Original
Honda GL1000 Prototype
Thanks
very much to my friend Mike Nixon for graciously allowing me to
publish these rare pictures of the original Honda GL1000 prototype.
Mike is very well known in vintage Honda circles…particularly
in the CBX world. Mike
is a top vintage Honda expert and among the earliest of Honda's
Registered Technicians.
Mike
has published a great deal of interesting info at: http://www.motorcycleproject.com
Highly recommended!

"Nope,
this is not a trick picture. Honda made this prototype of the
original 1975 Goldwing back in 1972. Note the very automotive
six cylinder engine, and the BMW running gear. Apparently sandcast
cases hold a very Porche-like valve cover, and an ignition distributor.
The machine also sports a 1980 circa Goldwing front end because
the original had been removed and used on another project, and
one was needed to roll the bike around in Honda's R&D halls. This
bike still exists. These pictures were taken in Japan by Mike
Stubblefield, then Rider Magazine's Technical Editor. Although
they later appeared in at least two publications, including Honda's
own owner's magazine, at the time these pictures were taken they
were the only ones in existence. I got them on glass mounted slides,
from Stubb himself. What's interesting about this machine is that
Honda eventually went to six cylinders in 1988, and that the media
was prevented from publishing these images until then."


"Here
are some closeups of the engine. The transmission appears automotive.
Note the dipstick, tach drive, distributor, and the very 1500-looking
intake manifolds."
Thanks
again to Mike Nixon for granting permission for me to publish
these rare pictures.
My
friend Lars Nielsen (aka "Octane") of Denmark found
these prototype pictures showing Honda's consideration of 4-into-4
exhaust systems and other interesting details...


Recently,
I stumbled across more prototype pictures...

M1
Prototype circa 1972?

M1
Prototype circa 1972?

M1
Prototype with touring gear

Photo
(circa early '80s) showing M1 Prototype sporting later front suspension

Another
edited image (circa early '80s) showing M1 Prototype in similar
incarnation as a "test mule"
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