I always had the feeling that Honda’s staple tourist superstar the Gold Wing would look better naked.

And this example certainly confirms our intuition.

Spotted recently on Bike Exif – it appears that this 1975 GL 1000 was built for an Italian customer for a trip from his home to Norway – and the stripped back matte frame and custom everything else reflects the need for cruising utility.

And added lights for longer shadows

I’ve often wondered why long distance tourers would want to sheild the rider so much from the wind in the face. Surely, the whole point of a long distance ride is to feel the the breeze – and a stripped down long hauler like this must surely be the way to be practical –

– and lose nothing in the aesthetic stakes.

Great detail.
When a Japanese bike does germanic
A real sense of utilitarian chunk
And added lights for longer shadows
Haulage bespoke
Racks with a military edge.