I stared at the Gold Wing for a long time before I climbed aboard. I’ve ridden big bikes before, but this was something else entirely. The Gold Wing weighs in at around 900 lbs, and with the Audi/Comfort/Navi/ABS package, costs more than any car I’ve ever owned. The $23,099 base price for a motorcycle puts it into competition with some significantly fun cars – not that I’d ever rate driving a car over riding a motorcycle in the fun department. But I am exceedingly cheap, so the monetary measure of things is always a part of the equation.
You do get a lot for your money with a Gold Wing. The list of features is overwhelming, from heated grips and seats (driver and pillion) to GPS navigation to four-speaker audio to everything but the kitchen sink.
I finally swung my leg over the seat, and stared at the dashboard. It took me a few minutes of study to figure out that the same switch that activates the electric reverse gear (!) is also the starter button. Thumbing the engine to life, I couldn’t help but compare its sounds to those that emit from a Civic – the 1832 cc horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine has a distinctly automotive note at idle.
I engaged the reverse gear, navigating the exit from my sloped driveway with less paddling than I expected. The reverse function is more of an aid than an actual propellant, but it really does the job. Toggling off the reverse, I was ready for the street.I know that it is a cliché, but the Gold Wing’s weight virtually disappeared once I was traveling at more than walking speed. I merged into traffic, and became aware that I would have to ride this motorcycle differently than most others. The idea of lane splitting had to be abandoned – I would be a little more maneuverable than a car, but not much. I could use the Gold Wing’s power to find gaps in traffic, but I couldn’t squeeze the bike through the space between two cars. On the freeway, when traffic got tight, I was in the same bind as everybody else, stuck in bumper-to-bumper grinds, playing the clutch against the throttle to maintain forward momentum. The bike’s mass can come into play suddenly, if you allow it to fall too far before putting your feet down at a stop. I learned to go back to the fundamentals at each stop, making sure that the bike was square and putting both feet down with military precision. One foot down is a recipe for disaster with the Gold Wing – a patch of oil or grease could easily cause your foot to slip, and there’s not much room for error. I guess that explains the big engine and frame guards – put enough miles on your Wing, and you’re going to drop it in a parking lot eventually, no matter how careful or conscientious you are. There’s not a leg strong enough to stop 900 lbs from falling after it reaches the tipping point.
After a few hundred miles on the Wing, both solo and with a passenger, I’m starting to understand the appeal. Though not exactly flickable, the big bike transitions smoothly from side to side in the curves. The power from that big six-cylinder flows freely, and the bike smoothes out in the overdrive fifth gear for a long highway drawl. I get a lot of “thumbs-up” from fellow motorists, especially when they get a glimpse of the car-like dashboard with its myriad of functions. I’m losing some of my embarrassment at riding an old guy bike, possibly because I’m right smack in the middle of the demographic for the Gold Wing.
I’m not sure that I’d opt for the fully loaded version of the Wing – one of the things that I love about riding a bike is getting away from the noise and clutter, and getting back in touch with the purity of man, machine and road. The Gold Wing adds a whole other layer to the experience, and I’m not positive that it’s a layer that I want or need. Peel back the layers, though, and there’s a really good bike underneath.
I’ll keep riding and reporting back with more.
MILEAGE LOG
- 179 miles / 5.0 gallons = 35.8 mpg
Related:
- Honda Gold Wing Update #1: Welcome the 'Wing!
- Honda Gold Wing Update #3: Riding the 'Wing Like a Sportbike
- Honda Gold Wing Update #4: Washing the 'Wing
- Honda Gold Wing Update #5: My (Feeble) Attempts at Hypermiling the 'Wing
- Honda Gold Wing Update #6: About that Tire...
- Gold Wing Update #7: Hittin' the Open Road
