"all bikes lead to a Goldwing"

Having had both for a while, the main difference is what I call the chest area. :)
The ST is wider just under the tank due to the way the V engine sits.
The Wing's 6 cylinders are all down low where the ST is skinnier.
 
Interesting, not as much heavier than the ST1300 as I thought, and the weight is lower as is the seat. It should be even more manageable than the ST. Though of course the same would be true of the ST so equipped, but we’re used to seeing most ‘wings with a top box. That affects perception of size for sure.
 
Biggest PITA for me is that I can’t come close to fitting my st1300 saddlebag liners into my 2024 tour bags. They are small!
Also compared to most others, I am not digging the DCT. Convenient yes, fun no.
 
CDNolddude said:
Biggest PITA for me is that I can’t come close to fitting my st1300 saddlebag liners into my 2024 tour bags. They are small!
Also compared to most others, I am not digging the DCT. Convenient yes, fun no.
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Sorry to hear you're not digging the DCT, but it also reenforces my preference for the manual transmission version. That is, when I (most likely) eventually get a Goldwing.

That preference gave me pause when most everyone who has the DCT has reported that they love it. I can understand that, especially considering that it's so touring-oriented. Even so, I'm pretty sure I want to be in control regardless how smart the automatic transmission is.

And yes, I know that the automatic shifts can be overridden, but in my mind pushing buttons to choose a gear is not the kind of shifting that I have grown to love.
 
ddemair said:
And yes, I know that the automatic shifts can be overridden, but in my mind pushing buttons to choose a gear is not the kind of shifting that I have grown to love.
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I bought the optional foot shifter with my DCT. It works just like a manual shifter, other than the fact there's no clutch lever. You can use the foot shifter, and or the toggle shifters on the bars, in either manual or automatic mode. If in auto mode, it will eventually override and shift up or down if required.
 
CDNolddude said:
Biggest PITA for me is that I can’t come close to fitting my st1300 saddlebag liners into my 2024 tour bags. They are small!
Also compared to most others, I am not digging the DCT. Convenient yes, fun no.
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I agree the side cases on a Tour are a lot smaller than the ST's, as well as not being removable. The top case on the Tour (also not removable) is oddly shaped inside, but you can put 2 full faced helmets in it easily, unlike my OEM ST top case.
 
Obo said:
I bought the optional foot shifter with my DCT. It works just like a manual shifter, other than the fact there's no clutch lever. You can use the foot shifter, and or the toggle shifters on the bars, in either manual or automatic mode. If in auto mode, it will eventually override and shift up or down if required.
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I like the idea of a foot shifter - that would make it more 'natural' to me if I wanted to do manual mode.
 
ddemair said:
Sorry to hear you're not digging the DCT, but it also reenforces my preference for the manual transmission version. That is, when I (most likely) eventually get a Goldwing.

That preference gave me pause when most everyone who has the DCT has reported that they love it. I can understand that, especially considering that it's so touring-oriented. Even so, I'm pretty sure I want to be in control regardless how smart the automatic transmission is.

And yes, I know that the automatic shifts can be overridden, but in my mind pushing buttons to choose a gear is not the kind of shifting that I have grown to love.
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‘In our minds’ not liking is not a good substitute for trying and still not liking. There’s all sorts of stories where riders were pretty sure they didn’t want to like DCT and end up with one after a ride. Not for everyone of course.
 
I'm in year 5 with a 2020 DCT Tour (42,000 miles) , and having had both ST1100 and ST1300 ... there is no comparison ..... wing hands down. I ride "briskly" at times on bumpy Irish roads .... never touched anything down on wing ... even 2 up.
Recent tour to Portugal and back (3000 miles) - had 4 tankfulls with OVER 70mpg !!!! (74.0 on one) .... note that's proper gallons(4.546 Litres) Lots of go , lots of comfort , smooth would be an understatement ... just can't think of anything that would do the job better. (But I would like a long ride on the new Guzzi Stelvio)
DCT ... use the buttons to over-ride ,as necessary , but it rarely is .... the odd overtake , when something coming towards me ,means I need to get a move on .................
 
dduelin said:
‘In our minds’ not liking is not a good substitute for trying and still not liking. There’s all sorts of stories where riders were pretty sure they didn’t want to like DCT and end up with one after a ride. Not for everyone of course.
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First time on a DCT was when I rode my new Wing home about 150km from the dealer. I hated it. Thought I'd made the biggest waste of money ever. I couldn't wait to get off the bike. It wasn't until the next day when the Mrs. wanted to go for a ride on it, and we spent about 4-5 hours on it that I realized just how much it actually was a convenient feature, and only a small part of the overall Wing experience.
It's not really fair to compare a DCT to a manual, as they are different.
I figured out what I was doing: comparing the manual I was used to to a new way of doing something. Neither is wrong, just different. A DCT will never be like just like a manual without a clutch. It can't.
For those that love the DCT right out the gate, that's great; but not everybody does or will. Some may come to love it like I did, and some may never like it. It's just another feature about the bike you have to accept, regardless of loving or hating it.
 
Obo said:
First time on a DCT was when I rode my new Wing home about 150km from the dealer. I hated it. Thought I'd made the biggest waste of money ever. I couldn't wait to get off the bike. It wasn't until the next day when the Mrs. wanted to go for a ride on it, and we spent about 4-5 hours on it that I realized just how much it actually was a convenient feature, and only a small part of the overall Wing experience.
It's not really fair to compare a DCT to a manual, as they are different.
I figured out what I was doing: comparing the manual I was used to to a new way of doing something. Neither is wrong, just different. A DCT will never be like just like a manual without a clutch. It can't.
For those that love the DCT right out the gate, that's great; but not everybody does or will. Some may come to love it like I did, and some may never like it. It's just another feature about the bike you have to accept, regardless of loving or hating it.
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If I’m lucky I’ll pick up smaller bike (vstrom 650?) to enjoy a manual again. DCT isn’t enough to make me sell the wing.
F4 larger windshield also made a huge improvement to me for enjoying the bike.
 
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CDNolddude said:
If I’m lucky I’ll pick up smaller bike (vstrom 650?) to enjoy a manual again. DCT isn’t enough to make me sell the wing.
F4 larger windshield also made a huge improvement to me for enjoying the bike.
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I think installing foot pegs would help me on longer trips, although the price tag on them is ridiculous.
As for the windscreen, I don't mind the OEM.
 
Obo said:
I think installing foot pegs would help me on longer trips, although the price tag on them is ridiculous.
As for the windscreen, I don't mind the OEM.
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Yes I was thinking about the Rivco aero pegs but price is stupid when you add exchange rate, shipping, brokerage fees it almost doubles the price. I find I can go much longer on the wing than the ST1300 before I want the pegs. Use a utopia backrest on both for my bad back.
 
Bug Dr. said:
It was June 2008. I had just purchased my ST a week earlier. I was filling my fuel tank for the first time on my 2007 ST 1300 when an old, weathered man riding an old, weathered Goldwing 1500 pulled up beside me. We started talking about bikes, riding and travelling. I mentioned that I had just returned to riding after a long break, and I was excited to see the U.S. and Canada. He told me it looked like I had a worthy steed for my plans and then threw in "all bikes lead to a Goldwing". I laughed and told him that I wasn't sure about that. I guess the old guy was smarter than I gave him credit for being at the time.

This bike wasn't even on my radar three weeks ago. I was still in the Veruca Salt mindset of "I want an RS and I want it now". The fact that there are no BMW dealers in my state kept wearing on me. I don't want to be 3.5 hours from a dealer and I don't want to trailer a new bike home. I kept asking myself "what do you want?"

I already have the Versys 650. That will fill the fun in the twisties urges and I can travel on it for shorter distances.......so all of those boxes are checked.

I wanted the following:
Simple
Reliable
Comfortable (must have cruise control)
No drama (borderline boring)
Local
Relatively inexpensive

The answer I came up with.......no, it can't be.......over and over again........hell no, it can't be...........I'm not that old.........it checks all of the boxes...........damn, that old man was right.

A 2024 Goldwing (ouch, it hurts just to say it)..........I'm at least getting the "sportier" version without the lounge chair on back.

Meet Kermit, the green Goblin
IMG_2242-XL.jpg


Yes, I actually did it.
Mike
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I bought my first wing when I was about 20. I did a lot of cross country riding without many stops, and I like music -- back then all of the in helmet stuff had not been dreamed o, and I never wore a helmet anyway. Started on a GL1000. I was the youngest member of the local GWRRA by a couple of decades.
 
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