The Honda Gold Wing and i are both headed into our 43rd year. Unlike me, the Gold Wing keeps getting lighter, sportier and more efficient.
The 2018 version of the venerable six-cylinder sheds eighty pounds, picks up a claimed 20 % improvement in fuel efficiency and sports a nifty double-wishbone front suspension that’s supposed to dramatically reduce how imperfections within the pavement are directed through the handlebars.
Sounds like Honda is doing its best to have the bike counteract the ravages of time and sloth, at least as they relate this rider.
The Gold Wing 1st burst onto the marketplace in 1975 and has been Honda’s über-tourer ever since, 1st as a 1,000cc four and eventually as 1,800cc six. And shaft driven. ne’er question the shaft.
It’s ne’er been the sexiest beast on the road. but its reliability, comfort and capability have long made it a favorite for the high mileage crowd (and yes, there are some seriously high-mileage Gold Wings out there.)
The Gold Wing was created at purpose-built $50 million plant in Marysville, Ohio, beginning in 1979 (that’s $181 million in today’s dollars) until production was moved to Kumamoto, Japan, in 2012.
What’s New
Honda is all about the latest version of the Gold Wing becoming more agile. a lot of that’s from the weight savings, through even the lightest version still tips the scales at 787 pounds.
It’s still an 1,832cc liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, but Honda says it’s currently nearly fourteen pounds lighter, more compact and placed further forward within the chassis for better weight distribution. yet for all of Honda’s talk about improvements in performance and maneuverability, the announcement doesn’t include any hints about H.P. or torque.
Improved aerodynamics are credited with creating higher fuel efficiency, permitting Honda to reduce the fuel tank capability by 1.1 gallons while maintaining the same range as before. It kind of makes you wonder why they didn’t keep the larger tank and extend the range, tho’ Honda says that would have upset the handling.
The double wishbone suspension on the front of the bike is one of the most striking visual changes to the older version. Honda says it cuts the amount of shock transmitted from the road through the handlebars by 30 %.
The bike will come with each conventional six-speed manual transmission and Honda’s new seven-speed twin Clutch Transmission (sort of like what they’re putting on the Africa Twin: look ma, no clutch lever!). Oh yeah, and forward/reverse walking mode to help maneuver this thing through the parking lot at sub-1 mph speeds.
Rider and rider will ride about 1.5 inches further forward, and air-guiding ducts and also the electric screen are designed to give more control over airflow—from full blast to a what Honda describes as a “windless-type experience.”
The throttle-by-wire offers up four riding modes (tour, sport, econ and rain), adjustable torque control, hill start assist and cruise control. All of the electronics are controlled through a seven-inch color TFT display.
It is also the first bike to come equipped with Apple CarPlay, the mirroring system to link up your iPhone. you recognize car people drag on Gold Wings for having radios? Welcome to the future.
What’s It going to price
The bells-and-whistles Gold Wing Tour starts at $26,700 for the manual transmission version, and $1,000 more for the dual Clutch version. the automated version with Honda’s airbag system comes in at $31,500.
The base version comes with saddlebags but no top case or rear speakers. it’s a shorter electric windscreen and does without a middle stand, heated grips, electric damping adjust and torque control. And preload adjustment is by hand. The manual version starts at $23,500, while the DCT kicks off at $24,700.
Both are scheduled to hit the market in Feb.
Why It Matters
The Gold Wing has been a Honda staple for so long, it’s easy to forget about it. And a dearth of major upgrades in recent years made it all the easier to think about other choices when out buying a high-end touring bike.
While an 800-pound bike is never truly going to be going to be sporty, Honda is injecting some of its performance expertise into the new Gold Wing, which should build it more fun to ride at the same time as other improvements make it more comfortable and efficient.
Honda could hardly afford to rest on its big touring bike laurels, with Japanese rivals Yamaha jumping into the fray with the new one,850cc Star Venture, Harley-Davidson upping its game with new engines and models and BMW with its ever present shaft-drive offerings.
Seems like a good time to start planning that cross-country ride.
The Specs
- Engine: 1,832cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder.
- Compression ratio: 10.5:1.
- Transmission: Six-speed manual with reverse, or Seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with walking-mode forward and reverse.
- Final Drive: Shaft.
- Front Suspension: Double wishbone with Showa shocks, 4.3-inch travel.
- Rear Suspsnsion: Pro-Link system with Showa shock, 4.1-inch travel.
- Front Brakes: Two radially mounted 6-piston Nissin calipers with 320mm rotors, electronically controlled combined ABS.
- Rear Brakes: Three-piston Nissin caliper with 316mm rotor, electronically controlled combined ABS.
- Tires: 130/70-18 front, 200/55-R16 rear.
- Seat height: 29.3 inches.
- Wheel base: 66.7 inches.
- Fuel capcity: 5.5 gallons.
- Curb weight: From 787 pounds for Gold Wing to 842 pounds for Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT.
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source;jalopnik.com
