Honda GL1500 SE Gold Wing (2000) — Owner & DIY Reference
A comprehensive working reference for the 2000 Honda GL1500 SE Gold Wing — the final model year of Honda's fourth-generation Gold Wing (the GL1500 series, 1988–2000) and its top "Special Edition" trim, carrying 25th-Anniversary badging. The 2000 SE is powered by a 1520 cc carbureted, liquid-cooled, SOHC flat-six with a 5-speed gearbox, electric reverse, and shaft final drive, and is the last and most fully-equipped GL1500 ever built before the fuel-injected GL1800 replaced it for 2001.
This README is the landing page for the documentation set. Start here, grab the headline numbers from the Quick Specifications table, then jump to the system file you need via the Documentation Index below.
What Makes the 2000 SE Special
- Final model year of the entire GL1500 line — the end of the carbureted flat-six 1500 era.
- 25th-Anniversary edition: gold-plated 25th-Anniversary emblems (US/Canada) on the trunk, a chrome fairing garnish above the headlight, and a console badge.
- Chrome-plated rocker/valve covers (a 2000-only SE cue) and a return to black-faced instruments (the 1998–99 white faces were unpopular).
- Top-trim equipment: electric reverse, on-board air compressor with air-adjustable front fork and rear shock, hydraulic clutch, Honda Linked/Combined Braking System (LBS/CBS), 40-channel CB, rider/passenger intercom, cruise control, four-speaker premium AM/FM/cassette audio, two-tone paint, adjustable fairing vents, foot warmers, lighted switchgear, and a trunk spoiler with integrated brake light.
Identity, at a glance: 1520 cc liquid-cooled SOHC flat-six (boxer six), 2 valves/cyl, hydraulic valve lash adjusters (no manual valve-clearance adjustment) · carbureted (twin Keihin CV carburetors — not fuel injected) · 5-speed manual + electric reverse · shaft final drive · hydraulic clutch · linked braking (no ABS) · air-adjustable suspension with on-board compressor. Honda model code SC22; North-American VIN prefix 1HFSC22… with model-year letter Y = 2000.
Quick Specifications
Units are given in both metric and imperial. Headline power/torque/weight/wheelbase/seat-height/top-speed figures are corroborated across ultimatespecs, bikez, autoevolution and motorbikecatalog. Values that conflict between sources or are single-source are flagged ⚠️ — see the linked detail files and ## ⚠️ Items to Verify.
| Spec |
Value |
| Engine |
4-stroke, liquid-cooled, horizontally-opposed flat-six ("boxer six"), SOHC, 2 valves/cyl |
| Displacement |
1520 cc (92.7 cu in) |
| Bore × stroke |
71 × 64 mm (2.8 × 2.5 in) |
| Compression ratio |
9.8:1 |
| Fuel system |
Carbureted — twin 36 mm Keihin CV carburetors (NOT fuel-injected) |
| Valve adjustment |
Hydraulic lash adjusters — no manual valve-clearance adjustment |
| Max power |
≈ 100 hp / 73–75 kW @ 5200 rpm |
| Max torque |
150 N·m (110–111 ft·lb) @ 4000 rpm |
| Transmission |
5-speed manual + electric reverse (starter-motor driven) |
| Clutch |
Wet multi-plate, hydraulically actuated |
| Final drive |
Shaft (driveshaft) |
| Cooling |
Liquid; coolant 4.1 L (4.3 US qt / 3.6 Imp qt) |
| Engine oil (with filter) |
≈ 3.7–4.0 L (≈ 3.9–4.2 US qt) — drain-only ≈ 3.5 L (3.7 US qt) |
| Fuel tank |
24.0 L (6.3 US gal / 5.3 Imp gal) per owner's manual; some spec sheets list 23 L (6.1 US gal) ⚠️ |
| Front tire |
130/70-18 (63H) |
| Rear tire |
160/80-16 (75H) |
| Front brakes |
Dual 296 mm discs, linked (LBS/CBS); no ABS ⚠️ confirm |
| Rear brake |
Single 316 mm disc, linked (LBS/CBS) |
| Suspension |
Air-adjustable telescopic fork (front) + Pro-Link single shock (rear), on-board air compressor |
| Dry weight (SE) |
≈ 372 kg (820 lb) — SE is the heaviest trim |
| Curb / wet weight (SE) |
≈ 405 kg (893 lb) ⚠️ confirm (full tank + fluids) |
| Overall length |
2630 mm (103.5 in) — some sources 2615 mm (103.0 in) ⚠️ |
| Overall width |
955 mm (37.6 in) |
| Overall height |
1525 mm (60.0 in) — some sources 1495 mm (58.9 in) ⚠️ |
| Wheelbase |
1690 mm (66.5 in) (manual figure sometimes 1700 mm / 66.9 in) ⚠️ |
| Seat height |
740 mm (29.1 in) (post-1995 lowered seat) |
| Ground clearance |
140 mm (5.5 in); post-1995 spec sheets often list 115 mm (4.5 in) ⚠️ |
| Caster / trail |
30° / 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Top speed |
≈ 180 km/h (112 mph) ⚠️ — sources range 159–193 km/h (99–120 mph); treat 120 mph as optimistic |
| Electrical |
12 V; battery 12 V 20 Ah ⚠️; alternator ≈ 550 W @ 5000 rpm ⚠️ |
Full identification details (VIN decoding, frame/engine-number locations, model history, trim comparison, year-2000 colors) and the complete spec table are in Overview, Identification & Specifications.
Documentation Index
General
Powertrain — Engine
Fuel & Cooling
Electrical & Electronics
| # |
File |
Topic |
| 05 |
Charging System & Battery |
Alternator/stator, regulator-rectifier, battery |
| 06 |
Electrical System, Wiring & Fuses |
Harness, fuse box, grounds, relays |
| 07 |
Lighting & Instruments |
Headlight, indicators, gauges (black-faced for 2000) |
| 08 |
Audio, Comfort, Cruise & Reverse |
Premium audio, CB, intercom, cruise control, electric reverse |
Drivetrain
Chassis, Suspension & Brakes
| # |
File |
Topic |
| 12 |
Front Suspension & Steering |
Air-adjustable fork, steering head, anti-dive |
| 13 |
Rear Suspension & On-Board Air System |
Pro-Link shock, on-board air compressor |
| 14 |
Brakes & Brake Hydraulics (LBS/CBS) |
Linked braking, calipers, master cylinders, fluid |
| 15 |
Wheels & Tires |
Tire sizes, pressures, wheel/bearing service |
| 16 |
Frame, Chassis & Bodywork |
Double-cradle frame, fairing, trunk/saddlebags |
Maintenance & Reference
Problems, DIY & Upgrades
How to Use These Docs
- Start here for the headline numbers, then drill into the system file you need from the Documentation Index.
- Each system file is self-contained and ends with its own Sources and ⚠️ Items to Verify sections, so you can see exactly what is corroborated versus what still needs confirmation.
- Spec values, capacities, torque figures, service intervals, and part numbers are given in tables; tips, procedures, and cautions are given in bullet lists.
- For any torque value, prefer the dedicated Torque Specifications master table — system files repeat key values for convenience but the master table is the single reference point.
- For fluids and intervals, use Maintenance Schedule, Fluids & Capacities as the authority and cross-check the per-system file for context.
Units & Conventions
- Dual units everywhere. Every measurement is given in metric and imperial, e.g. "108 N·m (80 ft·lb)", "3.5 L (3.7 US qt)", "250 kPa / 2.5 bar (36 psi)", "100 km/h (62 mph)". Volumes use US units by default and note Imperial where it matters (the GL1500 was a US-built, US-market-leading machine, so US gallons/quarts are the working units; UK/AU readers should convert — 1 US gal ≈ 0.833 Imp gal, 1 US qt ≈ 0.833 Imp qt).
- The ⚠️ flag marks any value that could not be confidently verified against an authoritative source — typically because sources disagree, the figure is single-source, or it changed across the 1988–2000 production run (the 1995 suspension/seat lowering is a common culprit). A flagged value is still the best available estimate; it is not invented. Always confirm flagged values against the factory service manual before relying on them.
- GL1500 SE / year-2000 specifics are distinguished from generic GL1500 information wherever they differ across trims (Standard/Interstate/Aspencade/SE) or model years.
- Cross-references between files use relative Markdown links, e.g. see Torque Specifications.
Disclaimer
This documentation set is a community/owner reference compiled from public sources (forums, spec databases, parts catalogs, and manual excerpts) and is not a substitute for the Honda factory service manual. Many online spec sites copy each other's errors, so numbers have been corroborated where possible and flagged where not.
- Always confirm critical values — torque, fluid types/capacities, brake and clutch hydraulic procedures, electrical ratings — against the Honda GL1500 factory service manual for your exact model year and trim before wrenching.
- Brakes (linked LBS/CBS), the hydraulic clutch, fuel, suspension air system, and electrical work carry real safety risk. If you are unsure, consult a qualified Honda technician.
- Use the correct tools and observe all safety precautions. The authors of these notes accept no liability for damage or injury resulting from their use.
Sources
- ultimatespecs.com — 2000 Honda GL1500 SE Gold Wing technical specs: https://www.ultimatespecs.com/motorcycles-specs/honda/honda-gl-1500-se-gold-wing-2000
- bikez.com — 2000 Honda GL1500 SE Gold Wing specs: https://bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_gl_1500_se_gold_wing_2000.php
- motorbikecatalog.com — 2000 Honda GL1500 Gold Wing SE detail: https://www.motorbikecatalog.com/moto/2000/183560/honda_gl1500_gold_wing_se.html
- autoevolution.com — Honda GL1500 Gold Wing SE (1999–2000): https://www.autoevolution.com/moto/honda-gl1500-gold-wing-se-1999.html
- motorcyclespecs.co.za — Honda GLX 1500 Gold Wing (1998): https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_glx_1500_98.html
- BikesWiki — Honda GL1500 Gold Wing (Interstate/Aspencade/SE): https://bikeswiki.com/Honda_GL1500_Gold_Wing
- Total Motorcycle — 2000 Honda GL1500SE Gold Wing SE: https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2000models/2000models-Honda-GL1500SEGoldWingSE/
- Wikipedia — Honda Gold Wing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Gold_Wing
- Local sibling files 00–22 in this folder (each with its own corroborated sources).
⚠️ Items to Verify
- Top speed — sources range 159–193 km/h (99–120 mph); bikez lists 180 km/h (112 mph). Treat the 120 mph claim as optimistic for a fully-faired SE.
- Dimensions — overall length (2615 vs 2630 mm), height (1495 vs 1525 mm), wheelbase (1690 vs 1700 mm) and ground clearance (115 vs 140 mm) differ between owner's-manual figures and 2000-era spec sheets (partly the 1995 lowering revisions). Confirm exact year-2000 SE figures against the factory service manual.
- Weights — SE dry weight (≈ 372 kg / 820 lb) is well corroborated; curb/wet weight (≈ 405 kg / 893 lb) and GVWR are not fully confirmed — read GVWR off the VIN/data plate.
- Fuel capacity — 24.0 L (6.3 US gal) per manual vs. 23 L (6.1 US gal) on some spec sheets.
- Power output — quoted as ≈ 100 hp / 73–75 kW @ 5200 rpm; the kW figure varies slightly by source (73 vs 74–75 kW). Japan-market figures differ (~97 hp @ 5000 rpm).
- ABS — GL1500 has linked braking (LBS/CBS) but is believed to have no ABS (ABS came with the GL1800); confirm.
- Electrical — battery (12 V 20 Ah) and alternator output (≈ 550 W) are currently single-source; confirm against the factory service manual / the Charging System file.
- Tire pressures — confirm exact cold front/rear pressures (and load-dependent values) on the bike's decal / service manual; see Wheels & Tires.
- Each linked sibling file carries its own, more detailed ⚠️ Items to Verify list — consult it before relying on that system's numbers.