Poll: Love your GL1200 forever or stuck with it due to finances?
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I'm married to my GL1200 and will keep her until death do us part.
92.59%
50 92.59%
I would abandon my GL1200 in a heartbeat if I had the cash.
7.41%
4 7.41%
Total 54 vote(s) 100%
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Do you drive a GL1200 because it is all you can afford or because you love your 1200
I bought my 1986 GL1200A because of the price. I paid only 3500 for it. But I understood the old Idea of having a dresser and treated the bike that way. Now I have stopped counting after putting 110 upgrades on the bike for over 6500 invested in add on parts. I am just about finished adding stuff to it. I got my aspy from an 84 year old fella who had kept it unridden in his garage for 16 years after his wife died. He was now moving to a condo and couldn't take it with him. He said he loved looking at it long after he had given up riding it. (Health problems.) The bike had 16,400 miles on it in 2011 when I bought it. Now it has 20,700 miles on it. I have trolled the internet for 3 years dressing it particularly with ever NOS Drag specialties part I could find. It now turns heads when I show up at a mostly Harley bike club I attend. I also got vintage bike insurance for it for only 15 dollars per month. (But I should keep the miles down to 3K per year).

I enjoy the clubbing with vintage lovers of cars or bikes that the 86 aspy represents but I would hesitate taking it to IOWA to see my sister. I fear what vintage part might fail on a road trip even though my bike is just being broken in.

I used to like 87 Turbo T-Birds. I had 3. I would rather toy with vintage bikes at this point. Anyone wanting to get an 87 Turbo TBird let me know. I have my eye on a 1973 Harley Electra Glide fully dressed with 7K original miles on it. Not driven in 30 years. I think the ASPY is the better bike but I am into collecting and showing more than anything else. Travelling maybe a day trip. I plan to be at the June 13, Dover.

If anyone wants to meet at or near Dover let me know. I have no updated pictures of my bike. Its all apart right now. I hope to post an update soon.

I believe the GL!200 is the most optioned dresser ever made but perhaps I am biased. I am currently adding a saddlebag rail, left antenna, drag racing spoiler to the front. I relocated the antennas to the rail today and I am hoping to put a back-off flasher on the back.

The following is a random list of enhancements to the bike.
hid light, 6Watt led brake, signal, running lights, air horn, heated grips, kury weighted handle grips, rear light bar, trailer hitch, trailer, Dunop Elite 3 tires, 2 flag mounts / flags, caliper covers, engine covers, fork chaps, replacement super brace stabilizer bar, LED 20W driving lights, LED 8 color changing show lights, moving message sign below the license plate, chrome every option I could add tastefully, custom stainless grill that says "HONDA GOLDWING with the newer Goldwing wing symbol", CB Radio (used) not fully installed yet, SENA BLUETOOTH Headset, hookup to attach Samsung NOTE 2 phone on bike as GPS, handlebar attachment to mount camera, chrome turndown pipes and much more.

I want to add some KURY longhorn pegs and that should complete the mods.

I am really hooked. I hope there is still a GL1200 club to connect with for sometime to come. I hope eventually to come to a meet. Perhaps you will have one next year.
Returning rider after 25 year absence. I bought the Aspencade in Oct. 2011 with 16,000 original miles on it. I have posted pictures at my facebook page www.facebook.com/ray.luff.5
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#31 05-27-2014, 07:30 PM,
I voted that I'm "Married to the 1200", but that isn't -exactly- true. My primary bike is a 2000 VFR 800 in Yellow. I'm tall and take up a fair amount of room (and portion of the weight rating) of that bike. So, plunking a passenger on there, in a slight leaned position, and expecting to take off for 200 miles is pretty unreasonable. At least, that's what the wife tells me. Smile

So, enter the Wing. This generation of GW is old enough to be reasonably priced and easy enough to work on while also still have availability of parts and a not-sorely-antiquated appearance. Add to that the fact that I prefer to fix something up a little and take care of it for half the price of paying for it and you can see where I'm more likely to keep THIS wing than go to another one.
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#32 05-28-2014, 06:50 PM,
95.000 miles and would i ever get rid of it ouly if the cost of repair is mo that a 1500 8i like on big biked i sold my h-d flh and my victory c92 i got better gas mil. on the h-d the victory look like and was a show bike but the 1200 starts the first time so yes to both questions money and love and it's easy to work on
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#33 06-01-2014, 09:59 PM,
I've had a 1200, 1500 and 1800, all bought for cash. The only bike left in my garage now is the '86 SEi. 'Nuff said.
Hunter
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#34 06-20-2014, 08:49 AM,
I would have to say I'd keep the GL1200. It's got over 100,000 miles on it and starts every time. It left me on the side of the road once, but that was a fuse that looked good (and wasn't.) Change the fuse and keep going. It still gets 40 mpg and runs faster than the law will allow. What else do I need?

Am I married to it? No, I only make a decision that big once in my life and that will 46 years ago tomorrow. Yes, we're still married.

Yes, I also have a 79 GL1000 and an 83 GL1100. They give me something to do in the garage.

I wouldn't mind a pulse-quickening ride once a month or so on a Hayabusa, but I wouldn't buy one just for the thrill.

My oldest brother thought he wanted a trike to putter around on in the summer, but gave up that idea once he saw the prices good trikes of any age command.
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#35 06-20-2014, 05:31 PM,
I'm very fortunate in that I have two Gold Wings in my stable (neither of which was bought new by the way). So, I can swap between riding my '87 GL1200A and my '06 GL1800.

Bottom line... I'll never give up my '87 GL1200A! It's always been my favorite Gold Wing of all the models.

My GL1200A carries way more stuff than my '06 GL1800. The bags and trunk on the GL1200 are more square shaped and top-loading compared to the GL1800 which has rounder side-loading saddlebags and a trunk that looks bigger, but has ten pounds of electronics in the bottom that takes up half the available space. So, unless I want to tow a trailer, the GL1200 packs a lot more stuff.

Does the GL1800 handle better... sure it does, but not a HUGE amount different unless you take advantage of the great aftermarket suspension upgrades available for the GL1800 like the affordable Progressive Suspension Monotubes in the front and also the high-end Traxxion front suspension upgrade plus their replacement rear suspension shock/spring. But the Traxxion stuff is WAY expensive. (You could literally buy a good used GL1200 for what their total suspension upgrade costs!)

The GL1200 is also about 100 pounds lighter than the GL1800 and that helps a small guy like me handle the parking lots better. But, the GL1800 has a powered reverse gear which is a treat for us short legged guys! The wife is my "reverse gear" on the GL1200!

I'm nearing retirement and, with my bad right hip, my riding days will likely be reduced as time marches on.

If I have to thin out the stable as I get older, it's my '87 GL1200A that I'll hold on to!
'87 GL1200A - Black/Grey
'06 GL1800 - Arctic White
'81 CB750C - Blue/Blue
U.S. Navy SWO (1967 to 1976)
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#36 05-07-2015, 05:30 AM,
I first sat on a LTD in the showroom in 1985, somehow that bike bit me in the ass or somewhere, because I seem to be addicted to it ever since, The LTD is the only bike I really wanted, it took me 23 years before I was in a posititon to buy one. I'm 67 now, and I plan to keep it for the next 23 years. I've had her almost 7 years now, and will be launching into a full rebuild of almost every thing except the motor, it runs great.

WingMan71,
If your hip is fixable by a replacement, do not hesitate, or be scared of the surgery.
I couldn't ride for about 2 years because of a bad right hip and a bad left knee. I couldn't get on my bike.
Both have been replaced and I feel great, I think I lost 15 years somewhere. The hip is easy to recover from, try to get presurgery phyisical therapy, it helped me a lot.
Dave R
Patriot Guard Rider
Previous bikes[/size]
CT 90--- 1960 125 Benly (Honda)--- Insane minibike with 125 Honda motor--- 1982 CB 650
current bikes
1987 CN 250 Helix--- 1985 GL1200 LTD
Reply
#37 05-08-2015, 03:39 PM,
I had a H-D ultra classic sold it 7 years ago.I love my 86 Aspencade easy to work on and easy on the wallet compared to my harley.I could buy another h-d ultra now that work has picked up,but I am going to stick with my 86 its a great ride!

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#38 05-10-2015, 06:21 AM,
I have owned a lot of bikes, including Harley Electra Glide, Harley Tour Glide and a GoldWing GL1500 but I like my GL1200 more then the others.
The GL1500 and GL1800 are to big and "plastic" while the GL1200 still looks like a motorcycle with a fairing and panniers.

If I would get another bike instead of the GL1200, it would be a smaller bike like a BMW F650GS or, if I could find a good one, a BMW R80GS.
If I would win the lotery, I would buy a house with a bigger garage and keep the GL1200 and also buy a BMW R80GS.
------------------------------
Jan Krijtenburg, a Dutch Winger
My bikes: Honda GL1200 Interstate and a BMW R1200GS
My personal Homepage: http://www.krijtenburg.nl
Motormobilist website: http://motormobilist.nl/
Reply
#39 05-11-2015, 03:55 AM,
I'm hooked on my 1200s I have three of them . Everytime I go looking for a 1500 I run up on a 1200 I can't walk away from. Just bought one last week Smile I looked at the LTD in 1985 when they were new I was trying to justify 10,000 when I got layed of from the Steel Mill where I worked as a millwright. It took a lot of years but now I have Two LTDs
84 Aspy Preminum Beige Metallic ( Mr AL2)
85 LTD Sundance Gold ( Mr AL ) ;)


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#40 06-29-2015, 08:18 PM,
I have 10 Goldwings for sale ( 3 84 Standards, 3 85 Aspencades, 2 85 Interstates, 1 87 Aspencade, 1 82 1100).

(06-29-2015, 08:18 PM)84wngnut Wrote: I'm hooked on my 1200s I have three of them . Everytime I go looking for a 1500 I run up on a 1200 I can't walk away from. Just bought one last week Smile I looked at the LTD in 1985 when they were new I was trying to justify 10,000 when I got layed of from the Steel Mill where I worked as a millwright. It took a lot of years but now I have Two LTDs
Reply
#41 06-30-2015, 03:44 PM,
No wonder you're the alternator wizard, Poorboy, you sound like you had a lot of practice!
1997 Valkyrie Tourer, 1987 Burgandy Aspencade with poorboy installed, and a 2005 Red GL 1800.
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#42 07-01-2015, 04:22 AM,
I love my 1200 and would have be hard pushed to trade up, she has got all I want, and delivers it all just how I like it.

The ultimate compliment, came from an elderly lady who virtually ran over to see the bike, when I just finished a charity ride.

She said she had heard there was a goldwing was on the ride, and couldnt wait to see me pull up, as she had had some rides on one in her early days.

I pointed to an 1800 wing and said to her, that that one was the later model, she stood back, looked at both, and said, "nah I like your one better!" that kinda says it all really
Robbie
1986 GL1200 Aspencade (mariah)
Reply
#43 07-19-2015, 05:16 PM,
I was in the market for a goldwing last summer, looked at a lot of different years/ models.
The one I picked was an 86 sei, is has 58,000 mi and everything on it worked when I got it.
I had a75 goldwing 20 years ago, lost it in a house fire, always wanted another one, and finally
got one. Only complaint I have is that the seat is not nice to my backside, don't know if the seat
is hard or my butt is just old and too soft. It has been an awesome machine so far.
The wife and I are going to spend a week in nw Arkansas to see if we can wear the rubber off the sides
of the tires, really looking forward to it.

I was in the market for a goldwing last summer, looked at a lot of different years/ models.
The one I picked was an 86 sei, is has 58,000 mi and everything on it worked when I got it.
I had a75 goldwing 20 years ago, lost it in a house fire, always wanted another one, and finally
got one. Only complaint I have is that the seat is not nice to my backside, don't know if the seat
is hard or my butt is just old and too soft. It has been an awesome machine so far.
The wife and I are going to spend a week in nw Arkansas to see if we can wear the rubber off the sides
of the tires, really looking forward to it.
Reply
#44 03-13-2016, 08:34 PM,


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