Identifying my Wing

[anwarg]

I bought a Goldwing 1500 SE in November 2012 and I haven't looked at another bike since then. I managed to get manuals from someone who works at Suzuki but when I stripped her naked, the manuals ended up being almost useless. I've managed to figure out on the Net that 1500's were made between 1900 and 2000. That might sound lame to olden goldies (lol) but I'm a newbie! Please help: How do I identify the year model of my baby?

[WingAdmin]

I bought a Goldwing 1500 SE in November 2012 and I haven't looked at another bike since then. I managed to get manuals from someone who works at Suzuki but when I stripped her naked, the manuals ended up being almost useless. I've managed to figure out on the Net that 1500's were made between 1900 and 2000. That might sound lame to olden goldies (lol) but I'm a newbie! Please help: How do I identify the year model of my baby?

They were definitely made between 1900 and 2000. Actually, the first GL1500 was in 1988, and the last was in 2000.

You can find the VIN sticker, and it has the year printed on it. You can also get the year from the VIN if you have it handy. The sticker is on the the frame, on the right side, just behind where the steering stem shaft goes through the frame:

GL1500 VIN Sticker

[virgilmobile]

Uh oh.
Does that mean my 1988 gl1500 dosen't exist.????
No wonder I can't find a schematic for it.

[bjatwood]

Uh oh.
Does that mean my 1988 gl1500 dosen't exist.????

I caught that too Virgil.... Scott you fat fingered the nine....in '88

[WingAdmin]

Uh oh.
Does that mean my 1988 gl1500 dosen't exist.????

I caught that too Virgil.... Scott you fat fingered the nine....in '88

Yep, I sure did. Teach me to answer messages on my phone.

[wing rider 2012]

I bought a Goldwing 1500 SE in November 2012 and I haven't looked at another bike since then. I managed to get manuals from someone who works at Suzuki but when I stripped her naked, the manuals ended up being almost useless. I've managed to figure out on the Net that 1500's were made between 1900 and 2000. That might sound lame to olden goldies (lol) but I'm a newbie! Please help: How do I identify the year model of my baby?

If the VIN sticker has been removed you can find the VIN stamped on the steering head. The VIN's for the GL1500 will all begin with 1HFSC22, the following number will be the model type, then there will be a "check digit" number, the letter following the check digit will be the year of the bike.
J=88, K=89, L=90, M=91, N=92 P=93, R=94, S=95, T=96, V=97, W=98, X=99 Y-2000

[anwarg]

Thanx a stack, WingAdmin. Found the plate. It's a '93 model made in the USA. Now I'm even more confussed: I have one of the old VIN numbers on my registration papers here in darkest africa. It only has 11 characters. I know the other, descriptor characters were added later. What I don't know is why the VIN starts with "S" when USA VIN's start with a number, like 1,2 or 5? The VIN plate says USA. Does "S" stand for some state in the USA. Surely it can't stand for States!

[silverado6x6]

I am no expert yet but does your bike have a handlebar mounted switch that turns OFF the headlights? If it does then I believe you have a European model Goldwing. Sounds like you scored a deal friend, lots of people just like to keep the 1500 bikes, I find them occasionally where I live in dark cold ALASKA and they are usually asking over $6,000 minimum.

[anwarg]

Nope. Lights stay on all the time. No switch.

[WingAdmin]

Thanx a stack, WingAdmin. Found the plate. It's a '93 model made in the USA. Now I'm even more confussed: I have one of the old VIN numbers on my registration papers here in darkest africa. It only has 11 characters. I know the other, descriptor characters were added later. What I don't know is why the VIN starts with "S" when USA VIN's start with a number, like 1,2 or 5? The VIN plate says USA. Does "S" stand for some state in the USA. Surely it can't stand for States!

All GL1500's were made in Ohio, so every VIN on every GL1500 ever made will start with "1HF". The 11 digit "S" number you're seeing (I suspect it's the one stamped on the frame) is the frame number, not the VIN.

[Smyre]

Thanx a stack, WingAdmin. Found the plate. It's a '93 model made in the USA. Now I'm even more confussed: I have one of the old VIN numbers on my registration papers here in darkest africa. It only has 11 characters. I know the other, descriptor characters were added later. What I don't know is why the VIN starts with "S" when USA VIN's start with a number, like 1,2 or 5? The VIN plate says USA. Does "S" stand for some state in the USA. Surely it can't stand for States!

All GL1500's were made in Ohio, so every VIN on every GL1500 ever made will start with "1HF". The 11 digit "S" number you're seeing (I suspect it's the one stamped on the frame) is the frame number, not the VIN.

My 88 was made in California, not in Ohio. It's a European model but that's all i know. The 91 SE had the serial number under the ignition key. The serial number started with letters which let yoh know the import country. For example: CH 214 for Switzerland

[blupupher]

My 88 was made in California, not in Ohio. It's a European model but that's all i know. The 91 SE had the serial number under the ignition key. The serial number started with letters which let yoh know the import country. For example: CH 214 for Switzerland

GL1500's were only made in Ohio.
None were ever made in California (or anywhere else).
May have had some shop do some modification in California, but it was made in Ohio.

Not sure what that serial number is, but it is not the VIN being talked about.