HONDA The Power of Dreams

The GL1100 Gold Wing Interstate, launched in 1980, was a comfortable grand tourer featuring fairing, rear trunk, and saddlebags, and was highly popular in the United States, opening up a new market.

Other manufacturers soon followed, aggressively releasing models in this new category: Yamaha introduced a 1200 cc V4 model in 1982, Suzuki introduced an 1100 cc inline 4-cylinder model, and Kawasaki introduced a 1300 cc inline 6-cylinder model in 1983. The category soon became extremely competitive.

In response, Honda followed up the GL1100 Gold Wing Interstate with the GL1200 Gold Wing Aspencade, powered by a larger 1200 cc horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine, in 1984. The Aspencade soon established its presence in the rapidly growing market.

Honda’s developers were well aware that this category would become increasingly competitive in the future, and rushed to develop a next-generation model that would have an even more commanding presence and enable comfortable long-distance touring at a higher level.

In the development process, the team decided to retain the horizontally opposed engine format from the first-generation Gold Wing, as it contributed to a low center of gravity. However, there was a difference of opinion as to whether to continue with a 4-cylinder engine, or develop a completely new 6-cylinder engine.

The initial 6-cylinder prototype engine had a sharp pickup and rapid power delivery, a character that did not suit a luxury tourer. Although the team at one stage judged the 4-cylinder to be powerful enough, after much deliberation they concluded that a 6-cylinder engine, unprecedented in the motorcycle industry, was essential to ensure an overwhelming advantage over the other manufacturers’ offerings.

The team pursued an engine that was extremely quiet, silky smooth, and powerful, with excellent handling. To overcome the difficulties posed, Honda launched the most extensive development project of its time.

During development, fifteen prototypes were tested. The result was a completely new 1500 cc water-cooled, 4-stroke, horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder OHC engine, housed in a low center-of-gravity double-cradle frame.

Styling was intended to emanate the image of an evolved Gold Wing, sleek and dynamic, and the fairing and covers were designed so that mounting screws and other parts could not be seen from the outside.

The resulting Gold Wing GL1500 was a luxury tourer that provided its rider and passenger with the greatest possible pleasure through numerous luxury features, and it would be loved by its owners for many years to come.

The Gold Wing (GL1500) was manufactured at Honda of America Manufacturing (HAM) in Ohio, USA. In Japan, the GL1500 was imported from the U.S. along with the Accord Coupe, and launched together.

Although its main market was the U.S., the Gold Wing (GL1500) succeeded in expanding its fan base in Europe and Japan as well. In addition to the high quality engine and chassis, the market was impressed with the passenger seat and fairing, the result of many years of study for their functionality and design. It remained a long-time seller for 13 years without fundamental changes, until 2000 when the GL1800 was launched.