The GS1000 is an air cooled inline 4 and the GW a liquid cooled horizontally opposed 4 - different animal (engine wise) altogether. I think the GS models were more a response to the Kawasaki 4s of that era.
On Jun 5, 2012, at 8:28 AM, Joey Kelley wrote: > Thanks for the history lesson! > What I never understood - I look at my GS1000 (1978) and I > see a bike that is unfortunately vastly inferior to the Wings of even > the early 80s. What I guess I failed to remember was that this bike > was brought out as a competitor to the 1975 era GL and shouldn't be > compared to a model that wasn't even out yet. > In many ways the GS1000 and the GL1000s are the same - add > on touring parts etc. What I think is the biggest difference - the > GS1000 advertisement I have talks about its drag racing ability - 0-60 > time, Quarter mile ET, etc. Somehow I don't see Honda using that sort > of information to sell Wings. > Am I all wet? > -Joey > > On Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 12:29 AM, surfswab <[email protected]> wrote: >> Not sure what the question is, but here's what I know about early >> Wings: >> >> The 75 GL1000 was a brand spanky new design category, unique in that >> it >> was designed from the ground up as a tourer (heavy, torquey, >> comfortable). >> >> Its success started a trend which spawned similar designs from other >> manufacturers. So yes, your GS competed with it, in much the same way >> as >> categories of bikes from different manufacturers do today. >> >> The bike in the picture is a "naked wing" as they all were from >> 75-79. But it's >> fitted with aftermarket bags, trunk and fairing (mostly by Vetter). >> Honda didn't >> start making proprietary accessories until '79, when they offered >> optional >> Hondaline saddlebags and a trunk (but no fairing). The first model >> refinement >> was in '80 when they tweaked the motor to 1100 and offered a factory- >> equipped >> model -- the Interstate -- with integral bags, trunk and fairing. >> They continued the >> naked wing, but with the new 1100 motor, simultaneously, calling it >> the Standard, >> until '82. >> >> In '83, they upped the ante on the tweaking process -- 1200 motor, >> slicker plastics, and >> state-of-the-art (for the time) audio gear. And they've been doing >> that ever since. >> >> >> >>> We've discussed 80s wings numerous times on here - but I don't >>> recall many discussions about the mid to late 70s >>> versions.http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/3056560899.html >>> The irony is - I went by that one and wondered if it was for sale >>> :-) >>> Here is the thing - I'm looking at the picture and well - >>> frankly - I'm wondering if this is the bike my GS-1000 is supposed to >>> be a competitor to. The shocks on the rear look tiny and the design is >>> very close, particularly with a Windjammer or rebranded Windjammer >>> fairing on it. >>> Thoughts? >>> -Joey >>> >>> -- >>> -Joey Kelley >>> JoeyKelley.com - My Life Online >>> JoeyFixesComputers.com - Its What I Do! >>> JoeyKelleyPhoto.com - Photographing Today, For Tomorrow >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. >> > > > > -- > -Joey Kelley > JoeyKelley.com - My Life Online > JoeyFixesComputers.com - Its What I Do! > JoeyKelleyPhoto.com - Photographing Today, For Tomorrow > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
