The Honda GL1100 Gold Wing It is the second generation of which, at least today, is one of the references in terms of motorcycles for traveling. It appeared in 1980, five years after the first Gold Wing was put into circulation and that was when it began to become a true motorcycle for traveling.
For many, the Gold Wing embodies the image of a motorcycle “for traveling”, a characteristic tourer with large fairings, huge sofas and suitcases to put everything in. However, the first Gold Wing was not, at all, how we imagine it now. The first generation, the Honda GL1000 Gond Wing, was a fairly classic motorcycle without any type of fairing. It had a boxer engine, but it had four cylinders, it had a big seat, but they weren’t as big as now, it was a comfortable bike, but much less than the Gold Wing as we know it…
Honda GL1100 Gold Wing Interstate
The second generation maintained all those characteristics, but adopted some things that already pointed towards tourism. For example, the seat became larger, softer, more comfortable; It had two different heights, with a small integrated backrest for the driver. The handlebars were higher, almost like that of a custom, while the tank had capacity for 20 liters.
The chassis of the Honda GL1100 Gold Wing was completely new, with a longer wheelbase and suspensions that were revised to offer greater comfort. Chassis that housed an engine that gained in displacement. For the second delivery of the Gond Wing, the engine began to displace 1,085 cubic centimeters, and in addition, it also received a new set of valves, carburetors with a millimeter smaller in diameter and a new electronic ignition. 80 HP at 7,000 revolutions and 88 Nm of torque at 5,500 revolutions were announced.
Performance, at least those related to speed, was never a goal of the Gold Wing slingshot. On this motorcycle, the important thing was smoothness and torque at low revolutions, especially when its ground clearance was low and the total weight of the assembly was almost 270 kilos in running order. A significant figure that, with the United States as the main market, went somewhat unnoticed.
Honda GL1100 Gold Wing Aspencade
It was with this second generation that the Gold Wing became what we have today as a Honda Gold Wing. In 1981 the Honda GL1100 Gold Wing Interestate appeared, which had a huge front fairing and three large suitcases at the back. A version that appeared because it was very popular to transform the GL1000, the first installment of the Gold Wing, into a passenger car with a front screen and suitcases.
For 1982, the Honda GL1100 Gold Wing Aspencade appeared, the most equipped version of the range and which had things like the radio with stereo sound as standard and the first LCD screen on a motorcycle, which showed things like tire pressure.
