- The Honda Gold Wing has evolved from its “old man’s bike” reputation, offering unmatched comfort and technology for all riders.
- With a powerful 1,833cc engine and innovative features like Cruise Control and DCT transmission, the Gold Wing stands out in the touring market.
- Despite its hefty weight, the Gold Wing excels in reliability, luxury, and performance, making it a top choice for those seeking a premium touring experience.
The consensus is that the Honda Gold Wing is an old man’s motorcycle. But that’s wrong on so many levels. That may have been the case in its early years, but it has come a long way since Honda’s 1974 GL1000. Not many motorcycle companies can boast of a model that has been in production for 50 years, although the model was discontinued in Japan in 2023.
In 2024, the Wing continues to stay on sale in North America, signaling a continuation of its legendary legacy. Last year, Honda did mention the Gold Wing would be available in five trims and though the website shows only two, it does allow you to customize. Taking the Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT model into account, and further demarcating the base model and its options, it makes five trims – the base Gold Wing in Manual or DCT, the Gold Wing Tour with six-speed or DCT, and the Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT. Let’s check out why it’s an unmatched option today.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Honda.
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Mechanical Prowess
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The Gold Wing’s horizontally opposed 1,833cc six-cylinder engine is well known for its smoothness and power. The design is over 13 pounds lighter than previous generations and eight pounds less in DCT trims. The high-strength aluminum cylinder sleeves help reduce weight and increase cooling efficiency, while the 73 mm cylinder bore (as well as the short high-strength crankshaft) helps reduce the engine length, making it more compact. The engine uses a four-valve, Unicam cylinder head design that improves performance and power, and also contributes to the engine’s weight reduction from its previous generation. This four-valve-per-cylinder design plays a big part in the Gold Wing’s superior fuel efficiency, too.
Since the mill is mechanically unmatched in the industry, Honda’s left things mostly unchanged for 2024. This year’s updates are limited specifically to cosmetic enhancements, particularly new color options. Its last substantial overhaul came in 2018, when Honda threw upgrades to the engine, the addition of a double wishbone suspension, improvements in the suspension, electronics, audio, rider conveniences, and weight reduction measures, Since then, the Gold Wing has remained relatively unchanged in terms of mechanical modifications, but the revisions broadened the Gold Wing’s appeal significantly. Last year also saw a navigation update available for download.
Key Highlights
- Latest generation all-aluminum frame is significantly lighter and more compact than previous editions
- State-of-the-art die-casting allows Honda to fine-tune chassis rigidity, giving both a smooth ride and precise handling.
- The Gold Wing’s revolutionary 7-speed Automatic DCT shifts are faster and smoother, and the overdrive seventh gear is perfect for highway cruising.
- You may think it’s just for cosmetics, but the Gold Wings twin-wall exhaust design keeps things cooler as compared to a single-wall design.
Engine Specifications
Crazy Good Features
On the equipment front, the Gold Wing’s speed can be set via Cruise Control, thanks to the fly-by-wire-throttle that can be adjusted while on the move. Rider modes are easy to access, allowing changes in engine characteristics, suspension, and rider aids. In full Tour DCT mode, it has seven semi-active gears, a reverse, and the 1.1 miles per hour “Walking mode” that can be accessed at the touch of a button. The low-speed reverse gear on the Tour DCT model uses engine power, while the Gold Wing Tour with manual transmission offers a unique electric reverse. Both systems make it easy to maneuver the motorcycle out of a parking space, especially if you need to roll back up an incline.
Dual-Cutch Transmission (DCT)
Other than that, at higher speeds in Sports mode, the gears hold out longer, while during rapid deceleration, the automatic transmission downshifts a couple of gears quickly and without problems. Economy mode, though, is a different story, especially when on the throttle aggressively, the transmission will short-shift all the way to top gear, refusing to down-shift gears when it should be doing so. That’s been done to promote fuel efficiency, of course. Unfortunately, the cruise control is not adaptive due to a lack of radar, which also means there’s no blind-spot detection. Although unquestionably reliable, an issue at slower speeds between first and second gears with DCT has been the lack of control due to the non-existence of a clutch lever, and taking its payload into account, it can be unnerving.
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Integrated Starter Generator
Honda has gone the distance by establishing an integrated starter generator. While most motorcycles have the parts separately located, Honda has combined the starter motor and generator into one compact component that directly leads to the Wing’s overall weight-savings – 5.3 pounds to be exact. The generator becomes the starter motor when the polarity is reversed. In addition to this, helical gears with teeth set at a specific angle to the gear axis are used in the hardware for reduced mechanical noise and vibration. Another convenient feature of the Gold Wing is the engine shutting off automatically after three seconds when in traffic. With the combined help of throttle-by-wire control and DCT, restarting is initiated smoothly and instantaneously when the rider turns the throttle.
Honda Pro Arm Swingarm
On the suspension front, Honda uses their proprietary single-sided aluminum Pro Arm swingarm design that houses the Gold Wing’s shaft drive. The swingarm links to the frame using a patented pivot structure that increases stiffness and reduces weight, leading to responsive handling and a smooth ride. The Wing Tour takes it to another level altogether, featuring suspension that can be electrically controlled via four adjustable modes for varying loads. Riders can select from Rider, Rider with loaded bags, Rider and Passenger, and Rider and Passenger with loaded luggage while the suspension automatically adjusts on the fly as you ride.
Reliability and Quality
The Wing is extremely comfortable, and it’s akin to owning a small car. It can eat up anything that’s thrown at it, munching up potholes and bumps, and you won’t feel a thing, thanks to its double wishbone suspension and ridiculous payload. Its innovative design changes the path the wheel travels through the suspension stroke and that lets both the engine and the rider and passenger move closer to the front wheel. The brakes are said to provide excellent stopping power every time, thanks to Honda’s ABS-linked braking system that comprises dual three-piston calipers at the front and a single three-piston caliper at the rear. They’re mated to full-floating 296 mm and 316 mm rotors respectively.
The Gold Wing is well-engineered, but for those who are new to it, it is difficult to begin with. It may have lost quite a bit of weight from the previous generation, but it’s still heavy. Its 802 / 804-pound weight (depending on which trim you’re looking at) is obvious when taking it off the stand, and will take some time to get used to. We don’t recommend trying to lean the motorcycle over side-to-side once you have your leg over the seat – it’s a leviathan of a motorcycle and not a 300-pound entry-level offering.
Touring Luxury Reinvented
Despite its static mechanical configuration, the 2024 Gold Wing continues to offer an extensive array of touring-friendly features. Covering long distances is easier when the onboard entertainment system provides many options and Honda even upgraded the onboard speakers to 45 watts a couple of years ago. Across all trims (excluding manual), riders get a 7-inch TFT screen, navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, an adjustable electric windscreen, Smart Key operation, four riding modes, traction control, and Hill Start assistance.
The 7-inch display screen may not be up to the standards of a Ducati, Kawasaki, or BMW, but it gets the job done. It is flanked by an analog speedometer and tachometer, which is useful and looks nice, but why Honda hasn’t gone completely digital is anyone’s guess. The HomeLink Wireless Control System is optional, meanwhile.
Protecting the rider from the elements is Honda’s screen. Electrically controlled, it moves both up and down over a distance of 4.9 inches, changes angle as it is raised and lowered, and also remembers the last setting it was set to. It offers excellent wind protection as the rider is now closer to the front wheel and therefore sits closer to the windscreen, which is narrower, lower, and has a more sporty profile than previous generations.
The Gold Wing wouldn’t be complete without its storage facilities. For 2024, it features integrated saddlebags that can be opened electronically with the push of a button and be locked and unlocked remotely with the smart key. They’re also hydraulically damped for smooth operation. In the Tour version, the Wing gets the 61-liter top box with an integrated passenger backrest.
Gray 2021 Honda Gold Wing DCT cruising on the road
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Strong Price Compared To American Options
Today, the Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT commands an MSRP of $33,000, a modest $100 increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the Gold Wing Tour and Tour DCT are priced at $28,700 and $29,700 respectively. As for the base model, it is available in a six-speed manual transmission or DCT at $24,700 and $25,700 respectively. At this price, the motorcycle is much cheaper than the likes of the Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide or Indian Challenger Elite.
AIRBAG: The Gold Wing pioneered the concept of a motorcycle airbag, and the 2024 Gold Wing Tour continues to lead the way.
All in all, the Honda Gold Wing has remained mechanically unchanged since 2018, but you still get a bucket load of tech and an unmatched combination of comfort, technology, and refinement. Its 1,833cc flat-six engine is as smooth as butter as ever and promises riders an unforgettable experience. So if you’re in the market for the ultimate touring motorcycle that also offers sports capabilities, this is it!
Additional Specifications
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