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 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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