If you have ever wondered what the motorcycle equivalent of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series is, you are looking at it.
Honda’s Goldwing has been the leader of touring motorcycles for several years, possibly decades.
History
It all started in the mid-1970s. Back then, the predecessor of the Goldwing’s engine was a flat-four cylinder unit, but this went up to a flat-six cylinder during the late-1980s. Since then, the profile of the Goldwing has pretty much remained the same, but the level of technology and safety has totally transformed this tourer over the years.
For starters, you can now even order your Goldwing with an airbag for improved safety during a possible head-on collision with another bike or vehicle.
Buttons
Usually when a test bike arrives you have a walk around it to appreciate the design and see if there is anything out of the ordinary that you should know about. This usually only takes a minute or two, but with the Goldwing the amount of time we took to figure out what the myriad of buttons and levers were for was substantially longer.
There is a radio – with an aux-in connection – as well as cruise control. Move towards the rear and there are three big luggage holders.
Initially it all seems a little overwhelming, but once you head out on the road all the buttons fall into place. After a couple of minutes on the road I was listening to the financial report followed by some music, all at 100 km/h.
Hitting the road
With a passenger on board, you can cover long distances with little effort. You will have none of the knee and wrist ache sometimes associated with the riding positions of bikes. Being so heavy and featuring a well-damped suspension, the Goldwing serves up a comfortable ride. Although it is a heavy and a big machine, performance is still brisk, but you can’t help but take things at a more relaxed pace and unwind behind the wide handlebars while appreciating the landscape around you.
Although I have only a full-face helmet, it will almost be better to ride the Goldwing with an open-face. I had my visor open for most of the time I spent on the bike, as wind buffeting is kept to a minimum due to the significant windscreen.
The trickiest bit is manoeuvring the Goldwing. Fortunately it has an electric reverse function, but you soon learn to park the bike in such a way that you won’t need to reverse. At junctions, or when you need to make a sharp turn, you quickly notice that as soon as the bike starts to feel heavy, just increase your throttle input a little, and that feeling will disappear as you regain balance.
Are there any comparisons to a car?
Yes, definitely – the main one that stood out for me was the cruise control function. On the highway you can set your desired speed with the press of a button and increase or decrease the speed by the press of another button, just as is the case with a car. There is also the 6 000 r/min redline that you need to consider. You rarely feel the need to explore the upper reaches of the engine’s capabilities, though. I rarely went past 4 000 r/min, there is 167 N.m available at 4 000 r/min after all.
With so much kit on board, and using plastics that need to stand the test of time (as well as weather), there were occasions that I noticed a couple of little rattles. But once on the move you don’t notice it. These machines, unlike cars, aren’t about soft touch materials, they’re about functionality and being able to withstand the elements.
If you haven’t been on such a big capacity bike before, you might be surprised by the transmission shunt, especially at low speeds. If you learn how to minimise this by not rushing the transmission, or shifting to a higher gear in to early in traffic, the riding process gets smoother.
Then there’s the size of the Goldwing. Yes it is big, it is heavy, and if it catches you off-guard you will be shocked by its weight. Thing is, during my ride on the Goldwing, I was surprised at how it handles if you start to ride like you do any other road bike. You can lean it a little and you can pass slower moving traffic more easily than you’d originally thought possible.
Summary
Driving back into civilisation with the Goldwing is like like hitting the tarmac again with a 4×4 vehicle after a tremendous and enjoyable off-road trip. The Goldwing forces you to pack your (tiny) luggage bags and to head out in a comfortable manner to places you haven’t been before. During the photo shoot I felt like a complete fool sitting on this huge bike, on my own. Touring in the Goldwing, it is the passenger that will truly enjoy the trip, sitting back against the backrest and appreciating the landscape as it passes by.
I’m only 30, but I have to admit, in my dream garage of 10 bikes, this would be one of them. I think my wife said it would be her first choice, though.
Specifications
Engine: Flat-6, s-o-h-c, two valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 1 832 cm3
Power (kW/r/min): 87/5 500
Torque (N.m/r/min): 167/4 000
Transmission: five-speed with electric reverse
Tyre sizes: f) 130/70 R18 r) 180/60 R16
Frame: diamond, triple-box-section aluminium twin-spar
Safety systems: ABS, tyre pressure monitoring system
Mass (kg): 405 (kerb)
Seat height (mm): 740
Fuel tank capacity (l): 25
Fuel consumption (L/100 km): 6,89 (average during test period)
Price: R229 999
