Rode the Goldwing

[The Marshal]

So, to treat myself for my "Staycation", I decided to rent a 2011 Harley Roadglide Ultra. However, by the time I got finished with all my projects, I had missed out on that deal.

(Torential rain, 40+ mph winds and smoke from fires limited my days to go)

So, not being one to give up so easily, I saw that the guy had a HD Ultra Classic, and a Honda Goldwing. The UC had "battery issues" and if you have ever had that on a motorcycle, you know that is a dead battery waiting to happen. So I passed, and said what the heck and took the Goldwing. Now, Wifey has always said that I could not have one until I am least 60+, as it is an "Old man's bike" in her opinion. HA! I talked her into riding with me, and so we picked it up Saturday evening. Well, we put 100 miles on it when we left for dinner around 10pm on Saturday. Wow, although it is the size of a Holiday Rambler, it handles like a sport bike. Hard to tell that it had 900+ pounds on the chassis before we go on.

Carving turns was a snap, one time she commented after I exited an underpass "I thought you were gonna lay the bike over..."

Acceleration was excellent, slowspeed handling in parking lots and sidestreet U-Turns was a cakewalk. Uber-smooth ride.

Zooming around the interstates at 80Mph was effortless for that 6cyl 1800cc motor.

That said, it is a soul-less bike. I just couldn't own one. No pizzazz, no effort, no challenge. Like a La-Z-Boy with wheels.

We did do another 100 miles today. The weather was 80F, clear blue skies, no humidity. Only complaint was the sporadic 25Mph winds.

I already decided we are taking the RoadGlide Ultra next time... no exceptions.

 

Shameless Plug: SportRyder Rentals in Dallas has a great selection of bikes to rent, in excellent shape, and Charles is simply great to deal with.

[latchkey]

rode one myself, great bike but for me it doesnt have the feel i want when riding.

[scotty]

You have to be 60+? Dang, I didn't read that in the fine print.

I turned 45 today. Do I have to give it back?

[The Marshal]

You have to be 60+? Dang, I didn't read that in the fine print.

I turned 45 today. Do I have to give it back?

 

Happy birthday, Mr. One Year Younger than Me!

Ah no, its just that is what "the Wifeys Impression" is.

Although she is a bit more apt to approve of a future purchase after this weekend. She liked the Goldwing!

[scotty]

Actually my wife also had issues with the "age thing". After a bit of practice I figured out how to flip the thing on its side in the corners and that improved her attitude greatly. She also claims that it "lacks sole". Personally I don't get it, it's a machine, it has no sole just like any other machine.

Maybe I will figure it out and want a bike with 'sole' when I am 60+.:rotf:

[Lone Eagle]

Bill, if the wife has approved the purchase of a Wing, I would - um - go out and get one this week. Gotta keep the navigators happy - ya know? Just sayin..........

[SilvrT]

I demo'd a Roadglide Ultra with the 103 mill last Saturday. For me it was just "ok". I don't care for their fairing ... seems to be too far forward for my liking. I also rode the Electra Ultra 103 mill .... liked it a lot more. What was "odd" between the two was the roadglide seemed to have more "shake" at idle than the Electra.

 

I found both of them to have gobs of power and very smooth and easy to ride. Of course, no match for a Wing power wise. Sixth gear at 100 km/h still allowed you to throttle up but if you really wanted to pass, you had to drop down at least one gear. We were limited to what we could do as it was a group demo ride.

[philmartin]

I have a Road Glide Ultra, just turned 1000 miles. As much as I love my Venture, the Road Glide fits me much better. The fixed fairing is great, the dash is further out and easier to read. Plenty of power, brought it up to 85 in sixth, slowed down to 65 in sixth then back up to 85 without downshifting – no problem. Easy to handle in parking lot, I almost tipped it, but because of the low center of gravity I was able to save it – the Venture definitely would have been on the ground. No whine! Great sound system.

[SilvrT]

No whine! .

 

YES!! that's one of the nice things I liked about them... no whine, no real annoying engine/tranny/driveline sounds at all.... just the exhaust note.

[KiteSquid]

You have to be 60+? Dang, I didn't read that in the fine print.

I turned 45 today. Do I have to give it back?

 

I'm 47.... do I have to retun mine also????????

 

I do have the knees of a 60+ year old, does that make up for it?

[KiteSquid]

Plenty of power, brought it up to 85 in sixth, slowed down to 65 in sixth then back up to 85 without downshifting – no problem.

 

On my GL1800 I slowed to 20 MPH in top gear and the bike acceletrate smoothly, but not as quick as if I geard down a few.....

 

Oh and my engine is water cooled so I should get at least 150000 miles out of it before I get ANY engine issues.

[Tom]

On my GL1800 I slowed to 20 MPH in top gear and the bike acceletrate smoothly, but not as quick as if I geard down a few.....

 

Oh and my engine is water cooled so I should get at least 150000 miles out of it before I get ANY engine issues.

 

Got a close friend with 288,000 miles and still purring so 150,000 is easy.

[buddy]

Got a close friend with 288,000 miles and still purring so 150,000 is easy.

 

Talk to a guy in Eureka Springs last year while filling up my Midnight with gas and his GL1800 had over 327,000mi only thing he had done was tires & preventive maintenance

Buddy

[Blooz]

Whew... Glad my wife is perfectly happy with our '06 RSTD !!

[jfoster]

I have a Road Glide Ultra, just turned 1000 miles. As much as I love my Venture, the Road Glide fits me much better. The fixed fairing is great, the dash is further out and easier to read. Plenty of power, brought it up to 85 in sixth, slowed down to 65 in sixth then back up to 85 without downshifting – no problem. Easy to handle in parking lot, I almost tipped it, but because of the low center of gravity I was able to save it – the Venture definitely would have been on the ground. No whine! Great sound system.

 

What kind of difference do you see in fuel mileage, rsv vs rgu?

[philmartin]

What kind of difference do you see in fuel mileage, rsv vs rgu?

 

On the RGU I'm averaging about 35 mpg and it uses HiTest. The RSV I was averaging 38-40 mpg and was using Regular. Hope to get better mileage on the RGU after the break-in period. As I said the bike fits me better, I'm 5'8" and the RSV was just too top heavy as was the Gold Wing I tested. For me I feel more confident on the RGU, especially with the wife on the back.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

I have ridden the ultra..... on the group demo like SilverT .... it was ok did not turn me on. Have ridden an 01 and an 09 wing without escort. When I took the 01 back I told the dealer..... I could have been a long way away before you ever reported that stolen. I did very much enjoy the wings but I want to ride a new RSV to compare, bet they are different than the 1st Gen to ride.