Bob’s Gold Wing – The Rest of the Story

Okay, those who have waited around for the finish; here it comes I just got off the phone with my old patrol partner and he was happy to talk about how he came to own a classic Gold Wing Honda.

I worked night shift N/W patrol the last several years prior to retirement from the Houston Police Department. Hunsiker’s Motorcycle Sales and Service business was located on Bingle a block south of Long Point, within my area of responsiblity. It had burned to the ground one time back in 1982; heaps of motorcycle frames and ashes were all that he had the next day. Hunsiker rebuilt and had a thriving business and then it caught fire again, I think the year was 1990; this time during of my shift. The fire department arrived and was able to contain the fire before it did too much damage; all the same, several bikes were destroyed. Old man Hunsiker, no disrespect intended as that is what he was called by most of his customers, discovered a tarp had been thrown over a couple of boxed motorcycles. Upon removing the tarp he found brand new in the box 1982 Honda Gold Wing bikes that had been covered since the first fire. They had been hidden in the back of the warehouse all those years.

Instead of being totally upset for having lost some of his current inventory, he was ecstatic over having found some treasures hidden among the ashes. Bob Kersten was the station sergeant that night and had driven out to see the damage; having been a good friend of Old Man Hunsiker. An instant light bulb must have hit as he began to explain, “I know, I’ll put these in the front window tomorrow, fully assembled with a sign on them, “Special One Time Offer, 1982 Honda Gold Wings at 1982 prices.” When Bob heard that he took out his checkbook and wrote out a check for $ 3200.00 and handed it to Old Man Hunsiker. At the time a new Gold Wing was going for about $ 8500, and it was hard to find one that wasn’t loaded to the gills. Bob had purchased one of the last of a breed, a Gold Wing motorcycle that hadn’t been turned into an “SUV” on two wheels. It was almost too good to be true, unbelievable and yet it was all true.

The firemen were still pouring water on the smoldering ashes as Bob made the bargain basement deal of the year. The next day Bob drove it home; kept it for about 3 years and a little over 50,000 miles before letting it go for about $ 3000.00 to some other motorcycle enthusiast. I’m sure the other fellow thought he’d gotten away with murder, only $3000 for a classic Gold Wing. So, now you know the rest of the story.