Red 75 GL1000

[the Ferret]

When the Goldwing came out in 75 my dad, younger brother and I rode up to the local Honda shop to see it. They had it on display with the tank pods open.

We walked around it, and commented... Engine is flat and wide, looks like a Beetle engine, who needs 1000ccs in a motorcycle, gas tank isnt a gas tank, real gas tank is under the seat ( goofy place for a gas tank) kickstarter is in the fake gas tank..and we came to the inevitable conclusion it would never sell.

Btw we also thought the CB750 would never sell..too wide, too complicated too many carbs, too many pipes, too many valves

And now you know why I don't buy lottery tickets

[LongRanger_imp]

I had a similar critical opinion of the Ducati Scrambler. So much for what I know!

[quietguy_imp]

I thought this bike was a work of art in 1975... I still do.

[Django]

When the Goldwing came out in 75 my dad, younger brother and I rode up to the local Honda shop to see it. They had it on display with the tank pods open.

We walked around it, and commented... Engine is flat and wide, looks like a Beetle engine, who needs 1000ccs in a motorcycle, gas tank isnt a gas tank, real gas tank is under the seat ( goofy place for a gas tank) kickstarter is in the fake gas tank..and we came to the inevitable conclusion it would never sell.

Btw we also thought the CB750 would never sell..too wide, too complicated too many carbs, too many pipes, too many valves

And now you know why I don't buy lottery tickets

Same what my friends and me thought at the first appearance: clumsy, fake tank, to heavy, shaky chassis. In fact there were some issues with weaving GL1000 at higher speed at the Autobahn.

But then, I think, in those our younger days, may be, we just regarded those with envy, who could afford it. We could definitely not.

[Razor]

When the Goldwing came out in 75 my dad, younger brother and I rode up to the local Honda shop to see it. They had it on display with the tank pods open.

We walked around it, and commented... Engine is flat and wide, looks like a Beetle engine, who needs 1000ccs in a motorcycle, gas tank isnt a gas tank, real gas tank is under the seat ( goofy place for a gas tank) kickstarter is in the fake gas tank..and we came to the inevitable conclusion it would never sell.

Btw we also thought the CB750 would never sell..too wide, too complicated too many carbs, too many pipes, too many valves

And now you know why I don't buy lottery tickets

Thought you might appreciate some photos (1977 model). One of my favorite bikes.

[quietguy_imp]

Yours looks like it just rolled off the assembly floor... very nice.

[Razor]

Thanks. Got the bike a few years back. Low miles, but had been outside under a tarp for over twenty years. I've got a few hours of work into it.

[the Ferret]

Yep that splayed tank pod is how I first laid eyes on a GL. Made no sense to me back then. Still doesn't sorta lol. Thanks for the pics Ray.

[redbirds_imp]

I love these old Gold Wings. I was allowed to test ride the first one my local Honda dealer, Honda & BMW of North Florida, received. I remember marveling at how smooth and powerful it was compared to my R/75 that I had purchased just 2 years before. I wanted it badly but was still making payments on the BMW that I could barely afford at the time.

[the Ferret]

Yea birds I didn't ride a 75, but ended up going back and riding one in 76 and thinking " how can this thing not have ANY vibrations" it was amazing. It was wide between the thighs. Later in 81 or 82 I had one with a Vetter fairing and bags as my shop demo bike and in 86 my brother bought a leftover 84 Aspencade. Great touring bike.

Ive tried to buy a 75 or 76 several times, even taking my wife, our trailer and a bunch of cash in my pocket to western Indiana one time but never found the right one. The Indiana bike was not as represented by the seller so we came home empty handed. I gave up after that, figuring it was just not meant to be.