Honda Gold Wing

In simple words, it is big and there is no getting away from this fact. In terms of dimensions, it is 2579 mm long, 905 mm wide, and 1432 mm high. But in true tourer fashion, Honda doesn’t really try to hide it. As if the front end wasn’t wide enough, it is further extended by large wing mirrors with integrated indicators. The front end has a Wide V-pattern headlight with an array of LED lights. Above this is an electronically adjustable and ventilated windshield. Tucked behind the windshield is an instrument cluster that could rival that of a car. This setup uses two analogue clocks housing the speedometer and the tachometer which flank a 7-inch TFT LCD screen. Also included are a bevvy of notification lights that display more data than you’d have ever thought of. This system can also be connected to your iPhone thanks to Apple CarPlay support. This allows you to use the phone’s apps on your bike’s screen. Also included are a speaker system, cruise control, smart key system, and multiple charging ports. Don’t forget about the airbags which are not available on any other bike.  All this does raise the weight of the bike to an enormous 384 kg, yet this is lower than the previous gen by almost 50 kg. The lines on the bike remain graceful in the unique Honda way with great fit and finish and elegant styling. Along with the panniers and pillion seat with armrests, this is probably the most aerodynamic sofa you’d have ever seen.

The suspension is set for utmost comfort. However, due to the hefty weight and sizable dimensions, you can forget about filtering through traffic or lane splitting. But the new Goldwing is more of a sports tourer than a sofa on wheels. The bike is equipped with double wishbone suspension up front. No, you are not reading a car review. And this very setup gives the Goldwing the rideability and handling characteristics of a much smaller bike. It also keeps the bike stable at any speed on most serviceable roads. It even keeps the front end from diving under hard braking. The rear gets single sided swing arm with a monoshock that can be electronically adjusted with 4 levels of preload. The setup affords 4.3-inch of travel at front and 4.1-inch of travel at the rear. Quite understandably, it prefers smooth roads as the ground clearance is just 129 mm. The seat height is also just 745 mm high. Handlebars come backwards to the rider to offer a comfortable and plush ride that allows you to eat up the miles like anything. The windshield, however, is not as tall as on previous generations and allows more of the wind to reach the rider. The seat itself is as comfortable as you’d expect. The pillion seat gets a backrest thanks to the hard case mounted on the tail.

This behemoth of a bike is powered by a suitably big, liquid cooled 24 valve SOHC flat-six engine that displaces over 1800 cc. This is then coupled with a 7-speed automatic DCT transmission with walking and even reverse mode. The engine is also equipped with a new ride-by-wire throttle system and four riding modes (Tour, Sport, Econ, and Rain) which adjust the throttle response. Power is sent to the rear wheel through a shaft drive. The power and torque figures are just as enormous as you would expect. Peak power of 125 hp is delivered at just 5,500 rpm while peak torque of 171 Nm comes at just 4,500 rpm. But more than absolute numbers the true charm of this engine lies in how unstrained and refined it is. Vibrations are hard to notice ant any speed. The power delivery can be summarized as effortless and silky smooth. A surge of power allows the bike to cruise at speeds, something this large bike has no right to. But being more of a sports cruiser, the power delivery might feel snatchy to some, especially in the Sports mode. The automatic transmission with DCT also takes some getting used to, especially at low speeds. The fuel tank has a capacity of 21-litre while the fuel mileage is around 18 kmpl, which is decent enough.  But a larger fuel tank would have been welcomed.

For a motorcycle of this size, braking needs to be quite substantial. On the Gold Wing, it is a dual 320 mm disc and twin radially mounted six-piston callipers setup at the front and a single 316 mm disc in the rear with a three-piston calliper. This is coupled with a dual channel ABS system that allows the bike to anchor down on its 18-inch wheels with 130/70 front and 200/55 rear tyres with confidence and precision.

This Gold Wing is slimmer and smaller than the previous bike. This may not provide the best in terms of luggage capacity as you won’t be able to fit two full-size helmets in the top case. But this model has gained a lot of popularity among younger riders possibly due to its smaller size. And for a segment stereotyped with older buyers, that indeed is a piece of good news. Honda has been in the business for over 4 decades and it is on top of its business even today. The Goldwing is thoroughly modern and refined and is setting new benchmarks as always. The price of Php 1.88 million is a bargain for what is an iconic piece of machinery.