Ride Review: 1983 Honda Goldwing GL1100 Standard (aka “Light Wing”) - Owned

 1983 Honda Goldwing GL1100 Standard (aka “Light Wing”) Review (owned):

This was the bike that defined my early 20s to early 30s passion for long distant touring replacing my ’80 Suzuki G850G that was written off in an accident in Austin Texas in 1982 part way through a North American tour that began in Vancouver, BC. followed the west coast through Baja & central Mexico, then north to Texas. I had actually bought an ’82 GL1100 at the Motorcycle Show, but when delivery rolled around a few months later they gave me the updated ’83 model (last year of the GL1100) instead that came with mag wheels vs the Comstar steel units, revised suspension w/TRACS anti-dive & fork brace, revised transmission/gearing, Honda’s 1st combined brake system & a dry weight of 599 lbs for the non-Interstate Standard model devoid of farings, top box, bags, air compressors, stereo/cb & crash bars.

The liquid cooled flat four w/5 sp trany & shaft drive that began life in 1975 at 1,000 cc, grew to 1,100 cc in ’80 & 1,200 cc in ’84 was a paragon of smoothness & reliability/durability & evolved into the iconic 6 cylinder (1,500 & 1,800 cc) that is the longest running single model in motorcycling history & still made in 2021. The 1,100 was tuned for improved low/mid range outputting 80 hp @ 7k rpm & 65 ft lb @ 5,500 rpm in conjunction with revised heads, gearing + 1 mm smaller carbs. Tires were 120/90-18 front (5.3” travel w/air assist) & 140/90-17 rear (3.1” travel w/air assist) which worked well on a variety of surfaces including gravel. The 20L fuel cell was actually located under the rider seat between the frame rails lowering cg even further & accessed via a lockable flip up panel at the back of the faux tank that housed the air filter.

I added Hondaline colour matched detachable hard bags & top rack with a sliding passenger backrest w/storage pouch, Markland crash bars w/auxillary light mounts that provided much better shin clearance than the Honda equivalent, hwy pegs, high output halogen headlight bulb, fog lamps,  additional rear brake light, Progressive Suspension w/stiffer springs & valving reducing the amount of required air pressure from around 40 psi to 5 to 10 psi (much improved handling), National Cycle Plexifaring 3 windscreen, custom made plexi lowers, an Audio Canon bar mounted cassette/stereo (lockable/detachable with high quality/volume output), form fitted king/queen black sheepskin seat cover, running lights f/r, mud guard extensions, foam grips, throttle lock + raised the carb needles 1 or 2 mm which was all that was needed to offset the epa lean low rpm jetting.

Miss "Light Wing" had a synergy about her that combined a do all UJM functionality & touring prowess with a hint of custom cruiser persona, balanced handling/performance + all day comfort that wrapped you in a calm  & quiet envelope of air management allowing every nuance of music from the Audio Canon to be enjoyed by rider & passenger...even by my wingman a few bike lengths behind😎 We traversed a lot of miles together with many 12-18 hour days rising & falling as one with the road, including 2 years in Texas, multiple trips to San Diego, most of the states west of the Continental Divide & even the Highline FSR (D'Arcy to Seton Portage to Carpenter Lake & Lillooet) + to mtn bike races (mtn bike strapped to the rear rack), but she always brought me home & never once let me down. When a bike perfectly matches your needs & becomes a willing accomplice to your passions you have a keeper that helps forge numerous irreplaceable memories & that is why my beloved “Light Wing” will always hold a special place in my heart & shaped much of my 2 wheeled identity. Had my life circumstances not changed who knows how long the relationship would have continued. She sacrificed herself in the fall of ’91 through a sale to fund the purchase of engagement/wedding rings...helping me to trade one passion for another 😀 It would be 17 years & 2 kids later before my next bike!

Moro Bay, California

Can Am Mtn Bike Race, Whistler, BC