2023 HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING TOUR

[The Spin Doctor]

GWs have morphed from something that made a lot of sense and had its very own niche in the market to something that I'd struggle to even class as a motorbike. It's the absolute polar opposite of what a motorcycle should be, to my eyes anyway.

That's how I see it.

I'm struggling to believe that they're dead easy to filter, I don't know about the filtering space in London but I doubt you could filter through town in any of the busy towns I've worked, it was a hassle filtering on a 125 sometimes. You need a full car park space to park one of them too, I don't think you could leave that tucked up against a wall on a pavement and not get a problem.

Horses for courses, but it's basically a Caterham with none of the benefits of an actual Caterham.

Couldn't you say much the same about full dress Harleys?

[cheb]

Yes, and I don't have a desire to own of them either. But then to me most bikes have one seat and one pair of footpegs too many. As well as two too many strokes.

[Taff]

Our honeymoon was on a rented GW for a week in California, we rode from LA to SF and back and it was an excellent way of seeing the country. But, I really wouldn’t want one here doing my daily commute, it’d be like using a stretch limo to drive to work, completely over the top.

We chatted to some guys that were touring the USA properly, and they had ridden to and from the Canadian border and were covering something daft like 500 or 600 miles a day, that’s where this type of bike comes into it’s own.

[Bigjawa]

Wings don't make much sense on UK roads, yes they do handle better than they have any right to, but they're really built for big wide US roads. They're still an impressive machine.

Tourers will always be big, the same way estate cars will be bigger than hot hatches, BMW have it down to a fine art, Honda got it 100% right with the original Pan Euro. It might weigh close to 300kg but you can swing it about like a 600.

[Taipan]

Hideous!

[Dodgy69]

I think it looks OK in the black. But it's a great big heavy lump and that isn't OK.

[KungFooBob]

The CTX1300 is much more my bag(ger).

I saw a bloke take that big right hander when you get off the Train in Fronch at full lean on cold tyres, no idea how he made it, looked epic tho'

[Dodgy69]

Never seen one irl.

[Horse]

Wings don't make much sense on UK roads

Depends, as with any bike, what you want to do with them!

And, really, the same arguments applies to mega sports bikes - a Blade will do about 90mph in first.

If anyone is worried about filtering, then a C90 is difficult to equal. Brisk enough for most A roads, nimble enough to filter.

And for filtering, a full dress Wing is probably not much different in width to an adventure GS (flat twin with engine bars and tin panniers).

[Scootabout]

I'd have considered one - probably used, as 30k's pretty outrageous - if Mrs Scootabout had maintained an interest in riding pillion. For a while she'd look at that armchair in pictures and almost sound interested. Personally I rather like the looks and the image, but each to his/her own. As for the weight, whilst I struggle to understand where it all comes from, I doubt it matters too much because the seat's low, the C of G is low, and there's reverse gear. A 300 kg bike like a Pan, which I used to have, is worse because when you have a senior moment and park it facing downhill into a kerb you're stuffed.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I saw one with a trailer today, was quite amusing watching the bike lean side to side and the trailer not.

Reversing is fun I bet!

[Bigyin]

Really dont get them at all and the claim that they will keep you "almost" dry is a load of bollocks ........ it doesnt have a roof, so you are getting wet when it rains.

Might be ok out in potter land or doing "Route 66" where the sunshine is constant and a large value status symbol vehicle is the norm amongst some people. I wouldnt have the use for one even for touring on as it wouldnt appeal to me or how i prefer to ride even over distance

[Horse]

... the claim that they will keep you "almost" dry is a load of bollocks ........ it doesnt have a roof, so you are getting wet when it rains.

Even with a roof you can still get wet, just not so much. It can, in some ways, it's worse. On the BMW C1 the rain gets pulled in and gets on the inside of the windscreen - where you can't reach it.

However, it big fairing and screen can make a huge difference to comfort and will stop the pressure wash effect.

[Bigyin]

... the claim that they will keep you "almost" dry is a load of bollocks ........ it doesnt have a roof, so you are getting wet when it rains.

Even with a roof you can still get wet, just not so much. It can, in some ways, it's worse. On the BMW C1 the rain gets pulled in and gets on the inside of the windscreen - where you can't reach it.

However, it big fairing and screen can make a huge difference to comfort and will stop the pressure wash effect.

The R100RT barn door fairing was good and mahoosive, but even behind that i could still get wet

[Horse]

... the claim that they will keep you "almost" dry is a load of bollocks ........ it doesnt have a roof, so you are getting wet when it rains.

However, it big fairing and screen can make a huge difference to comfort and will stop the pressure wash effect.

The R100RT barn door fairing was good and mahoosive, but even behind that i could still get wet

But you don't get the umpty mph blast.

I had R100-RT, K-RT (several) and R850RT bikes. None of the later bike fairings could match the weather protection of the classic old R-RT.

[Horse]

Asude: one of my favourite biking moments was riding along the M4, all three lanes doing 50mph, in a summer torrential downpour.

When the rain soaked down my jacket liner, then overtrousers liner, to my socks ...

... I was just laughing my head off

[The Spin Doctor]

Had one of these which got swapped from bike to bike when I was couriering...

It couldn't keep ALL the rain off as you got wet when you stopped, but it was a LOT better than riding a naked on a long wet ride.

[Whysub]

I had a K1 Goldwing (OBJ 383P) in 1977, not too long after bike magazine slated it terribly

I got it quite cheap for what was a year old bike with very few miles on it. Sold it in 1982 for pretty much what I paid for it. According to DVLA, it's not been on the road since 1995.

It was fine, much nicer to ride than a mates XS1100, as far less frenetic. And most of my mates were still on 250's.
Handled OK, as I accepted its limits (like poor brakes if wet), and it ate up the miles I don't think it was any wider as the BMW R1250RS I had at work.

But the owners club was full of arseholes. I went to one of their "Treffens" in Henley on Thames one weekend. I made sure it was my last. Some of the most money obsessed riders I have ever met. Probably different now.

And if you want to stay dry whilst commuting, get a maxi scooter. Took me 20 years to discover they are brilliant at this.

[Scootabout]

And if you want to stay dry whilst commuting, get a maxi scooter. Took me 20 years to discover they are brilliant at this.

The bloke who sold me his Burgman 400 in 2001 had replaced it with a 'Wing. Retrograde step, maybe?

[The Spin Doctor]

I had a K1 Goldwing (OBJ 383P) in 1977... I don't think it was any wider as the BMW R1250RS I had at work.

I saw an immaculate P reg one in St Leonards back in June... it was TINY.