Alright, so let’s talk about this 1985 Honda Goldwing I got my hands on. This thing was a beast – in a good way, of course. I’ve always been into these older bikes, and this one, powered by an 1182cc four-cylinder engine, really caught my eye. These bikes, if you take good care of them, can apparently go for 300,000 to 400,000 miles. I even heard about some rider in South Africa who’s clocked 1.2 million kilometers on his Goldwing. That’s like 750k miles! Wild, right?
First thing I did was to tackle the starter relay. I ordered a new one, a Chinese-made one, and it ended up needing a bit of soldering. Nothing too crazy, just your usual DIY stuff. Now, this bike had some ignition issues that I had read about. Seemed to be a common thing with the ’84 and ’85 models. Not a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind.
I got into a few forums, and it’s interesting how many people talk about the little quirks of these bikes. There were a bunch of threads about stalling issues, starting problems, fuel problems and so on. But most people seem to agree, nothing major, usually some small fixes. And get this – many mentioned that most problems were not related to engine internals. That’s good news, isn’t it?
Oh, and another thing I noticed – this bike’s clutch control is a bit different from what I was used to. It’s for those who are used to more traditional clutch controls on their bikes. Took me a bit to get used to it, but it’s all good now.
- Checked the battery voltage – Always the first step, right? The ’85 doesn’t need as much juice as the newer models, but it’s good to check.
- Fuel – The previous owner mentioned they always used non-ethanol fuel or something to remove ethanol. I guess that’s important for these older engines.
- No spark issue – Fortunately, I didn’t have this issue, but it’s apparently an easy fix based on what I read.
I know there are some problems with the newer Goldwings, especially the GL1800 models from 2001 to 2004, with frame cracking and welding issues. But this ’85 seems solid. A few common problems here and there, but nothing that a little elbow grease can’t handle.
Wrapping up
So, that’s my story with this ’85 Goldwing. A bit of tinkering, a bit of learning, and a whole lot of fun. These bikes are really something else. If you’re into older bikes and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, this one’s a keeper. Just remember to keep an eye on those common issues, and you’re golden. It’s been a fun ride, and I’m looking forward to many more miles on this classic.
