Honda GL500 Silverwing Interstate

After so many years of not having a CX500 I have finally captured one of my all time favorite motorcycles. I purchased a CX500 way back in 1978. That was the first year of production I believe. I fell in love with the looks of the bike and just had to have it. I kept the bike for 20 years. I loved how it performed, rode, and looked. I basically 'gave it away' to a brother in law who in short time trashed it. The bike at the time of giving it away was in near mint condition. Seeing that bike trashed just made me sick. I have for many years wanted to correct that mistake and as a result I have been looking for a replacement for a long time. I originally wanted and looked for the '78 model but to no avail. Just recently though I found a 1982 GL500 Silverwing, low miles, in decent condition for it's age. All those thoughts, memories, and feelings of riding that old '78 CX500 have returned. What a bike she is. All she needs is a little cleaning up, and servicing and she will be ready for my next adventure.

I have been riding for over 40 yrs now. And have owned everything from a 1976 Honda 360 CJT, (my 1st Bike), to a 1972 Honda CB 750 Chopper, to a 1982 Honda GL 1100 Goldwing, to a 2004 Intruder. To a 1982 GL 500 Interstate I bought 2 yrs ago. I prefer older Bikes because they are cheaper, and easier to work on. The only thing not to like about the GL 500 is how fast parts like the Exhaust Guard, Rear Brake Pedal, and Exhaust Pipes near the bend in front, will start to Rust if left in a unheated Garage. The Chrome in those area's seems to be either thin, or may-be just old after 36 yrs?! If I had known, I would have put it in heated storage. I have since put a small Gas Heater in my Single Car attached Garage. The Bike itself runs great. And still looks good. I bought it from a friend I work with. And was offered $500 more than I paid for it the 1st week I owned it! In fact, my friend was going to ask $800 more than he sold it to me for, and settle for the $500 difference between what he was wanting and what he sold it to me for. So you would have no problem getting $1500 - $1800 in NW Ohio for one in nice condition. It will do Highway speeds all day long, get good gas mileage doing it, (I average about 48 mpg), and be actually very comfortable on long trips. My longest Ride so far as been almost 700 miles roundtrip over a week-end with no problems at all. Just keep the Oil and Plugs changed like any Bike. And it should last you another 36 yrs!

I used to always have a bike in my garage and at age 36 decided to pay off some credit card bills and sold my Kawasaki Vulcan 900. At 39 I realized I acquired 5 cars just for me in my driveway and I was not using them all enough so sold one for a few grand and started bike shopping. Found a nice cruiser for $4k but that was over budget and then found an ad for a 1982 Silvering which came with a driver backrest, passenger backrest from luggage tank, hard saddle bags and a stereo for $1200! I thought if this thing runs good this is a slam dunk. My brother owned one for about a yr and advised me on all the things to look for like did the same key unlock all the compartments, side saddle bag clips still intact etc. I have owned about 6 different motorcycles from street bikes to cruisers and this one buy far is the best bang for the buck. With the driver backrest and the seating position it is very comfortable, although legs sit a little tucked in tight under me and I'm 5'10". My bike came with crash bars and highway pegs which give my legs a little bit more room and a slightly different position but definitely not stretched out like you can enjoy on a different set up. But still, with only 28k on the bike now I plan on keeping this one with the goal of at least 100k of ownership. It has everything I need from a bike even though it is an 82. The speed and power is sufficient, a little tight for the wife in back but that is just motivation for her to not let herself go :). My brother is soon moving closer to me and plans on buying him another Silvering and we will go riding together. I also have a 1982 Honda 3 wheeler which is in excellent shape ironically so I guess I am now officially a vintage Honda enthusiast. You can not go wrong with this bike, thank you Honda!!!

I have had 3, yes THREE 1982 Honda GL500'S in my 64 years on this earth. I am very small for an American guy, only 5'3" and wish about 160. My first Wing was in 1982 and it was perfect for me. Smooth ride. I never had any problems with it all. I was stationed in Portland Oregon MEPS- at the time. (I am retired from the Army after 30 years service.) I ran that motorcycle every day to work and back, about 30 miles each way.) even in the winter time! The fairing fit was perfect for my body. It was a sad day when I was transfered to Korea and had to sell the bike. When I got back I found one exactly, except this one had air injected shocks. A year later the Army was so pleased with my performance their that I spent just about the rest of my career their. Now I am 64, divorced, kids married and have their own lives so I wondered if riding was for me. It is. This bike is from late 1982, has all the tweaks Honda included and it runs like the day it came off the lot. The owner is bought this new at the end of the line.

Key elements too look for on a used wing are:

How does it look? Is there rust or is the bike dirty? When you first start it it will need some choke. About 5 to 10 minutes. Any thing above that you should check out the carbs. When you release the choke and get to 5000 rim, does it want to die or add choke? Need to have the carbs checked. The shocks. Is there too little or no play at all in them? Brakes. Front ones should give you most of your stopping power.

We'll that is my two cents worth of info on the 1982 GL500 Honda Silverwing.

Happy riding.

Excellent maneuverability high power,I only dislike some noise in shock absorbing or some pivot under the engine very good for touring with my wife along the country roads

I have sold the BMW's and my wife has told me we willllll not get rid of the GL 500 .We have finally had nice weather today and went for a ride, My poor bike has not been on the road since Oct 2012 and fired right up. we Had a great afternoon on it and will neeeeeeever sell the bike, Beautiful ride need no other . A High 5 for the GL Silverwing interstate/

I had a couple of go-fasts when i was in my twenties. Now nearing 60, I decided to take it up again. Around christmas, bought this bike from an old gent, who'd bought it from an old gent...etc and so 32 years later it has 12k miles and looks nice. I am not a fast rider, but have to say my first impression was that it needed taller gearing or a sixth. Turned out that wasn't correct. The bike runs relatively high revs, about 5900 at 60mph, but for a couple of minutes I took it up to 80 and it actually smoothed out nicely at about 7500. redline is around 9800 and there was plenty to spare. I am more of a 65 mph person though. In general, mine, an interstate with fairing and luggage, is underpowered and top heavy by a small margin on each count, but i have to say I've done a lot of smiling since getting it. It's light enough not to intimidate me, while having enough presence not to be blown off the road while passing trucks. Interestingly, the 650 interstate weighs the same, has the same top speed, and gets slightly better mileage (not much) The 500 isn't inspiring as a road rocket, but as a tourer for an old fart, it sure keeps me smiling. I would recommend this machine to anyone without a go-fast need, and to whoever wants to feel relatively rested after a day of cruising. I sit up straight, with a backrest, and I confess to having a custom seat. I'm thinking yellowstone...just because I can. Motels, of course.

D'Arcy

Vancouver, BC

I bought the first GL 500 Silver wing in the UK in 1982. This boke, panned in the press as a wanabe BMW was a sensational cruiser bike. My first trip was the route from London to Santiago in Spain.The handling was surprisingly light, and economy excelent. The rider position for both driver and pasenger is very comfortable even on very long trips. mechanically the 25,000 mile service intervals meant that the motor rarely saw a garage.The only problem is none of the service shops had any idea how to service the bike so I had to buy the workshop manual. With this I was able to keep the machine in spectacular near new apearance for 300,000 miles. I sold it in Spain to a kitchen salesman who rode it up to 1,000,000 miles and then sold it on to a third owner who still runs it as a daily runaround. The only problems I ever had was having to threaten to return the bike when Honda refused to supply any of the accesories, the radio and the boxes. Eventually they did and so 30 years on the bike still runs like new.

I am a full time adult student and due to our lacklustre economy I was looking for a way to help save some money from our family budget.

My wife was not thrilled about me buying my first bike but it sort of fell into my lap.

My bike is a 1982 Honda Silverwing GL500 with 38,000 miles on it. I picked the bike up for $300 and it was the best money I could have spent. Currently not in the prettiest shape but I sank some money on the particular's and am very happy with my purchase. I replaced the brakes, seat covers, all fluids, mirrors, tires and did a chemical rebuild on the carburettor. (Empty gas tank, fill with 100% SEAFOAM, start, let idle, let sit overnight with tank and carb full of SEAFOAM and repeat process for two-three days, fill tank with gas and then test ride). The bike went from a rough running hard starting bike to a bike that purrs like a kitten and starts first try every time.

I now use this bike to commute the 30 round trip to class and find the bike exhilarating. Its no speed demon but it does a good job from zero to 60 miles per hour. Excellent on gas and the perfect bike for me as a beginner (not all beginners should start with a top heavy bike but I am a big guy). I was not wanting too much power for my first bike so I got exactly what I asked for. I now love my touring bike so much that I am making eventual plans for a full dress bike that my wife and I can tour on and vacation with. Every review I have read online talks about the excellent engine design and great dependability of the bike. I am looking forward to many years on open roads and am itching for a road trip.

Baught to save gas and I AM GETTING 60 MILES TO THE GALLON

!!!!!Shaft drive, superb design; what more can I say.