From: doucette@hannah.enet.dec.com ()
Subject: Re: Goldwings are darned interesting
Reply-To: doucette@hannah.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 20:21:12 GMT


One of my project for the winter was to find a new bike.  I found that I out-
grown my Kawaski 440/LTD and I started to look into larger, more serious bikes.
I decided that I'd look into a touring-class bike.  Both my wife and I enjoyed
biking, especially day-trips.  One weekend trip from Maynard, Mass. to Martha's
Vineyard showed that the Kaw wasn't up to serious trips. :-(

Through the summer, I was checking out bikes as often as possible.  I took a few
bikes for a test ride, but I didn't find any bike which excited me.
On Thanksgiving weekend, I started to seriously look into "what was out there"
in used wings.  I took out a 1988/1500 Aspencade for test ride down 146 south
of Worchester.  Even though the bike had 46,000 miles on it, it ran and 
responded flawlessly.  I prefered a 1200cc (1984-1987) but I was grateful to
take a 1500 for a spin.  After that, I rode up to another dealer in New 
Hampshire to check out an '86/1200 Aspencade with 3200 miles.  The bike was
immaculate, but the price was too steep from the dealer ($6.3K).

On November 29th, I checked out a Want-Advertiser ad.  The ad said brown and
tan 1986 Aspencade, 24,000 miles.  Actually, it was two-tone bronze, 2,400 
miles!  The bike is practially brand new!  I picked it up the next day and
drove it from Abington to Marlboro, Mass via rt 128, during evening rush hour, 
temperature around 42 degrees.  Even though I was riding the bike at night,
in the cold, with heavy traffic, it was one of the best bike rides I ever had.
The engine purred as the bike reached cruising speed, the volume of the tape 
deck rose at higher speeds.  The music of Tangerine Dream echoed into the night.

Now all I have to do is wait for the spring thaw... :-(

Gold Wing owners are an interesting bunch.  Some bikes are looked at more than
they are ridden.  In three days, I saw two six year old bikes, each with well 
under 4,000 miles.  It seems that there are a large group of extremists.  Either
Goldwing owners put incredible miles on their bike, or they barely use it(*). 
The average miles for a Goldwing is nothing but a stastical abhoration.  After 
talking with a few Goldwing owners, including an old neighbor, I understand 
that these bikes are good for 50-100,000 miles with reasonable (read: like a 
car) maintenance.  Even if I put 5K a year on the bike, that's means the bike is
good for 10-20 years.  Considering that late '70 wings are still on the road,
that's a pretty reasonable assumption.

In researching Goldwings I found that:
	1000cc ('79 and earlier) are now under $2.5K, I've seen ads for 
	under $2K.

	1100cc ('80-'83) bikes are now selling for $3-4K.  More or less 
	depending upon mileage and condition.

	1200cc ('84-'87) are $3.5K-7K.

	1500cc ('88- up) are $5.9K ('88 Interstate) to $16K (92-93 SE)

	Interstate:	Basic model.
	Aspencade:	Lots of bells, whistles and bags for trunks.
	SE:		'bout Every option available, including spoiler on 
			trunk.

	Late fall/early winter (where there is a winter! ;-) is when you can 
	get the best deals on bikes.  The bad news is that you can't ride it
	'till the spring thaw.
	The Want-Advertiser (in New England) is worth picking up and browsing
	for a few weeks.  I would expect most metro areas have their own
	weekly want-ad magazine.

Old Goldwings are still in great shape, they are really built to last.  I would 
recommend to anyone interested in getting a Goldwing to consider getting their
hands on a used one.  You can enjoy the beauty and excellence of a wing without
plucking down $10-15K.  If you're willing to look around, you can find some real
sweet bikes out there.

For the life of me, I can't understand why Goldwings depreciate in value so
much faster than Harleys.  But then, if they didn't, I wouldn't have afforded
my new toy. (-:D 

(*) Rumor has it that Porche owners break down into similar extreme categories,
    but they have to worry about maintenance more often.

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Dave Doucette			Digital Equipment Corporation	Westford, MA
Common Sense Rules!		Doucette@hannah.enet.dec.com	(508)-635-8513