Arkyrider
Active Member
Yes, speedo is analog 18 and up.
Honda Gold Wing - the return of shaft drive
- Thread starter Dirt_Dad
- Start date
Donk
Well-Known Member
Well sort of analog. It is digital that displays as analog.
As hard as it is to wrap my head around an 800lb motorcycle with a bigger engine than my wife's CR-V I am becoming a GoldWing fan. I have learned from the NC750X that smooth is GOOD and it is easier to throw a leg over than to climb on!
As hard as it is to wrap my head around an 800lb motorcycle with a bigger engine than my wife's CR-V I am becoming a GoldWing fan. I have learned from the NC750X that smooth is GOOD and it is easier to throw a leg over than to climb on!
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
For some unknown reason I find the new Goldwing much easier to get on and off of than my 2002 Goldwing, the seat heights on both are about the same.
When it comes to smooth ride the new Goldwing is definitely king, in comparison my 2002 rides like it don’t even have suspension, it never seemed like that until after I test rode a few new Goldwings.
Donk
Well-Known Member
I bet it has to do with overall width. I suspect the new bike is narrower at lest it looks to be which would move you closer in to the seat. Less to get your leg over.
Am I getting this right Sierra1 is saying you have over 600k mikes on your '02?
Just read your tagline, that is impressive!
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What?! No, @Cycledude does. I was just suggesting as to why the new one felt better. And I agree that the new one looks a lot narrower.
Donk
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It's not just smooth ride. It's the whole package. Especially engine harmonics and wind management.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Odometer currently reads 613,000 miles, I haven’t ridden it since February because of antifreeze leak , but I do hope to get it all put back together one of these days.
Donk
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Good on ya! 613,000 on 1 bike says a lot of very positive things about the bike AND the owner. More than just impressed I think its GREAT!!!
Yellow was always my favorite color for that gen 'Wing.
Yellow was always my favorite color for that gen 'Wing.
Boris
Well-Known Member
Agree! Very impressive mileage and lots of memories in those miles.
Dirt_Dad
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600K+ on a single bike is astonishing. Huge respect for the bike and the rider.
I'm at just 3.7K on mine. Still very much learning how to ride it.
Yesterday DM took her first ride of the year, so first ride for us having the Spyder and GW out together. By the end of the ride we were getting in sync.
The ride started with me trying to blast the familiar twisty roads. DM was hanging way closer than usual as I tried to find the sweet-spot of keeping the wing from dragging hard parts through the curves. The power is there, but I need a lot more practice to get an acceptable level of competency. I'll get there.
I did learn it is necessary for me to put the DCT in manual mode for hard-core twisty riding. Honda does a good job with automatic a lot of the time, but thumb and forefinger is required on every ride. Precise manual finger shifting for aggressive curve riding is mandatory.
I'm enjoying the Wing. The DCT had been great getting me through traffic as I learn to be a bike commuter. It is an extraordinary mile muncher and I look forward to using it on future long distance trips. Excellent bike so far.
I'm at just 3.7K on mine. Still very much learning how to ride it.
Yesterday DM took her first ride of the year, so first ride for us having the Spyder and GW out together. By the end of the ride we were getting in sync.
The ride started with me trying to blast the familiar twisty roads. DM was hanging way closer than usual as I tried to find the sweet-spot of keeping the wing from dragging hard parts through the curves. The power is there, but I need a lot more practice to get an acceptable level of competency. I'll get there.
I did learn it is necessary for me to put the DCT in manual mode for hard-core twisty riding. Honda does a good job with automatic a lot of the time, but thumb and forefinger is required on every ride. Precise manual finger shifting for aggressive curve riding is mandatory.
I'm enjoying the Wing. The DCT had been great getting me through traffic as I learn to be a bike commuter. It is an extraordinary mile muncher and I look forward to using it on future long distance trips. Excellent bike so far.
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It's not like anything else is going on in your life...
Dirt_Dad
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Dear god...if only that were true. (plus you and I still need to get out to Romney one more time)It's not like anything else is going on in your life...
I decided I don't have the time or parts needed to do the first service on the GW, and I'm at the mileage limit. Made arrangements to drop it off at the Honda shop to get the work done, along with the fuel pump recall. Time in traffic getting to the dealership (+45 minute), time at the shop dropping off and picking up (+45), riding along at 70 MPH there was a pick-up truck hovering off to my right. I finally looked over at the driver. He made a square shape with his fingers and pointed to the back of the bike. I have no idea what he's telling me, but I nod a thank you and head to the nearest exit. Two right turns past 5 police cars that had a bunch of cars pulled over. I find a parking lot.
Off the bike, walk around...no license plate. It's 60 seconds before the dealership closes. Fortunately got the guy on the phone who gave me the bike. He's going to bring me another plate and see if he can spot the one that fell off (+45 minute). Second plate installed, I get to my gated community after the gate has closed for the evening, and I don't have my clicker. Turn circles in the street until someone finally goes through. Home, swallow food, take shower, heading to bed. Get up at 4:30am and do it all again tomorrow.
I don't know when my Goldwing will be done, but they said they are going to try to get to it tomorrow. I have a 5:30pm meeting tomorrow night that I can't miss, so I'll just drive the truck to work and take the punisher of a bike back Friday morning if my GW is done. I don't want to ride that thing any more that I have to.
Some bikes make you really appreciate what you have. They can highlight just how violent an environment of 75MPH can be on a motorcycle. I appreciate the GW even more this evening. Will be happy to give this one back.
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Donk
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Dirt_Dad how often are you grinding hard parts on the Wing?
Dirt_Dad
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Never when commuting.
So far I've managed to stop the lean when I feel my foot scraping the pavement. It happens when I'm pushing it through some of my favorite roads. The bulk doesn't keep me from wanting to ride it like the KTM.
So far I've managed to stop the lean when I feel my foot scraping the pavement. It happens when I'm pushing it through some of my favorite roads. The bulk doesn't keep me from wanting to ride it like the KTM.
Donk
Well-Known Member
Your foot or the pegs/ peg feeler things? Need to ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs! I used to grind my boots cornering on the Triumph Explorer, so did other people. Something very wrong with that design if you're doing that on an Adv bike!
I used to grind my boots cornering on the Triumph Explorer, so did other people. Something very wrong with that design if you're doing that on an Adv bike!
Good grief - Riding the twisties with the little Guzzi is SO much more fun than the Tiger1200!!!Your foot or the pegs/ peg feeler things? Need to ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs!
Dirt_Dad
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Definitely my foot scraping. For more years than I can remember, as I approach a set of twisties, my feet automatically move into attack position. Too many times of feeling a foot scrape as I improved my skills in the curves. Eventually I learned where to position my feet, and that repositioning became an almost involuntary motion. Sometimes I'll notice my feet just moved and I realize, oh look, here we go.Your foot or the pegs/ peg feeler things? Need to ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs!
The Goldwing in Sport mode is remarkably close to the engine performance of the big KTM. I'd say it's very, very good. Riding aggressively with that amount of weight is surprisingly easy. No doubt it takes more grunt to shift it from side to side, but Honda has done a fantastic job in the design, and there is little to no intimidation due to the size. The mental part I'm still wrestling with is the limited lean angles. I know how I keep my feet when the road curves, so if I'm feeling pavement, the metal can't be far away.
For all you airplane pilots out there, I see scraping a motorcycle in a curve the same as I see ballooning when putting down the flaps on a C-172 on a downwind leg. As my instructor told me, 'if you're ballooning, you're a passenger, not a pilot.' If I'm scraping hard parts, I'm not in charge. I may be alone in that opinion, but nothing new about that.
One difference between the big KTM 1290 and the GW is impact of throttle movement. The 1290 is definitely faster, but I've always said the 1290 is as gentle a kitten and will never surprise you. The GW ain't no kitten, and if you haven't made the mental shift to the more responsive throttle, it can definitely surprise you. It's all good once you get your head back in the GW Sport mode way of thinking, but I'm glad I'm comfortable with massive power delivery. Otherwise, it could startle the unsuspecting.
Donk
Well-Known Member
I was watching a demonstration by Police Riding Instructors today. One of the Instructors took his personal '21 Wing 6 speed base model through their cone course. Holy ..... he was good! He said the only tough part was the spacing on the weave section was almost the same as 'Wings wheelbase! Wicked cool to see what the bike cn do with a really good rider.
JJTJ2
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I just returned from a 10 day trip in London and Paris. While in Paris, I saw 1 Super 10, 3 T700, and almost as many Gold Wings as I did GS bikes.... not counting the police version of the GS... saw several of those. I honestly didn't expect to see any Gold Wings