Some motorcycle history

MacDoc

MacDoc

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Now this is Honda oriented and I'm partial since my first real motorcycle was a 305 Superhawk in the 60s which this charts the progress to.

Feel free to drop in informative history vids of others marques...perhaps the decline and fall of British motorcycles.....the Brit marques at least appear to be reviving. 🍿

There is a good list of other Honda oriented history vids at the end of this one.
The comments from riders are wonderful to read.
 
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Many years ago, on a service call, I got talking to a professional photographer that did a lot of the early Honda shots. He showed me a bunch of the original film to paper pictures and they were fabulous.
 
Motorcycle history was my favourite subject in high school.There was a guy in my neighborhood in the early seventies that had a ‘73 Z1. Whenever he rode down the street people stopped what they were doing to watch him go by. I’ve never seen any other bike or car that had that kind of effect on people.
 
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Good stuff. √

One thing I noticed in the vid ....or might have missed. the Honda Dream had some sort of innovative front suspension that turned vertical bumps into some sort of sine wave motion to smooth out the ride.
Anyone shed light on that?.
 
MacDoc said:
Good stuff. √

One thing I noticed in the vid ....or might have missed. the Honda Dream had some sort of innovative front suspension that turned vertical bumps into some sort of sine wave motion to smooth out the ride.
Anyone shed light on that?.
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I think it had an "earles" or "leading link" type front end. Same as on my Ural.
 
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Certainly makes a statement on the road
25 Honda Gold Wing Tour Eternal Gold


I was sitting in those low chairs at the Forks and two of these whispered up facing me. I was at eye level with the lights plus they had added some LED point lights.
Thought the Imperial Forces had arrived.
 
Think thats gold - not sure if woodgrain side panels.
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Don't like the maroon version
Black looking wicked
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Big rush on the throttle huge torque at 4500 rpm and 125 HP at 5500.
Don't know why they did not offer in their classic candy apple.
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MacDoc, now knowing that you were familiar with John Clare apparently he had a treasure trove of early Honda posters, brochures, and literature. I once got to see a few photographs of him and Honda brass at the Princess Gates in 1978 during the CBX introduction.
 
If any of you get the chance go visit the Honda Collection Hall @ the Motegi Race track in Japan. So many bikes (and cars) on display. During a GP weekend they even fire up a few of them to listen too.
 
The original faired Goldwing was indeed “gold” and this is a tribute to that. I think it looks beautiful and would happily take one over another lame blacked out thing.
 
Tried to find one photographed at golden hour so the gold portion gleams. Not sure if the side panels are actually woodgrain or just suggestive. Someone else agrees with your view tho and he's a Wing owner.
I don't know what Honda was thinking with the gold station wagon wood panel paint job..that is the ugliest paint job yet on the latest Gold Wing..I would even buy the primer painted bikes before I would ever buy the station wagon paint. Honda has really lost touch with its customers...why can't Honda paint with shiny bright colors anymore like they used to. https://www.gl1800riders.com/threads/2025-goldwing-is-on-the-honda-website.491995/page-6
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I'd take the Honda Red any day ....if I could hold the thing up. image.png
What a rush the six must be.
 
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… back to motorcycle history. I was at this race in 1982. I watched this entire thing being filmed by CTV over the course of the weekend. Lang Hindle lived near me and was just starting his business out of his garage in Scarborough near Kingston Rd. and Midland. Art Robbins, now deceased, lived in West Hill. Their bikes are the ones that Bar Hodgeson currently owns and usually displays them at Toronto shows.Miguel Duhamel is riding Hindle’s back up bike.A buddy of mine, Mike Mcneil, owned the GS1000 motor that Art is using in this race. He later sold it to Bar Hodgeson for the restoration. The east end of Toronto was a real hotbed of racing back in the day. I hung out with a group of guys ( Dave Mullhall, Bryce Dowler, Doug Morris) that raced and did quite well, that I still see to this day and yes we all still ride.
 
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A few people must have some Mosport pics and stories. Was always a treat to head out for the weekend camping and watching mcycle races or even the CanAm cars.
Only one I have tho friend from Ontario promises more.
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Needs sound
It was a lot better being on a bike to get there on a busy weekend.
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