Honda Gold Wing - the return of shaft drive

[Dirt_Dad]

I've got 55k on my 18, it's my cross country mule. If you were doing 18 mph in 4th it's because you were being sedate with the throttle. The bike will respond to your riding style, in other words it'll hold it in a gear longer when you ride it aggressive or shift sooner if you're riding mellow.

When in sport mode I prefer to be in manual shifting the DCT, lots of fun in that combo. I had a 08 previous to this Wing and it was much better for 2 up being it was a larger bike but my wife is finished as a pillion so this one works well solo other than I had to learn to pack lighter with less space. At least yours has more room.
With the new front suspension and motor upgrades (4 vales vs two per jug) this is one smooooooth bike. The carplay is a really nice feature on the long haul across the USofA, it's so quiet behind the wind screen but I wish it had a digital speedo like the S10. That and the cruise control works much better on the Yamaha.

Last fall a buddy on his 17 S10 and I spent a day bucking big winds across Texas and he actually ran out gas even though the Wing only has a 5.5 gallon tank, luckily were within a few miles of Dickins, Tx so I was able to ferry a bit of fuel for him. I usually get about 45 mpg at 75ish mph. One time I spent a day flower sniffing and stayed below 60mph and got 54 mph....one time that slow was enough.

If I could only have one bike it would be the Super Tenere for the ability to ride the roads less traveled but the Wing makes 650 mile multi days a breeze.

Enjoy your new ride!

Thanks, that's good information. Definitely finding there is a learning curve with the DCT. It does appear the answer lies between automatic, sport and paddle shifting. Still only have about 1K miles on it, so more discovery still to come.

 

[Dougbug]

The GL1800 forum has lots of information on this bike. IF you do your own maintenance may I suggest the Fred Harmon video's on Vimeo - well worth the $.

BTW oil changes suck. 3 drain plugs, a reset oil filter in the oil pan and a DCT filter on the bottom of the motor. Don't even bring up the air filter change- that one I pay to have completed

 

[WJBertrand]

Reading all this with interest as a new gen wing is on my short list to complement my Super T.

 

[Cycledude]

Supposedly there’s supposed to be a big recall happening on many of the 2018-2024 Goldwings, a fuel pump impeller issue.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Again - Congrats.

Surprised you've finally come around to want to use a bike to commute since you wanted to keep fun and commuting separate for so long. Still, with the cost of gas in the Ridgeline (we just sold Jackie's Pilot) I get it.

But I still think this is really Dirt_Mom's second bike and you are just the bus driver.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I've got 55k on my 18, it's my cross country mule. If you were doing 18 mph in 4th it's because you were being sedate with the throttle. The bike will respond to your riding style, in other words it'll hold it in a gear longer when you ride it aggressive or shift sooner if you're riding mellow.

I was thinking about your words as I rode to work this morning. I stayed in Tour the whole ride. I hit the throttle much harder than before, and supplemented with paddle downshifts as needed. Dramatic improvement. The suspension is much better on the interstate in Tour, and those manual downshifts made it all work well.

This DCT stuff is so very different.

Thanks for the helpful words.

Supposedly there’s supposed to be a big recall happening on many of the 2018-2024 Goldwings, a fuel pump impeller issue.

So far I had only heard about 18-20. Guess I may be getting a notice on my 25 day old bike.

Again - Congrats.

Surprised you've finally come around to want to use a bike to commute since you wanted to keep fun and commuting separate for so long. Still, with the cost of gas in the Ridgeline (we just sold Jackie's Pilot) I get it.

But I still think this is really Dirt_Mom's second bike and you are just the bus driver.

Golly, you sure know me well.

The concern about turning a bike into transportation was unquestionably a high consideration for me. It's also the major reason I went DCT. A feature that stopped both Kevin and Larry dead in their tracks when they heard I went automatic. I wanted the GW to be completely different to maintain as clear a separation as possible. That's why I don't have a K1600.

Driving the Ridgeline did play into it, but not for gas mileage reasons. But that's way too long a story.

The GW is so low that I encouraged DM to ride it. She's not not showing any interest.

 

[gv550]

The recall covers all 2018 through 2024 Goldwings. There is a label on the fuel pump with part number and date code, The date code is stamped into the label, 2 numbers, a letter and 2 numbers. If the letter is a U or B the fuel pump will be replaced when they become available. If the letter is a C it might be replaced, depending on the numbers. If the letter is anything else the dealer just completes the recall form and sends the bike home, no new pump for you.

 

[Dougbug]

Have you reached for the clutch lever yet?

It'll happen but whats really strange is when you go back to a manual trans bike and have to shift, seems so yesterday.

BTW another one is when you need to honk at some cage merging in your lane and you go for the normal horn button and bam! you just downshifted instead. I put a button on the horn button to help my thumb find it in a hurry.

Like you that's one reason to like the DCT, it's so different but works so well. Downshifts are a work of art in the twisties-Honda got it right.

 

[Donk]

Ok what's the complaints on the Ridgeline? I'm on my second Ridgeline had a '17 now have a '23. Except some of the gadgets that Honda added to the '23 and push button shifter that irritates me to no end they are both decent vehicles. I will admit the '23 doesn't have the power or fuel mileage of the '17 but I'm still getting 20.4 even with warm up idle time. Not great but not tragic either although that's coming from a guy that drove F250s prior to retirement.

Going to a GoldWing as a commuter bike? Don't get me wrong the 'Wing is a great bike and great at many things just not sure it would be my first choice as a commuter. That's a big bus and not all that maneuverable in traffic. Would think the 1290 would be better with the higher seating position and better view of traffic not to mention agility?

 

[HeliMark]

Ok what's the complaints on the Ridgeline? I'm on my second Ridgeline had a '17 now have a '23. Except some of the gadgets that Honda added to the '23 and push button shifter that irritates me to no end they are both decent vehicles. I will admit the '23 doesn't have the power or fuel mileage of the '17 but I'm still getting 20.4 even with warm up idle time. Not great but not tragic either although that's coming from a guy that drove F250s prior to retirement.

Going to a GoldWing as a commuter bike? Don't get me wrong the 'Wing is a great bike and great at many things just not sure it would be my first choice as a commuter. That's a big bus and not all that maneuverable in traffic. Would think the 1290 would be better with the higher seating position and better view of traffic not to mention agility?

Can't talk about the GW, but I use to commute on a Harley Ultra Classic in L.A. traffic, also splitting it. They are actually not that bad once you understand the bulk. Understand that you need to be a little more aggressive on the throttle to get the bulk moving for a quick lane change.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Ok what's the complaints on the Ridgeline? I'm on my second Ridgeline had a '17 now have a '23. Except some of the gadgets that Honda added to the '23 and push button shifter that irritates me to no end they are both decent vehicles. I will admit the '23 doesn't have the power or fuel mileage of the '17 but I'm still getting 20.4 even with warm up idle time. Not great but not tragic either although that's coming from a guy that drove F250s prior to retirement.

Going to a GoldWing as a commuter bike? Don't get me wrong the 'Wing is a great bike and great at many things just not sure it would be my first choice as a commuter. That's a big bus and not all that maneuverable in traffic. Would think the 1290 would be better with the higher seating position and better view of traffic not to mention agility?

Nothing wrong with the Ridgeline or Pilot per se, other than the size in traffic and higher cost to operate. As mentioned, we just traded out of a Pilot that only got mpg in the mid to high teens, so it is nice to have something (Tucson) that gets us to 26/32 mpg. It's a lot easier to drive in traffic & more comfortable without the shot suspension in the Pilot.

I commuted into DC for several decades on various motorcycles and most commuters are either on scooters (already live in city limits) or rode exposed mid-sized bikes. Lots of 500-750. Some of us who came from farther out (37 miles for me) use bigger bikes to get the cold weather protection. Lots of Harleys, many BMWs, and every now & then a big bike like a 'Wing. The Tenere was one of the best commuters I ever had, as it had OK weather protection, was hours-long comfortable, could still thread thru traffic, and with the shaft required almost no maintenance.

 

[Cycledude]

Have you reached for the clutch lever yet?

It'll happen but whats really strange is when you go back to a manual trans bike and have to shift, seems so yesterday.

BTW another one is when you need to honk at some cage merging in your lane and you go for the normal horn button and bam! you just downshifted instead. I put a button on the horn button to help my thumb find it in a hurry.

Like you that's one reason to like the DCT, it's so different but works so well. Downshifts are a work of art in the twisties-Honda got it right.

I definitely suspected reaching for the clutch lever that isn’t there was going to be an issue during my test rides but it wasn’t, I still wonder what might have happened in an emergency situation.

 

[Tenforeplay]

With the gw there is a dynamic tire balancer available. Made by centramatic. I’ve used these quite a bit and if there is one available for a vehicle or trailer I own I’ll install it. Not only balances the tire but dampens expansion joints, pot holes, and other oddities in the road. Balancemaster makes them with mercury which I prefer but not available for the gw. Centramatic uses hard shot in a fluid, works but mercury is better in my opinion, though I don’t think their design uses enough mercury.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Have you reached for the clutch lever yet?

It'll happen but whats really strange is when you go back to a manual trans bike and have to shift, seems so yesterday.

BTW another one is when you need to honk at some cage merging in your lane and you go for the normal horn button and bam! you just downshifted instead. I put a button on the horn button to help my thumb find it in a hurry.

Like you that's one reason to like the DCT, it's so different but works so well. Downshifts are a work of art in the twisties-Honda got it right.

Not a lot of clutch reaching due to years of speed shifting. But my left foot kept searching for something to stomp. After more than 800 miles of only DCT, getting on my SAS after a 30 day break, resulted in me nearly stalling at the first stop sign. That's when I needed to reach for a clutch...and momentarily forgot.

On Monday I did realize just how busy the left thumb is. Do I downshift first, then hit the turn signal, or the other way around. And remember to cover that horn in traffic, or is that the down shifter. Very crowed

Ok what's the complaints on the Ridgeline?

I am not starting a Ridgeline thread. We've had it since 2016. Great vehicle...when it was DM's truck. Not a good commuter for me. Changing from a zippy A5, to a lumbering Ridgeline, needing to pass on dark two-lane roads, just had me looking for something else. Enter the Gold Wing.

Going to a GoldWing as a commuter bike? Don't get me wrong the 'Wing is a great bike and great at many things just not sure it would be my first choice as a commuter. That's a big bus and not all that maneuverable in traffic. Would think the 1290 would be better with the higher seating position and better view of traffic not to mention agility?

No way in Hell I'd do that to my 1290. It is my magical time machine, I'm 30 years younger when I ride it. It is my happy place of deep satisfaction, and ultimate aggressive relaxation. It is not transportation, it is therapy. There is nothing therapeutic about riding in the Washington region.

Enter an automatic transmission, big, weather blocking, comfy, android auto playing, reasonably quick enough, enjoyable machine for my 120 mile daily commute.

As CW mentioned, it's not something I've ever done, but I've reach a point where I'm willing to give it a shot. If I find I hate commuting, or that it's making me feel about motorcycles they way I feel about driving cars, then I'll drop it immediately. I will not let this experiment make me hate riding. If that does start to happen then the GW will become the bike I use when riding with DM on her Spyder. Which includes cross country touring on it, which I'm kinda excited about. The truth is, on the long trip with DM I almost never hit the dirt. Might as well try a touring bike.

 

[Donk]

One can find therapy wherever one rides. Maybe riding the 1290 would make the commute more tolerable? Just my way of thinking, ymmv.

 

[Sierra1]

I'm with ya'. Bikes are the only way to commute. If I had to drive my Jeep every day, I would have shot someone by now.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm with ya'. Bikes are the only way to commute.

I've never had that perspective. I've always said, if I'm on a bike, I'm recreating, I'm in my happy place. A bike was totally reserved for relaxation.

The idea of commuting is a whole different attitude about riding for me. It's yet to be seen if I can actually do it. I've commuted between 20-24k miles a year for decades, and I've learned to despise driving a car. If I'm not commuting, DM is driving us around on 4 wheels. I don't want to learn to hate riding a bike. I won't let it happen.

 

[Sierra1]

I've never had that perspective. I've always said, if I'm on a bike, I'm recreating, I'm in my happy place. A bike was totally reserved for relaxation. . . . I don't want to learn to hate riding a bike

Hmmmm. And I've never thought about it that way. I may or may not be recreating, but I too am in my happy place. Even during our summers. Even while I was working on one for 20 years, I never hated the bike. Even wrapped in Kevlar at 110°, it was always the preferred method of transportation. I've ridden at least one day a week since February '23 when we iced for a week.

 

[Cycledude]

I've never had that perspective. I've always said, if I'm on a bike, I'm recreating, I'm in my happy place. A bike was totally reserved for relaxation.

The idea of commuting is a whole different attitude about riding for me. It's yet to be seen if I can actually do it. I've commuted between 20-24k miles a year for decades, and I've learned to despise driving a car. If I'm not commuting, DM is driving us around on 4 wheels. I don't want to learn to hate riding a bike. I won't let it happen.

I highly prefer riding a motorcycle, about the only time I prefer 4 wheels is during bad weather, I currently have 96 months of consecutive motorcycle riding, mostly on Goldwing.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I highly prefer riding a motorcycle, about the only time I prefer 4 wheels is during bad weather, I currently have 96 months of consecutive motorcycle riding, mostly on Goldwing.

I'm hopeful that I'll feel that way. For me, motorcycle time has always been jealously guarded as something special. It is my stress reliever.

Commuting around the DC region is, at the very best, something I've learned to ignore. Hating the commute would only cause you to go insane. So I've learned to do my 20/24K miles a year, then park the car at the end of the work week and not touch it again until I start up on Monday morning. DM loves being the driver, so it works.

I'm as passionate about riding as I ever have at any point in my life. I'm not willing to give up that feeling. It's the reason I picked DCT and everything to be as different as possible from my relaxation machines. I want to keep the relaxation part special, but hopefully add in motorcycle commuting to make the daily drive more of something I can actually enjoy.

I'm not positive how it's going to go, but I'm will give it a shot.