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© Copyright 2012-2013
Chapter "D" Jonesboro, Ar 72401. All Rights reserved.
Ever since the motorcycle was invented, riders have taken to the open road to seek new vistas, new challenges. For subsequent decades, riders immersed them-selves in the exhilaration of their new sport, but often endured discomfort and hardship in exchange for the thrills of long-distance travel.
Then in 1975, Honda introduced the first Gold Wing. And the motorcycling world has never been the same. From the beginning, the Gold Wing offered rid-ers an innovative combination of high performance, and remarkable comfort and reliability–a combination of attributes that were rare at the time. These unique capabilities opened up new riding possibilities for a broader range of enthusiasts than ever before.
As 2001 dawns we see the new Gold Wing, an icon reborn. Endowed with an amazing 118 bhp and 125 lb./ft. of torque, and an aluminum frame with a single-side swingarm, the new Gold Wing 1800 explodes existing touring limitations. The first true high-performance luxury motorcycle, the new Gold Wing balances luxury appointments with a level of sporting prowess never before seen in motorcycling.
By striking an artful blend between transcontinental comfort and a decidedly athletic persona, the 2001 Gold Wing powers down a road that is at once new yet familiar, a path that leads the Gold Wing back to its high-performance origins.
For more than 25 years, the Gold Wing has redefined the art of long-distance riding. Now the new Gold Wing 1800 has reinvented touring. Again.
For more than 25 years, the Gold Wing has redefined the art of long-distance riding. Now the new Gold Wing 1800 has reinvented touring. Again.
This time line below has links to some of the most important years in the development of the Gold Wing, just click on a year to se more.
A design team is established, led by Soichiro Irimajiri, who headed up design of the five- and six-cylinder road racing engines of the 1960s. The team develops the M1, a top-secret prototype designed to explore the outer limits of the Grand Touring concept. The super-fast M1 features a liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine with shaft drive features that surface in the Gold Wing line in years to come.
After two intense years of development, Honda unveils the GL1000 at the Cologne show in October of 1974. Honda positions the Gold Wing as a landmark machine and touts its many revolutionary features. The public at large, however, is
unsure how to position the GL. Its hot-rod engine performance places it near the top of the superbike class, yet its remarkable smoothness, comfort, reliability and roomi-ness soon endow the Gold Wing with a reputation for open-road prowess.
unsure how to position the GL. Its hot-rod engine performance places it near the top of the superbike class, yet its remarkable smoothness, comfort, reliability and roomi-ness soon endow the Gold Wing with a reputation for open-road prowess.
With more than 80 percent of Gold Wing production being exported to North America, a vital need arose to build a production plant in the U.S. Although Honda had been building overseas plants for more than 25 years, the move to America in the 1970s was risky. To most consumers, Honda’s made-in-Japan quality was its strongest selling point, and building in America could jeopardize this hard-earned reputation–not just for the Gold Wing, but for all Honda products for decades to come. Nevertheless, Honda forged ahead, and on September 10, 1979, the first Honda of America Manufacturing (HAM) plant begins production.
The GL1100 Interstate, a motorcycle justifiably named for the road it owns, marks the dawn of a new era. Honda’s research shows the passenger plays an impor-tant role in the purchase decision, so Honda creates the most innovative Gold Wing
yet. In Interstate form, the Gold Wing is equipped with factory-installed fairing and luggage–huge advantages for long-haul travel. This is the advent of the turn-key touring machine, a trend all competing manufacturers would follow.
yet. In Interstate form, the Gold Wing is equipped with factory-installed fairing and luggage–huge advantages for long-haul travel. This is the advent of the turn-key touring machine, a trend all competing manufacturers would follow.
In quick succession, Honda introduces the concept of luxury touring with the Aspencade. Amenities abound in standard trim, including LCD instrumentation, stereo, CB, on-board air compressor and thoughtful touches such as the handy
storage pouches in the passenger backrest. At the same time, through the use of Redpages in its advertising, Honda underscores its technological edge.
storage pouches in the passenger backrest. At the same time, through the use of Redpages in its advertising, Honda underscores its technological edge.
The introduction of the GL1200 brings a larger, more sophisticated engine and significant changes to the chassis as well. A new 16-inch front wheel helps provide a lightness in steering effort heretofore unknown in a full-dress touring machine.
Following the success of its Marysville Motorcycle Plant, Honda builds an engine plant in nearby Anna, Ohio, to build Gold Wing engines. Just as Marysville’s success paved the way for Honda’s auto manufacturing in America, the Anna Engine Plant moved from manufacturing GL engines alone to building powerplants for Civics and Accords. At Anna, all casting, forging, machining and heat-treating processes necessary to turn raw materials into finished, sophisticated engines reside under one roof. One associate proudly observes, “We do what seven Honda plants do in Japan.”
Engineers love to quantify research with empirical data. But much of the new GL1500’s development would be subjective, virtually impossible to measure. How do you quantify seat comfort? How do you know when a volume switch detent feels right? Small details consume inordinate hours of development time. Examples? Seat development required three solid weeks of in-the-saddle work, with an engineer hand-carving new seat shapes out of foam in a chase van. Tires were another major
undertaking; more than 500 rear tires were consumed during development.
undertaking; more than 500 rear tires were consumed during development.
The next-generation GL begins to take shape under the guidance of Masanori Aoki, a sport-bike enthusiast who has already headed up development of high-performance bikes including the CBR 250RR, CBR400RR and the CBR600F3. “We set out to keep 80 percent of the Gold Wing’s touring capability,” Aoki says. He also adds, “My job is to add more fun factor, to build a Gold Wing with the kind of acceleration and handling people normally associate with sporting machines.”
After considering flat-four, flat-six and flat-eight engine configurations, customer response overwhelmingly points to a flat-six of about 1800cc displacement.
After considering flat-four, flat-six and flat-eight engine configurations, customer response overwhelmingly points to a flat-six of about 1800cc displacement.
The Gold Wing’s 20th anniversary represents a major milestone, an event that Honda celebrates enthusiastically with three commemorative models and the publi-cation of a special hard-cover book that details the entire history of the Gold Wing.
The one-millionth Honda motorcycle made in America rolls off the Marysville assembly line. Appropriately enough, the millionth model is a Gold Wing; this commemoration is altogether fitting, since the success of the Gold Wing and that of Honda in America are inextricably intertwined.
In January 2000, the Marysville Motorcycle Plant is thoroughly redesigned to build the new Gold Wing. As part of this process, the engine production line is transferred from Anna to Marysville to facilitate the new Gold Wing production. The Gold Wing’s new era officially begins when the first complete GL1800 rolls off the Marysville assembly line on October 10, 2000.
The word "new" cannot do justice to the GL1800. Two numbers alone tell a big story: 118 bhp and 125 lb./ft. of torque. Don't try to find other bikes that compare, because there aren't any. In terms of power, the new Gold Wing is literally in a class of one.
Likewise, the list of long-legged mounts offering a box-section aluminum frame begins with the word "Gold" and ends with "Wing." And that's only the beginning. Before the GL1800 was completed, Honda would patent no less than 20 technological innovations that were incorporated into this amazing high-performance luxury motorcycle.
Likewise, the list of long-legged mounts offering a box-section aluminum frame begins with the word "Gold" and ends with "Wing." And that's only the beginning. Before the GL1800 was completed, Honda would patent no less than 20 technological innovations that were incorporated into this amazing high-performance luxury motorcycle.
The 30th anniversary Gold Wing comes in a slew of colors, including Pearl Yellow, White, Metallic Silver, Dark Gray Metallic, Bright Blue Metallic and Candy Black Cherry. Special 30th anniversary color-matched badging on the front fairing, rear trunk and dash cover also distinguish the '05 model, as does a 30th anniversary color-matched key, 30th anniversary opening ceremony on the LCD display, and unique carbon-fiber seat pattern on pearl yellow and metallic silver colors. To date, more than 500,000 Gold Wings have been produced.
In 2006, the most potent Gold Wing ever produced now elevates luxury motorcycling to unprecedented highs. A six-speaker premium audio system with 80 watts per channel comes standard on every new GL1800, and riders may also opt for a satellite navigation system with color screen, a Cold-Weather Comfort Package and an industry-first fully integrated motorcycle airbag.
Manufacture of the Gold Wing shifts to the ultra-modern facility in Kumamoto, Japan, where production on a gigantic scale will see as many as 1800 motorcycles produced in a single day.
The new 2012 Gold Wing brings upgraded styling along with a dazzling array of sophisticated electronic amenities including a next-generation GPS navigation system with user-friendly programmability for sharing favorite ride routes, which can be accessed online via computer, plus a built-in MP3/iPod interface for the new SRS CS Auto technology surround-sound system.
The new 2012 Gold Wing brings upgraded styling along with a dazzling array of sophisticated electronic amenities including a next-generation GPS navigation system with user-friendly programmability for sharing favorite ride routes, which can be accessed online via computer, plus a built-in MP3/iPod interface for the new SRS CS Auto technology surround-sound system.