Got a note from Blake Morley up in British Columbia, Canada about a modification kit he has available for model years 1988 to 2000 Honda Gold Wing 1500 SEs. He thought the fully faired bikes protect the rider just a bit too much and decided to make something a little more out in the wind. These Fox Goldwings have 10 custom fiberglass parts and some custom aluminum pieces, as well. It seems nicely finished and everything fits together really well. It looks like quality work.
Although most people have a picture of Gold Wings as fully loaded touring bikes heading down the highway, lots of owners take the big platform as a starting point for all sorts of custom work. We’ve shown some really nice ones before and this is just one more example of making some changes to suit the owner and maybe a few other owners, too. Not everyone needs a heavy hauling long range bike, some folks just want something different. This probably isn’t for everyone but Blake is one of those guys that doesn’t wait for someone else to make what he wants, he put in the time and effort and did it himself. I like that.
Link: Fox Goldwings
Related: Bulldog Bobber
Jimbo says
As much as I’m not a fan of giant touring bikes, I really like the lines on this mod… It’s done a very nice job of slimming the GW down some and now it almost looks mean 😀
I wonder how the raido goes with the extra wind noise…
Ted says
I too am not a fan of the Hondapotamus and that goes for this look also, it just looks unfinished with a lot of after thoughts added on.
Dan says
I own a 05 GL 1800 Goldwing and I think THIS thing looks like a Praying Mantis ! If Honda built it- I would NOT come to the dealership to buy ! How would you TOUR with nowhere to store your items? Where is the rear box? Oh,we don’t NEED it!.. Well, I DO! What about the mini saddle bags ? Much smaller than the original. Lets take the FRAME mounted windshield off and put on a Harley-type one on..STUPID idea !! Oh, I FORGOT the headlights…well ..we will just STICK them on wherever ! Obviosly, THIS builder has NEVER take any 6,000 – 8,000 mile trips like I have ! AND, He expects YOU to PAY HIM- to RUIN your Honda!!
Erik says
I like the look of this but its still way too big for me. I don’t tour, I used to commute before I got laid off and there’s no way I’d even consider lane splitting on this monster. Still, it looks pretty nice to me.
I used to have a Kawasaki Concours that I would occasionally run without its fairings on for fun. It reminded me of Mad Max like that.
Mason says
Now hold on there Dan … the changes Blake Morley made to this Goldwing change the bike’s purpose. It is no longer a multi-state/2-week tourer. I’d say that it’s now a commuter/weekender tourer – of which there are quite a few of these type of riders. Of course there are lots of long distance tourers also. But each bike to it’s own purpose, and each biker to his own bike.
If you don’t like it, fine, say you don’t like it, but don’t bash the bike for what’s it’s not anymore. Bash the guy for sloppy design or sloppy work. But it seems neither applies here. It looks well put together and slightly military-ish…probably the green paint.
There are lots of modified bikes that I don’t like, however, I always admire creativity and skill – like frenching half of a ’57 Bel Air tailight into the rear fender – not practical, but it takes skill to make it look good, and creativity to use what’s at hand.
All, it all, it looks like a Honda PC800 after a visit to the Mad Max Nuclear Radiation Desert – bigger, badder and meaner.
[img]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Honda_PC_800.jpg[/img]
Marvin says
So the general thrust of this thread is those that previously didn’t like the goldwing like this and those that have goldwings don’t, I think that’s fine he isn’t proposing Honda make them instead of their version just offering it up as a way to make the bike more appealing to others. The obvious problem is those that like it don’t have the original wing to customise. On the other hand he has made an easy to clean naked bike (sort of) with the style of something from Judge dread. If I was touring through a post apocalyptic wasteland populated by mutant desperadoes I cant think of a more fitting way to do it!