In 1975, Honda released the GL1000 “Gold Wing” – the name referred to Honda’s logo, which is a wing. The huge success of the model coupled with the need of even more comfort led Honda to release the GL1100 Interstate in 1980. The factory full fairing helped define luxury touring for decades to come. In 1984, everything evolved with the launch of the GL1200 Aspencade.
The GL1200 was a new standard of performance for the Gold Wing, pushing displacement up to 1,182cc. The Aspencade was equipped with four 32mm carbs (vs. 30mm for the GL1100). Power increased from 81hp to 94hp, and an onboard compressor was installed to easily adjust suspension stiffness. The bike could be equipped with a radio, which was easy to listen to because the drivetrain was so quiet. For more information about the GL1200, check out this profile of all the times the GW has won Cycle World’s Top 10 Motorcycles. In 1984, CW said that “it’s a better-handling machine than any full-dress touring rig in the history of motorcycles. And that does automatically qualify it as the best.”
The Aspencade featured in this article seems to be in great condition with only 13k miles. Every body part from the seat to the fairings is in good shape, and the paint does not show any issues. The tires are new and the bike is equipped with a CB/AM/FM radio.
Find this GL1200 in Chino, California here on Craigslist for $3,000.