Honda Gold Wing

By: Ian Falloon .

Few motorcycles have attracted such a strong following as Honda's Gold Wing. Introduced in 1975, the Gold Wing was like no other motorcycle and has continued to break the mould ever since. Almost automotive in concept and execution, the Gold Wing was also the first Japanese motorcycle designed specifically for the United States market. It had everything: size, luxury, comfort, reliability and every gadget imaginable. Its success in America led to production at a new plant in Marysville, Ohio, and the eventual end of Gold Wing manufacture in Japan. The Gold Wing thus finally became the American motorcycle it promised all along.

Motorcycle historian and journalist Ian Falloon tells the history and development of the Gold Wing from that first 1,000cc flat-four of 1975 through to the later 1,100cc and 1,200cc fours, the long-lived 1,500cc six and the new-generation 1800-six. As well as in-depth technical analysis and description of all the various incarnations, including the Valkyrie, this book looks at the Gold Wing as a cultural phenomenon. More than simply a touring motorcycle, ownership of a Gold Wing opens the door to huge owners' organisations and some of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the world. With an expanding aftermarket industry for accessories, a Gold Wing is also the perfect vehicle to display an owner's individuality. For many, the Gold Wing represents the true essence of motorcycling, camaraderie and the joy of the open road.

Author Ian Falloon is a freelance motorcycle journalist and photographer with more than 30 years' experience in the industry. He contributes to magazines around the world and is the author of several motorcycle books.

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