I've been driving Gold for many years from1981 ( 1100cc) till 2010 ( 1800 cc) and believe me the new Gold 2018 is the perfect bike.. some complain about less compartment Ohhh come on !!! lighter bike, more elegant, new front suspension and a great look , what else do you want.. Congradulation Honda.. I will buy one as soon as the weather is good
I purchased an SC 79 last year in october : a Pearl Hawkseye Blue. 5.000 miles with it until now : indeed, a lovely bike. My first Gold Wing ! Never ridden one before ! I've had three BMW R 1200 GS in the past. Two very different worlds !!
A bit shocked by new design, but the news about everything else are amazingly welcome. Just a few time, and the competitors are knocked out. I want one asap!!!!
This maybe my next bike. After 40 years of riding, I am ready to try the DCT. I never had a car with auto transmission until I was 30, but I would never go back now. This is like my Mitsubishi automatic with paddles. Best of both worlds. My current ride is a Yamaha Roadliner with fairing and bags. Love it. Power, handles great and bulletproof. I was tempted by the new Venture but I am leaning toward the Honda. And I think Honda is onto something. The old wing has always been great but my generation has seen it as our dads bike. I have ridden everything from old Triumphs with manual spark advance to crotch rockets. This feels more like the bike I want to ride into retirement. Heck, I saw one reviewer turn off the traction control and repeatedly get the wing sideways with throttle. Sporty, reliable and a decent tourer. 200 miles? I don't need longer legs than that but I do want to be comfortable all day. I don't need the BMW name and won't pay their hourly shop rates. I can't wait to take one for a spin. Thanks for the review. Y'all ride safe out there.
Very impressive, very tempting! Based upn my experience of 178,000 klm on a 1500 Aspencade, and three California Superbike Courses (not on the Wing) I would say the rider is turning into the corners too soon. He is scraping the undercarriage and exiting on the outside of the bend. I have never done this on my wing since I realised that Keith Code's rule of "in deep, turn one, turn fast and crack the throttle open" also works for Goldwings. Absolutely transformational advice!
Everyone should remember that the world of Motorcycling is in a death spiral. Sales continue to fall with no end in sight. The fact that Honda gave us a much improved GW with so much new tech is admirable. My local dealer wont even carry this model because he knows he cant move it. He is a good size dealer that moves lots of models year round.
Nightmare, my Harley Davidson Road-Glide CVO visits taverns, but it has also been to the border of Mexico and Guatemala to the south, North Dakota, New Hampshire to the East and Highway One to the West. Very comfortable and no issues, all you need is the time and the inclination. The brand matters not.
BMW GTL premium 27 K, Goldwing 1800 Tour with DCT 27K looks same to me, as far as service of BMW well I do it by myself and it as not any more complicated than any other fully dressed bike. I just did 36 K service including valve check up. New Goldwing will be using Can Bus so probably will have service light to reset and you will have to check and clear fault codes meaning you will need computer. I can do those things by myself in BMW as I have GS 911 interface. Hopefully someone will do the same thing for Goldwing or yoy will have to feed greedy dealer.
Good vid, love the fact you guys let us watchers hear the bikes being ridden without being masked by commentary etc, nice one. Would you consider doing a Yamie transcontinental Vs Honda Wing Vs BMW G1600 Vs Indian Vs Harley comparo test with all the new machines coming out? Would be a good one to do for the big tarmac long haulers. take care, Ando.
Thanks Ando... kind words, appreciate the feedback. Yes, of course we'd like to do that--the snag is getting all the bikes at the same time from the various manufacturers. We'll see what we can do but don't hold your breath LOL
Love the new look, cannot wait for my local dealer to get some so I can see it in person. I did notice no where to put foot pegs to stretch your legs out. plus it looks like if the bike tipped over the old bars did protect it, not sure how the new bike will handle that.
This new GoldWing reminds me of a fat guy who has decided to go to the gym, lose weight and get in shape! Streamlining the design will be hard on the eyes of GW purists...but the state-of-the-art technology and overall advancements will win others over. Big win for Honda!
As a general feeling: Engine and fuel mapping are both much smoother on GW; aerodynamics are improved; passenger is much more secure-feeling. GW doesn't feel as tall and weight carried much lower so bike in general feels lighter and more maneuverable, but especially in parking lot; shorter/less strong people will much prefer GW. With DCT the GW is head n' shoulders above the GTL in terms of smoothness and luxury-feeling, they are not even close. Overall engine power, braking and handling are difficult to tell without back-to-back riding but they are similar; neither machine is lacking in those areas.
I remember when the first-year 'Honda 750-4' was offered in America...and motorcycling was changed forever.I had never seen anything like it! It was so impressive it looked like something from the future...a motorcycle with a DISC-BRAKE! WHAT? FOUR-CYLINDERS? And yet performs like a 'sprinter' and starts every single time you want it to? SIGN ME UP! I think this 2018 ALL-NEW generation is going to force Harley back into bankruptcy...again! Just as the '750-4' did in the early '70's.(I kinda' feel sorry for the competition...this Honda is leagues ahead of everyone else! I know there will always be a large 'market-share' of those who have to have a 'thumpa-thumpa-potato-potato' engine rumble and exhaust...but this machine is so far advanced those riders are going to slowly succumb to that 'siren-call of silence' and the complete 'rush of power' under you that feels like you're not moving all that fast...until you look at the speedo and see you're over the 'Century- mark' with so little effort and smoothness you don't quite believe it) Once again..."Honda" is 're-inventing two-wheels and an engine'.
Gerry Nightingale I too liked the 750 of old...actually had one ..BUT.. this GoldWing hardly compares to something that is a game changer...this GoldWing as all GoldWings are a perfect example of moving away from a real motorcycle ..just another overpriced perfectly functional appliance with no soul..Yes I ride a Harley?
My personal feelings are not involved with my assessments regarding the Honda 'Gold-Wing' versus'everyone else'...it's question of 'what the market wants' and sales of the 'Wing' are very solid in the U.S. market...in fact, Honda has dominated the very market they themselves 'more or less' created from virtually nothing in the early 1970's era.(if Honda's 'Wing' is nothing more than a 'sofa'...why does every motorcycle manufacturer try to replicate it in their own production??? Including Honda's main rival in the U.S., "H-D?") 'Honda' is to motorcycles what 'wet is to water'...Honda created the modern motorcycle as a 'useful and inexpensive fun transport' here in America in 1960 with the 'Cub' and the 'Super Cub' of 50 and 90cc's and the response was HUGE, far more than anyone could've imagined, including Honda himself! (the Honda is 'over-priced'? Perhaps...but when it is considered that a 'Wing' will easily last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, and then pro-rate the expense year-to-year...it's actually not too expensive to own) Uh...what constitutes a 'real motorcycle???' I've always thought 'two-wheels & an engine' was enough.
What happens when it goes on the side at a stop sign, how much damage will there be, do I need to carry and extra check book for $1000 side bags and mirror like the CTX1300 with no protection? Don't get me wrong here I am excited about the new machine but on the same note the "WHAT IFs" also.
I recently sold my 2007 GL1800. My wife doesn’t ride much anymore so I’ve been on my back up bike. 07 BMW r1200r. My riding buddy and I have both sold our larger tourers and I have been looking a 1200RT or an FjR. I have to say I am going to be waiting now until I can see the new Goldwing.
Great review for folk with big countries and long straight roads :) For me the magesty of the GW is in low speed arriving in the hotel car park, parading, and touring. I'm suspecting my xl lid isn't going to be storable inside? Seriously my Deauville will (unnecessarily) store three! But is the low speed handling better? No-one seems to mention this. (also the ctx1300 used it's fogs and pannier to protect the crash peg.. can this pricy bike survive a low speed tipping? (ex gl1500 rider)
Have you spotted how the mirrors are fitted? For me it looks a bit odd, like the original mirror was lost or stolen and was replaced with too large aftermarket stuff. I realize this is to increase the back visibility but could have been done better.
I wish I could have viewed your hands. I think you were on the DCT in the beginning? I like to see when people decide to brake. I wonder what the wind coverage is like. I know the luggage capacity sucks. Bottom line for me, if I'm on a racetrack, I'll get the new 2018. If I'm going to do some touring, I'll get a 2017.
Yes, helmet cam, sorry. Well spotted though! You are correct and I was using the manual shift (pull trigger, push button) in some of the video. Obviously it was a relatively short riding impression, so I did my best to try all the permutations of DCT I could think of. As much as I enjoyed the feeling of control when hand shifting, to be honest, it wasn't any better than letting the DCT do it for me, the Sport mode shift points are that good. Where the manual function does score is if you find yourself in the wrong mode (Econ say) and suddenly discover you need to grab a burst of quick accel... then it's quicker to flip down a ratio by hand. I wasn't braking particularly late, and on most corners wasn't braking at all so I'm not sure you'd have learned much. First time on that track and crashing wasn't an option LOL. Wind coverage is dramatically improved. There is more wind that can reach the rider if you want it to, and almost no wind if you want stillness. The old version kept you in a bubble no matter what, and that's great in cold, not so great when it's hot. But with both models I could easily ride with my visor up if I felt like it with zero wind blast to face. I understand how you feel, but I'd venture to suggest that once you ride the 2018 you'll find there's no going back. Give it a try and I'll accept if I'm wrong, but it's easy to pre-judge based on the super-limited impression I gave you, and I caution you against that! Yes, the reduced luggage capacity kinda sucks. I wonder if Honda might offer a bigger bag option down the road... It would be pretty easy I'd imagine, so why not? Thanks for commenting!
hahaha, no, but thanks for the laugh. Jeez they didn't give us a lot of time or help... one take as I'm sure you could tell. What can I say, I'm a motorcycle guy not an actor (thank God).
I still prefer the old pre 2000 boxy models! You can always recognise them a mile off. No doubt the new one is an even nicer ride and has new toys etc but to me it just looks like any other tourer now. No individuality. Times move on I guess but give me the huge cavernous topbox and panniers anyday!
I think the 2018 looks sweet. Honda finally added the tech that was missing while refining the entire bike in the process. My fav in the looks department is the naked GL1200 Standard ;-)
AMEN to that! What sense does it make to have a touring bike that can't haul anything! I recently(well, back in March) bought my first Wing. 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with just over 54k miles. put 4700 miles on it so far this year, and haven't gone anywhere!
Jeff Baviera Excellent! I've owned a 91 Aspencade for four years and just returned from a London trip 900 miles sweet as a nut. This video does look a very nice ride though I have to say, but I honestly don't think I'd upgrade even if I could afford it. Although I do own the riders gloves in the video! 😁
Honda owned the touring segment for years, there was nothing like a Gold Wing. I had high hopes for this next one, and admit I'm a bit let down by the new Wing. I hope the bike is a success but I am baffled at the direction Honda went in some important areas . I hoped to see more displacement, fuel capacity, storage, maybe 8 cylinders. I am the target audience for a bike like this, and I just don't yet see the uniqueness in this machine that previous gen Gold Wings had in their respective times. I read a great comment on a GW forum that this bike is a great ST1300, and there is some truth here as I am sure Honda is trying for a wider appeal. I can't wait to ride one!
Not correct Honda went in the direction people were asking for all the issues from the previous model were addressed the day of the land yacht is over.
Not sure what you mean by "not correct". I own a GoldWing, in my mid-40s, experienced rider, new to distance riding. I'll be buying a heavy tourer in the future. The new bike looks sweet and I'm not bashing it, but it moves away from important reasons why I would buy and did buy a GoldWing. I'm not alone in that I'll be looking at other touring bikes much more seriously as a result of the design decisions Honda took with the bike.
Watching the video yet again and reading new comments as well; I may have missed it, but what is downshifting like with the DCT transmission? Is there a paddle shift ? Pardon my ignorance - my current bikes are '04 Yamaha Road Stars and an '09 Ninja.
Not paddles per se, but the equivalent. On the left handlebar switchgear there is a thumb button (kinda near the horn button) and a pull switch similar to headlight flasher.
You're on a track, so I assume you felt like both upshifts and downshifts were as you said, "smooth as butter", but also where and when you needed or wanted. I'm fortunate to be able to ride great roads, right away, from my driveway, so I am very interested in the idea that this can also be my "I'm going for an hour-ride bike". I love the idea of the removable trunk, and look forward to being able to go from sporty to full on tour, when my better half wants a weekend away. I own too many license plates...Thank you for your quick replies.
Essentially, yes. If you listen to the engine note in the video you can hear how seamless the shifts are, but as for timing that depends greatly on which mode you're in, and how many surprises come your way. In other words, riding in a predictable fashion, Sport mode holds the gears longer, whereas Econ mode shifts into as high a gear, as quickly as possible; Tour mode is somewhere in the middle. Any mode rides incredibly predictably and pretty ,much exactly as you would shift if you were doing it yourself. Even downshifts on the brakes are exactly on point with each mode, and that must have been a nightmare for the engineers to get right! The key to DCT is having it paired with an engine that has a very broad spread of torque, and motors like the VFR1200, Africa Twin, and now Gold Wing absolutely have that, so the system works incredibly well. However, as I said, if a surprise comes along and you suddenly need a burst of accel maybe to get around a car, you will grab a handful of throttle and expect the machine to react accordingly. Honda have almost got it perfect, and the GW downshifts are pretty fast nothing like waiting for your car to downshift if you floor the pedal. However, if you're in Econ mode the gearbox will probably be more than one gear too high and simply won't be able to change down those gears quickly enough to satisfy your demand. If you're in Sport mode it most definitely will, and Tour mode kinda splits the difference. So on those rare occasions where circumstances change quickly and you find yourself in the wrong mode, you can use the manual pull switch to instantly change down and get that burst of accel. But truth be told, you will almost never find yourself needing to do that, the system is that responsive. The only snag with your luggage plan might be that we were told that removing/replacing the rear trunk is "about a four hour job". Frankly for a mechanic of my ability that means an eight hour job and a ton of swearing; I'll bet it isn't easy. My old H-D Ultra Classic had a quick detachable Tour Pak that literally took less than a minute to put on or take off, and maybe Honda or the aftermarket might find a way to do something similar--I for one would love to see that. On that subject, the BMW GTL is super easy--it's a twist knob under the case itself. The problem is the mounting point is too flimsy and the trunk can be rocked back and forward by hand--and that makes passengers nervous that they'll fall off the back. So the Honda errs on the side of solid-mounting caution and I much prefer that, but prepare yourself that for your weekend away with the better half you'll have to put in half a day getting the bike prepped first.
Wow, Thank you! I'll predict that once you've r/r the trunk a couple times, you can cut down the time...and wager that you are correct in thinking someone will "...find a way..." and it will sell if it remains solid. Again, thank you for the detailed response about the DCT and "hand-shifting".
An obvious major upgrade to the wing that will appeal to the touring fraternity and well done Honda for producing a much better bike than the previous model. The on off button on the keyless is a big thing as it will stop your bike getting stolen by criminals who can capture the signal from your key when it's out of range from your bike. But why oh why did Honda launch this bike on a track and what looked to be a very smooth one at that.
This was a peek view road handling and performance perspective and not a genuine launch. The bike's detail disguise decals are still on the bike indicating it's not a formal launch or release yet.
OK fair enough, no doubt you'll get invited to that too? it's a hard life for some...... it'll be interesting to see what it rides like in the real world compared to the previous model, especially the dsg one. comfort personified would be my guess
Thanks for commenting! It wasn't a launch... it was a sneak preview before the bike was even unveiled, and we are one of only 4 publications to have ridden it. The actual riding launch will take place some time in January with the bike in dealers shortly after. Yes, of course Motegi was a weird place to ride the bike hahaha. But the track is owned by Honda so they had some level of control over who would see the bike (and maybe photograph it) and they put the crazy camo/stealth vinyl all over the paint to help disguise it. Of course we can't wait to ride it in real world conditions, but having said that, even though Motegi is super-smooth, the difference in shock/vibes and general uncertainty with the old gen front end reaching the rider was markedly noticeable between the two bikes. I couldn't believe it actually. I can only imagine that in real world riding that will be even more apparent, but of course, we'll have to see. Cheers!
Redline in 5th to reach 95-100 mph, doesn't bode too well revs wise for 90 mph cruising in 6th. I like some if its USP's, but the K1600B has a pro-shifter, highway pegs and an engine from a future decade in comparison.
Ultimate Motorcycling Was wondering if you knew wether the satelite gps works on a paid subscription or not. Also will sena coms pair up with the thumb controls?
The navigation does not need a paid subscription, and yes, the Sena communicators work flawlessly with the Wing hand controls. If you have an iPhone it brings up CarPlay; if you have Android it's just a Bluetooth connection.
I still.prefer the older 2007 to 2009 versions have a lot.more class. I currently own 2007 BMW K1200LT which is totally awesome great gas mileage and dependable bike. Do all my own servicing etc can't ask for more really. Sometimes change is not good.
A great improvement but way to expensive, also not sure this competes with the BMW 1600 in terms of being a sports rider/tourer, ironically I think it's biggest competition isn't the BMW but the st1300 refresh due soon
Best for ride over any other bike honda gl 1800 Best handling n best brake bmw 1600 gtl Best seating n positionning honda gl on bmw feel to high up and the electronic throttle needs time to get used to it very sensitive As for breaks bmw of course best ever Lets see the new model for goldwing 90 lbs off thats quite a lot Love honda best ride ever best bike ever ❤️
Technology aside, looks like the Wing has become more of an overgrown sport bike rather than a touring bike. Though it would be nice to retrofit an older GW with the 6 speed and front wish-bone suspension. But why reduce the fuel and cargo capacities, that makes no sense!
With respect, it would be impossible to 'retro-fit' the new motor and/or suspension to the old model. I guess never say never cos I'm sure my friend Allen Millyard would find a way (Google him, he's amazing!) but surely it would just be easier to fit a bit more luggage to the new bike? Seriously, the new bike is a quantum leap over the old in ridability; it's not just the reduced weight, it's the attention to mass-centralization that makes such an enormous difference. That's an easy point to ignore, but believe me, it's as important as losing the weight itself. For instance, I'm an experienced rider but as I'm getting older and my legs more wobbly, the challenge of maneuvering a fully loaded GW around a parking lot is the time I'm most concerned and most likely to drop it (and have done). The new bike is dramatically more manageable than the old one at slow and feet-down speeds, and that alone is worth it for me. I don't mind reducing the fuel capacity if the range is unaffected, and I'll bet once you ride the new bike and feel the difference you'll say the same.
Not real impressed with deceleration on the DCT..... guess I’m old school and prefer a clutch and the ability to roll out and choose if and when I downshift. I like the feel of a big bike and the previous generation of wings will still be my favorite- at least until there’s a 2000cc motor
What was once the best Touring bike out there, has now become just a compromise. This bike now has a smaller fuel tank than a Honda ST1300. To make matters worse - the ST1300 gets better mileage!! Why would Honda have a larger fuel tank on a Sport Touring bike which gets better MPG to begin with? No, Honda didn't have a choice in reducing the fuel capacity and Honda is trying to put a positive spin on it. I bet the Luggage capacity is comparable to the Honda ST1300 too? So what we have here, is an excellent Sport Touring machine. I wonder when/if Honda is going to come out with a new Touring machine now??? This certainly isn't it!
See all the scratches on the instrument screen! All that work developing a new model then some numpty cleans it with a dirty rag and scratches the fuck out of the instrument panel
David Simpson: boxer and flat means the same engine geomethry, whatever would be the Numbers of cylinders, 2,4,6. Furthermore: really you think some biker would be looking at sportful behaviour being a pure tourer? GW is with no doubt the best tourer ever, the other keep follow its style, confort, reliability, amazing fuel saving and costs. Bmw has nothing compare with GW, I'm sorry, David...
Of course... that's the big question we all want answered. The bike will be available for our test on the street in January some time (or so we've been told), ready for dealer delivery in Feb/Mar I believe.
Bit disappointed. I was hoping the bagger version would be closer in weight to a K1600GT but its closer in weight to a Street Glide. And yet they've reduced luggage capacity and fuel capacity (less than the Street Glide or K1600GT). As far as the toys and bells and whistles the K1600 has all of them bar the apple carplay app. The new Honda front suspension is also virtually the same as BMWs Duolever. So, overall, a bit disappointing.
Ultimate Motorcycling I'll try the wing but I've had a succession of BMWs with telelever and duolever and yeah theyre not perfect but I prefer them over telescopic forks. If the wing has better forks then cool. But overall it looks as though the wing will lose out dynamically and have a smaller tank range. I am genuinely disappointed. If there was no K1600 the new wing really would be awesome. But I'd still be complaining about the small tank.
Smaller bags, 90's engine technology, I'm not sold... This bike should have variable valve timing and direct injection in my opinion. Maybe they could have borrowed some Subaru or Porsche tricks with their existing boxer engines.
You may be right of course, but IMHO really, it doesn't need VTEC and I don't know if DI would help anywhere. The motor revs much lower than the current one--at 80 in top gear the old is spinning at 3,250, new one at 2,500, and it has much more mid-range power. I'm typically more of a sportbike guy, but this machine really impressed me on the track with its power.
Haha yes, the 'custom' paint was actually a camouflage wrap to try and hide the bike's looks before its public launch. I'm not convinced it was that effective, but either way people pretty much universally hated it LOL
What a joke. 1800 ccs and a anemic 118 hp. Give me a break if I wanted a hardly Harley I would buy a CVO. I HAVE A SCOOTER THAT WOULD BEAT THAT GOLD WHALE. Ha ha.
Totally reasonable comment, of course you would. However, just because people want pure touring/long distance bikes, why should they not get good engine performance and excellent handling too? Honda aren't trying to sell this as a sport bike, they're trying to sell it as a lighter, better performing touring bike, and having ridden it, it's awesome. But no, it's not a sport bike.
Yeah and most automatic cars today have DCT and CVT transmissions what's your point? Believe it or not the manual in motorcycles will soon be gone once everyone starts to get tired of it
WTF does this have to do with cars, and whether there are cars with CVT or DCT? My point = A motorcycle with a DCT is pure and simply a scooter. My point is also in response to a 2018 Honda Gold Wing, with a DCT, review. What is your point other than blabbing about cars with CVT or DCT, or one speed transmission; or whatever? Now, please, go away!
A scooter is a defined as a motorcycle in the dictionary so your argument is invalid. *A scooter (also referred to as a motor scooter to avoid confusion with kick scooter) is a type of motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the rider's feet.* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle)
I understand this bike has all the power and reliability, but it's lack of style and most of the people they forgot most of us using bikes as a hobby and lifestyle. Sorry Honda. The technology is there but there is a zero style
who cares if its better than the old model? is it better than the competition? why do none of these reviews compare it directly to the bmw? you can remove the topbox? really? thats a selling point? its planted? compared to what? the old model? so what? was the old model the best? if not these comparisons are pointless
um... this isn't a comparison; it's not even a real test. It is just a sneak preview ride--on a race track of a full dress touring bike (as ludicrous as that is)--done before the bike was released to the public. To have any comparison credibility whatsoever we would have needed to have both bikes at the same time, under the same conditions, and clearly that wasn't the case here. Even if you were prepared to forgo that particular set of parameters, would you really want us comparing this Gold Wing based on a brief ride on a racetrack with another bike based on our best guess/memory?? Ya... right. I can hear your derisory laughter right now, (quite rightly) mocking us for even attempting such a ridiculous thing. On the other hand, we could simply have ridden the Gold Wing in secret and not mentioned what we thought to anyone, instead waiting for the full street ride launch coming up in a few weeks. Is that what you'd prefer us to have done?
Haha... may well be. That was kinda an off-the-cuff comment and I thought later maybe it wasn't quite true. What I was really trying to say is that DCT has been waiting for the Wing, or perhaps the Wing has been waiting for DCT. Either way, really GW is the perfect vehicle for DCT and in an ideal world it would have been the first Honda to have it. But no, not "everyone has been waiting" LOL.
DCT isn't about high speed riding, its about low speed handling; pulling off the road late at night after a long ride, and being able to turn your attention more on where the bike is going. I hate feathering the clutch in slow traffic. I'd like to be able to say I'm going to buy the new bike, but I'll have to wait for a used one. Ride safe.
You're not wrong, but DCT is also about smooth shifting and rider/passenger comfort. I literally couldn't feel the gears shift--I could hear it, but couldn't feel it.
I met a guy in the Smokies a few weeks back, riding a Honda Silverwing, which has the DCT. He liked it, but I remember test driving a Nissan Murano when they first came out, and having the sales guy tell me how great the CVT was. Not for me... Of course, I'm old enough to remember the Hondamatic when it came out...
WHY on earth would you test drive a Goldwing on a RACE track??? Kinda DUMB if you ask me... Since it is a TOURER it would be tested on the OPEN road... Still concerned with the driver's feet placement. That 90 degree position of the knees is hard to take for long periods of time...That's a dea breaker for me...
The 'test' was actually just a preview ride; full test to come much later, more likely in January before the bike is released to dealers. This was actually the week prior to the unveil, and so it was done in super-secret---hence the camo/stealth vinyl stuck all over the glorious paint job. Honda own Twin-Ring Motegi and this was an obvious place to ride the bike briefly so it would be less likely to be seen by the public and photographed, than if it was on public roads. Yes, I agree, riding the Wing on track is not a great test of the bike, but it was a controlled environment and since Honda brought a previous model to compare, it was nevertheless enough to get an impression of the changes. Not making excuses, but if Honda were confident enough to invite us to try it out briefly, we ain't gonna say no, and figured people would want to know how it felt--in context.
Honda, what have you done, you've just killed the Gold Wing, the ultimate in 2 up luxury turing and refinement for over forty years. Nothing else had even come close to matching the look, style and feel of the Gold Wing. And replaced it with a clone of a BMW K1600. R.I.P Gold Wing you will be missed
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I've been driving Gold for many years from1981 ( 1100cc) till 2010 ( 1800 cc) and believe me the new Gold 2018 is the perfect bike.. some complain about less compartment Ohhh come on !!!
lighter bike, more elegant, new front suspension and a great look , what else do you want..
Congradulation Honda.. I will buy one as soon as the weather is good
I purchased an SC 79 last year in october : a Pearl Hawkseye Blue. 5.000 miles with it until now : indeed, a lovely bike. My first Gold Wing ! Never ridden one before ! I've had three BMW R 1200 GS in the past. Two very different worlds !!
Well done Honda! Can't wait to get one of these.
A bit shocked by new design, but the news about everything else are amazingly welcome. Just a few time, and the competitors are knocked out. I want one asap!!!!
This maybe my next bike. After 40 years of riding, I am ready to try the DCT. I never had a car with auto transmission until I was 30, but I would never go back now. This is like my Mitsubishi automatic with paddles. Best of both worlds. My current ride is a Yamaha Roadliner with fairing and bags. Love it. Power, handles great and bulletproof. I was tempted by the new Venture but I am leaning toward the Honda. And I think Honda is onto something. The old wing has always been great but my generation has seen it as our dads bike. I have ridden everything from old Triumphs with manual spark advance to crotch rockets. This feels more like the bike I want to ride into retirement. Heck, I saw one reviewer turn off the traction control and repeatedly get the wing sideways with throttle. Sporty, reliable and a decent tourer. 200 miles? I don't need longer legs than that but I do want to be comfortable all day. I don't need the BMW name and won't pay their hourly shop rates. I can't wait to take one for a spin.
Thanks for the review. Y'all ride safe out there.
Excellent video guys, and wonderful that no bloody background music hiding engine sounds. Gags acceptable occasionally:)
Honda nailed it BIG TIME!.
Fantastic on-board footage. So now we know what you listen to blasting down the 33 on your GSXR. Awesome.
LOL thanks man.
Very impressive, very tempting! Based upn my experience of 178,000 klm on a 1500 Aspencade, and three California Superbike Courses (not on the Wing) I would say the rider is turning into the corners too soon. He is scraping the undercarriage and exiting on the outside of the bend. I have never done this on my wing since I realised that Keith Code's rule of "in deep, turn one, turn fast and crack the throttle open" also works for Goldwings. Absolutely transformational advice!
The wing has become the talk of the town!.
Gotta respect the GL. For the power, handling and style
Is there an AARP discount when I buy one?
It looks so smooth in the turns. I wonder at what angle in scrapes. Well done, Honda,
Everyone should remember that the world of Motorcycling is in a death spiral. Sales continue to fall with no end in sight. The fact that Honda gave us a much improved GW with so much new tech is admirable. My local dealer wont even carry this model because he knows he cant move it. He is a good size dealer that moves lots of models year round.
DIFFERENCE :
Honda - coast to coast
Harley - tavern to tavern
Nightmare, my Harley Davidson Road-Glide CVO visits taverns, but it has also been to the border of Mexico and Guatemala to the south, North Dakota, New Hampshire to the East and Highway One to the West. Very comfortable and no issues, all you need is the time and the inclination. The brand matters not.
The other touring manufacturers are in panic mode. Great job Honda.
NAAA BMW is THE KING
vishnu swaroop AND YOU ARE A BULLSHIT!
well show me what features new wing has that BMW does not have already, yea one DCT
being bulletproof and half the price. and have you ever seen a GTL being serviced?
BMW GTL premium 27 K, Goldwing 1800 Tour with DCT 27K looks same to me, as far as service of BMW
well I do it by myself and it as not any more complicated than any other fully dressed bike. I just did 36 K service including valve check up. New Goldwing will be using Can Bus so probably will have service light to reset and you will have to check and clear fault codes meaning you will need computer. I can do those things by myself in BMW as I have GS 911 interface. Hopefully someone will do the same thing for Goldwing or yoy will have to feed greedy dealer.
Cruising down the twinring in a goldwing. Nice Honda.
Good vid, love the fact you guys let us watchers hear the bikes being ridden without being masked by commentary etc, nice one. Would you consider doing a Yamie transcontinental Vs Honda Wing Vs BMW G1600 Vs Indian Vs Harley comparo test with all the new machines coming out? Would be a good one to do for the big tarmac long haulers. take care, Ando.
Thanks Ando... kind words, appreciate the feedback.
Yes, of course we'd like to do that--the snag is getting all the bikes at the same time from the various manufacturers. We'll see what we can do but don't hold your breath LOL
In the high end touring market there is really only two: BMW and Honda.
richtig!
Love the new look, cannot wait for my local dealer to get some so I can see it in person. I did notice no where to put foot pegs to stretch your legs out. plus it looks like if the bike tipped over the old bars did protect it, not sure how the new bike will handle that.
This new GoldWing reminds me of a fat guy who has decided to go to the gym, lose weight and get in shape! Streamlining the design will be hard on the eyes of GW purists...but the state-of-the-art technology and overall advancements will win others over. Big win for Honda!
awesome bike!
Dear UM, How is it compare to K1600gtl 2018? any feedback. thank you
As a general feeling: Engine and fuel mapping are both much smoother on GW; aerodynamics are improved; passenger is much more secure-feeling. GW doesn't feel as tall and weight carried much lower so bike in general feels lighter and more maneuverable, but especially in parking lot; shorter/less strong people will much prefer GW. With DCT the GW is head n' shoulders above the GTL in terms of smoothness and luxury-feeling, they are not even close. Overall engine power, braking and handling are difficult to tell without back-to-back riding but they are similar; neither machine is lacking in those areas.
Thank you very much
I remember when the first-year 'Honda 750-4' was offered in America...and motorcycling was changed forever.I had never seen anything like it! It was so impressive it looked like something from the future...a motorcycle with a DISC-BRAKE! WHAT? FOUR-CYLINDERS? And yet performs like a 'sprinter' and starts every single time you want it to? SIGN ME UP! I think this 2018 ALL-NEW generation is going to force Harley back into bankruptcy...again! Just as the '750-4' did in the early '70's.(I kinda' feel sorry for the competition...this Honda is leagues ahead of everyone else! I know there will always be a large 'market-share' of those who have to have a 'thumpa-thumpa-potato-potato' engine rumble and exhaust...but this machine is so far advanced those riders are going to slowly succumb to that 'siren-call of silence' and the complete 'rush of power' under you that feels like you're not moving all that fast...until you look at the speedo and see you're over the 'Century- mark' with so little effort and smoothness you don't quite believe it) Once again..."Honda" is 're-inventing two-wheels and an engine'.
Gerry Nightingale I too liked the 750 of old...actually had one ..BUT.. this GoldWing hardly compares to something that is a game changer...this GoldWing as all GoldWings are a perfect example of moving away from a real motorcycle ..just another overpriced perfectly functional appliance with no soul..Yes I ride a Harley?
My personal feelings are not involved with my assessments regarding the Honda 'Gold-Wing' versus'everyone else'...it's question of 'what the market wants' and sales of the 'Wing' are very solid in the U.S. market...in fact, Honda has dominated the very market they themselves 'more or less' created from virtually nothing in the early 1970's era.(if Honda's 'Wing' is nothing more than a 'sofa'...why does every motorcycle manufacturer try to replicate it in their own production??? Including Honda's main rival in the U.S., "H-D?") 'Honda' is to motorcycles what 'wet is to water'...Honda created the modern motorcycle as a 'useful and inexpensive fun transport' here in America in 1960 with the 'Cub' and the 'Super Cub' of 50 and 90cc's and the response was HUGE, far more than anyone could've imagined, including Honda himself! (the Honda is 'over-priced'? Perhaps...but when it is considered that a 'Wing' will easily last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, and then pro-rate the expense year-to-year...it's actually not too expensive to own) Uh...what constitutes a 'real motorcycle???' I've always thought 'two-wheels & an engine' was enough.
What happens when it goes on the side at a stop sign, how much damage will there be, do I need to carry and extra check book for $1000 side bags and mirror like the CTX1300 with no protection? Don't get me wrong here I am excited about the new machine but on the same note the "WHAT IFs" also.
It seems to have four sliders, two in front under engine and two under saddlebags.
Wow, nice job Honda!
I recently sold my 2007 GL1800. My wife doesn’t ride much anymore so I’ve been on my back up bike. 07 BMW r1200r. My riding buddy and I have both sold our larger tourers and I have been looking a 1200RT or an FjR. I have to say I am going to be waiting now until I can see the new Goldwing.
This model is maybe perfect for you by the sound of it.
Sounds really great. Unfortunately not noticably promoted yet in Europe ...
to small winsheid for a wing DCT drive is out of this world I have a Honda 1000crf with it I love it and I have to wings a1500 and 1800.
The windshield works well as part of the new aero treatment, but a much larger size is also available as an option.
Great review for folk with big countries and long straight roads :) For me the magesty of the GW is in low speed arriving in the hotel car park, parading, and touring. I'm suspecting my xl lid isn't going to be storable inside? Seriously my Deauville will (unnecessarily) store three! But is the low speed handling better? No-one seems to mention this. (also the ctx1300 used it's fogs and pannier to protect the crash peg.. can this pricy bike survive a low speed tipping? (ex gl1500 rider)
Great review. Thanks
Arthur coldwell would you pick the 6 or 7 speed?
Have you spotted how the mirrors are fitted? For me it looks a bit odd, like the original mirror was lost or stolen and was replaced with too large aftermarket stuff. I realize this is to increase the back visibility but could have been done better.
There IS a centerstand OPTION available to add.
I wish I could have viewed your hands. I think you were on the DCT in the beginning? I like to see when people decide to brake. I wonder what the wind coverage is like. I know the luggage capacity sucks. Bottom line for me, if I'm on a racetrack, I'll get the new 2018. If I'm going to do some touring, I'll get a 2017.
Yes, helmet cam, sorry. Well spotted though! You are correct and I was using the manual shift (pull trigger, push button) in some of the video. Obviously it was a relatively short riding impression, so I did my best to try all the permutations of DCT I could think of. As much as I enjoyed the feeling of control when hand shifting, to be honest, it wasn't any better than letting the DCT do it for me, the Sport mode shift points are that good. Where the manual function does score is if you find yourself in the wrong mode (Econ say) and suddenly discover you need to grab a burst of quick accel... then it's quicker to flip down a ratio by hand.
I wasn't braking particularly late, and on most corners wasn't braking at all so I'm not sure you'd have learned much. First time on that track and crashing wasn't an option LOL.
Wind coverage is dramatically improved. There is more wind that can reach the rider if you want it to, and almost no wind if you want stillness. The old version kept you in a bubble no matter what, and that's great in cold, not so great when it's hot. But with both models I could easily ride with my visor up if I felt like it with zero wind blast to face.
I understand how you feel, but I'd venture to suggest that once you ride the 2018 you'll find there's no going back. Give it a try and I'll accept if I'm wrong, but it's easy to pre-judge based on the super-limited impression I gave you, and I caution you against that!
Yes, the reduced luggage capacity kinda sucks. I wonder if Honda might offer a bigger bag option down the road... It would be pretty easy I'd imagine, so why not?
Thanks for commenting!
Did this guy steal Bob Barkers microphone?
hahaha, no, but thanks for the laugh. Jeez they didn't give us a lot of time or help... one take as I'm sure you could tell. What can I say, I'm a motorcycle guy not an actor (thank God).
"Honda, come on down!"
I still prefer the old pre 2000 boxy models! You can always recognise them a mile off. No doubt the new one is an even nicer ride and has new toys etc but to me it just looks like any other tourer now. No individuality. Times move on I guess but give me the huge cavernous topbox and panniers anyday!
Paul Colville But not me! I prefer the new 2018 Goldwing Tour!
I think the 2018 looks sweet. Honda finally added the tech that was missing while refining the entire bike in the process. My fav in the looks department is the naked GL1200 Standard ;-)
AMEN to that!
What sense does it make to have a touring bike that can't haul anything! I recently(well, back in March) bought my first Wing. 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with just over 54k miles. put 4700 miles on it so far this year, and haven't gone anywhere!
Jeff Baviera Excellent! I've owned a 91 Aspencade for four years and just returned from a London trip 900 miles sweet as a nut. This video does look a very nice ride though I have to say, but I honestly don't think I'd upgrade even if I could afford it. Although I do own the riders gloves in the video! 😁
I still have a not a clear opinion about noise, I mean this would be good as previous one or not? Someone may help me?
I wonder how difficult will be to change the air filter?
Honda owned the touring segment for years, there was nothing like a Gold Wing. I had high hopes for this next one, and admit I'm a bit let down by the new Wing. I hope the bike is a success but I am baffled at the direction Honda went in some important areas . I hoped to see more displacement, fuel capacity, storage, maybe 8 cylinders. I am the target audience for a bike like this, and I just don't yet see the uniqueness in this machine that previous gen Gold Wings had in their respective times.
I read a great comment on a GW forum that this bike is a great ST1300, and there is some truth here as I am sure Honda is trying for a wider appeal. I can't wait to ride one!
Not correct Honda went in the direction people were asking for all the issues from the previous model were addressed the day of the land yacht is over.
Not sure what you mean by "not correct". I own a GoldWing, in my mid-40s, experienced rider, new to distance riding. I'll be buying a heavy tourer in the future. The new bike looks sweet and I'm not bashing it, but it moves away from important reasons why I would buy and did buy a GoldWing. I'm not alone in that I'll be looking at other touring bikes much more seriously as a result of the design decisions Honda took with the bike.
Watching the video yet again and reading new comments as well; I may have missed it, but what is downshifting like with the DCT transmission? Is there a paddle shift ? Pardon my ignorance - my current bikes are '04 Yamaha Road Stars and an '09 Ninja.
Not paddles per se, but the equivalent. On the left handlebar switchgear there is a thumb button (kinda near the horn button) and a pull switch similar to headlight flasher.
You're on a track, so I assume you felt like both upshifts and downshifts were as you said, "smooth as butter", but also where and when you needed or wanted. I'm fortunate to be able to ride great roads, right away, from my driveway, so I am very interested in the idea that this can also be my "I'm going for an hour-ride bike". I love the idea of the removable trunk, and look forward to being able to go from sporty to full on tour, when my better half wants a weekend away. I own too many license plates...Thank you for your quick replies.
Essentially, yes. If you listen to the engine note in the video you can hear how seamless the shifts are, but as for timing that depends greatly on which mode you're in, and how many surprises come your way. In other words, riding in a predictable fashion, Sport mode holds the gears longer, whereas Econ mode shifts into as high a gear, as quickly as possible; Tour mode is somewhere in the middle. Any mode rides incredibly predictably and pretty ,much exactly as you would shift if you were doing it yourself. Even downshifts on the brakes are exactly on point with each mode, and that must have been a nightmare for the engineers to get right!
The key to DCT is having it paired with an engine that has a very broad spread of torque, and motors like the VFR1200, Africa Twin, and now Gold Wing absolutely have that, so the system works incredibly well. However, as I said, if a surprise comes along and you suddenly need a burst of accel maybe to get around a car, you will grab a handful of throttle and expect the machine to react accordingly. Honda have almost got it perfect, and the GW downshifts are pretty fast nothing like waiting for your car to downshift if you floor the pedal. However, if you're in Econ mode the gearbox will probably be more than one gear too high and simply won't be able to change down those gears quickly enough to satisfy your demand. If you're in Sport mode it most definitely will, and Tour mode kinda splits the difference. So on those rare occasions where circumstances change quickly and you find yourself in the wrong mode, you can use the manual pull switch to instantly change down and get that burst of accel. But truth be told, you will almost never find yourself needing to do that, the system is that responsive.
The only snag with your luggage plan might be that we were told that removing/replacing the rear trunk is "about a four hour job". Frankly for a mechanic of my ability that means an eight hour job and a ton of swearing; I'll bet it isn't easy. My old H-D Ultra Classic had a quick detachable Tour Pak that literally took less than a minute to put on or take off, and maybe Honda or the aftermarket might find a way to do something similar--I for one would love to see that. On that subject, the BMW GTL is super easy--it's a twist knob under the case itself. The problem is the mounting point is too flimsy and the trunk can be rocked back and forward by hand--and that makes passengers nervous that they'll fall off the back. So the Honda errs on the side of solid-mounting caution and I much prefer that, but prepare yourself that for your weekend away with the better half you'll have to put in half a day getting the bike prepped first.
Wow, Thank you! I'll predict that once you've r/r the trunk a couple times, you can cut down the time...and wager that you are correct in thinking someone will "...find a way..." and it will sell if it remains solid. Again, thank you for the detailed response about the DCT and "hand-shifting".
You're welcome, happy to help in a small way if I can. Best thing of course is to go ride the thing and judge for yourself. Cheers :)
An obvious major upgrade to the wing that will appeal to the touring fraternity and well done Honda for producing a much better bike than the previous model. The on off button on the keyless is a big thing as it will stop your bike getting stolen by criminals who can capture the signal from your key when it's out of range from your bike. But why oh why did Honda launch this bike on a track and what looked to be a very smooth one at that.
This was a peek view road handling and performance perspective and not a genuine launch. The bike's detail disguise decals are still on the bike indicating it's not a formal launch or release yet.
OK fair enough, no doubt you'll get invited to that too? it's a hard life for some...... it'll be interesting to see what it rides like in the real world compared to the previous model, especially the dsg one. comfort personified would be my guess
Thanks for commenting! It wasn't a launch... it was a sneak preview before the bike was even unveiled, and we are one of only 4 publications to have ridden it. The actual riding launch will take place some time in January with the bike in dealers shortly after. Yes, of course Motegi was a weird place to ride the bike hahaha. But the track is owned by Honda so they had some level of control over who would see the bike (and maybe photograph it) and they put the crazy camo/stealth vinyl all over the paint to help disguise it. Of course we can't wait to ride it in real world conditions, but having said that, even though Motegi is super-smooth, the difference in shock/vibes and general uncertainty with the old gen front end reaching the rider was markedly noticeable between the two bikes. I couldn't believe it actually. I can only imagine that in real world riding that will be even more apparent, but of course, we'll have to see. Cheers!
Redline in 5th to reach 95-100 mph, doesn't bode too well revs wise for 90 mph cruising in 6th. I like some if its USP's, but the K1600B has a pro-shifter, highway pegs and an engine from a future decade in comparison.
False you want dct not the manual transmission.
Ultimate Motorcycling Was wondering if you knew wether the satelite gps works on a paid subscription or not. Also will sena coms pair up with the thumb controls?
The navigation does not need a paid subscription, and yes, the Sena communicators work flawlessly with the Wing hand controls. If you have an iPhone it brings up CarPlay; if you have Android it's just a Bluetooth connection.
Thank you for your prompt replies.
No problem, happy to help! Cheers
1975 Goldwing's still on the road today,2018 Goldwing to infinity and beyond.....
Are Honda aping the K1600GLT? I think my 09 is better looking and am really disappointed after all the hype.
What are the HP and TRQ numbers? BMW 1600 B rates a 160 HP and is all of this bike.
Louie Lamoore Hi! 93Kw at 5500 rpm and 170Nm at 4500. Not bad but still quite far behind K1600 im terms of power...
I want one... now
I noticed that they done away with the crash bars front and rear.
Does the speed show in a digital display or only a needle?
Darron Morris needle only
I still.prefer the older 2007 to 2009 versions have a lot.more class. I currently own 2007 BMW K1200LT which is totally awesome great gas mileage and dependable bike. Do all my own servicing etc can't ask for more really. Sometimes change is not good.
A great improvement but way to expensive, also not sure this competes with the BMW 1600 in terms of being a sports rider/tourer, ironically I think it's biggest competition isn't the BMW but the st1300 refresh due soon
I wonder if they fixed the top gearing problem? And yes it is a problem if new riders wont buy it due to that.
Top gearing problem? I've never heard of that... would you be able to give me a few more details? Thanks!
Best for ride over any other bike honda gl 1800
Best handling n best brake bmw 1600 gtl
Best seating n positionning honda gl on bmw feel to high up and the electronic throttle needs time to get used to it very sensitive
As for breaks bmw of course best ever
Lets see the new model for goldwing 90 lbs off thats quite a lot
Love honda best ride ever best bike ever ❤️
Technology aside, looks like the Wing has become more of an overgrown sport bike rather than a touring bike. Though it would be nice to retrofit an older GW with the 6 speed and front wish-bone suspension. But why reduce the fuel and cargo capacities, that makes no sense!
With respect, it would be impossible to 'retro-fit' the new motor and/or suspension to the old model. I guess never say never cos I'm sure my friend Allen Millyard would find a way (Google him, he's amazing!) but surely it would just be easier to fit a bit more luggage to the new bike? Seriously, the new bike is a quantum leap over the old in ridability; it's not just the reduced weight, it's the attention to mass-centralization that makes such an enormous difference. That's an easy point to ignore, but believe me, it's as important as losing the weight itself. For instance, I'm an experienced rider but as I'm getting older and my legs more wobbly, the challenge of maneuvering a fully loaded GW around a parking lot is the time I'm most concerned and most likely to drop it (and have done). The new bike is dramatically more manageable than the old one at slow and feet-down speeds, and that alone is worth it for me. I don't mind reducing the fuel capacity if the range is unaffected, and I'll bet once you ride the new bike and feel the difference you'll say the same.
Not real impressed with deceleration on the DCT..... guess I’m old school and prefer a clutch and the ability to roll out and choose if and when I downshift. I like the feel of a big bike and the previous generation of wings will still be my favorite- at least until there’s a 2000cc motor
How fast is it? I'm tired of no e.t.'s!
It's got a handful of peak horsepower more than the old one and it's lighter. Yes, it's fast.
You stated that every one is waiting for the "DCT". Ok ?
Nice bike. In this class I would rather a bmw k1600gt which is more all around bike!
A WIPER?!?!? Sweet!!!!
...and washer! Japan only model I'm afraid. New one doesn't have one LOL
i like goldwing 2018
How much is the wet weight in kilograms ?
In lbs, curb weight with all fluids and a full tank of gas, ready to ride: GW: 787; GW DCT: 800 lbs; GW Tour: 833 lbs; GW Tour DCT w Airbag: 842 lbs.
divide by 2.2 to get Kgs.
Where's the crash bars ?
Was that a wiper
Yes, Japanese model... not provided in the US
Like the bike but I do not like that is automatic that is terrible where is the clutch
That's not a back-pac. It's tour trunk.
LAP TIMES???
Turn on SPORT mode!!
There is no crash bars front or rear.Drop it and that won't do the side of it any good.
Windshield wiper?
Japan-only model...
I imagine the viper will scratch plastic after 3 hours of use...
agent 404 I dont think so, in japan there is no dust on the roads 😂
Sure are riding smooth, Arthur! What happened? LOL
It's all the bike man. I was just sitting there relaxing and enjoying the scenery. LOL
A wiper ???
Want to say that's a Japanese market bike.
Im gonna feel like Akira
What was once the best Touring bike out there, has now become just a compromise. This bike now has a smaller fuel tank than a Honda ST1300. To make matters worse - the ST1300 gets better mileage!! Why would Honda have a larger fuel tank on a Sport Touring bike which gets better MPG to begin with? No, Honda didn't have a choice in reducing the fuel capacity and Honda is trying to put a positive spin on it. I bet the Luggage capacity is comparable to the Honda ST1300 too? So what we have here, is an excellent Sport Touring machine. I wonder when/if Honda is going to come out with a new Touring machine now??? This certainly isn't it!
Got cha on the SECRECY...lol
See all the scratches on the instrument screen! All that work developing a new model then some numpty cleans it with a dirty rag and scratches the fuck out of the instrument panel
st1300 + goldwing from previous models = 2018
Dong Quy exactly...
David Simpson: boxer and flat means the same engine geomethry, whatever would be the Numbers of cylinders, 2,4,6. Furthermore: really you think some biker would be looking at sportful behaviour being a pure tourer? GW is with no doubt the best tourer ever, the other keep follow its style, confort, reliability, amazing fuel saving and costs. Bmw has nothing compare with GW, I'm sorry, David...
A touring bike with no real storage, I'll keep my Victory Cross Country.
"Honda"... a Japanese word for "bulletproof"
Indeed.
Richard Mourdock i think you mean Yamaha
Greezy_Chef Cars = Toyota, Bikes = Honda.
Planes = Honda?
2018 Great Honda Gold wing and a wired microphone hahahaha
Honda Gold wing are is not a racing bike its a tour bike
Glare fest dash....
Beautiful bike...but get it out on a highway, off the track. That's all I care about.
Of course... that's the big question we all want answered. The bike will be available for our test on the street in January some time (or so we've been told), ready for dealer delivery in Feb/Mar I believe.
plastic covered dash looks cheap and will create visibility problems. very poor design
Bit disappointed. I was hoping the bagger version would be closer in weight to a K1600GT but its closer in weight to a Street Glide. And yet they've reduced luggage capacity and fuel capacity (less than the Street Glide or K1600GT). As far as the toys and bells and whistles the K1600 has all of them bar the apple carplay app. The new Honda front suspension is also virtually the same as BMWs Duolever.
So, overall, a bit disappointing.
Dark Destroyer AND YOU ARE A BULLSHIT!
Richard Joash Tan - well I'm certainly not going to offer a defence to such a comprehensive and well reasoned argument.
LOL. I have to say, the Honda front end has more feel than the BMW and I've ridden both.
Ultimate Motorcycling I'll try the wing but I've had a succession of BMWs with telelever and duolever and yeah theyre not perfect but I prefer them over telescopic forks. If the wing has better forks then cool. But overall it looks as though the wing will lose out dynamically and have a smaller tank range. I am genuinely disappointed. If there was no K1600 the new wing really would be awesome. But I'd still be complaining about the small tank.
CarPlay is my VW isn't really a worth writing home about. It's limited to Apple apps.
Smaller bags, 90's engine technology, I'm not sold... This bike should have variable valve timing and direct injection in my opinion. Maybe they could have borrowed
some Subaru or Porsche tricks with their existing boxer engines.
We get it. You can't afford one.
Shondas Luv A lot of peope complaint about VTec on bikes.
And new GoldWing has DCT option.
Shondas Luv AND YOU ARE A BULLSHIT!
You may be right of course, but IMHO really, it doesn't need VTEC and I don't know if DI would help anywhere. The motor revs much lower than the current one--at 80 in top gear the old is spinning at 3,250, new one at 2,500, and it has much more mid-range power. I'm typically more of a sportbike guy, but this machine really impressed me on the track with its power.
It's a Honda, it'll be reliable, cheap to fix and it will run forever.
Never seen a bike with a wiper before, hope I never see that again! What are the world going?
Japanese only model... But we were in Japan, so I guess it makes sense :)
Best cycle in the world ✔️
...Worst custom paint job ever (the red & white)
Haha yes, the 'custom' paint was actually a camouflage wrap to try and hide the bike's looks before its public launch. I'm not convinced it was that effective, but either way people pretty much universally hated it LOL
Not enough storage, over 30 Liters less than the last generation 1800...........WTF Honda!
What a joke. 1800 ccs and a anemic 118 hp. Give me a break if I wanted a hardly Harley I would buy a CVO. I HAVE A SCOOTER THAT WOULD BEAT THAT GOLD WHALE. Ha ha.
Agreed it doesn't look impressive on paper, but in the real world the motor feels incredibly torquey and powerful.
If I wanted a sport bike . I wouldn't buy this thing, I would buy a sport bike. Garbage !
Totally reasonable comment, of course you would. However, just because people want pure touring/long distance bikes, why should they not get good engine performance and excellent handling too? Honda aren't trying to sell this as a sport bike, they're trying to sell it as a lighter, better performing touring bike, and having ridden it, it's awesome. But no, it's not a sport bike.
DCT? So a big azz scooter...
JC Marin So 90% of the cars that have auto on the road today are just big ass gokarts? Ok..
DCT in a motorcycle = Scooter; plain and simple for you!
Yeah and most automatic cars today have DCT and CVT transmissions what's your point? Believe it or not the manual in motorcycles will soon be gone once everyone starts to get tired of it
WTF does this have to do with cars, and whether there are cars with CVT or DCT? My point = A motorcycle with a DCT is pure and simply a scooter. My point is also in response to a 2018 Honda Gold Wing, with a DCT, review. What is your point other than blabbing about cars with CVT or DCT, or one speed transmission; or whatever? Now, please, go away!
A scooter is a defined as a motorcycle in the dictionary so your argument is invalid. *A scooter (also referred to as a motor scooter to avoid confusion with kick scooter) is a type of motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the rider's feet.* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle)
I'd say Honda is in copy mode
" bmw 1600 gtl ring a bell "
I understand this bike has all the power and reliability, but it's lack of style and most of the people they forgot most of us using bikes as a hobby and lifestyle. Sorry Honda. The technology is there but there is a zero style
Beauty in the eye of the beholder for sure. For me, the bike in person is absolutely gorgeous, but hey, maybe that's just me :)
who cares if its better than the old model? is it better than the competition? why do none of these reviews compare it directly to the bmw? you can remove the topbox? really? thats a selling point? its planted? compared to what? the old model? so what? was the old model the best? if not these comparisons are pointless
um... this isn't a comparison; it's not even a real test. It is just a sneak preview ride--on a race track of a full dress touring bike (as ludicrous as that is)--done before the bike was released to the public. To have any comparison credibility whatsoever we would have needed to have both bikes at the same time, under the same conditions, and clearly that wasn't the case here.
Even if you were prepared to forgo that particular set of parameters, would you really want us comparing this Gold Wing based on a brief ride on a racetrack with another bike based on our best guess/memory?? Ya... right. I can hear your derisory laughter right now, (quite rightly) mocking us for even attempting such a ridiculous thing.
On the other hand, we could simply have ridden the Gold Wing in secret and not mentioned what we thought to anyone, instead waiting for the full street ride launch coming up in a few weeks. Is that what you'd prefer us to have done?
great video, awesome motorcycle! I love it
"Everyone has been waiting for DCT"? Are people that lazy?
Haha... may well be. That was kinda an off-the-cuff comment and I thought later maybe it wasn't quite true. What I was really trying to say is that DCT has been waiting for the Wing, or perhaps the Wing has been waiting for DCT. Either way, really GW is the perfect vehicle for DCT and in an ideal world it would have been the first Honda to have it. But no, not "everyone has been waiting" LOL.
DCT isn't about high speed riding, its about low speed handling; pulling off the road late at night after a long ride, and being able to turn your attention more on where the bike is going. I hate feathering the clutch in slow traffic. I'd like to be able to say I'm going to buy the new bike, but I'll have to wait for a used one. Ride safe.
You're not wrong, but DCT is also about smooth shifting and rider/passenger comfort. I literally couldn't feel the gears shift--I could hear it, but couldn't feel it.
Not me
I met a guy in the Smokies a few weeks back, riding a Honda Silverwing, which has the DCT. He liked it, but I remember test driving a Nissan Murano when they first came out, and having the sales guy tell me how great the CVT was. Not for me... Of course, I'm old enough to remember the Hondamatic when it came out...
WHY on earth would you test drive a Goldwing on a RACE track??? Kinda DUMB if you ask me... Since it is a TOURER it would be tested on the OPEN road... Still concerned with the driver's feet placement. That 90 degree position of the knees is hard to take for long periods of time...That's a dea breaker for me...
The 'test' was actually just a preview ride; full test to come much later, more likely in January before the bike is released to dealers. This was actually the week prior to the unveil, and so it was done in super-secret---hence the camo/stealth vinyl stuck all over the glorious paint job. Honda own Twin-Ring Motegi and this was an obvious place to ride the bike briefly so it would be less likely to be seen by the public and photographed, than if it was on public roads. Yes, I agree, riding the Wing on track is not a great test of the bike, but it was a controlled environment and since Honda brought a previous model to compare, it was nevertheless enough to get an impression of the changes. Not making excuses, but if Honda were confident enough to invite us to try it out briefly, we ain't gonna say no, and figured people would want to know how it felt--in context.
Add highway pegs if you want the previous model didnt have good placement either without highway pegs.
Two wheeler car what's the point get a bike .
Honda, what have you done, you've just killed
the Gold Wing, the ultimate in 2 up luxury turing and refinement for over forty
years. Nothing else had even come close to
matching the look, style and feel of the Gold Wing. And replaced it with a clone of a BMW
K1600. R.I.P Gold Wing you will be
missed
False nothing likethe bmw.
ant21b opinions veary, It does have a Honda badge on It though lol. I wonder If B.M.W will release a new model that looks like the 2017 Goldwing.