The Legendary Touring Motorcycle That Refuses To Die

‘Legends never die’ is a well-known idiom. But in the automotive world, this happens more often than we’d like. Tightening emission norms, stiffer competition, changing economic times, and the ever-fickle customer base can all contribute to the demise of an excellent product. However, every once in a blue moon, a product comes along that defeats the odds, no matter how long they are. The Gold Wing is one such motorcycle.

This was a leap for Honda, as in 1975, the largest motorcycle it had was the CB750 Four. The original Gold Wing had an engine with 25 percent more displacement. It placed the gearbox under the crankcase to reduce the length of the engine; something the Yamaha YZF-R1 of 1992 would adopt to reduce the engine size. The fuel tank was under the seat, and the kickstarter was a backup. In 1975! Today, the Gold Wing carries on tirelessly, just like it was designed to do, and it remains the pinnacle of touring motorcycles with its comfort, luxury, and features. Here’s why it is the legendary touring motorcycle that refuses to die.

To ensure accuracy, the information compiled in this article was sourced from authoritative sources, including the respective manufacturers’ official websites.

The Honda Gold Wing Tour Is The Legendary Touring Motorcycle That Refuses To Die

Price: $28,700

The Gold Wing has grown over the decades into its current avatar, a behemoth that leaves nothing behind when it comes to features or technology. A couple of generations ago, Honda decided to make it more accessible by cutting weight, and it managed it quite handily. Don’t expect it to participate in the King Of The Baggers anytime soon, but its handling is an eye-opener for someone who judges it based on weight and wheelbase alone. It is also recognizably a Gold Wing.

The design has become iconic, and it was helped along further by special editions like the Valkyrie Rune based on it. Today, any large tourer with a flat engine (there is one other on sale now) will have to look to the Gold Wing for inspiration. In the US, the Gold Wing is offered with a grand total of three colors, two more than Honda usually offers with its products. There is a catch, though: only the 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tours offer two color schemes. Pick any of the others, and you will be limited to just one. Strange for a luxury motorcycle that retails for almost $30,000, isn’t it?

The Gold Wing’s Six-Cylinder Engine Is One Of A Kind

Peak Capacity: 1,833 cc

Motorcycle manufacturers have stayed away from horizontally opposed layouts for cruisers for a very simple reason: the engine heads will get in the way of the footpeg placement and throw things out of whack. A look at the humongous BMW R 18 will confirm that for you. However, with the Gold Wing, Honda uses its Unicam SOHC valvetrain that helps the engine head occupy less real estate, making life easier for the rider.

This engine has recently moved to a 4 valve per cylinder layout, which has helped it breathe easier. A full electronics suite supports this engine, including a by-wire throttle, ride modes, traction control, cruise control, and much more. The gearbox is placed under the engine to reduce the length of the engine, which helps reduce the wheelbase. The output shaft also rotates in the opposite direction to the crank to cancel out the side-to-side rocking motion you’ll usually experience from longitudinal engines.

Elsewhere, the manual gearbox retains the electric motor that will help you back the bike up slowly, while the automatic has a ‘creep’ mode to allow you to walk the bike both backwards and forwards with engine power. Final drive is via a shaft, which was part of the design brief even for the first Gold Wing, since it was designed for long-distance rides. Less maintenance than a chain is an added bonus.

Honda Gold Wing Tour Engine Specifications

A Unique Chassis Matches The Unique Driveline

Even The Suspension Is Special

The current Gold Wing generation not only got the engine update but also a double wishbone front suspension. This has allowed the engine to sit further ahead in the chassis, bringing benefits like better weight distribution, a shorter overall bike, and reduced weight. Also hidden under all that luggage is a single-sided swingarm–not present on any other Honda today (the CB1000R has been discontinued).

The suspension has electronically adjustable preload. The brakes have massive six-piston calipers per disc in the front to handle the Gold Wing’s bulk, and utilize Honda’s linked braking system. And a six-axis IMU oversees all the safety features. To make matters sweeter, the creature comforts list is a mile long. We’ll list them to make your life easier:

• Electrically adjustable windscreen that remembers the last setting
• Special paint developed by BASF
• Luggage that has electronic releases and remote locking and unlocking
• Heated grips
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Navigation system
• HomeLink, which allows you to open your garage door at the touch of a button on the center console
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Optional airbag (only motorcycle to offer that today)

Honda Gold Wing Tour Hardware Specs And Dimensions

2025 Honda Gold Wing Tour Rivals

Japan, Europe, and America All Have An Answer For The Gold Wing

You’d think that there won’t be many giant touring bikes that cost enough to get you a decent car. You’d be wrong, because there is what seems like endless choice if you don’t want a Gold Wing. The only other six-cylinder production bike today belongs to BMW, the K 1600 Grand America, which is the sportiest of the lot and generates the most power by a country mile.

Closer to home, the obvious choice would be the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited and Indian Roadmaster Powerplus. They have similar performance and a similar price. If you’re on a budget but still want a comparable full-dress tourer, then you can opt for the Kawasaki Vulcan VN1700 Voyager or the BMW R 18 Transcontinental. None of these offer an airbag or an automatic gearbox, let alone something as advanced as a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Honda Gold Wing Tour Vs Rivals