HONDA GL1500 Gold Wing Sport (1993-1994) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1984, Honda engineers started working on the fourth generation Gold Wing which involved 60 development stages and 15 different testing machines. One of the testing prototypes was assembled with a GL1200 frame and an original M1 six-cylinder powerplant to be tested against a four-cylinder prototype machine.

The most significant focus of the fourth-generation development was the engine's smoothness, quietness, and massive power. After almost three years, Honda introduced at the 1987 Cologne Motorcycle Show a redesigned Gold Wing motorcycle packing the most modification ever brought on a GL machine since its first appearance.

The new Gold Wing model came with a flat six-cylinder engine instead of the flat four-cylinder unit packed until that point. Another significant modification of the new machine was that the engine was fitted with two 36 mm Keihin carburetors feeding all six cylinders instead of a carburetor on each cylinder like in previous models.

For appearance, the newly released Honda Gold Wing was wrapped in plastic fairings, resulting in a seamless design. Also, the new motorcycle featured the lowest seat height and an integrated trunk with a passenger backrest compared to earlier models. On the sides, the model was fitted with panniers, which had a central lock mechanism along with the chest.

Compared with previous models, the new Honda Goldwing was enhanced in every department and featured a larger windscreen with better wind and weather protection, a longer wheelbase, two more cylinders with more output power, additional body panels, more electronics, and more accessories that also came with extra weight.

After several years, in 1994, Honda launched the GL1500 Gold Wing Sport, a powerful and comfortable touring machine that featured under its clothes a massive 1,520cc flat six-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with 100 hp available at the rider's right hand with peak power at 5,200 rpm and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm.