Naked Goldwing

When I graduated from high school in 1972 one of my fantasies was getting a Honda motorcycle and riding it from Iowa to California and back. But I was driving a 1940 Buick Special at the time and when I went to college I sold the Buick and bought a 1965 Mustang. Every time I thought I would buy a motorcycle I needed a better car a whole lot worse. So I never did buy a motorcycle and still haven't nearly 40 years later.

But I have two motorcycles that were given to me. Yes, they were given to me, as in free. My 1975 Goldwing is my main ride but it took me two years to get it up and running and I had a lot of help from friends. I never could have done it without my friends.

When someone gives you a motorcycle you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, but a Goldwing was the last motorcycle I wanted at the time. My impression of Goldwings was that they were an old man's motorcycle, a luggage rack on wheels, a motorized couch, and so on.

My gift Goldwing was a faded red, with a white Vetter fairing and it was as ugly as sin. My goal was to make it look nothing like it's former self. To this day I'm still not real fond of the stock Goldwing look on the early wings. I do like how mine turned out and I get real excited about the custom jobs that people have done on early Goldwings to turn them into cafe style, bobbers, street fighters, and bulldogs. The custom paint and fabrication along with the muscular look of that big engine, intakes and carburators gets my adrenaline going. Just google images for naked goldwings and you will find a feast for your eyes.

My Goldwing has been the making of a cyclist. I didn't know if I would like motorcycling or not but I wanted to try it and resurrecting an old cycle seemed to be a good way to start.

Is this interest something I'll give up in a few years after the newness wears off? I have talked to plenty of guys who have had motorcycles for a year or two and then moved on to other hobbies. I don't see that happening to me. My motorcycle opens doors for me and gives me something in common with people who I'm glad to meet. It has paid off for me many times over in the things that matter most to me, which is talking to people about what should matter most to them.