My plans of owning a GoldWing have always revolved around retirement. I’m not sure I want to wait that long...

I still have about 10yrs to retire...

But the Wing, she is beckoning me...

I'm 90% sure a Goldwing is my next bike so I'm not the one to talk you out of getting a Goldwing.

I just picked up an Indian Scout at the end of January so I'm content for now...

My dad bought a 1975 Gold Wing GL1000 when Honda first started producing the Gold Wing in 1974. Back then, they came completely striped ... no faring or bags or such and seat as flat as a 750 seat. Dad paid $1800 and change out the showroom floor. Well, he traded in a 350 on it but the sticker on the Gold Wing was $1800 and change. My dad loved that motorcycle and road it year round and no matter the weather. He did put a "Wind Jammer" faring (upper and lower) on though. He once made a road trip on it to see the Daytona 500 in Florida. I watched him "crawl" off that motorcycle and ease up onto the couch after that trip. Think he would have benefited from a seat backrest or something.

My dad passed away in 1979 and I "inherited" the Gold Wing. Kept it a couple of years before I realized I wasn't safe or cautious enough to ride motorcycles and sold it. That was the very early 80's I sold it. Haven't owned or ridden a motorcycle since. After all these years, I still think of how much I enjoyed riding ... just still don't think they'd be the right choice for my transportation needs. I don't trust myself nor feel very safe on a motorcycle.

EDIT: The Gold Wing tipped over once when I foolishly put it on the kick-stand in wet grass. Like to have gotten a hernia picking the damn thing back up. Mostly kept it on the center stand. Was a little trick to getting it up on the center stand too LOL.

EDIT 2: Really the ONLY thing I didn't like about that '75 Gold Wing was the oil level sight glass on the engine case. No dipstick ... a sight glass. And the glass had become coated with oil gunk on the inside. Couldn't see the oil level clearly. Good thing the Gold Wing didn't leak oil ... or any fluids.

EDIT 3: Sorry for the multiple edits D'OH ... and one winter when too cold for me to ride, I left the Gold Wing out in a shed for several months. The gas tank wasn't full and when I pull it back out in spring, found the inside part of the tank that didn't have gas touching, had rusted from condensation and the carbs were partially fouled. I swear SWEAR the gas tank is the first thing Honda started with and built a motorcycle around it !!! Had to pull the final drive completely out and dig down into the frame to get the gas tank out. The thing on the Gold Wing that looked like a gas tank was actually a storage bin area and the actual gas tank was buried under that. I rebuilt both carbs. Had to replace a timing belt once on it too. That was pretty easy but would have rather they used a chain I think. Shaft drive was smooth and flawless and a joy to ride and drive. The Gold Wing was geared kind of high and I did almost feel as though I slipped the clutch just a tad bit when starting out in first.

I had a 1982 1100 wing and upgraded to a 1995 1500 Aspencade. I enjoy it and at 68 yrs of age will probably never get another, unless it's a trike.
Never cared for the 1800s design. The new 2020 wings have less storage in the bags and trunk to lighten it up more from what I understand.
Used wings are getting cheaper as are Harleys I guess due to us old timers all dumping our bikes on the market because we are old.

If you can afford it, why wait until retirement? If it will make you happy, do it now. None of us know how long we are going to live. That is 10 years of fun you'll be giving up if you wait until retirement.

I've had a few Goldwings most comfortable bike I've ever had. My mom got her bike license at 75 on a Goldwing trike.
They have so much torque they are very easy to ride. The power feels like an electric motor.

It's easy to find groups to ride with. But it's nice to just take off for a weekend.

As stated above. Do not wait. If funds are there, do it.
I had a pretty good scare several years ago.
I bought the Harley. I do not regret it.

Buy it and live now. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. My father had big plans for retirement but diabetes took his health before he could do anything his list.

Father in law had a heart attack at 54. Lived with a pump in his chest plugged into the wall for 5 years until he got his heart.

I bought the bike and put a camper up at the lake and take time to enjoy life. One day When I am stuck laying in the bed I want to think about what I did in life not thinking about what I wanted to do.

quote:

One day When I am stuck laying in the bed I want to think about what I did in life not thinking about what I wanted to do.

^^^^
This.

After just turning 50, I out to live my best adventurous life now; now wait until some obscure number that has no guarantee.

quote:

EDIT 2: Really the ONLY thing I didn't like about that '75 Gold Wing was the oil level sight glass on the engine case. No dipstick ... a sight glass. And the glass had become coated with oil gunk on the inside. Couldn't see the oil level clearly. Good thing the Gold Wing didn't leak oil ... or any fluids.

Hobbs - My 1982 V45 Sabre has a wiper for the oil level sight glass. A slotted screw turns a little squeegee to clear the glass. Never had to use the wiper in the almost 40 years I've owned the bike, I'm a frequent changer.

I’m in the camp about considering it before retirement. I don’t know price differences between slightly used & new, may be an option.

I ride a CB-1100. It wouldn’t be worth a whole lot if I sold it, low maintenance to keep up.

Once one gets up in years, anything can come up. My Sister recently was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. Right now she’s looking at about 5 years, age 60 now.

Whatever you decide, ride safely.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
Hobbs - My 1982 V45 Sabre has a wiper for the oil level sight glass. A slotted screw turns a little squeegee to clear the glass. Never had to use the wiper in the almost 40 years I've owned the bike, I'm a frequent changer.

Wish the Gold Wing had had a wiper thingy. Kind of bugged me I couldn't clearly see or know the oil level. I remember my dad used Castrol (dino) oil. Don't think synthetics were even available then. Oil was changed often and by the schedule in the manual. After several years of use, didn't matter. Glass still gunked over eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by Hobbs:

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
Hobbs - My 1982 V45 Sabre has a wiper for the oil level sight glass. A slotted screw turns a little squeegee to clear the glass. Never had to use the wiper in the almost 40 years I've owned the bike, I'm a frequent changer.

Wish the Gold Wing had had a wiper thingy. Kind of bugged me I couldn't clearly see or know the oil level. I remember my dad used Castrol (dino) oil. Don't think synthetics were even available then. Oil was changed often and by the schedule in the manual. After several years of use, didn't matter. Glass still gunked over eventually.

My sight glass looks as clean as the day I picked it up at the dealer.

... and 40yrs with the same bike ?!?!?! ... that's. AWESOME !!!

quote:

Originally posted by Hobbs:
... and 40yrs with the same bike ?!?!?! ... that's. AWESOME !!!

And it still runs like a raped ape. I put stick coils off a CBR600 on it and that really livened it up. I think the OEM coils were losing some spark over the years.

Buy it now. By retirement age you may need less bike because once you get them off center just a little bit you better have good knees.

My father couldn't wait till he retired to do all kinds of stuff. The bad news is he died at 61!

So much for waiting. Me, I wait for nothing.

Bob

Man if you want a GW and you can afford it buy it now and enjoy it while you can. We don't know what the future holds so you might not live long enough to retire or can't ride in another 10 years so buy it now, ride it and enjoy life. People say I'm going to do this or that when I retire and then never make it to retirement or get sick and die shortly after retirement.

Life is painfully short. Live your life to the fullest. I say go for it.

In December 2005 I bought a new GW, level four options, GPS, ABS, premium stereo, heated seats and grips. $20K out the door, I think.

Rode it for 8 years and about 80,000 miles. Bought the Honda Care extended 4 years warranty via mail order. $440.

Rode the GW coast to coast several times. Runs on RUG, no oil leaks and has the most comfortable stock seat of any motorcycle I've owned.

Nice and smooth on the highway but a bear to handle in stop n'go traffic. Sucker weighted close to 900lbs wet.

GW design was changed a few years ago and I haven't ridden the new Wing.