

 

[TOS]

I would bet this is pic of a 1975. That was first year for GW here and it came in candy red or candy blue.
I purchased a new red GW in 1975 with shop installed luggage rack/adjustable backrest and a 3/4 helmet included for $1850.

 

[SMSW]

I would bet this is pic of a 1975. That was first year for GW here and it came in candy red or candy blue.
I purchased a new red GW in 1975 with shop installed luggage rack/adjustable backrest and a 3/4 helmet included for $1850.

That price might buy you an option for a base GW today.

 

[Sadlsor]

That's incredible for an out-the-door price!
I paid $1500 for my first bike, a 1974 Suzuki GT-550 triple.
Only because I couldn't afford the extra $200 - 300 for the CB750/4 superbike that I really wanted.
I rode the GT550 from Birmingham to Orlando for Navy boot camp, then back again for A-school, then to Connecticut for sub duty, and from there down to Virginia for the first dry dock.
If I hadn't let my "friend" ride it for a few minutes one afternoon, no telling where we might have gone. Sadly, he crashed it within 10 minutes (totaled it, actually) and had an extensive 5-month stay in the hospital for his recklessness. Or for my foolishness in letting him ride it.
You get to choose.

 

[TourNut]

I bought my '76 GL-1000-LTD for $ 3K

 

[Sadlsor]

I bought my '76 GL-1000-LTD for $ 3K

You and I obviously should have visited the dealer @TOS knew!

 

[ST Gui]

That could be a '75 – '77 Teal GL1000 'Wing. It was a color option when I got my '77 along with red and black. My '77 was a stately elegant black (the fastest color) with blue and gold trim and Kester Mags.

The last thing I intended to do was by a bike but a buddy wanted to look at new Honda iron so I blamed him. But I LOVED that GL. If Honda made that bike today as it was (OK with FI) I'd put a bikini fairing on it and soft luggage and ride it everywhere. It was a real pleasure to ride.

 

[TourNut]

You and I obviously should have visited the dealer @TOS knew!

I went in the dealer intending on a CX500 for $2800 , but there was this used but only 32 mile GoldWing LTD setting there for only $200 more . ( Some guy went into the military and was having the dealer re-sell it for him . Sort of odd , but hey ! ... )

 

[George]

I bought my 75 teal at Pug Vickers Honda in Murfreesboro, TN for about a thou$and less than my local Cincinnati dealer was asking.

 

[Sadlsor]

A thirty percent discount is huge. And even huge-er, at today's prices.

 

[Nexus]

I purchased a new red GW in 1975 with shop installed luggage rack/adjustable backrest and a 3/4 helmet included for $1850.

Helluvadeal considering a new GW will cost you north of 28K!
Now you've got me curious as to how much it sold for. I should've asked but I was in and out quickly. It looked very clean and well maintained

 

[dduelin]

I would bet this is pic of a 1975. That was first year for GW here and it came in candy red or candy blue.
I purchased a new red GW in 1975 with shop installed luggage rack/adjustable backrest and a 3/4 helmet included for $1850.

My taxable income in 1975 was $1980.

 

[ReSTored]

In 1977 I had a choice between a new '77 Yamaha XS7502D and a used '75 Honda GL1000 at Honda City, a dealer in downtown Montreal. Each was about $2,600. I got the Yamaha, nice bike, but the Honda probably would have been the better bike.

 

[TourNut]

In 1977 I had a choice between a new '77 Yamaha XS7502D and a used '75 Honda GL1000 at Honda City, a dealer in downtown Montreal. Each was about $2,600. I got the Yamaha, nice bike, but the Honda probably would have been the better bike.

No , don't beat yourself up , not buying the GL-1000 . They were almost bullet-proof everyway , except for the infernal Kehin carburetors that would wear horribly and not work consistently . You then couldn't synchronize them & the engine wouldn't idle and run at low speeds worth a crap , at about 20 K miles - on . The carbs had aluminum CV slides in an aluminum throat that galled & hung up , causing the problem. I I tried to polish the galling areas & run ATF in the gas , but nothing worked . If you replace the O.E.M. carbs every 20 K you might have been OK , ... I gave up on my '76 - LTD at 28 K ; 'bout made me sick on a nice looking bike !
The GL-1100 seemed to have fixed the problem with plastic at the right places of wear .

 

[Oldbikefixr]

I had three 1978 GL1000's. All were low mile garage sale finds that I rebuilt. Rebuilt everything with soft parts in it. Carbs were a bit fiddly at times but never a real problem. Timing on all the bikes required what seemed like monthly adjustment or performance suffered. Road manners were good but it was a bit cramped for two on road trips.
Never could get used to the 'rolling sofa' look of the later model Goldwings although friends who owned them had no issues with them.
Moved up to ST's.

 

[Jethro]

I hada1980 interstate we bought in 2004.it sat in a garage for over 15 years.The owner previous to me bought it & sunk about $1500.00 into it.Carb rebuild,brakes master cylinder& caliber rebuilds,timing belts etc.We rode that bike all over Ontario,Eastern Canada,& eastern U.S. Never A Problem with anything.
Test rode a 2006 St1300 (I loved it,wife did too) . St made the wing seem like a 1967 BSA.BOUGHT THE 2006ST.Still lots of memories.
,

 

[wjbertrand]

I bought a 1978 Yamaha XS 750E for around $2500 new. That $1800 price for a few years older GL1000 sounds like a steal (or an error). My friend bought a GL1000 a year before I bough my Yamaha and he paid about $2800.

 

[TourNut]

Timing on all the bikes required what seemed like monthly adjustment or performance suffered.

Yeah the points on the '76 got changed too often until I installed an electronic ignition system instead .

 

[catcher]

Ah, the memories. I paid $400 in the fall of 1967, for a like-new 1966 Honda Dream 305.

 

[Jethro]

wish you still had it? Like all our first bikes.