HONDA GL1500 Gold Wing (1988-1989) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1984, a new design team was put to work on the fourth generation Gold Wing which Honda claimed that the prototype testing involved 60 development stages and 15 different test machines, including a GL1200 frame paired with an original M1 six-cylinder engine to be compared with a four-cylinder unit.

For the fourth generation machines, Honda was focused on the engine to be smooth, quiet, and with massive power. Finally, at the 1987 Cologne Motorcycle Show, Honda introduced a redesigned Gold Wing machine that featured the most changes seen by a Gold Wing model since its first introduction.

The most considerable difference between the 1987 machine and earlier Gold Wing models was that the flat four-cylinder engine was replaced by a flat six-cylinder unit. Although the Gold Wing was still packing carburetors, the new machine came with two 36 mm Keihin units fueling all six-cylinder which was the first time a GL machine had less than one carb per cylinder.

In the appearance department, the manufacturer wrapped all the bikes in plastic fairings, providing a seamless look. Also, the seat height was the lowest it has ever been on a Gold Wing model while featuring an integrated passenger backrest with a trunk. In addition, the trunk and side panniers feature a central mechanism lock.

The new machine was enhanced in almost every department, with a larger windscreen, longer wheelbase, more cylinders, output power, bodywork panels, electronics, accessories, and weight. In 1988, the Honda Gold Wing was exported from the US to Japan for the first time.

The 1989 Honda GL1500 Gold Wing came equipped with a massive 1,520cc opposed six-cylinder liquid-cooled boxer engine fed by two constant velocities Keihin carburetors, delivering a force of 100 hp with maximum strength at 5,200 rpm and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque with peak force at 4,000 rpm.