Honda is a byword for reliability. But with it being as large as it is, it isn’t a surprise that it has luxury products as well. Now ‘luxury’ and ‘reliability’ aren’t usually said in the same sentence, because luxury pushes the boundaries of what we think is possible, and any new tech has teething trouble. Honda, though, has managed to forge its own path through this. So, here is the Honda touring bike that redefines luxury through reliability.
The Gold Wing Is The Honda Touring Bike That Redefines Luxury Through Reliability
This was always going to be the answer, wasn’t it? The Rebel 1100T and NT1100 DCT are competent tourers, but they aren’t luxurious. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports does have luxury, but it doesn’t quite live up to that name among its peers. The Gold Wing is one of the most luxurious tourers, irrespective of any segment. At the same time, it earned its stripes with a reputation for reliability that only a Honda has. That is why the Gold Wing is the Honda touring bike that redefines luxury through reliability.
Honda Gold Wing Price: $25,500
The Gold Wing might be one of the most luxurious tourers in town, but its price, like its reliability, also remains distinctly Honda. It is priced at $25,500, but unlike a lot of tourers in its segment, you don’t need to dive into the options list to make it feel like a luxurious tourer. At the same time, there are quite a few variants, so everyone has something for themselves.
Honda Gold Wing Engine
One Of A Kind
The Gold Wing engine is unique – the flat six configuration is something that no one else has even tried to copy. The current Gold Wing’s engine was updated with its last facelift. But it hasn’t translated to a big change in power and torque output, which stand at 124.7 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 125.3 pound-feet at 4,500 RPM from 1,833 cc.
The redesign gave it a four-valve head, which means better airflow. But being a flat six, Honda managed to keep the width down by utilizing the more compact Unicam SOHC head. There is a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU, which means the presence of ride modes, cornering traction control, and cruise control.
Honda Gold Wing Transmission
The Gold Wing’s transmission is also unique. The output shaft counterrotates to the crankshaft to cancel out the side-to-side rocking that you invariably get when you rev a longitudinal engine. The manual is a conventional six-speed one, with no quickshifter available even as an option (but we’re sure the aftermarket will have your back), but the big one is the automatic gearbox.
This is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that can change its shift points depending on how hard you’re hustling the Gold Wing. Alternatively, you can take manual control and shift via paddles on the handlebars. Both gearbox options allow you to maneuver the Gold Wing around in a parking lot. The automatic has a ‘walk’ mode to move the bike forward, and a separate reverse gear to back it up. The manual uses the integrated starter generator to help back up the bike.
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Honda Gold Wing Chassis
The Gold Wing has a twin-spar aluminum design and uses the engine as a stressed member. The rear wheel is located via a single-sided swingarm and has a Pro-link monoshock suspending it. At the front, the telescopic forks have been ditched for a double wishbone setup. This allows the front wheel to move vertically instead of up and backward through the suspension stroke.
In turn, this has allowed Honda to place the engine further forward in the chassis – and that has many benefits. They include better weight distribution, a shorter reach to the handlebars, and a shorter overall length – all good things. The suspension is electronic, and the rear preload can be changed at the push of a button.
The brakes consist of twin 320 mm front discs and a 316 mm single disc at the back. The former has six piston fixed calipers, while the latter has a three-piston floating caliper. They are linked, and cornering ABS is standard. Alloy wheels with a 18/16 inch diameter front/rear are used with tubeless tires.
Honda Gold Wing Dimensions
The Gold Wing is a full-size tourer, so it isn’t a surprise that it is 104 inches long, with a 67-inch wheelbase. The seat height is reasonable, at 29 inches, but it is the engine width that might intimidate shorter riders. It has a 5.5-gallon fuel tank, and with it full, the wet weight is 847 pounds for the automatic (806 pounds for the manual).
Honda Gold Wing Features
We’re getting used to motorcycle manufacturers adding things out of science fiction on their premium products. Sure, they make the experience more enjoyable, but there is also a case to be made for a motorcycle that chooses to have just enough and keep the price in check. That’s what Honda has done with the Gold Wing.
The DCT automatic gearbox adds a mere $1,000 to the price of the manual, and it has chosen its features judiciously to keep its price reasonable. Front and center is the instrument binnacle, which is dominated by the 7-inch TFT display. Flanking it are analog dials, and at the bottom of the dials are reverse LCDs with more information.
The display incorporates Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the navigation works even if you lose GPS lock, there is a manually adjustable windshield, and the grips are heated. There is an argument to be made that the Gold Wing is so reliable precisely because there are fewer features to go wrong!
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Honda Gold Wing Competition
The Gold Wing has a lot of competition in the segment. If you’re really tight on cash, the BMW R 18 B ($21,770) will serve the purpose. It is a lot of bike for the money, looks and feels unique thanks to the boxer engine. Then there are the obvious American choices: the Harley-Davidson Road Glide ($27,999) and Indian Challenger ($27,999). The Road Glide’s base price is now very attractive, although you’ll need to dip into the options list for it to get up to the level of the Gold Wing. The Challenger is better equipped and has more performance thanks to its fully liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine.
But the direct rival to the Gold Wing, both in terms of luxury as well as reliability, is the BMW K 1600 B. It has one of the smoothest engines ever on a motorcycle, thanks to its inline six configuration, and has a better base price. It is also much sportier than the Honda. But like the Harley, its true potential is unlocked only when you add accessories to it.
Honda Gold Wing Vs BMW K 1600 B
|
Model |
Honda Gold Wing |
BMW K 1600 B |
|
Price |
$25,200 |
$23,395 |
|
Engine |
Longitudinal H6 |
I6 |
|
Displacement |
1,833 cc |
1,649 cc |
|
Power |
124.7 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
160 HP @ 6,750 RPM |
|
Torque |
125.3 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
132.7 LB-FT @ 5,250 RPM |
|
Curb Weight (wet) |
806 LBs |
758.4 LBs |
Source: Honda Powersports