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Think You Know the Gold Wing ? Think Again .
THE HONDA GOLD WING has long been the gold standard in luxury motorcycle touring , but it ’ s sportier than most people realize . When the GL1000 was launched in 1975 , it had a liquid-cooled flat engine , maintenance-free shaft drive , and an underseat fuel tank – features that are part of the Gold Wing ’ s DNA and make it such a good long-distance tourer .
But the GL1000 also had the largest , most powerful engine yet created for a Honda motorcycle . As Alan Cathcart noted in his review of a 1976 GL1000 for our December 2024 issue , the Gold Wing ’ s quarter-mile acceleration was second only to the Kawasaki Z1 , the fastest “ sportbike ” of the era , and it had a top speed of 129 mph .
As the Gold Wing evolved over multiple generations from the GL1000 to the GL1500 , it became bigger , heavier , and more luxurious . Thanks to its low center of gravity , the Gold Wing has always handled
well for its size , but due to its plush seating for two , generous luggage capacity , and other accoutrements , it developed a reputation as a “ couch on wheels .”
With the introduction of the GL1800 in 2001 , Honda steered the Gold Wing ’ s development in a sportier direction . Masanori Aoki , Large Project Leader for the GL1800 , had previously developed some of Honda ’ s CBR sportbikes . Compared to the GL1500 , the GL1800 had a more aerodynamic shape , a lower curb weight , and an extruded aluminum twin-spar frame that vastly improved its performance capabilities .
In 2018 , Honda introduced a new version of the GL1800 that was even sportier . It was more compact and 90 lb lighter than its predecessor , and its double-wishbone front end allowed the engine and rider to be moved closer to the front wheel for better handling .
Having ridden the GL1500 and both generations of the GL1800 , I ’ ve been impressed with how much the Gold Wing ’ s handling , acceleration , and braking have improved . Every Gold Wing tested by Rider has been returned to Honda with beveled footpegs and scuffed engine guards , its potential limited only by its cornering clearance .
I ’ ve heard the “ couch on wheels ” stereotype parroted many times over the years , often by people who have never ridden a Gold Wing . To dispel the myth , with support from Honda , we created a video titled “ Think You Know the Gold Wing ? Think Again .” Senior Editor Kevin Duke and I take a pair of Gold Wings into the canyons and onto a track to show what they can do . You can watch the video at YouTube . com / RiderMagazine . com .
— GREG DREVENSTEDT
8 / APRIL 2025 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM