GL 1000 K 3 Gold Wing

1979 Honda GL 1000 K 3 Gold Wing Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in Honda's allround motorcycle lineup, the 1979 Honda GL 1000 K 3 Gold Wing pairs a 999 cc (61 cu in) liquid-cooled four cylinder boxer, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 78 HP (56.9 kW) at 7,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 78.1 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the GL 1000 K 3 Gold Wing measures 298 kg (657 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.26 HP/kg (3.82 kg per horsepower). The 19-liter (5 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 196 km/h (122 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Honda archive, this model family spans 3 indexed model years from 1978 to 1980, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.