I've never removed my ST bags on a trip. Ever. For maintenance sure. Otherwise that's why I have liners.
Helmet storage is a non-issue for me since I rarely, if ever, put my helmet in a top case or even a saddlebag. I always set it on top the bike with a cable lock to secure it from falling off mainly. It's upright so if there is rain or other droppings from overhead it stays dry and clean inside. When I had my GL1500 there were helmet locks under the rear of the top case that I did use.
Rear wheel maintenance is a breeze on a wing, remove the rear center panel and then a cross bar and you have access to the 5 bolts that hold the wheel on the single sided swingarm.
I didn't know that the wing had a single sided swing arm. When I have done my looking at other tourers that I might like to own, I first go through and cross off my list the ones with a single sided arm * - my feeling is that they are not up to the job for carrying the weight. A rather bigoted opinion which has been reinforced by having a couple of friends who's BMWs final drive collapsed on them.
But if the Wing can cope with one, maybe I just need to cross off BMWs rather than any with such an arrangement.
Do the Goldwings have a history of problems, or do they have the typical Honda reliability ?
* The other things I cross off are - those that instruct riders not to use panniers and top box at the same time, and those that had twitchy fly by wire throttles. I don't know what I feel about automatics or canbus. But I digress !
I didn't know that the wing had a single sided swing arm. When I have done my looking at other tourers that I might like to own, I first go through and cross off my list the ones with a single sided arm * - my feeling is that they are not up to the job for carrying the weight. A rather bigoted opinion which has been reinforced by having a couple of friends who's BMWs final drive collapsed on them.
But if the Wing can cope with one, maybe I just need to cross off BMWs rather than any with such an arrangement.
Do the Goldwings have a history of problems, or do they have the typical Honda reliability ?
* The other things I cross off are - those that instruct riders not to use panniers and top box at the same time, and those that had twitchy fly by wire throttles. I don't know what I feel about automatics or canbus. But I digress !
Like a kid in a candy store ......... every year some bike comes out with great pictures of riding through some incredible roads and suddenly I want that bike !! Then reality sets in,,,what a bummer!!As far as ground clearance... with the older version it was only in tight twisties w/poor form that you would notice a scrap a peg.. for me anyway... once your technique is better then it's a non issue. But, now that it's a little more and the suspension can be adjusted electronically to a stiffer setting it may just be a almost perfect setup. I'm trying to not like the new wing but it's not easy.. lol The only thing saving me is I have a few things I want to do to my house that is stalling funds for a new bike so whew, that's close... but then again... do I really need new counter tops.. h mmmm
Mellow said:it was only in tight twisties w/poor form that you would notice a scrap a peg..
Put down my deposit. The wait begins.
Aha! I figured you did that since you didn't call me to "let's go look" on Monday...just went on and jumped in head first! At Southern Honda in Chattanooga?
cdnemsguy said:I was emailed this today.
I didn't go to Cool Springs to look until Tuesday, and was told that they couldn't buy them for what Southern quoted. Oh, well. Called Southern and placed $300 deposit over the phone. Waiting on call back with estimated delivery. Sitting on one, looks smaller than my ST1300.
Ride Safe
John
We'll meet half way somewhere and have a lunch when you get it. They look like a great bike to me but I want to put a few more miles on my ST.
Raymond
When I sat on a new one this week, it looked smaller than my ST1300 from the rider position. Much narrower and I can stand up flat flooted over the bike, just like my '08 Wing. It's shorter than the 1300.
Ride Safe
John
Gug said:The ST1300 and the new wing are both 36" wide at the tips of the rearviews.