Plain Aspencade or SE

[Megreenusmc1969]

Can someone explain the difference between a 1991 GL1500a and a 1991 GL1500se? Per my VIN, I have a GL1500a, but there is the plaque saying it is an Anniversary Edition with a serial number and the front Chrome under the windshield says Anniversary Edition. Is this something that the previous owner just added? I found out the hard way when my starter went out. I ordered one that I thought was for my bike, took it to the shop, which actually worked on them at the time, and he said it was too short, and I had to get the longer one. This was a couple of years ago, so I am over the heartache of going from a $250 part to a $900 part, but now I am questioning whether I just got ripped off by the shop or not? They quit working on anything prior to 2001, so they wouldn't touch it now anyway.

[Megreenusmc1969]

I looked at it the plaque little closer, it says Celebrating a Decade of U.S. Production Gold Wing.

[Andy Cote]

This may help:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=54120

[Rambozo]

You probably got the starter for an Interstate. They don't have the reverse that your Aspencade does.
For a while Honda was badging some or another anniversary every other year or so.
The SE comes with all the bells and whistles that were optional on the Aspencade, plus a two-tone paint scheme.

[Megreenusmc1969]

This may help:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=54120

Thanks Andy Cote, this does help some. Gives me some things to try to look up.

[Megreenusmc1969]

You probably got the starter for an Interstate. They don't have the reverse that your Aspencade does.
For a while Honda was badging some or another anniversary every other year or so.
The SE comes with all the bells and whistles that were optional on the Aspencade, plus a two-tone paint scheme.

Thanks Rambozo, that does help out. Mine looks to have always been a straight black paint job, so I am thinking that the GL1500a is the right code, he must have added a lot of the additional items to the bike, as the only options that I think I am missing are the cornering lights and the lighted wing on the trunk, he put the luggage rack on the trunk instead.

[Rambozo]

The SE would have foot warmer flaps, remote adjustable passenger foot boards, lighted handlebar controls (on some years?), CB, lighted spoiler, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting. Windshield vent? In addition to all the normal Aspencade stuff.

[Megreenusmc1969]

Yeah, mine has passenger footboards, cb, Anniversary plaque, Anniversary log on front chrome and the windshield vent. I guess he was just adding on as he went along. He had the bike from 1991 - 2017 when he had open heart surgery at the age of 89 and I boought it from him. I always thought they were just standard. He was in the middle of nowhere in Mississippi, but I guess he bought them when he traveled around.

[Rambozo]

The SE passenger foot boards adjust up and down with a cable release while the Aspencade's do not. The anniversary badging was on all models of that year.