Honda Gold Wing GL1200 — Example photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato), CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Have this bike? Send a photo or the manual's service chart

Honda · Hydraulic-lifter four-stroke four, wet sump, gearbox shares engine oil, shaft drive

Gold Wing GL1200

Library entry covers 1984-1987

31 factory 32 guideline

Published source

Honda GL1200 1986 Owner's Manual (Honda Motor Co.), Maintenance Schedule pp.54-55

Factory owner's handbook. Covers 1986 owner's manual (US).

63 items for a 1985 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Wet sump (oil in crankcase)
Oil filtration: Replaceable cartridge or spin-on filter
Valve gear: Hydraulic lifters (no routine clearance adjustment)
Ignition: Electronic (CDI / transistor / ECU)
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Two or more carburetors
Cooling: Liquid cooled
Primary drive: Gear or chain inside engine, shares engine oil
Gearbox oil: Shares engine oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, hydraulic
Final drive: Shaft
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, twin shocks
Front brake: Disc, hydraulic
Rear brake: Disc, hydraulic
Wheels: Cast / alloy, tubeless
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1985 Honda Gold Wing GL1200

On the road: every 200 mi

1 item

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.

On the road: every 300 mi

2 items

Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Check coolant level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

1 item

Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

5 items

Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Guideline

Mesh or oiled foam: clean and re-oil. Paper: blow out or replace. Some very early machines have no filter at all.
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 4,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Guideline

Every 4,000 mi

7 items

Check engine breather and oil return

Engine

Factory

Manual: Crankcase breather: clean. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: more often in rain or at full throttle
Replace spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Manual: Spark plug: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55
Carburetor idle speed: inspect

Fuel and air

Factory

Factory: I at 600 mi and every 4,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Battery: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55
Clutch fluid: inspect

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55 (ManualsLib viewer pp.60-61; page images re-read with the watermark color removed): I at 4,000, 8,000, 16,000 and 20,000 mi between replacements
Brake fluid: inspect

Brakes

Factory

Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55 (ManualsLib viewer pp.60-61; page images re-read with the watermark color removed): I at 4,000, 8,000, 16,000 and 20,000 mi between replacements
Check brake pads and discs

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake pad wear: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

5 items

Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Guideline

Ethanol fuel varnishes old carbs quickly in storage.
Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Guideline
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 8,000 mi

19 items

Change engine oil

Engine

Factory

Manual: Engine oil: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: first at 600 mi
Headlight aim: inspect

Engine

Factory

Factory: I at 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Inspect coolant hoses and clamps

Engine

Factory

Manual: Cooling system: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: dealer item
Nut, bolt, fastener: inspect

Engine

Factory

Factory: I at 600 mi, then 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Replace oil filter

Engine

Factory

Manual: Engine oil filter: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: first at 600 mi
Secondary air supply system: inspect

Engine

Factory

Factory: I at 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Carburetor choke: inspect

Fuel and air

Factory

Factory: I at 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Throttle operation: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: dealer item; fuel line inspect every 12,000 mi
Fuel line: inspect

Fuel and air

Factory

Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55 (ManualsLib viewer pp.60-61; page images re-read with the watermark color removed): I at 16,000 and 24,000 mi; the 8,000 mi cell lies under the ManualsLib watermark
Synchronize carburetors

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Carburetor synchronization: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: dealer item; idle speed every 4,000 mi
Clutch system: inspect

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Factory: I at 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Check final drive for leaks and bearing play

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Final drive oil: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Factory

Manual: Steering head bearing: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: dealer only
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Side stand: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Suspension: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: dealer item
Brake light switch: inspect

Brakes

Factory

Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55 (ManualsLib viewer pp.60-61; page images re-read with the watermark color removed): I at 16,000 and 24,000 mi; the 8,000 mi cell lies under the ManualsLib watermark
Brake system: inspect

Brakes

Factory

Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55 (ManualsLib viewer pp.60-61; page images re-read with the watermark color removed): I at 600, 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi
Wheel: inspect

Wheels and tires

Factory

Factory: I at 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)
Evaporative emission control system: inspect

Controls and cables

Factory

Factory: I at 8,000, 16,000 and 24,000 mi. Note 4: California type only. Columns 600 mi (1,000 km), then every 4,000 mi (6,400 km) to 24,000 mi (38,400 km); note 3: for higher odometer readings repeat at the interval established here. (Read from the page image, ManualsLib GL1200 1986 owner's manual pp.54-55.)

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline
Change fork oil

Front end

Guideline

Some early telescopic forks are grease filled or use very small oil quantities. Check your manual.

Every 12,000 mi or 2 years

3 items

Replace hydraulic clutch fluid

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Clutch fluid: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: inspect every 4,000 mi; replace every 12,000 mi or 2 years
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Replace brake fluid

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake fluid: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: inspect every 4,000 mi; replace every 12,000 mi or 2 years

Every 12,000 mi

1 item

Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Air cleaner: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: more often in dusty areas

Every 20,000 mi or 4 years

3 items

Lubricate drive shaft splines / check U-joint

Final drive

Guideline
Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Guideline

Many old machines use loose balls in cups and cones. Taper roller conversions are common.
Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Cup-and-cone and taper roller hubs need periodic repacking and adjustment.

Every 24,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Replace coolant

Engine

Factory

Manual: Radiator coolant: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55: inspect every 8,000 mi; replace every 24,000 mi or 2 years

Every 24,000 mi

1 item

Change final drive (rear drive) oil

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Final drive oil: replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.54-55

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 6 months

1 item

Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

2 items

Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 4 years

3 items

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.
Inspect brake hoses; replace old rubber

Brakes

Guideline
Rebuild calipers and master cylinders (seals)

Brakes

Guideline

Every 6 years

1 item

Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.