Also known as the “Naked Goldwing”, the 1975-1985 Honda GL-series motorcycle is a bike that’s currently growing in popularity among custom motorcycle enthusiasts. I’ve seen a couple here in the TC and it’s really a striking thing. We’re all used to seeing the Goldwing resplendent with full fairings and enormous saddlebags and rear trunks motoring down the highways — most often with a couple riding two-up on some road adventure. But take off all the dressing and you’re left with a muscular, highly capable motorcycle with lots of room for customization.
The liquid cooled, boxer four-cylinder, liter power plant spins 80+ hp through a rear shaft drive. The reputation on this drivetrain is overwhelmingly positive. Smooth operation and bullet-proof reliability. The mill is designed to propel two riders and all their gear down the road behind a full fairing — punching a rather big hole in the oncoming air. Strip all that down, switch to a solo seat and you’ve got the makings of a muscle cycle. If you want to go thoroughly bonkers, there is even a supercharger for this bike.
I haven’t ridden one yet, but what I’m told is that these old GLs are surprisingly agile and precise. Progressive front springs and adjustable rear shocks ought to make the handling equation even sweeter. Stock, the GL weighs in at a whopping 694 lbs — a full 200 lbs more than my CB650. However, I bet there’s a lot of weight savings to be had in pulling off the fairing and all the luggage. Despite its mass, the GL still has a 10+ mph top speed advantage over the CB650 according to bikez.com.
If I did one, I don’t expect that this would be a race bike. Even naked, it’s not going to be as nimble as my CB650. However, I do expect it’d be an absolute blast to ride. The low center of gravity, the growl of the boxer, and especially the fit of this big bike ought to suit me to a tee. That’s the biggest thing: fit. For those who haven’t met me in person, I’m not a small guy. I’m just shy of 6’4″ and most bikes are a bit cramped to say the least. My CB650 isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. The GL, on the other hand, is just my size. A custom solo seat is a given, but even stock, the GL fits my frame very well. What’s more, its a bike designed to carry weight. I take up a significant amount of the listed service weight on my CB all by myself, never mind a passenger.
Thing is, what draws me to this bike the strongest is its capabilities. It’d be extremely comfortable, and (knock on wood) very reliable. As a custom, it’d be a great looking, unique show bike that would get attention wherever it went. I’m not going to pretend that’s not appealing. More than that though, the GL would be a bike I could ride to the local hang outs one day, then ride to California the next. It’s first and foremost a touring bike. So if I wanted to, I could easily put the bags back on it and go wherever I like. That versatility is really, really appealing. Sure, it’s big and beefy, but if I’m just starving to ride something light and nimble, my Vespa is always an option.
So while I still have affections and aspirations for Yamaha XS 650 cafe bikes and Triumph’s Thruxton Bonneville, I think that in the end I’ll actually be happier with something like the GL as my regular runner. Luckily, the latitude for customization is just as limitless as it is for more common bikes like the XS or the CB. While my naked GL likely wouldn’t be a true cafe, I think I can still instill it with a lot of that philosophy. In fact, the vision I have in my head right now is a racing style inspired by the pre-WWII air show and air race circuit. Something minimal, bright and shiny, yet muscular and imposing. And loud. It’s gonna be loud.
I’m voting for something along the lines of the first or last pics. I think it’s the seat profile and cut down fenders that streamline the look.
And amen for “loud”. Can’t wait to see what you find and build!
Hopefully, I’ll find the right bike in the spring, swap the bars and maybe the seat, then just ride the damn thing all season. Then this winter, me and the boys at Bluecat Motors can tear it down to the frame and bring it back up custom and snarly.
Aesthetically, I’m thinking something with a Reno Air Races vibe. Maybe take the tank and side covers down to bare metal, polish the hell out of it, then do rows and rows of sunk screws to make aircraft-style panels. Add a dash of checkerboard and it’s there. It’d be somewhat inline with the fourth bike pictured, but different seat style.
Hum, don’t know much about these but like some of the pics you show.
Had a question about decibels for bikes? Is there a standard loudness? Seems some around where I live are very loud.
No more scooter?
Hope all is well in Nathaniel-land.
I’ve still got my Vespa! It’s in my office for the winter, but it’ll be back on the streets come spring.
A naked GL would replace my current motorcycle, a 1980 Honda CB650.
“Loud” is of course a relative term. The legal standards vary from place to place. Most states have some manner of noise restriction, but where you really run into it is in municipalities. In Stillwater, MN for example, the local smokies actually sit around with sound meters and will ding you if your pipes are too loud for the city ordinance.
About those municipal ordinances against excessive noise from motorcycles. We’ve got that ordinance here in Boston. But guess who is the biggest violator of reasonable noise levels. The City of Boston itself. Ever been in the Government Center subway station? The bone-splitting noise with every subway car that screeches past, raised to unbearable levels by confining concrete walls, exceeds any motorcycle I’ve ever heard. Bit of hypocrisy on the part of the city fathers!
I know what you mean. The “door is about to shut” alarm on the Minneapolis light rail line is ear-splitting.
In Stillwater, they get a TON of bike traffic, so I understand a certain amount of wanting them to keep it down. States and municipalities are also wretchedly strapped for cash right now, so they’re all getting inventive in ways to tax you in the moment. Apparently now in Wisconsin, if you get pulled over by a trooper, you’ve got to whip out a credit card and pay the ticket on the spot or they’ll take your car. That’s made entirely of bullshit if you ask me.
I need you to contact me at my email address as I am gonnabuild a bagger/bobber trailer toter of a minimalist bagger type Wing. Having problems locating perf parts but will be using Randakks dual Weber setup. E mail me and I’ll give you my #. Mack
I’ve got a 1985 1200 Interstate. Do you know where I can get a tank without the fairing attached?
Do you have any details about any of the bike builds? I am trying to do something like this to my bike and any tips would be very much appreciated!
Thanks,
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
Unfortunately, according to my research the last year Honda offered the GL standard was in 1984 with the GL1200. So you’d have to search your local bone yards and eBay for the false tank panels (it’s referred to as the “false tank” because the actual gas tank is actually under the seat). You’ll also need a headlight and ears to hold it, plus turn signals. Thankfully, those can be had on eBay brand new for less than $100. The body panels though, you’ll likely have to search around for those. Sadly, your chances aren’t great as it was a one-year bike and the reason they discontinued it was that it didn’t sell worth a crap. So if you’re really hot to do a naked GL, you might do well to consider a different, older bike. The GL1200 was the first GL where the underlying frame changed. I don’t know by how much though, so it could be that earlier GL false tanks could be made to fit. That’s a shot in the dark though. Good luck!
I love your page, I am building a 1980 Gl 1100 Gold Wing now,
I have replaced the seat with a Mustang solo seat with a small passenger add on seat,
I replaced the rear fender with one from a Harley Davidson Road King.
I cut the exhaust off at the headers for a really loud sound and it sounds great in fact that is the most common thing people say is how great it sounds. I added short chrome tips to make it look good.
I took off the carbs and replaced them with a Webber single carb set up.
Changed the headlight to a smaller chopper style light, and now it is ready for paint.
Im still deciding how to do the paint scheme, it is really open for almost anything,
Ill send a pic when Im done.
JC
Sounds like fun, I’d love to see it when it’s done.
Here is my finished Naked 1980 Gl 1100 Gold Wing. Hope you like it, feel free to use any pics or anything you like.
John Cruzan