Gold Wing impressions

[Celt]

i rented and rode a GL 1500 for 10 days back in june , i gotta say i was impressed with the handling the power and the comfort. i spent 12 hours riding one day and other than my knees (hated the foot position) and being a wee bit stiff ,i had no problems at all . my RSV is fairly decent now igot Mr Butler to sort the seat, but i,m pretty sure i couldnt do 12hours on it .i,m 6'4" and found the foot position not that good ,after a few days i got used to it but still didnt like it . i also found that the GW was a complete pig on gas/petrol .at $2 per liter ,i was only getting upto 120 miles per 3/4 of a tank(going by fuel gauge) sometimes as low as 70miles per 3/4 tank. much prefer the RSV to the GW .oh yea, that fairing that doesnt move, felt a bit weird for a day or two . cool bike, but not really built for tall guys .and if you think that bike dont handle, have a look on youtube for the guy that races up the dragon on one . well worth a watch anyways .

[Snarley Bill]

here are some gl 1800 wing facts. i was following wingman on his gl1800 wing, and 86'r on his first gen. on some very wild twisties at vogel several years ago. i was pushing my 05 rstd to the limit, draggin boards frame wallowing and flexing and i could'nt stay with them. i swear wingman was touching his mufflers on the ground. i could see no daylight there. an rstd will not stay with a wing. a first gen will. from a dead stop, i can't think of any full touring bike that will come close to a wing. 1800cc's talk. it almost makes the sport tourer category. old men may ride them but don't sell them old men short on riding ability. you may just eat crow. those old wing riders take biking serious and spend alot of their time on the road. some of them old farts have over 500,000 miles on their wings. my wing is rock solid in the curves no frame flex or wallowing. almost comparable to my r-6 and zx 14. honda built the wing to handle. the limiting factor is the long wheel base. it aint for the beginner riders.

[CrazyHorse]

here are some gl 1800 wing facts. i was following wingman on his gl1800 wing, and 86'r on his first gen. on some very wild twisties at vogel several years ago. i was pushing my 05 rstd to the limit, draggin boards frame wallowing and flexing and i could'nt stay with them. i swear wingman was touching his mufflers on the ground. i could see no daylight there. an rstd will not stay with a wing. a first gen will. from a dead stop, i can't think of any full touring bike that will come close to a wing. 1800cc's talk. it almost makes the sport tourer category. old men may ride them but don't sell them old men short on riding ability. you may just eat crow. those old wing riders take biking serious and spend alot of their time on the road. some of them old farts have over 500,000 miles on their wings. my wing is rock solid in the curves no frame flex or wallowing. almost comparable to my r-6 and zx 14. honda built the wing to handle. the limiting factor is the long wheel base. it aint for the beginner riders.

Goldwings designer was a sport bike guy wanted to give it performance. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/escape/motorcycles/122_0102_honda_gl1800_gold_wing_icon/index.html

[ArcsSparks]

I don't agree with the above statement at all, in fact the Gold Wing felt much more like the bikes I rode when I was young than my RSTD does. The reclined seating position of the Royal Star is much more car like, than the sport bike feel of the GW.

I think you should ride one. It's a blast.

 

I'm sure that to owm a wing is to love it BUT you said it right there "sport bike" I have no use for one there are a lot of nice rides out there ---Just not for me if I stepped on anyone toes I'm sorry I and only me feel that a wing is for the older rider the way a full sized caddy is for the older driver ( I know sterotypes )

 

BTW my type of bike is a Bagger so to ride a wing I'd be out of my elements with that said I don't think I'd like a Venture either I ride my RSTD more like a cruizer than a "touring bike" What I have said here is my personal opinion and we all now about opinion "They're like A _ _ _ _ _ _ s everyone has one and they all stink"

Edited July 26, 2010 by Arcs&Sparks
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[Snarley Bill]

I'm sure that to owm a wing is to love it BUT you said it right there "sport bike" I have no use for one there are a lot of nice rides out there ---Just not for me if I stepped on anyone toes I'm sorry I and only me feel that a wing is for the older rider the way a full sized caddy is for the older driver ( I know sterotypes )

 

BTW my type of bike is a Bagger so to ride a wing I'd be out of my elements with that said I don't think I'd like a Venture either I ride my RSTD more like a cruizer than a "touring bike" What I have said here is my personal opinion and we all now about opinion "They're like A _ _ _ _ _ _ s everyone has one and they all stink"

you ain't steppin on no toes, us old farts got to stand are ground. i'm a bagger guy too. i've got to of them and i miss my rstd. it was probably one of the best looking bikes i ever owned. just had to stick up for us old wingers.

[Yammer Dan]

you ain't steppin on no toes, us old farts got to stand are ground. i'm a bagger guy too. i've got to of them and i miss my rstd. it was probably one of the best looking bikes i ever owned. just had to stick up for us old wingers.

 

 

How old do you have to be to get a Wing???

[10cans4ever]

I had an 89 wing, really enjoyed that thing. My impressions of the wing were the same as yours, Eazyduzzit.

 

Only reason I sold it was the time it took to work on it, just took too long to do the simplest of things. I had it for about 8 months.

 

Got my used 05 Venture out of the deal, haven't looked back since. Lovin the Venture!

[Snarley Bill]

Goldwings designer was a sport bike guy wanted to give it performance. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/escape/motorcycles/122_0102_honda_gl1800_gold_wing_icon/index.html

interesting artical lots of good info.

[Snarley Bill]

How old do you have to be to get a Wing???

got to check my owners manual on that one. would it be under safety tips or specifications.

[dynodon]

I passed on a nearly new low mile late Gen 1 to buy a 2004 wing this year. Wish I had gone with the Gen 1. Then I would have a "new" gen 1 and a really good parts bike if needed, but would be able to ride both.

 

Now I have a 2004 Wing that is sapping the confidence from me as I ride it. It wobbles and weaves and the local dealer has tried 4 times to fix it, and they say they can't feel the problem. I just got on my '86 Vr after about a month of trying to learn the wing and felt what a stable great riding bike feels like again. WOW what a difference.

 

Plus the forward foot position on the Vr is comfy while any pegs you can get for a wing will still be set wide, and the fairing will be into my legs.

 

Yes, the power is amazing, but there are times when I hit a bump and the bike trys to rip itself out from under me as I make the smallest twist on the throttle. the VR does the same thing on big bumps but isn't as powerful or touchy.

 

I want to love this Wing, but it isn't making it easy.

 

If you think about buying one, rent one. I rented a Harley Ultra and loved it and should have bought one of those, but went with this Wing without really trying it out.

 

My 86 Vr is a lot more bike, wish I could buy a brand new one!

[Sleeperhawk]

I passed on a nearly new low mile late Gen 1 to buy a 2004 wing this year. Wish I had gone with the Gen 1. Then I would have a "new" gen 1 and a really good parts bike if needed, but would be able to ride both.

 

Now I have a 2004 Wing that is sapping the confidence from me as I ride it. It wobbles and weaves and the local dealer has tried 4 times to fix it, and they say they can't feel the problem. I just got on my '86 Vr after about a month of trying to learn the wing and felt what a stable great riding bike feels like again. WOW what a difference.

 

Plus the forward foot position on the Vr is comfy while any pegs you can get for a wing will still be set wide, and the fairing will be into my legs.

 

Yes, the power is amazing, but there are times when I hit a bump and the bike trys to rip itself out from under me as I make the smallest twist on the throttle. the VR does the same thing on big bumps but isn't as powerful or touchy.

 

I want to love this Wing, but it isn't making it easy.

 

If you think about buying one, rent one. I rented a Harley Ultra and loved it and should have bought one of those, but went with this Wing without really trying it out.

 

My 86 Vr is a lot more bike, wish I could buy a brand new one!

 

Sounds like you need to visit the GL1800riders web sit. There is supposed to be a fix for the wobble, but does cost some moola. Something about a Traxion suspension upgrade.

[Tom]

So far absolutely no problems with mine..Front is very stable,speedo correct and waiting to go on our big trip.I am having a learning curve with the power..I find myself crawling up the rear of cars rather quickly but Im getting there...Just got my trailer hooked up today!

[eazyduzzit]

I'm sorry I and only me feel that a wing is for the older rider the way a full sized caddy is for the older driver

 

The kid who talked me into test riding the Wing couldn't have been over 26 years old. He was so jazzed about it that he made me think I wanted one. I'm a little like Arc in that I like the feel of the cruiser style touring bikes, but I wouldn't say the GW isn't a fun machine, it's just different.

If I could afford more than one bike, I'd have one for sure.

[scooter45]

I'am looking at a new 08 GL1800 what is a good price, it has nav. and cool weather package. He will give me 6000 for my 03 Venture

[Michael_Bishop]

Here is a link to a Goldwing on a track day. I have thought that if I ever get a new bike it would be a Goldwing. But I do love my RSTD.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/08/video-dragging-a-knee-on-a-honda-gold-wing/#continued

[royalstarjac]

I'am looking at a new 08 GL1800 what is a good price, it has nav. and cool weather package. He will give me 6000 for my 03 Venture

 

19k

[91nwl]

I passed on a nearly new low mile late Gen 1 to buy a 2004 wing this year. Wish I had gone with the Gen 1. Then I would have a "new" gen 1 and a really good parts bike if needed, but would be able to ride both.

 

Now I have a 2004 Wing that is sapping the confidence from me as I ride it. It wobbles and weaves and the local dealer has tried 4 times to fix it, and they say they can't feel the problem. I just got on my '86 Vr after about a month of trying to learn the wing and felt what a stable great riding bike feels like again. WOW what a difference.

 

Plus the forward foot position on the Vr is comfy while any pegs you can get for a wing will still be set wide, and the fairing will be into my legs.

 

Yes, the power is amazing, but there are times when I hit a bump and the bike trys to rip itself out from under me as I make the smallest twist on the throttle. the VR does the same thing on big bumps but isn't as powerful or touchy.

 

I want to love this Wing, but it isn't making it easy.

 

If you think about buying one, rent one. I rented a Harley Ultra and loved it and should have bought one of those, but went with this Wing without really trying it out.

 

My 86 Vr is a lot more bike, wish I could buy a brand new one!

 

The wobble is usually the tires, often the rear. The GL1800 is hard on tires. Run them at 38 psi front and 41 rear. How many miles do they have on them? Don't spend any money on steering head bearings or braces until you check out the tire thing.

 

BTW, I have a 1st gen venture and a GL1800. They both wobble with worn tires and are both stable as a freight train with new tires.

[saddlebum]

Test rode a 2010 Wing today, and whether or not you care here's what I thought.

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If it were not for the fact that you said right up front that you were riding a wing and that it was like riding a car, I would swear you you just described a FIRST GEN except for the leg room part.

[Oldslow]

I rode a Wing the same year I tried a 09 Electra Glide. Within days of each other.Found the Wing to be smooth,powerful, Easy to handle at parking lot speeds. Wife hated the buffeting. I found it to be a sterile ride.(no road feel)

 

The EG was nice, smooth and fast. But not like the wing. Way more road feel. Very nice in parking lots. Expensive! but so is the Wing.

 

We bought the RSV! Top heavy in parking lot but nicer road feel than the Wing. Hate the whine in the engine/tranny.

Relatively comfortable. Fast and handles nice at speed. WAF was high!

Half the cost!