Honda Gold Wing – Touring Motorcycle: Detailed Specs, Performance, and More

The Honda Gold Wing is one of Honda’s most remarkable innovations with loads of modern features that assure a safe and exciting riding experience. If you love long-distance touring and sports bike looks, this motorcycle provides a perfect combination of both. Its power comes from the iconic six-cylinder engine with its powerful and smooth performance. It has a fully-equipped multimedia system that provides entertainment and navigation. Despite being a sporty tourer, it is designed to provide a laid-back riding experience on long-distance rides. The Honda Gold Wing is the first motorcycle to come with an airbag. This article explores the specs, performance, and features of the Honda Gold Wing in detail.

The 2023 Honda Gold Wing is available in four different trims/models. All the Honda Gold Wing models are almost identical to each other with only a few differences. The Honda Gold Wing models include:

The Honda Gold Wing Automatic DCT is the base model, the lightest without a trunk and passenger seat installed, and is only available in a matte gray color scheme with a matte black finish. It has a curb weight of 804 lbs and comes with the Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission with reverse and walking modes.

The Honda Gold Wing Tour is the only model with a manual six-speed transmission that includes an overdrive and reverse function. It has a curb weight of 845 lbs, and it also comes with a rear trunk and an integrated sofa-like passenger seat.

The Honda Gold Wing Tour Airbag Automatic DCT has a seven-speed automatic DCT with reverse and walking modes. It also comes with an airbag and a rear trunk and has a curb weight of 845 lbs.

The Honda Gold Wing Tour Automatic DCT is similar to the Honda Gold Wing Tour Airbag Automatic DCT, except it does not have an airbag. It is slightly heavier than the other models as it weighs 853 lbs.

Honda introduced its first six-cylinder motorcycle in 1965, a model suited for track racing known as the Honda RC165. However, the Fourth-Generation Honda Gold Wing was introduced in 1988, powered by a 1,520 cc engine capable of a horsepower of 100 hp and a torque of 150 Nm. The development process for the Honda Gold Wing was in 60 stages to ensure a high-power output, smooth torque delivery, and a smooth, quiet riding experience. Despite being built from plastic, the 1988 Honda Gold Wing was so heavy that the engineers had to introduce a reverse gear along with the manual five-speed transmission.

In 2001, Honda introduced the upgraded Honda Gold Wing with a bigger 1,832 engine, an ABS, an airbag, and a fuel injection system. The next upgrade came in 2012 with only minor changes. In 2013, Honda made various changes to the Gold Wing, including removing the heavy parts like the rear trunk and passenger seat to give it a more lightweight bagger look. In 2018, the Sixth-Generation Honda Gold Wing was introduced with a compact design, a sportier look, and a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

The 2023 Honda Gold Wing is fitted with a large 1,832 cc liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine capable of a torque of 170 Nm at 4,500 rpm and a horsepower of 124.67 hp at 5,500 rpm. The 1,832 cc six-cylinder engine produces smooth power and torque delivery at all gear levels.

The latest engine design used lightweight components, including high-strength aluminum cylinder sleeves that help shed 13 lbs of weight and shorten the engine’s length. The Unicam® SOHC design not only helped reduce the weight but has also contributed to its better power and performance. The Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) with its 50 mm throttle body and the four valves per cylinder design helped improve the Honda Gold Wing’s fuel efficiency. It has a fuel economy of 42 mpg that can increase by using Eco-Ride mode.

The 2023 Honda Gold Wing is loaded with modern ride-assist and safety features that ensure a safer riding experience. The  Hill Start Assist feature allows the rider to comfortably start the motorcycle and accelerate without applying the brakes and rolling backward on an inclined surface.

The Honda Gold Wing also has revolutionary Seven-Speed Automatic DCT technology to ensure stress-free and smooth rides. It also comes with reverse and walking modes. However, if you prefer a manual transmission, the Honda Gold Wing Tour model comes with a six-speed transmission including an overdrive and reverse function that connects to the rear wheel via a cleaner and low-maintenance shaft drive.

The Honda Gold Wing also features a standard electronically-controlled combined ABS and Electronic Linked Braking that allows the rider to apply both the front and rear brakes at the same time. It also has 320 mm dual front discs with radially-mounted Nissin calipers and a 316 mm rear disc for reliable braking.

Instead of a conventional front fork assembly, the Honda Gold Wing has a double-wishbone front suspension that reduces unwanted nose dives when the brakes are applied. The double-wishbone structure is ideal for comfortable long-distance rides as the Honda Gold Wing’s weight is mainly distributed towards the front end.

Despite being a heavier motorcycle, the Honda Gold Wing ensures good handling due to its low center of gravity and being fitted with a Pro-Link single rear shock. The double-wishbone suspension has a wheel travel of 4.3 inches, while the Pro-Link single rear shock has a wheel travel of 4.1 inches.

The Honda Gold Wing can attain a top speed of 140 mph and accelerate from 0-60 mpg in just 3.4 secs.

The Honda Gold Wing is a sports-touring bike with a bagger look. It has a sporty front end with its sports-style fairing, front fender, and low-mounted, clip-on handlebars. The 2023 Honda Gold Wing models are available in only three simple color schemes. The matte gray and black color schemes come with a matte black finish, while the candy ardent red color scheme comes with a silver and blacked-out finish.

The Honda Gold Wing also comes with an electronically-adjustable, fairing-mounted windscreen, and a single-piece wide saddle capable of two-up riding. The front turn signals are integrated into the back of the side mirrors attached to the fairing. The large trunk comes with an integrated passenger seat and has a storage capacity of 2.15 cu ft.

The Honda Gold Wing is a comfortable touring bike suited for long-distance rides. However, it also has a sporty touch and slightly sportier ergonomics. Unlike ideal cruisers and touring bikes, it comes with mid-mounted foot controls, ensuring adequate legroom for shorter and average riders. However, the legroom is slightly uncomfortable and compact for taller long-distance riders. Despite the sporty-style clip-on style handlebars, riders can comfortably reach the handlebars. The position of the handlebars and seat height of 29.3 inches ensures an upright back position.

The Honda Gold Wing is not a beginner-friendly bike due to being heavyweight and powerful. It is fitted with a 1,838 cc six-cylinder engine that may be too powerful for beginners. A rider with no prior riding experience should start with a manageable motorcycle with a smaller engine.

The Honda Gold Wing has remained in production for more than four decades.

It received several updates over time, including a bigger engine, an automatic transmission, a lightweight design, and an infotainment system. The Honda Gold Wing is popular due to its reliability, longevity, and comfort. It is also one of the most luxurious sports-touring bikes out there.

The Honda Gold Wing is one of the longest-running production motorcycles and a popular choice for those who love long-distance riding and touring. It is also the most expensive motorcycle in the Honda lineup. The Honda Gold Wing has a long history dating back to 1974. The engineers at Honda Research Department kept experimenting with ways to make this motorbike more comfortable, safer, and better suited for long-distance rides. The latest Honda Gold Wing model comes with a powerful six-cylinder engine, standard ABS, airbag, Hill Start Assist, automatic DCT system, and an infotainment system.

It is possible to modify your motorbike to make it suitable for long-distance rides. Viking Bags has a wide range of aftermarket parts available you can use to transform your motorcycle into a touring bike. If you are looking for more comfortable handlebars, a new seat, crash bars, fairings, and sissy bars to mount a backrest and luggage bags, Viking Bags has what you need. There are also different luggage options available at Viking Bags, including sissy bar bags and saddlebags.