"all bikes lead to a Goldwing"

My riding buddy got the first year of the latest generation a year or so back, and he loves his. I've decided not to give it a ride it just in case I like it. I'd hate to handle the maintenance for such an intricate machine, and too many electronics for my taste.

Lake Alpine, Hwy 4 California. Nothing like taking turns on a 1.5-ish lane road on the side of a steep mountain. But the mountain bike trails on the other side of the lake (and this general area) are awesome.


Lake Alpine.jpg
 
I got to ride my friend's 1994 Goldwing GL 1500 Interstate last year in September for 25 miles (just taking it to a gas station and back)

BUT THEN TODAY he let me ride it for 120 miles while he ride his Yammi Tracer 900.
Two other cycling friends joined us for a group of four.
We put in 120 miles today, on a cloudy day with a little bit of light rain but not enough to make any of us stop and put on a rain suit.

I LIKE THAT six-cylinder Gold Wing!!

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gunsmoker said:
I got to ride my friend's 1994 Goldwing GL 1500 Interstate last year in September for 25 miles (just taking it to a gas station and back)

BUT THEN TODAY he let me ride it for 120 miles while he ride his Yammi Tracer 900.
Two other cycling friends joined us for a group of four.
We put in 120 miles today, on a cloudy day with a little bit of light rain but not enough to make any of us stop and put on a rain suit.

I LIKE THAT six-cylinder Gold Wing!!

IMG_3732.jpeg

IMG_3730.jpegIMG_3733.jpeg
Click to expand...
You would really like the way a newer Wing rides and handles and stops. Even the 2001 - 2017 GL1800 generation moved far beyond the 1500.
 
When the 6th generation of the Goldwing came out it was offered in white. I love white motorcycles and I loved the tech and lower weight.

I found this: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2018-Honda-Gold+Wing+Tour-5037737931#sid=703534

It's pretty much the right bike for me. The color is right, it has the manual transmission I want, the mileage is low and the price is very reasonable.

BUT, It doesn't really offer anything more that what I already have in my ST1300 and my wife rarely rides with me anymore so passenger accommodations is not a big selling point. I'm resisting because I think know my motivation is more emotional than rational. On the other hand, motorcycle purchases are almost never completely rational.

So, if you were in my shoes (assuming you have the money, which I do), what would you do? Just don't tell me that it isn't a thing of beauty.
 
ddemair said:
When the 6th generation of the Goldwing came out it was offered in white. I love white motorcycles and I loved the tech and lower weight.

I found this: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2018-Honda-Gold+Wing+Tour-5037737931#sid=703534

It's pretty much the right bike for me. The color is right, it has the manual transmission I want, the mileage is low and the price is very reasonable.

BUT, It doesn't really offer anything more that what I already have in my ST1300 and my wife rarely rides with me anymore so passenger accommodations is not a big selling point. I'm resisting because I think know my motivation is more emotional than rational. On the other hand, motorcycle purchases are almost never completely rational.

So, if you were in my shoes (assuming you have the money, which I do), what would you do? Just don't tell me that it isn't a thing of beauty.
Click to expand...

Buy the bike! No point being the richest guy in the grave yard……

Here is a pic of my previous white wing, watching the sunrise crossing the Great Plains.

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ddemair said:
When the 6th generation of the Goldwing came out it was offered in white. I love white motorcycles and I loved the tech and lower weight.

I found this: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2018-Honda-Gold+Wing+Tour-5037737931#sid=703534

It's pretty much the right bike for me. The color is right, it has the manual transmission I want, the mileage is low and the price is very reasonable.

BUT, It doesn't really offer anything more that what I already have in my ST1300 and my wife rarely rides with me anymore so passenger accommodations is not a big selling point. I'm resisting because I think know my motivation is more emotional than rational. On the other hand, motorcycle purchases are almost never completely rational.

So, if you were in my shoes (assuming you have the money, which I do), what would you do? Just don't tell me that it isn't a thing of beauty.
Click to expand...
In your shoes I bought the bike.
 
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A Wing isn't an ST1300.
It isn't supposed to be.
It's something entirely all in it's own. Different by design.

Yes, all my other bikes have led me to this point, and at least for now, it's the best place I've been.
I'm in no desire to go anywhere else in the foreseeable future, other than where the bike takes me.

This is from my recent 2025 trip to Newfoundland: my 2024 and Happy Rob's new-to-him 2007.

The ST1300 may have opened the door to me meeting so many great folks here thru this site, but it's the Wing that continues that legacy to deliver me onward down the road.

Looking towards the future, while remembering the past.
 
ddemair said:
Just don't tell me that it isn't a thing of beauty.
Click to expand...

That 'Wing is a thing of great beauty. I think it's does offer a lot more than the ST but nothing that moves the needle for you. Even with a standard transmission I've be very tempted.

Yes that 'Wing and the ST are two different bikes but in the hands of a good rider — not so much. The one sigificant thing for me about a 'Wing is it's footprint. It needs a lot of parking space that I don't have. Even the ST is a tight squeeze even without a pannier.

Someone I've ridden with owned a 2005 Yellow Anniversary 'Wing in yellow (my second favorite color). He rode that like most people would like to ride an ST. And without scraping the pegs. Tight roads did slow him down compared to bikes with shorter wheelbases. He bought a 2024 'Wing and said it handled much quicker than his 2005. He likes riding my ST as physically it's a sports car compared to a Rolls around town. He was able to put both 'Wings on the center stand where my ST was a bit of a surprise and struggle.

The 'new' 'Wings are not your father's Buick. I think most riders would be faster on an ST because it's easier. With some talent the handling gap between the two is fairly bridgeable.

Oh and a 12yo girl can right a 'Wing. She'd never be able to do it with an ST.
 
ST Gui said:
That 'Wing is a thing of great beauty. I think it's does offer a lot more than the ST but nothing that moves the needle for you. Even with a standard transmission I've be very tempted.

Yes that 'Wing and the ST are two different bikes but in the hands of a good rider — not so much. The one sigificant thing for me about a 'Wing is it's footprint. It needs a lot of parking space that I don't have. Even the ST is a tight squeeze even without a pannier.

Someone I've ridden with owned a 2005 Yellow Anniversary 'Wing in yellow (my second favorite color). He rode that like most people would like to ride an ST. And without scraping the pegs. Tight roads did slow him down compared to bikes with shorter wheelbases. He bought a 2024 'Wing and said it handled much quicker than his 2005. He likes riding my ST as physically it's a sports car compared to a Rolls around town. He was able to put both 'Wings on the center stand where my ST was a bit of a surprise and struggle.

The 'new' 'Wings are not your father's Buick. I think most riders would be faster on an ST because it's easier. With some talent the handling gap between the two is fairly bridgeable.

Oh and a 12yo girl can right a 'Wing. She'd never be able to do it with an ST.
Click to expand...
 
ddemair said:
When the 6th generation of the Goldwing came out it was offered in white. I love white motorcycles and I loved the tech and lower weight.

I found this: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2018-Honda-Gold+Wing+Tour-5037737931#sid=703534

It's pretty much the right bike for me. The color is right, it has the manual transmission I want, the mileage is low and the price is very reasonable.

BUT, It doesn't really offer anything more that what I already have in my ST1300 and my wife rarely rides with me anymore so passenger accommodations is not a big selling point. I'm resisting because I think know my motivation is more emotional than rational. On the other hand, motorcycle purchases are almost never completely rational.

So, if you were in my shoes (assuming you have the money, which I do), what would you do? Just don't tell me that it isn't a thing of beauty.
Click to expand...
Buy it. I spent 2.5 years wrapping my head around the size and the price. Once I bought it my only regret is that I didn't do it much sooner. The Wing is just so easy and so satisfying of a bike to ride. You won't get hurt buying a used Wing either.
 
The top down view clearly shows a size difference. If you've got the room the differenced is neglicable. If like I said you don't have the room suddenly the difference is quite apparent. Regardless the ST1800 reference makes me smile.
 
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