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My Gold Wing Pages

As the proud owner my fourth Goldwing, a 2005 30th Anniversary Edition GL1800ABS purchased in March 2005, I am going to share my opinions on accessorizing, installation successes and failures, and riding equipment via this web page. Hopefully, brother & sister Wing riders will find something useful on this page, or just enjoy sharing the legacy and the camaraderie of the Goldwing. If I like something, have a good experience with a dealer, vendor or parts manufacturer, I'll say so. Likewise if I don't, I won't. I will try to explain why something does or does not work for me (scroll down for information). Some of my narrative comments will also reflect my opinions about safety and non-2 wheeled drivers. If you don't like my views, tough...its my web site.

Mobile Bay sunset the first night with my new Goldwing.	Riding the lower Alabama "Cotton Belt, October 2005

DISCLAIMER: If you choose to purchase items or attempt modifications based on what you read here, you are on your own as I imply no warranty or guarantee of your success in making modifications, or the usefulness of the product for you. (Sorry, this is my disclaimer for today's litigious society and the tendency to blame everyone else for their problems: i.e.: the only good lawyer is one who is working for you when you need him or her...... otherwise you are fair game, unless you happen to be happily married to him/her.)

My Gold Wing History:

1978:

I bought my first Gold Wing in June of 1978 for $4156.80. It was a 1978 black GL1000 that was outfitted with a Vetter Faring and saddle bags, and a custom seat. I added an AM/FM cassette radio in the fairing, air horns, driving lights, extra rear lighting, throttle lock (early version of a cruise control) and a CB radio mounted in the trunk with a hand unit on the handlebars. I put over 60K miles on this Wing. For its time, it was tops. This bike served as pleasure bike and was also used for my law enforcement extra jobs conducting traffic details, construction equipment and funeral escorts. These extra jobs paid for the motorcycle and supported the high level of brake maintenance and tire replacements (about every 3000 miles) associated with a "working" bike. This "Black Lady" survived a flood covering all put the top of the gas tank and handlebars. Amazingly after draining the pipes, cleaning it up and having the shop go over it, it cranked right up. I was lucky on that one.

Stock Honda 1978 GL		1978 GL with Vetter Fairing, bags & trunk. Mine was black with gold pin striping.

1984:

In 1984 I bought a Gold Wing Aspencade in two-tone Champagne Beige. I called it the Champagne Lady. This bike also doubled as a working and pleasure bike. It was outfitted with the factory CB radio & AM/FM stereo cassette system, air horns, chrome, extra lights, driving lights, emergency lights & siren, and eventually a dual battery setup to support the extra electrical requirements for the strobe lights. I had covers to conceal the emergency light when on pleasure rides. That year I joined the local GWRRA, Chapter C in Alabama and stayed with that club for several years. Unfortunately this bike had serious electrical problems from day one, even before it was setup with the accessories and emergency lights. This model had numerous alternator failures, wiring harness failures, blew fuses regularly and was subject of several service bulletin recalls for alternator issues and repairs. My Honda dealer warranted these problems each and every time because they could never really get it fixed. I put over 30K miles on this bike.

Fall 1984 in the foothills of the Appalachians

1987:

In late 1986 I gave up on the '84 model with the alternator and electrical problems. I bought a new Pearl Marlin Blue two-tone Aspencade outfitted with all the optional goodies. This bike was a great bike and I put over 70K miles on it. It was primarily a working bike for escort duties for my extra jobs. It was outfitted with law enforcement gear, emergency lights and covers for the emergency equipment so when I went pleasure riding, nobody could tell it was a working motor scout bike (except of the chrome pole mount on the rear).

Note: This is not my bike, just a representative example.

In 1991, I was transferred from a local drill site for my military Reserve service to the Gulf Coast, so I ended up selling my bike during 1992 so I could afford a new car for the long commutes. Between Reserve obligations, job promotions and trying to complete more schooling, I slowly faded from the riding scene. About the time I was ready to buy again, the unprovoked terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 occurred. I was mobilized and motorcycling took a back seat to other duties.

2005:

Fast forward to very early 2005 and I feel like I am slowly dying without a bike. Motorcycles surround me. Everywhere I go Gold Wings appear, crotch rockets are buzzing by and the fever is very strong. I finally start visiting the local bike dealers. I was actually considering a sport bike. Nahhhhh. I looked at everything and then one day the GWRRA Regional Rally comes to town. I was going in to the base to do some catch-up work and I see the civic center sign, and about 25 Wings taking the off ramp on the opposite side of the interstate. I have to follow.....I spend the next four hours looking at the Wings and the vendors, and suddenly I am carrying around my own Arai helmet from Air Rider (I should have gotten the J &M Headsets already installed then, but that's another story). My wife happens to call and asks me where I am and what I am up to (as she hears a pack of Wings go by blowing their horns and hollering at friends) and I told her I was at a GWRRA rally. Her sole question was..."what color is it...?" Dumbfounded, I asked, "What color is what?" She said, "the new Gold Wing..." I knew that tone of voice.... I told her I didn't buy a motorcycle, but I got a helmet so I could ride with some friends at the base. Silence......OK, I'll admit it, I was going to get one.....and let her know sometime. Several weeks later a shipmate and I were talking and he said, "hell, you're gonna be 50 soon, why not, I'll give you permission to get one....to heck with the rest of the world, blame me....you've already lived more than half of your average life span....and survived more..." You know what? He was right! So I went shopping and bought a 2005 30th Anniversary edition GL1800ABS,.... and a Baxley trailer (which by the way, is the best open motorcycle trailer I have ever seen, bar none).

Trailers:

Baxley SB-001 trailer: Even though I prefer to ride, there have been numerous occasions where I could have trailered a bike on a trip and missed some great riding opportunities, not to mention trips to the shop for service, flats, etc. So I decided if I was going to spend a significant amount of money on a Wing, I might as well get a decent trailer with it. This is by far the best motorcycle trailer I have ever seen or used. And believe me, I have dealt with a lot of them over the years. This trailer is so easy to load and unload. It is the only trailer I know of that can be done by one person from start to finish in 15 minutes. I never thought I would be able to load a wing so easily. It pulls like a dream, is very stable at all speeds (loaded or unloaded) and provides great protection for the bike. With the tilt set up, you do not even have to have a jack to change a tire. You don't even have to take the bike off, if it really comes down to it. I was so glad I ran into the Baxley's at the GWRRA rally. If you have not seen one of the Baxley trailers in operation, you owe it to yourself to check it out. They are not cheap and run around $3000 +/- depending on setup and accessories. But that' s a reasonable price to pay considering the loss of a $20K + motorcycle off of a lesser built or cheap trailer.

Motorcycle Lift: Over the years I have wished I had a way to make working on a Wing a little easier. Just before I bought my '05 Wing, I ran across the Pit Bull Lift at a GWRRA rally. After seeing the demonstrations, and then looking at a couple of other lifts, I decided I would get a Pit Bull Lift. Talking with Jeff Watson (the owner) made it even easier to go with the Pit Bull Lift, and I have not been disappointed. Some pictures of my bike on the lift are below.

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RIDE SAFE!