Honda Gl1000 Goldwing
The Honda GL1000 Gold Wing was introduced in 1975 as Honda's flagship touring motorcycle, featuring a novel horizontally-opposed flat-four engine inspired by automotive engineering. It was designed to compete with large displacement American and European touring bikes, offering unprecedented smoothness and refinement for its era. The GL1000 laid the foundation for the legendary Gold Wing lineage, which would grow into increasingly luxurious touring machines over the following decades.
80 hp
Power
86 Nm
Torque
266 kg
Weight
193 km/h
Top Speed
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L)
Fuel
Faired
Body
What Buyers Should Know
Groundbreaking Flat-Four Engine
The GL1000 was Honda's first Gold Wing (1975–1979), featuring a revolutionary 999cc horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine that set a new standard for smooth, vibration-free touring power. This layout also lowers the center of gravity, making the bike more stable than it looks.
Watch the Carburetors
The four Keihin carburetors are the most common maintenance headache on the GL1000 — they require careful synchronization and are prone to gumming up from ethanol-blended fuels after sitting. Budget for a professional carb rebuild or cleaning before buying any neglected example.
Strong Collector Value
Clean, original GL1000s have steadily appreciated as the first-generation Gold Wing gains classic status among collectors. Well-preserved examples in good running condition regularly fetch $4,000–$7,000+, making neglected projects a solid investment if bought right.
Full Specifications
Rivals & Alternatives
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