1975 Honda Gold Wing
Honda’s king-hit in the touring/cruising segment, the Gold Wing, is still going strong, at least in name, 47 years after it first hit the streets. The first water-cooled model from Honda, and the first to use shaft drive, the 1000cc flat four GL1000 weighing 265kg has developed over the years into an 1833cc flat six, tipping the scales at up to 407kg (wet) according to specification, with luxury appointments that are unsurpassed in the market. From 1979 to 2010, the model was built in USA, but in 2011 production shifted back to Japan. To date, around 650,000 of the model have been built and despite the increase in capacity (and size), the basic premise has not changed; a superbly comfortable motorcycle capable of carrying vast amounts of luggage for long distances.