Honda GL1500 Goldwing One year review

I'll be going over some problems I've had, some maintenance that I've taken care of and some future maintenance that I intend to do. As well as my feeling on the bike in general.

[@weschambers7612]

I recently acquired a 1990 model, and I must say, it significantly outperforms my previous Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

[@herbiesgarage681]

Hello Wes, the 1500 Goldwing, some say the best Goldwing ever made. They are a great bike, I hope you enjoy your new to you bike.

[@ondago2]

You sir, are an enlightened man

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@ondago2 😂 Thank you

[@rosarioroberto5823]

Greetings, As always another fantastic detailed video 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸 Thank you so much for sharing all these details. Keep producing more videos.

[@herbiesgarage681]

Thank you so much! 👍🏻

[@pedlpower]

If your shifter feels sloppy, false-neutrals or leaks oil (mine did), install the auxiliary shift pivot with the seal. It tightens up the shifts and gets it back to like new. To anyone looking to buy, get one that hasn't been molested. All the farkles and lights look cool but they probably haven't been installed properly and will cause you problems. Change those timing belts! '88 and '89 were the first years and Honda was still getting the kinks out. Off idle hesitation was a problem. Honda continually improved the bike as the years went by. Anyone that has owned GWs will tell you this is one of the best generations. If not the best! Keep your knees in the breeze and thanks for the videos!

[@herbiesgarage681]

Hello Scootintiki, thanks for all that info!! I looked into and almost bought the shift pivot assist, mine isn't real bad yet but I do feel some wear in it. They aren't that expensive, I may try one out. Thanks for watching!

[@elbiocaballero4693]

40 miles per gallon? wow! I got a 1994 GL 1500 Interestate, I get about 32/34 miles per gallos and she has honly 34,xxx miles, I just chanche oil to sintetic, new spark plugs. next month I will replace air filter and see if that helps. Other then that she runs smud like butter....Thanks for your video!

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@elbiocaballero4693 That was optimum fuel mileage, if I got a little frisky it would drop in the low 30’s also. But yeah I thought it did pretty good, I had mine tuned about as perfect as I could possibly get it, it ran flawless Your welcome

[@perniciouschattel5211]

It will take a lot longer than any other bike.... I'm in the middle of stripping down and doing a lot of updates/repairs on a 98 GL SE. On the one hand I agree, the GL is A LOT. Plastics and complexity make it pretty challenging. But, I also have a KTM 990 Adventure.... which is much simpler in some ways... but Lord almighty what a mission to do anything! Honda is built to be maintained, and everything fits together easily despite 25 years of use. As long as I have time, give me the GL every time! The only reason to keep the KTM is, on occasion, I want to be a hooligan...

[@herbiesgarage681]

I have a little bit of the hooligan as well 😂

[@biker-dog-poppy]

I expect they put cooling fins on the sump for a reason, may not matter to much but....

[@herbiesgarage681]

True! 😁

[@anthonyg9739]

Great content, thank you.

[@herbiesgarage681]

Thank you and Your welcome!!

[@anthonyg9739]

@@herbiesgarage681 I bought a 1900 in fantastic shape about 2 weeks ago. Plans so far are timing belts.

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@anthonyg9739 I’m sure you meant 1800, I know the numbers are close together I have that problem all the time 😂 I will get an 1800 one of these days. The GL1800 doesn’t have a timing belt it’s a chain though

[@anthonyg9739]

@@herbiesgarage681 Oh boy, proofread next time. Just bought a GL1500A, 1990. Sorry about that.

[@herbiesgarage681]

@@anthonyg9739 oh okay, yeah then doing the timing belt is good idea. 😁

[@BryanHastings-db4xr]

Thanks Sir have used your info have a new to me 1500 same year se black yours is pristine mine a wing in progress thanks again

[@herbiesgarage681]

You’re welcome Bryan, I hope your work in progress turns into a great bike for you. Reach out if I can be of any assistance

[@TheMamonti1]

Soon it will be simple basic service for the next 60,000 miles. I am in the same boat, 1988 with 60,000 and will be doing everything on your list.

[@herbiesgarage681]

I hope it all goes well for you! That’s awesome, an 88 with only 60k miles, these things run forever I think 😆

[@TheMamonti1]

@@herbiesgarage681 They do... partly because older men own them and can afford the upkeep and don't beat them. 35 years and they may look new, but the rubber and fluids weren't meant to last that long, thus seals, belts, hoses and such need replaced but once done you can go another 60,000 and do it again... I'd say do all the videos you can. I have learned different things from other videos. The other day I saw the 5th video on a rear brake master cyl. and I never knew the brake/cruise switch was adjustable!!

[@paseandoconhonda]

Excellent video! $4000 there and here in Argentina it costs $20,000. It really is a motorcycle for few here. I would like to know how you cut the windshield, what tool you did it with. Greetings from the south.

[@herbiesgarage681]

I used a Milwaukee m12 cutoff tool with a plastic cutting blade to cut the hole for the vent. Worked very well. And Thank you very much. $20,000 wow is it really that much 😳

[@paseandoconhonda]

@@herbiesgarage681 Thank you very much for the reply. Yes, it is as is. I paid $17,000 for a 1988 model, but one closer to a 2000 costs about $25,000 and a 2024 costs $75,000. If we add to that that the minimum wage is $500, you will realize that to buy a GL here you have to be a millionaire.

[@fkat28]

Thank you for the video. You must be an officer 👍👍

[@herbiesgarage681]

Your welcome, No I'm not an officer but Thank you for the compliment, they have a tough and dangerous job in my opinion, my hats off to them.

[@fkat28]

Reason I said that I thought the bulge on your right hip is your side arm. I notice those things because I am one. I have a 77, 80, 82, 93 and 97 GLs, and a Rune. I am a Wing fan.@@herbiesgarage681

[@lenron123]

Thanks for the great videos. I recently bought a 2000 gl1500 with 62,000 miles. It seems to run well but I am wondering what maintenance items I should focus on first. The previous owner did regular oil changes but nothing else as far as I know. I am going to change the coolant after watching your video. I will have to look into the timing belt most likely too. How did you know that the wheel bearings needed changing? Thanks, Len. (Ontario, Canada)

[@herbiesgarage681]

Hello Len, your bike has similar mileage as mine, the timing belts would be a good thing to do if you have no record of them being changed. Hydraulic clutch fluid and both brake fluids will probably need changed. I would check the brake pad depth by giving it a good look over , look over the tires too. My steering stem bearings were dry, you could check that too, it's a lot easier to put grease in than it is to have to replace bearings. But with all that said, these are good reliable machines, don't get too hung up on what needs done, give yourself a little time and spread it out and do a job here and there. At least that's what I did, that way you get to enjoy riding the bike without feeling like it's a burden to maintain, unless you have something really pressing. As far as the wheel bearings, I thought my wheel bearings were bad from the shake I got on the highway but it turned out to be out of balance wheels. Your welcome Len, and Thank you for subscribing!!

[@JustSomeITguy]

Which synthetic oil did you find works well. I have the same bike in Sonoma Green 😊

[@herbiesgarage681]

Hello, oil is such a touchy subject sometimes : ) Goldwing Docs used to use Mobil 1 without friction modifiers in it and says it works great with no problems says he's used it for years and I have tried it and seemed to work well for me. But the oil that I like to use because it is just good and inexpensive is Rotella T6, it has always had the JASO MA/MA2 certification for wet clutch application, but it wasn't until recently that they added a picture of a motorcycle to the front of the jug to show that it is safe for motorcycles. I hope you still like me after this : )

[@TheMamonti1]

Might want to pull the slave cylinder and clean it out... they leak inside the housing and can wipe the clutch and shift forks.

[@herbiesgarage681]

Okay, thank you, I’ll look into a rebuild kit for the slave cylinder. 👍🏻

[@JerryHawk250]

Looks like you got her all ready for our trip later this year. 👌

[@herbiesgarage681]

Just about, a few more things to do then it’ll be perfect 😂

[@Tom-h3s4x]

Over 92,000 miles on my '99 (very close to break-in) and I'm finally willing to forgive myself for selling my Valkyrie. However, my wife is VERY happy now.

[@herbiesgarage681]

Yeah these wings are good for a few hundred thousand miles I think. I’m sure your wife enjoys the comfy couch of the GL1500. Ah the mighty Valkyrie, that’s a bike I always wanted but then again I want almost every bike 😂