Goldwing's ain't that bad

**Bonez** · 25th August 2005, 06:00

Originally Posted by Rhino

Hi all,

While nosing around the forums. it seems that 'Wings get a bad write up. Just a couple of points in their defence.

1. They were not designed as sports bikes and will never be as nimble thrugh corners (although they can go round many cruisers on the outside if ridden with confidence.)

Seen some riden pretty quickly on th Takas back in the early '90s

2. Scorpygirl and I have done Christchurch to Auckland in one day on a 'Wing. Leave Chch in the morning, get the 1:30 pm sailing from Picton and just ride home to Auckland when getting off the boat. We have done that 3 times now without any difficulty.

Comfy and good for long distance stuff alright.

3. All bikes have their good and bad points. While an R1/GSX/TL1000 is great for a 2-3 hour trip, after 8 hours I would have passed you and still be feeling comfortable. It's horses for courses.

Too true. I'm grad you enjoy your "Lead Sled" as we called them way back when. Goldwings set the bench mark for luxury m/c touring and will continue to do so not dought. Oh and welcome to KB. Sould add though I've done a weekend trip from Ohakea to Queenstown and back on my '76 cb550 without to much drama. Down one side and back up the other-nice thick sheep skin and a bikini fairing helped.

**Pwalo** · 25th August 2005, 08:41

There's nothing wrong with Goldwings. They're excellent machines for what they were designed for. Just not my sort of bike, in the same way that H-D's and cruiser's aren't.

I use my bike for commuting and the occasional blat in the weekend so a 'Wing isn't what I want. If I wanted to cover some serious distance, perhaps. But probably not. Prefer a Bandit or similar.

**Hitcher** · 25th August 2005, 08:50

I some cases its not the bike but the Wingnuts that ride them...

**enigma51** · 25th August 2005, 08:52

Originally Posted by Hitcher

I some cases its not the bike but the Wingnuts that ride them...

So true! but the same can be said for every type of bike

**idb** · 25th August 2005, 17:46

Originally Posted by Waylander

... them fetal bikes.....

Foetal bikes......I've never heard that before....very funny.....

When I bought the 888 I intended to ride from Picton to home without stopping.
I had to stop at Omarama however because I couldn't operate the front brake any more and my buttocks had fallen asleep miles back.
The Darmah however just gives you a sore arse after an hour and a half or so.

Foetal bikes....that's so good.....I like that a lot.....

**geoffm** · 25th August 2005, 19:34

Once you have had hard luggage (panniers) it is very hard to go back if you do any miles. Gets you attention when you book into top hotels as well.
It is the one thing I would miss the most if I ever sold the Beemer.
Geoff

**Flyingpony** · 25th August 2005, 21:17

Can some please explain why people who ride Goldwings always (at the ones I've seen) wear open face helmets and short sleeved t-shirts? They don't wear any proper protective gear.

I know I don't have the full kit of gear, but these people are riding bikes that costed a mini fortune to buy, so must have spare dosh for gear, not to mention extra-ordinary funds for their petrol consumption.

Horse.

**Rhino** · 25th August 2005, 21:46

Originally Posted by Flyingpony

Can some please explain why people who ride Goldwings always (at the ones I've seen) wear open face helmets and short sleeved t-shirts? They don't wear any proper protective gear.

I know I don't have the full kit of gear, but these people are riding bikes that costed a mini fortune to buy, so must have spare dosh for gear, not to mention extra-ordinary funds for their petrol consumption.

Horse.

That may be so in some cases, but the sensible riders will be wearing just as much protective gear as any sportsbike or cruiser rider. Scorpygirl and I ALWAYS wear full face helmets and good gear. Anyone riding in t-shirts etc is a f**kwit. I learned that lesson the hard way on a Suzuki 50 stepthrough at age 15 (wearing t-shirt and shorts.) I hit thick shingle on a corner of a metal road in the West coast of the South Island. I dumped the bike doing about 35-40 kmh and spent the next week picking bits of gravel out of my elbow.

Fuel consumption is not a major, as I get approx 40 mpg at 100-120 kmh. My Kawasaki 750 is not much cheaper to run.

**Scorpygirl** · 25th August 2005, 21:55

Excuse me, I might be pillion on a Wing but I have seen chicks on a sport bikes with less gear than I will ever ride in. I have seen "biker chicks" with short skirts around their arse!!!. Tank tops with barely any protection and jandles or sandles that would not protect their feet let alone their legs in an accident. I will always wear full protective gear include proper boots, full gear and a full face skid lid no matter what I am on - pillion on the wing, pillion on the GT 750 or my own Virago. I have seen guys on sportsbikes too in very little gear so don't give us that - some of them thin they are God's gift and Rhino and I have often said how much bark do they know they are going to lose in an accident.

Just my thoughts but we don't skimp on our gear.

**Ninja** · 25th August 2005, 22:43

Flesh and bone lose out every time to the superior abrasion of tarmac or gravel (even at 10 kph). If you want to enjoy the freedom for many years to come...don't skimp on decent gear.

Not quite a goldwing rider (St1300 Pan European) but definitely getting there.

How do you get to join the Ulysses club?

p.s. I ride a fireblade too, and always dress for the occasion!

**Lou Girardin** · 26th August 2005, 08:36

Originally Posted by Scorpygirl

Excuse me, I might be pillion on a Wing but I have seen chicks on a sport bikes with less gear than I will ever ride in. I have seen "biker chicks" with short skirts around their arse!!!. Tank tops with barely any protection and jandles or sandles that would not protect their feet let alone their legs in an accident.

Something we dirty old men will always be grateful for. :spudflip: