1200 vs 1500

[Guest]

Hi Guys

I'm going to ask for some feed back on the goldwing 1500. I have a 85 1200I and I like it very much. But I keep looking at the 1500. Besides they are a 6 cylinder engine and the bag lids don't come off. They have more plastic covering the engine. I just thought if there were some members here that compared these 2 bikes which one they prefer and why. I really don't have money for an 1800 and not sure I would want one since most of the guys I know that have them talk about trikeing them.
I appreciate your feedback. I know alot of you are 1200 and 1500 owners.

Thanks
Mark

[pappy]

Hello Mark, this has been talked about a few times in here. Here is a link to one discussion on moving up to the 1500.
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There are more if you look around. I like my 1500 better, makes me more confident if I have trouble on the road that I will be able to find parts. That is subject to change since they have been out of production almost 10 years. The 1500 must perform ok, they built a ton of them in the 12 years they were built.

[roscoepc]

There has been several member's who've went to the Darkside, that being a 1500 or 1800!! :mrgreen:

Pappy and Father William57 are 2 that come to mind. Pappy's is a regular 2 wheeled 1500 while the good Father's is a trike. If they don't respond to this thread, just shoot them a pm with your questions! 8)

[MikeM]

I still ride my GL1200 almost everyday but I wanted something more comfy for long rides. I sat on a GL1800 and couldn't get off quick enough. I've ridden a couple of GL1500's and they did seem smoother on the highway, they also seemed to have even less leg room than the GL1200. I went with the Yamaha Venture and am VERY happy. Smoother ride than any Goldwing I've ridden, The V-4 runs as smooth as a 4cyl Goldwing,Same gas mileage and much more comfy with tons of leg room compared to the Goldwings.They are bullet proof and are happy flipping the odometer several times like the Goldwings. The Venture also has tons more passenger space. I NEVER believed I could find anything smoother than the Goldwing. The Venture comes standard with CB,Cassette,AM/FM with a external port to plug in your satellite radio or MP3 Player & electronic cruise control. The Venture has a little less protection with the smaller fairing but it has less wind buffeting for both rider and passenger making for a nicer ride. I'll probably always have a Goldwing but I'm VERY Impressed with the Yamaha.

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[Tropicalsuns]

Sharp looking bike Mike....

[admin]

The best thing for you to do is to go out and try the other bikes because it's awfully difficult to make a good decision using someone else's opinion. Not one Gold Wing is actually better than the other, just different. You must decide which differences mean the most to you. For me there isn't a better bike out there that could replace my GL1200 although if I could take the engine from the 1800, the smooth ride of the 1500 and combine them with my 1200's features then I would have an almost perfect bike.

[MikeM]

if I could take the engine from the 1800, the smooth ride of the 1500 and combine them with my 1200's features then I would have an almost perfect bike.

That would be a SWEET Goldwing for sure! Call it a Johnnycashcycle....One piece at a time :lol: ^^

[Guest]

Mike: I went with the Yamaha Venture and am VERY happy.

I really don't know about the Venture. The bike looks very nice. A friend of mine had one a few years ago. I'm not sure when, But he told me he hated the weight of the thing. Most imes he had to have help backing it up, he said at low speeds it was a truck. Again this is the opinion of a friend, He ended up buying another yamaha just a smalller one.
The reason I asked is just to get others opinions from others that have tried different gold wings. Everyone has an opinion. I do like my 1200 just not sure how it will run being 25 years old. The other thing and maybe it is a null point but if I were to travel and break down, that something newer would have more available parts.
I just saw an 1988 1500 listed and the price was reasonable. Unfortunately It is no where near to where I live.
I just didn't know if there was enough differances between the 1200 and 1500 to move up.
I have a friend with an 1800 but not sure if he would let me try it out.
Also it is snowing here on and off that makes it chancey to ride also.
I guess I just didn't want a deal to pass me by and then kick myself later for not jumping on it.
I had said earlier that the 1200 to me has enough power to do what I want to do so far. The 1200 has taken my wife and I where we wanted to go. I have noticed on my 1200 that they really like the open road, when I get mine on the highway it just seems after a little bit to just smooth out. Not that it runs ruff just that most of driving is stop and go city driving, The Bike and I survived a recent deer collision. The only thing I see different between the different bikes is that there engines are completely covered in the 1500. I thought this might keep me cooler in city traffic.
They also have there saddle bag lids connected.
As far as some of the other things like the CB I would never use. I have an after market radio/CD/Mp3 player on mine that works great. I am about to put a poorboy kit on it.
The friend I have that has the 1800 says what I have is like a cadillac, but the 1800 is like a Lexas. Nice comparission but I have never driven either one of those either.

I'm starting to babble I will quit now.

[FatherWilliam57]

There has been several member's who've went to the Darkside, that being a 1500 or 1800!! :mrgreen: Pappy and Father William57 are 2 that come to mind.

Hey! I resemble that remark. :d

[FatherWilliam57]

First off: MikeM, that is one sweet looking ride you got there! Congratulations!

Second: Mark in Erie. Although I have a 1200 and a 1500, the 1200 is completely stripped down into itty, bitty pieces and I never really got to ride it before I started to restore it. My 1500 is, as Roscoe pointed out, a trike. All things being equal, I would have triked the 1200 when I rebuild it (but I got a really good deal on the 1500 and the wife said "yes" and my Mumma didn't raise no fool!).

Bob is correct: There is a lot more Tupperware on the 1500. Fortunately, I have never had to do any kind of repair to it. But it seems to me if you do your own wrenching, you would be better off with the 1200...better access. If you prefer to take it to the shop, you will probably have better luck finding a Honda dealership that will work on the 1500, only because it is a newer bike. If you use a good "private" mechanic who's been around the block a bit, it probably won't matter if you keep the 1200 or buy a 1500.

But Vic has the best advice: You really need to take a 1500 for a ride yourself to make up your mind. I see you are up in Erie. If you ever come down this way (Beaver), give me a shout and come take a look at my 1500. I'm afraid I can't help you much more as far as an answer to your question goes since I am riding a trike rather than a two-wheeler, and I really don't have the experience on the 1200 to give you a fair opinion. I will say that, if I had the 1500 first, I would never have considered a complete tear-down like with the 1200. Hope this helps, anyway.

[bagelboy]

Along with my 1200, I eventually plan on owning a 1500 and an 1800. I don't think there is a better bike made than the Goldwing. Having owned several bikes, I just feel the GL 1200 I have is in a class by itself, and I love a vintage bike. So in the next several years after I have all three in my garage, I will be able to answer some questions.

[admin]

I do like my 1200 just not sure how it will run being 25 years old. The other thing and maybe it is a null point but if I were to travel and break down, that something newer would have more available parts.

Many GL1200's have reached the 400,000 and 500,000 mile marks and are still running strong. Regarding parts, back then they made a lot of extra parts for GL1200's because money was flowing for Honda but today money is tight and they just don't store a lot of of extra parts for the newer GoldWings because it simply costs too much so it just might be harder to get parts for the newer bikes. Also, a number of suppliers are reproducing parts for the GL1200 because there is a demand which is a nice bonus. Most parts on the GL1200's fit other Honda bikes and cars and common things such as air filters, spark plugs, oil filters, tires etc. are made by aftermarket manufacturers who will keep producing as long as there is a demand so you don't have to worry about that stuff. Basically, if you take care of the bike you can run your GL1200 indefinitely with a little bit of simple yearly maintenance.

[Granpah]

Also, a number of suppliers are reproducing parts for the GL1200 because there is a demand which is a nice bonus.

The "controversial" and sometimes prickly Saber Cycle is one such supplier which -- so far as I know -- is trying to get Chinese manufacturers to simulate OEM parts and components.

I too eyed the 1500, BUT

:x I love my 1200 :x I love my 1200 :x I love my 1200 :x I love my 1200 :x I love my 1200 :YMHUG:

So THERE!!!

It is also a comfort to know that with good maintenance and care my 1200 will outlast me!
[My 1200 only has 42K miles on it while I have many millions on me :lol: ]

[Keener]

I've never ridden a 1500 but I have sat on several and frankly, they felt too big and cumbersome. Sitting on an 1800, I found it a much better fit. My 1200 fits me just fine, thanks. To me, she's more of a real motorcycle.

[bluewing]

I love my 1200 and I wouldn't trade her for anything, she is just the right size for any type of riding I want to do.