HONDA GOLDWING TOUR OVERVIEW
The Gold Wing Tour is, quite simply, a touring institution. Big, comfortable and loaded with all the accessories required to transport you and a pillion across the tarmacked world, it is the ultimate in two-wheeled luxury. It’s not to everyone’s tastes, and many unfairly mock the Wing’s physical size. But to its passionate fans, the appeal of this bike, not to mention the activity of the Gold Wing Tour Tour Owners’ Club, opens the doors to a whole new two-wheeled world. Big can be beautiful, and they don’t get much heftier than the Honda Gold Wing Tour Tour.
The GL1800 retained the same flat-six style of the motor as the GL1500 introduced in 1988. However, for a new millennium, Honda upped its capacity and performance. Now boosted to 1832cc from 1520cc, the Wing punched out a whopping 123ftlb of torque. Also, feature a new style of the cylinder head. Surprisingly, the Wing only has a single overhead cam, not double, and two valves per cylinder instead of the more common four.
The Gold Wing Tour is a big old beast, and at low speed, it can be terrifying, especially when loaded up with a pillion and luggage. But get it rolling, and the Wing delivers a riding experience like no other. The Gold Wing Tour is a bike you have to experience once in your life as it is a fabulous way to cover miles in total bliss.
That flat-six makes the miles melt away without the slightest hint of an irritating vibration, while the seating position is beautiful for both a rider and pillion. True, filtering is a bit tricky due to the Wing’s size, and crossing a wet campsite field is scary, but this is a bike designed for the open road and get it in its element, and the Wing is a joy. True there is a new model that adds a bit of sparkle through DCT and an odd front end also flash electronics, but in all honesty, a Wing never dates, and the older GL1800 still ticks every touring box.
