Everyone has heard of barn finds and we know what those can look like, but I’ve noticed a lot of “museum finds” showing up for sale lately. Lots of guys who have continually added motorcycles to their personal collections or personal museums are getting to the age where they would like to slowly sell them off. This GL1000 is a beautiful example, it’s a 1977 Gold Wing with 51 miles! I know we saw those Nortons in a crate a few weeks ago, which is the ultimate low mileage find, but 51 miles on a 1977 motorcycle is close to the same thing.
As we’ve noted many times, these original naked wings are pretty popular and there’s a lot of support for them, too. Randakk’s Cycle Shakk has lots of accessories, updates and hard to find parts for these old wings, and there are similar companies for other old but popular models.
You could buy a bike like this and enjoy a great ride, keep it in your own collection or even do a few carefully chosen modifications, but once you have something like this, you might be hard pressed to make very many changes. It just looks so nice. Yep, very cool!
Link: Honda GL1000 – auction over
hoyt says
That does look great.
Fid Hawser says
So, did Honda start the horrid “plastic urine specimen cup” brake reservoir thing?
Domino Dave says
Ride it ….
Mikey says
No on the plastic resevoir thingy, but by all accounts, you’d be best served by avoiding the OEM replacement reservoir container. As they age, they leak.
Randakk’s got something a little bit better, and I’m changing my old front brake master cylinder over to what he offers.
There’s other suppliers out there now with everything from banjo fittings to y-block adapters (3 into 1) and SS braided brake lines with standard fittings so everything matches up.
I’m seriously considering it. The OEM brake lines are getting pretty ugly as they age.
I did notice that my oldwing has a fairly good set of disks up front, but you gotta be the Incredible Hulk just to grab the front brakes hard…
I’m not kidding, the amount of pull you really need is way above what I can muster, and I am not a lightweight. I should be able to lock up the front wheel, but I don’t have enough grip to do it.
todd says
First thing I would do would be to get rid of those silly aftermarket ape hangers. Why do people do that to an otherwise perfectly fine bike?
-todd
kneeslider says
Some owners had accessories installed before delivery, happens every day, a lot of these wings had Vetter fairings installed at the dealer, too, at least this one didn’t go that route. It’s a fairly insignificant change considering the rest of the bike is only 51 miles. This bike also has different rims from a later Gold Wing but it seems dead stock otherwise.
The bigger point, as I noted above, is how many of these super clean, low mileage bikes are popping up. You have to wonder how many are out there, probably a lot. It’s a fun retirement investment, certainly more enjoyable to look at than numbers on a quarterly fund statement.
Dannie says
I can not tell for sure but the rims look gold, if so they may be from a 76 LTD Goldwing
JimE says
Awesome find!
My dad bought a new 1977 Goldwing in this same color, and still rides it today, but his has over 100k miles on it… He’s 81 years old and riding that wing still makes him happy.
My dad’s wing is well modded too, with aftermarket wheels, seat, saddlebags, rear rack, clear bar-mounted windshield, and a CB radio. Neat bike and fun to ride with the low center of gravity it has.
David/Cigarrz says
still want one when I see one this nice, eye opening ride when they came out.
rich peabody says
Nice piece….too bad it was fouled with the non-stock stuff…
At least the pieces that need changing are obtainable.
Have fun!
SteveD says
Lots of folks find those bars really comfortable for riding. I think clip-ons were a secret invention of the chiropractors union. To each his own.
Gary L says
I’m the lucky rider that recently put 8 miles on this 77 GL1000 Goldwing. It rides like the dream Mr. Honda intended it to be. The “ape hanger” handlebars are the original stock bars. They are one of the changes that Honda made for this 1977 model year.
DaveFla says
Just want to second Gary on the bars question – they look identical to the bars on my 1978 model. Mine also features a pair of 2″ risers…
While the GL1000s look great naked, I really like a full Vetter rig. I’ve added Baker Built Air Wings so I can leave the lowers installed on the Windjammer without cooking in the summer. Installing set of Race Tech’s Gold Valves with the last fork rebuild really turned the front suspension into something livable despite the heft of that Buick-sized fairing.
It’s been down for tuning (including Randakk’s carb kit & video, both recommended) but I plan to put in back on the street this week.
todd says
I had built a bobber that had bars like that. I hated the bars. At highway speeds or under acceleration I was constantly doing pull ups with my arms bent and my knuckles tight. Best thing I did was put lower bars on it that straightened my arms out and allowed me a relaxed grip at any speed. Clip-ons aren’t the only other choice.
Maybe it was these bars that got so many people to add the Windjammer fairing…
-todd
joe says
When the first Wings came out people said they where way too big and heavy,had too much plastic and not real motorcycles with phoney gas tank and no kick start. How times change,compared to the latest plastic covered monsters they look small and naked.
Tim says
those bars would be specific for the US market I’m sure: All the ones I’ve seen (we got the Euro spec ones) had bars a good six inches lower than that.
DaveO says
I’d give him a thousand, 1200 tops. Think back to the 1970’s and the ugly they brought.
(All my bikes are from the 70’s)
Inspector says
Seat is from a 75 or 76 Goldwing. Real nice Bike but a little to many $$$$’s for me…
Old Fogey says
Seat from a 75, 76 LTD wheels,centre stand and prop-stand, the water pump cover has been off and replaced with the wrong bolts and screws and it looks like it’s been repainted too, wrong oil drain plug with no washer, the switchgear has been refurbished, I think the the silencer clamps should be black.
All a bit strange for a supposed 51 mile bike, don’t you think?
Tom says
Hi, I have Honda Goldwing 76 Ltd, full stock trying to sell it for 3,500. The bike is in pristine condition. If interested my email is tomosn@seznam.cz. I live in Phoenix, AZ..
Tom says
Another thing, it’s very easy to alter the mileage. Just unscrew the cable you don’t really report any millage. But you all probably know that..
jim evans says
i have found a 1982 interstate with 3700 miles on it. curentley i am having the carbs gone thrue and the brakes beeing done, the bike will be for sale when done. this is a verry nice bike. any idea what it mite be worth?
jim evans says
I think I messed up that goldwing I sent you about is an 81 not 82. sorry