Honda Goldwing - opinions?

[longwayfromhome]

I have a touring bike similar to the Goldwing, a BMW K1200LT. Most of my200,000+ km on it were done in the US (47 states), some here. The bikes are very similar in many ways, the GW has a better motor, the LT has better handling. I am answering as a touring rider.

Comfort: GW-type bikes are designed for all day rides...many riders going from tank-to-tank without stopping. Under those circumstances, seats on such machines can get tiresome and many install custom seats. If you don't think you will regularly ride 250+ km non-stop at a time without a break and repeat, then standard seating will be fine. I have done lots of long distances on other bikes which may be alternatives to a GW, but for reliable comfort, and when you are tired, the GW-style bike really does bring something to the riding experience, especially two-up.

Weather protection: under-rated here in NZ I feel given the amount of rain, but the large shield/screen is a benefit which allows longer, more comfortable riding than others. Just make sure you can look over the screen. Riding having to look the the screen detracts significantly from the riding experience.

Size/Weight: these are heavy bikes, so not the best for lane-splitting (though I have done plenty on it, even here in Auckland). Once moving though, the weight disappears.

Personally, I feel that one-up, GW-type bikes are too large for day-to-day riding in NZ, even with a large component of touring thrown in. The shabby roads with plenty of gravel work against heavy bikes. If you are doing lots of two-up though, they should be considered. I have ridden long distances with passengers on the LT....they all get off surprised at the comfort. If I had my druthers though, I'd get something like a K1300GT or an FJR1300, fix up the passenger accomodation, add some bike comms and away you go.

As for handling, despite the comments about truck racing, which have an element of truth about them, these type of bikes can handle pretty well. On curvey, unfamiliar roads, the limitations are, so often, the road conditions, the visibility and the rider capabilities. I have found that generally these bikes, again on unfamiliar roads, have capabilities which create few if any limits for the rider.

[pritch]

I had a test ride on a new Wing, wrote about it on KB somewhere. The weather was bloody awful at the time (you had to book in advance). I can reliably inform you that even a little two-wheeled slide is an impressive thing on a Goldwing.

If I lived in the USA or even West Australia maybe, but not here thanks.

Something I would not previously have considered until it was suggested when I was at Rider Seats is the Kawasaki Nomad. The new Thunderbird set up in similar fashion could have appeal too.

People who ride Wings seem to like them, so if that's what you really want go for it!

[vifferman]

The big scooters make ok tourers and are very comfortable for long distance as you can move around a bit more (legs etc).

That may be so, but even if they are faster than a bike, more comfy, more economical, blah blah blah.... they're still ghey.

[insane1]

the big scoots aint gay and tehy will embarras and suprise most people who get to ride one.

[carver]

the big scoots aint gay and tehy will embarras and suprise most people who get to ride one.

i was embarrased when i found the 650 would only just beat a GSX250.
i was surprised it was so slow

your right on that one

[Lula]

This Goldwing has all the bling and modcons....

[Dodgyiti]

I followed a group of Wings, Wing trike and those mega BMW things today, and they seemed to get along pretty well on the back road we were riding.
In the choppy corners that had me bounced off the seat a few times these things seemed totally unaffected. I guess the shear mass had something to do with it. Food for thought anyway.

[goldgal]

I'm a wing rider, waited 40 years to be one, and would ride nothing else. No doubt we all think what we own and ride are the best, however let me know which river!!.

[AllanB]

I like the really early ones - stripped back to basics with rowdy pipes - not really touring bikes like this though!

I personally don't see the point in the new fully dressed ones in NZ. IMO NZ is too small for them - what's the point of a 2,000 km day bike when the country is so beautiful and there are so many cool places to stop at?

[wingrider]

Have had my wing for 2 years. 89 GL1500. Would not trade it for anything.

Passenger seat is better for pillion and you can pack more luggage than a 1800.

Not a hell of a lot of difference in power from the 1800, not quite as good in handling.

2 up with gear i get 43-46MPG cruising at 110kph.

1500 is also better for taller people.

Anything over 20kph leave in top gear. Will pull like a horse.

Only ever change down if I have restricted passing room.

Bullet proof reliability. Easy for general service.

Can get hot in the cabin but decent wind-wings cure this, also shield vent.

Dont get moved around in side winds, belly pan helps.

Lighting superb for night riding and with all the other lights cager got to be medically blind not to see you.

Try one out and I recon you'll be hooked after 15mins in the saddle.

[glegge]

An old friend i have not seen for some time, needed his goldwing returned to Wellington from auckland. of course i put my hand up! flat 6, 1500cc, reverse, cruse control, radio/tape.
I loved it, and if i could afford one (the aspencade(sp?)) i'd buy one (even a few years old). i had a ball riding it back from auckland - i know it's not far, but hey - what a machine.
Ok, i would not want to ride it to work every day, but for a nip over the tucks to head some place - hell. why not. equally so to go to auckland, or down south, whatever.. all the bases are covered, and with the VFR800 in the garage at home for commuting and 'play time' hell - yes please, i'll add one to my garage.

[wingrider]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-244663257.htm

One of our club members ex bikes. Imaculatley looked after.
Worth a look

[Renegade]

well i wouldnt consider myself an oldy at 30 but i bought a GL1200 the other day pretty dam cheap.

i have always wanted to customise one as i reckon its the cadillac of the 2 wheeled world, i have plans for it this winter!

I recently sold my ducati monster and kwaka er6 mostly due to the fact that whilst i dont commute on my bikes when i do hop on i want to go for several hours to nowhere in particular just because.

I found that i would get a sore ass, lower back and some times sore wrists after about a hour and a half, even after a coffee break to rest i was sore again in 30 minutes, this sucked as i would get off and still wanted to ride but didnt due to discomfort.

I love twisties as much as the next guy but it can be done at a track now days.

I would love a ST1300, concours 1400 or even a 1250 bandit etc but they are well out of my price range to be honest.

I went 2.5 hours down the line on the back of a mates venture royal to pick this thing up and man was i surprised when i through a leg over the wing.

Not as heavy as you would think and once going you dont even notice, rode it back no problems at all, no discomfort, i could have happily kept riding and can honestly say i was grinning from ear to ear, i love it more than any bike ive previously owned.

Coming over the desert road and through the sisters was no problem at all, even with the road works, i think the weight of it helps keeping the tyre planted.

As for parking it does have to be considered carefully due to its stationary weight but id happily use a carpark over a bike park, fuck em!
At home no probs in and out of the garage.

The bike aint to slow either and will pull quick up to 100 in 2nd gear no sweat and wants to cruise in top at 120, must be careful of that.

For the price i paid i could get a GN250 for commuting if i had to, and may do.

I just love this bike

[martybabe]

I had the fifteen hundy for a while, I think they look great, great for making trikes too and they sure are a bit different but... Not for me, I think they shot past what the perfect touring bike should be. They thought of everything a touring bike should have as a paper exercise and shoved the lot into one rather bulky package that went a step to far.

It is a great thing and it's marvelous at what it does but I think the ultimate real world touring bike lies in the group just bellow the Goldy. The BMWs are supreme for comfort, then there's Hondas own ST1100/1300 and Yammy's Fjr1300.

Then again if you've got to have a wing you've got to have a wing, I had to, I bought one and It wasn't me. Test ride mate and take the prospective pillion.

Good luck.

[5cotty]

I am going to be buried with my GL1200I. For two up fully loaded touring it is an excellent machine. With the missus on the back it is docile, sure footed, comfortable and compliant. Without the handbrake (hope she doesn't read this) and with the shocks pumped up it is happy to mix it in the twisties, but, beware! you need to be able to ride well to get the best out of a wing, "They are not a sportbike" so if you dont have a reasonably advanced skillset, you may get pushed past your limit.

I have ridden a 1500 and the word that comes to mind is "Big"

I have ridden an 1800 and the word that comes to mind is "Porche"..and.. Awesome!!. If I ever need to replace mine (cant see why) I would get an 1800.

Take a wing out for a weekend and make up your own mind, once you get the hang of it.. trust me.. you will LOVE a wing.