RT vs Goldwing? Your vote counts!

[jodog]

I am looking to buy a second bike and it seems to be narrowed down to a BMW RT or an 18+ GW. Let's start a poll and see which gets the most votes from our group.

 

[motornut]

Two different bikes, get one and you will always want the other at times. I have a '15 Concours and a '04 ST, when I am on one. I want the other. What really throws it is there is always the ZRX that puts in its 2 cents.
Give up and get them both

 

[Whisperquiet]

I would buy what fits the best….the RT is too tight for me ergonomically. They are nice bikes though.

 

[the Ferret]

Honda guy here... I'd have to go with the wing. Personally, I'd never buy a European bike, but that's just me. I've thought about it, test ridden them, even rented a BMW for 9 days once and afterwards always end up buying a Japanese bike.

 

[Mellow]

RT here but I'm sure a GW would be great... I just like the RT is sportier and lighter, so much so I also got the ADV version... LOL

 

[Uncle Phil]

But you left out the ST1100 ...

 

[diferg]

In my age denial my pre-70 year old self would definitely go for the RT for handling, performance and lesser size. The Goldwing like a Boss Hoss was just to big and bulky. Now my post 70 self would go with the Goldwing, comfort of riding position, foot placement, lower center of gravity, etc. etc. So, I can't accurately make a statement for either. It is a very individual choice. This question is similar to Bentley Continental GT or Mustang GTD?

 

[Al st1100]

This is like asking your grandmother to pick out a bike for you.

 

[Bug Dr.]

I've owned both and I'd go back to an RT before the GW.
Mike

 

[Daboo]

In my age denial my pre-70 year old self would definitely go for the RT for handling, performance and lesser size.

In my age denial my "post"-70 year old self would definitely go for the RT...

If you buy the GW, you'll need the appropriate costume to go with it. Boat shoes with shorts and a nice knit shirt for your trips to Walmart.

Chris

 

[Mellow]

In my age denial my "post"-70 year old self would definitely go for the RT...

If you buy the GW, you'll need the appropriate costume to go with it. Boat shoes with shorts and a nice knit shirt for your trips to Walmart.

Chris

Oh stop it!... I spit my grey poupon out..

 

[Obo]

I think the GW will have a lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership.)

 

[Corkus]

I've owned both as old models and still like every model of both ever made. I'd pick any RT over any Goldwing of the same value.

For me, Goldwinging is kinda dead and that bothers me. I belonged to a Goldwing club back in the heydays. Goldwings were very popular and high profile bikes. Rides, meetings, buzz, online and on-road. It was fun and I'd happily return to all that if it still existed. Now there are no clubs, no buzz, and I don't see Goldwings out in the wild nearly as much as in the past, or as much as I would expect. The new model didn't do much to revive the brand.

The world is sadly way past peak Goldwing as it is way past peak Sporttouring.

RT's are doing better than Goldwings. BMW won the Sporttouring wars by horrifying attrition and is the only Sporttouring Brand that is still alive by my observations. That counts for something with me. So, if you are ok with the expenses associated with that brand, and that the hugest of if's, then RT.

Best wishes with your decision.

(Disclaimer: For me, ADV bikes are not sporttouring. Excellent as they are they are something else to me, so I exclude those bikes.)

 

[Uncle Phil]

Oh stop it!... I spit my grey poupon out..

But you have plenty more in the dispensers on your bikes ...

 

[billo]

Neither. I can’t afford the upkeep on the beemer or live with the self image of the gw.

 

[DJDixon]

I vote for the RT (since I have one in the garage), because of the weight difference and because the GW is painful for me to ride, my body just doesn't fit the bike.

 

[diferg]

Well now I have to come clean, although I still have the ST 1300. I now mostly ride an OLDWING TRIKE. It doesn't "scream" anywhere and tight cornering is only a memory! It is a tank, but it doesn't hurt my neck to ride for more than hour and tip overs are nonexistent. What a world, What a world!

 

[wjbertrand]

I wouldn’t want to deal with all the BMW reliability issues. Gold Wing all day long.

 

[Daboo]

I wouldn’t want to deal with all the BMW reliability issues. Gold Wing all day long.

I think most of the "reliability" issues are more hearsay anymore than fact. Of course mine might fall apart tomorrow...

I'd agree with you on the older BMWs though.

Chris

 

[Donk]

I have owned an RT and currently own a '22 Goldwing DCT. Both good bikes. I never bonded with the RT. It did everything well enough but didn't have the grunt I like coming out of corners, my legs (30"inseam) were a little tighter bent than I expected on a touring bike, and at low speed the weight of the fairing made the front end feel a little awkward. I spent the last few years talking myself out of a Goldwing. Too big, too heavy, too expensive I rationalized. Rode one for a weekend last year and genuinely rode like a madman trying to scare myself on little back roads, I didn't. Yet I stuck to my rationalization. Finally towards the end of this summer, after my Moto Guzzi fiasco, I stumble over a low mileage minty '22 that the owner had just traded in on the '25 Anniversary Edition. Bought it and my only regret is I waited so long to pull the trigger. Bike is one of the easiest and most satisfying bikes I've owned. The Goldwing is fun on all types of roads big and small. Plus it's a Honda so ownership. isn't going to Break My Wallet. Met a guy a couple weeks ago with 242,000 miles on his '23 who said other than wear items he's done nothing to the bike! But then again I was introduced to him by my friend who has 670,000 on his '02!