You failed to put a link to the Aeroline scratch remover. I guess you were too distressed, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed with all the faults of the Goldwing.
Considering you can still buy new 2018 models for under $20K, I wouldn't consider these bikes expensive, considering how well it does literally everything...this bike is very inexpensive compared to Harleys or Indians, which are also far inferior bikes...
You’re right about the nit picking. I came from a 2018 Harley Road Glide Ultra. I now have the 2019 goldwing tour dct. I and my wife and I are blown away as to how smooth and easy it is to ride. Handles very well. I have never ridden a previous model goldwing. I hope I didn’t make a mistake and should’ve bought a previous gen goldwing. Maybe I should stay away from them lol.
I had a dct on test for 12 days thanks to my Honda dealer. When I got back onto my 2017 Gen2 Wing it made me realise just how awesome it is and much better than the new model. I think we've been spoilt by the gen2 Wing - its got a great Navi system, a great music system that fully integrates my iPod, the engine is smooth as silk, the seating is comfy, I get 2 helmets in the trunk with ease, its got a great helmet hanger system for when the trunk is full of luggage, it gives great weather protection, etc etc. The downsides (if these are considered as downsides) are few - fixed windshield, only 5 gears, suspension benefits from Progressive spring install, other than that its a great bike and well worth considering if you fancy a pre owned bike.
I’m at about 14,000 miles and agree with your review. I have the manual shift version and have to say that it’s the best transmission yet for a Wing - not clunky like the last generation. Also, the stock suspension is very good and I think it handles every bit as well as my 2006 GL1800 with the full Traxxion upgrade. On the negative side, lousy stock seat, useless helmet holder and a cheap navigation system are not what you expect for an expensive touring bike. I do have some slight fogging on the display but not terrible yet and the pegs are not cracking (yet). Great video!
I rode a Kawasaki, a Victory, and currently have a 2016 Goldwing. I agree with your "nit picky" comment, I now have higher expectations of my bike. I do love the bike and am in the process of purchasing the 2019 DCT. I am grateful to you, Maxx McAlister and MCrider for your videos, they have been quite helpful. I will continue to use the Garmin GPS and Sena communication for my mapping and music needs.
Thanks for the review. I have a 2018 Goldwing Tour with 12K miles. Items you mentioned: 1. No dash fogging. I live In central Illinois and the bike has seen many variations in temperature. 2. I have a Honda trunk rack. No problem. Works fine 3. No saddle bag sticking both sides. No problem 4. No handle bar vibration. Seems smooth to me. 5. Rider pegs not cracked.
I have a 2005 Gl1800 and I ride with my wife. I always keep our helmets in the trunk when we park the bike, and I love my roomy trunk. It’s a value for me. Nice video.
Great review. I have 9300 miles on my bike, 2018 Tour DCT, since last Sept. and I ride it mostly everyday. I don't have the problem with the dash fogging, but my bike is always garaged, and I have not left it out over night. I have not ridden when it is real cold early in the morning. It only gets to 35 -40 here in the winter, maybe sometimes a storm will bring colder weather, but mine is doing fine. My foot pegs are looking good at this point. The trunk lid, I did loosen the latches and pull on them as hard as I could and then re-tightened the screws and that did help with the closing, it is a lot better now with less effort. I have the HJC IS Max and use the Sena 20S Evo and I can set the helmet upright in the trunk and close the trunk lid, if the helmet is in a certain position. It was trial and error but I can get it to close without removing the Bluetooth. One thing I did notice is a couple of weeks ago we had 105 weather. I rode my bike to a client's business and parked in the parking lot. After a few hours, when I went to leave, I could not open the saddlebags or the trunk due to expansion of the plastic. I actually had to hold the button down and pry with my fingers to get the bags and trunk to open. Not looking forward to this summer when I will be dealing with that everyday! You are right about the smoothness of the engine. I did a video years ago, putting a nickel on my 05 Goldwing, and recently did one on my 2018. It can be done but it is not as smooth as the older 1800 engines. Go to UA-cam and type in flyboy1ron to see both of those videos. I can also tell you when I ride the bike and have pulled into my driveway, while I am waiting for the garage to open, I can hear the engine idling, and sometimes, I actually believe it sounds like a little diesel engine with all the noise it makes. I do love the bike and do have your videos and enjoy working on the bike. I ride the bike everyday I can, I am not a big guy, so the new size fits me perfect. I love the way it handles the twisties and overall smooth ride of the bike. Thanks for the review. It is nice to see a review from someone who actually owns one and can make an accurate review of the bike. I too have things to nit pick about, but overall it is a great bike.
I tried it last week with my wife, i have a 2015 that i bought for 2 up riding and touring, the only reason i bought a Goldwing is for passenger comfort, i have a Super Tenere as my daily ride, she loves our Goldwing so much that i can never ride my other bike when she has spare time, she is always ready to ride, we did roughly 100km on the new one and she said bring me back to the dealership, your not trading my wing on this, she really prefers the comfort of the older one, the salesman who i know very well was honest enough to tell me this is the comment that keeps coming up, backseat riders prefer the last gen, i think this is a very important thing to compare since most wing riders do it 2 up
Love the nice honest review. I had a 1993 Goldwing until 1999 when I got my first Harley. I have a 2009 Streetglide with a tour pack and lowers that has a stage one and 50,000 miles on it. Never had any problems with it, but I have been thinking about getting a newer bike in a few years so doing my research. My wife loves the ride of the harley and I love the low end torque. The Honda is a beautiful bike but gosh it gets lousy mileage - I get around 45 with mine loaded down touring! I also didn’t like hearing about the radio. Biggest knock on the goldwing for me is NO FLOORBOARDS. What the heck kind of touring bike has pegs? I also really need my pipes at low speed. If they enlarge them over the next few years I will consider it but really think my next bike might be an Indian. We will see. Keep up the great videos!
I have a 2018 DCT Tour. I live in Illinois and for what ever reason I get great gas mileage. On my ride last year to Tennessee I averaged 48 mph towing a loaded trailer. Riding the back roads of Illinois at an average of about 60 mph I average 55 mpg. I weight 220 pounds so I'm not a light person, but I love my gas mileage.
I owned a GL1500 for several years. LOVED the comfort and tourability...eventually hated the weight and top heaviness. Bought a Versys 1000 sport tourer and really like it. Just saw a 2019 'Wing at the dealer recently and fell in love with the big Honda all over again! Great review!
10,000 miles, I haven't done that much on all my bikes in the last 30 years, including my '81 Gold Wing Interstate! Would still love to get the new Gold Wing.
I have a 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT purchased in July 2018. Regarding the trunk I have successfully stored two helmets in it, one was a large HJC RPHA Max and the other was my wife's medium Shoei full face. Both also had Cardo Packtalks on them. It wasn't easy. My helmet had to be angled in with the face shield facing forward and hers had to be stowed on its side. It required patience and manipulation to successfully do it. Decided it also wasn't worth the time and hassle. Regarding Apple Carplay which you haven't addressed at all since you seem to have an Android phone. Even after Honda's January 2019 upgrade it still seems to be balky when ever you get on the bike to start out. Too bad, because it opens up a whole other aspect of the motorcycle's capabilities regarding music, navigation, receiving calls and texts while riding. Also, the lack of an accessory plug for external power. I installed the Honda accessory plug which took 14 man hours to complete. Honda could install this at the factory and add it to the cost to the bike which would be unnoticeable given the overall price. It came in handy during a trip last week when my son's bike suffered a flat rear tire. We plugged it then aired it up with a compressor powered by the accessory plug. Agree with the overall assessment of the bike though, it is very good.
Thanks for the update. ST 1300 for a few more years! 120000 kilometers. Waiting for a few more issues to be resolved, best part is my ST is quicker, way better range, same mileage and from the sounds of it, has better luggage with the stock Pan European top trunk. Also has a large break light, holds 2 large helmets and has no issues closing! This model has had a power windshield since 2003 really Honda! P.S. If it doesn't work with Android, GPS, Audio issues. $31000 + CDN. Will have to wait.
Agree wholeheartedly w u on the navigation issues on the Honda systems. Only have 3000 on my 2018, thanks for the heads up on the foot pegs etc I’ll keep on eye out on these thing. I came from a Harley and just love my new smooooth motorcycle
I don't consider the 2018/19 a bike that you can compare to the gl1800. It's smaller, it has less wind protection, less storage and the trunk looks like a add on item (Harley). The engine is not as smooth and some people are having problems with that (Wavy). No excuse for the Navigation and FM radio. (they know how to do this) I do like the front end a lot but for me that's it. the last three bikes I had were equipped with an adjustable shield that I hardly ever changed, on the other hand I do change the settings on the Baker wings my GL1800 has. I personally think this bike was an upgrade for the ST1300 and should be called the ST1800. It very much reminds me of the three Concours 14's and one FJR I owned in the past. (though better) Just my opinion and I'm not biased to my GL1800 because the front end (and seat) sux!
I have owned over a dozen motorcycles in my career, but never one that weighed over 700 pounds. I purchased the 835 pound 2018 Honda Goldwing Touring DCT, with all the upgrades, hoping to take long comfortable road trips, but recently I sold it to get a BMW R1200RT, which I like much more because it's only 505 pounds. It is my humble opinion that the 2018 Goldwing was not worth the $32,000. It might be perfect for you. However, if you are considering purchasing one, don't listen to other peoples opinions, please rent or borrow one for the full day so you can experience it longer than a ride around the block. The stock seat is the worst I have ever experienced and was only good for a one to two-hour ride. The 2018 Goldwing trunk is too small for two full-size XL and Large helmets, and the side bags cannot hold one full-size helmet. The recommended upgrade seat that Cruiseman suggested for $850 did not work for me either. I did not have these issues with the new BMW, which I rented for a full day ride before purchasing because I learned my lesson the hard way. Ride safely and have fun.
Good honest review. That said, I didn’t hate my BMW RT until it hit nearly 100 000 miles; I loved it for the first 50 000 miles, liked it for the next 30 000 miles, had mixed feelings for another 10 000 miles and at 100 000 . . . well, by then my relationship with Otto the Parts & Service guy had run its course.
Cruiseman's Garage: My RT was reliable and the boxer had character, but the cost of ownership, over 100 000 miles and five years, was not low. It was high. Then again, I’m comparing the RT against my three Suzuki V-Strom’s (which I purchased new) and over 160 000 miles cost me next to nothing, and my ‘09 Honda VFR which is, in my opinion, as perfect a sport-tour as a bike can be.
I've had mine for 6 months, with just under 3,000 miles ( I travel for my job, so don't get to ride as much as I would like). I agree with many of the points you brought up, especially with this being the best bike I've ever owned. Here's my experience with some of the items you brought up. 1. Digging on the dash, no sign of it, yet. Same with scratching. 2. Footpeg rubbers, no splitting, but do appear to be worn much more than I would expect, and more than the floorboards on my 2016 Vaquero. Not a huge issue to me, but still a niggle. 3. I have the Honda trunk rack fitted, and no issues. 4. Pannier opening, I do experience the sticking mentioned.I The Nav system has no issues for me, as I don't want to download complex routes, with multiple waypoints. I just set a destination, and go. When I get there, I input the next. Works for me.I I listen to my own music choices on a USB stick, so radio reception is irrelevant to me. One other thing I'd like to bring up is the display. I don't like having to hit the info button to see my average consumption, especially with not being able to see musical track information at the same time, or even toggle between the two. With the capabilities of the screen, I think it should be possible for the software engineers to develop a "custom" screen for the next update. This to allow the user to select the information displayed, such as digital speed , tire pressures, average consumption, instantaneous consumption, etc., etc. I think this would be welcomed by most owners.
2018 Goldwing Tour DCT owner here... I pretty much agree with Cruiseman on things our bikes have in common, but I do have one 'hate'. That's the 4-way pad on the left handlebar. Being flat, you are forced to take your eyes off the road to see what your left (gloved) thumb is pressing. Reaching for the far side you will nearly always press another button trying to lay your gloved thumb across the pad. I MUCH prefer the smart way that my Indian Chieftain did it; a JOYSTICK! Without looking, you can easily feel the tip of that joystick and that joystick had the same functionality. You can tilt it in any of the four directions and press down on the tip of the joystick for the 'OK' button. All without dangerously taking your eyes off the road. AND, the joystick took up much less real estate on the left handlebar. My second concern is the turn signal timing. I don't 'hate' it, but it is certainly an irritation. The right turn timing is the worst; it will certainly auto cancel before I actually turn right unless there's a right turn lane to lean into before the turn, then the signal will last long enough. Again, I have divide my attention to the right turn signal to re-enable it again before the turn when turn signals are in auto-cancel mode. I'm using them in manual mode for the time being. Again, my 2018 Indian Chieftain auto-cancel turn signals never failed me. Plus, on the Indian, I could hold the turn signal for more than one second and it would then immediately cancel on release. This was great for lane changing. Instant on, hold to change lanes, instant off on release. Beautiful. Change those two things Honda and I won't care about any other nits about the bike. Still, like Cruiseman, the redesigned Goldwing is the best bike I've ever had by far. If I were taken back in time and could change my mind about my next bike, I would still buy the redesigned Goldwing. Hands down.
I think I've heard most ex-goldwing riders hope they would come out with a touring model where the storage and wind protection was better for longer rides. The new model is more sport touring, but you are right that overall more riders wont be as intimidated by the current size and would be a good fit. I still love my 2006. Keep up the great vids!
I had a GL 1800 Goldwing, I tried for two years, I could not fall in love with that motorcycle. Even the simplest maintenance chores were not simple on that machine because of all the plastic that you have to remove to do just about anything that is simple on any other motorcycle.. well I had to goldwing i bought met two guys that were really into gold wings. They were Goldwing honors club members for years. They go to all the rallies. they traded in their 2013 and 2015 gold wings on 2020 gold wings. Four months later, they traded those 2020 gold wings in on leftover 2017 gold wings. They said they were very disappointed with the 2020 gold wings because they were smaller, cramped, their wives said the passenger accommodations were much smaller and less comfortable than the previous models. They said the saddlebags and trunk were much smaller also. They just didn’t like them, so they took a big loss and traded both of their machines in on those leftover 17s. I was searching videos on UA-cam and I’m finding more than just a few videos of 2018 and newer gold wings having major problems, engine problems, transmission problems, navigation problems, but it’s mostly the engine problems. That is unbelievable.. The GL 1800 gold wings were good for 300,000 miles before with basic maintenance. What happened to Honda Gold wings? They were the most technically advanced perfect motorcycles on the face of the earth at one time. did Honda transfer their Goldwing assembly plant to the BMW plant or something. I mean I could completely understand all these problems with a BMW, I had one of those, never again. But I had zero trouble with my Goldwing. I had no mechanical issues with it, I found it boring, but it was no trouble..
Have the 2019 wing. 1500 miles on it now. No issues in wet, humid, hot, cold, central Texas weather so far with fog in the dash. Radio is still trash for AM/FM. I actually like the Navi system. Took me about a month to get used to it and get my settings all set, but I use it. Problem I have is getting trunk sensor off. Close lid, and it stays on. Give the lid a stiff push down on the closed trunk and sensor indicator turns off.
I have had the opportunity it sit on the new wing. Yes it's smaller (reminded me of an updated ST1300 honestly) but it "feels" easier to handle, at least in non moving position. My biggest hurdle is my wife instantly didn't like the seat. She said the bike felt too small and I would agree. It would be nice if Honda offered an optional larger top box and a way to move the trunk back about .5 inch. I was surprised at the lack of storage up front as well. Other than those, I am considering updating to the new bike, still deciding about DCT vs manual.
Thank you for the review Cruiseman. Just sold my 08 Airbag model and put a deposit on a still in the crate 18 DCT Tour. I was torn between the wing and a Indian Challenger but bought the wing at $7000 under MSRP otd was about 10k less than the Challenger modified to a tour model. Looking forward to many trouble free miles and good times on my last bike!😎👍🏻
I think you make an excellent point about the relative ownership experience of the new Gold Wing compared to other bikes. The 2018+ Gold Wing is a wonderful bike *compared to other bikes*, but when you compare it to *the last Gold Wing*, it comes up lacking in a surprising number of areas. It surprises me the number of long-time GL1800 owners (2001 and up) who had high hopes for the newest version, but who have ended up going backwards to the previous generation. I, for one, ended up buying a NOS 2016 and am loving it.
Good review! I have a ‘97 Honda Valkyrie with just over 100,000 miles. An 09 BMW 1200RT, a 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100 and 94 BMW R1100RS. Cost of maintenance on the RT is shocking, plus having just returned from the dealership that will no longer work with on bikes over ten years old has me looking carefully at which bike I might buy next. The Valk has been relatively low maintenance cost, but it is analog vs. digital. The Triumph is low cost with a high fun factor, but wouldn’t go cross country with it or two up.
I am about to turn 26,000 miles. Have not had any fogging issues on the dashboard and I live in the Austin, TX area. my foot peg rubber have not cracked yet. But on my last 7 Gold Wings I had problems with the rubber cracking and wearing badly. I have not had any problem with my left saddlebag sticking but the right saddlebag stick on hot days out in the sun. I have an extra largeHJC IS-Max II helmet with a J&M BT-03 bluetooth and I am able to set it right side up in the trunk with a 3/4 helmet with full face shield in the trunk and close the trunk. I have never had a GPS other than the GPS's installed on the 2008 and 2012 Gold Wing and I have little problem putting a multi day trip in the GPS and flowing the route that I planned on Honda Trip Planner. I have the Honda Luggage rack and brake light installed by the Dealer when I bought the bike in February 2018 have not had any trouble opening or closing the trunk. Had the Dunlap OEM Tire whenI bought the bike and put 13,500 on them before rplacing them with the Bridgestone OEM tires and getting close to needing to replace them. Hoping Dunlap will come out with the Elite 4 rear tire because the Elite 4 front tire for the pre 2018 Gold Wing will fit the 2018 Gold Wing.
I'm kinda disappointed at the $1400 (plus installation) CB radio. It works, but it does not work well. Biggest flaw is reception volume - once in motion, road noise drowns out incoming transmissions - both on speaker and thru headset (J&M). Infotainment update apparently didn't help. PITA on group rides - I'm usually the tail, so it's tough to keep in contact with the lead.
I just got a 2018 gw after having my first Goldwing ever, 07, for only 6 months with 24,000 miles. Wanted something newer, however the ride is totally different to me. I had a FJR before the 07 and I love the 07 as I took a 1000 mile ride. This 18 is very stylish, but it’s a total different ride. To me the bike is trying to find where it fits in; sport or sport touring or pure touring. Only had it for 3 days but want to take ride to Los Angeles from Pensacola, Florida.
Corbin makes a larger outer shell for the new GW saddle bags. They add about 2.5" of width to each saddle bag and come painted to match OEM colors. Maybe Corbin will make a larger trunk lid that will make the trunk handle some helmets.
Just broke 10k myself on my BD. No fogging on my dash yet. Foot rubbers doing fine. Yes, I've had my left saddle bag stick on particularly hot days. South Carolina weather, ridden nearly every day. Re: the AM/FM reception issue. I agree it's terrible, and it's almost certainly interference. In my case, the FM reception is fine in ACC, but as soon as you go ON, the reception drops significantly.
I have the sticking in the left saddlebag and the sticking of the trunk lid. I have the trunk rack installed. My Goldwing is a 2018 model. Mine had a new clutch master cylinder installed and clutch lever installed under warranty due to the hill assist icon on dash blinking continuously. Mine had issues with the TPMS light blinking continuously when the tire was cold even though the cold tire air pressure was correct. My Goldwing has 10,250 miles. I have owned 2 other Goldwings a 2003 and a 2008 previously. This Goldwing is truly superior.
There’s a company in the UK called Speedo Angels that makes anti-glare, anti-scratch overlays for a host of motorcycle dashboards. Like the overlay you can put on a smartphone. Currently they do not list an application for the new Goldwing but I’m sure if enough riders contact them and request it, they’ll be happy to produce one.
I have a 1985 Goldwing Limited and was planning on buying a new 2018 Goldwing, never thought about anything else. Test drove a Yamaha Venture and bought it?? WTH? The Goldwing is a much smaller bike now and I like the feel of a big solid bike that rides great and has fewer cylinders. I do love the DCT but wouldn't trade my smooth shifting Venture for one. I NEVER thought I would end up with an air cooled Yamaha, never! RIDE ONE (Yamaha Venture) BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING!
I agree it's silly the trunk doesn't fit 2 helmets. For that sticky trunk hinge, you could spray some graphite lubricant in those hinges and work it in, I bet that would make the trunk work better for you.
I had a 2001 Goldwing and then a 2012 Ultra Limited. The Ultra bars vibrated at about 1000 rpm at a stop and stopped vibrating at about 1200 rpm. At Highway speeds it is dead quiet. I could always hear the engine whirring on the Goldwing which I did not find relaxing at all. The Harley just lopes along in a very relaxed manner in my opinion. Oh and both full face helmets fit in the top box plus gloves and vests etc.
The other thing I would say about the engine is that it really lacks torque and speed for an engine of that size. To only have the same amount as my 1500 Valkyrie at the rear wheel with all of the technology the fuel injection the multiple timing mapping better known as modes. This bike should pull like no other. However they have detuned it to the point where it's really lacking for an 1800 cc motorcycle. When you have the Katy 1600 pushing 175 horsepower you have to wonder what they were thinking. I will say one thing the handling of this bike is phenomenal.
Agree with comments on the wing. As far as the scratches I put some 3M film on the all the cases and trunk, as well as the dash, which keeps all the scratches away. A film called SunTek will actually heal itself from any scratches when the heat from the sun hits the film. Not that expensive !
2019 just turned 32,000 miles. 1) Dash is spotted, difficult to see except in the right light. Thanks for mentioning this one, I couldn't quite understand what it was but I'm sure that's the same problem I've got and because it's inside that's why I can't clean it. I've attempted to show the dealer but in the shade it was impossible to see and we didn't move it out. I was thinking with the comments in the owners manual about never getting it wet (yeah, that's funny), that they wouldn't replace under warranty and even if they did, it would just happen again. I'm told the part is only about $90 but then there's the bear of tearing the bike down to swap it out. 2) Absolutely the foot peg rubber split before or around 10,000 miles. I ordered more but still haven't put them on in these last over 20,000 miles. It doesn't seem like its getting much worse so I'm holding off. 3) I've had a few times when the trunk doesn't want to open.. not sure what I've done to get it to open but I get a bad feeling when it happens. It also seems to take spells when it doesn't want to close but then other times it works properly. 3) No trouble with the left saddlebag door on mine. There's been a little with the right one but it could be from overstuffing my ride jacket in there. 4) AM/FM, spot on. XM, mine didn't work well at all around here (Columbia SC) during the trial period, 1st quarter of 2018. I did notice when I took it to Daytona March/April timeframe of 2018 that the XM reception was MUCH better. I canceled the XM after the trial period and just kept weather and traffic. Only recently I've noticed there a few news stations I still get and they seem to be coming in better so maybe some of the updates improved this. Thanks for the great review and for bringing up these issues things, I thought I was the only one with them, particularly the dash.
XM has the same problem as satellite TV like DirecTV or Dish - there *must* be a clear path between the antenna and the satellites - which for most of us, are in the southern sky, and the further north you are, the closer to the horizon they are. Tall trees on the side of the road are enough to block the signal where I am (Northern Indiana), and so are mountains. If I go far enough north (into Canada, say), the XM signal will even cut out if the bike's pointed the wrong way. I got around it on my 01 Wing by removing the antenna from it's mounting point and letting it dangle to the south side of the bike. I won't be able to do that on the new one, since the antenna's covered by that body panel in the front. Even with all that, I still like it.
A few items you may have mentioned, and maybe I missed ... Honda did a good job with the front end suspension on this iteration of the Goldwing. The stock seat ... really bad, even after the WingSoft modification. I just can't get comfortable with out a gel pad from Saddlemen. Kickstand ... well done, especially for us shorter riders. More places to anchor highway pegs more easily would be appreciated, as well as more tie down spots for carry bags. How about some adjustable ergonomics for foot pegs and handlebar reach, its not 1999 anymore. A little bigger standard windscreen would be good, its a touring bike. And the GPS ... after two updates (thank goodness) its still not 'very good' but at least its become usable. I love that it's relatively light and easy to get off its kick stand. Motor and riding modes - well done!
Recently saw a video that pointed out a potential problem in the front suspension. The issue is the "bump stop "on the shock , which looks as though it will wear prematurely.
I agree with everything you said about the 18 GW. The trunk sticks a little after I installed the rack. My right saddle came off one side on the road (I'm usually pretty good about closing). The GPS is at best, underrated. I also have a Garmin add. The radio is the worst I've had in 7 GWs after 40 years. The engine does vibrate a lot for GW, not so much as ND. Thanks for the incisively words of wisdom.
I have 2017 Honda Gold wing i have 20k miles i am 70 i had the Calit9nia sidecar trike conversion done with Escapade trailer i had it painted Star Trek matched Bike and trailer i love it
I have a 2015 Anniversary edition that just passed 41k. I like the looks of the new wing but not the price. I am a retired 73-yr-old and 30k is pretty steep. I’ve had a ‘76 with a windjammer and this Wing along with several others. The seat is absolutely perfect for me. The grips are exactly where they should be. The storage is superior. At 73 I may not live long enough to own another bike. One (rather two: a 2003 and a 2009) ST1300 with the electric windshield. It is nice. The underside of the w/s picks up as many bugs as the front. Rain comes in under but isn’t too bad. I’ll wait four years or so and see how the tech shakes out. I use my GW for everything and it shines. I think the new will as well.
I can afford the new Goldwing but I'm still prefer the older one, better cargo capacity, bulletproof engine, better finishing and for me better style. Not always the new one it's better.
Also, i saw several videos here on youtube, you also may have seen them, where people are saying that the new front wishbone suspension is flimsy and has no travel , it bottoms out very easily, my buddy was going to get an 18 or 19, since i showed him those vids on the front wishbone suspension, he said im going to wait til they fix that before he gets a new one, he has a 16 now w 35,000 on it in great cond. so he figured wait til they get the bugs worked out of them...search those vids ....
That is BS. Maybe if the rider is 275 lbs. But mine has only bottomed out once when I hit a big pothole. I have seen those same videos and I have to question the validity. I love the front suspension.
Cruiseman's Garage I agree. Honda didn’t spend millions on R&D just to put out a POS. I love the suspension on my 2019 and my 2018 . Yes, I have two (2). One is a standard and one is a DCT.
Cruiseman, my wife and I both have 2018 Goldwings and we love these motorcycles! But we have experienced some of the same issues you noted in the video. We came from Kawasaki to Honda so we cannot confirm the engine vibration as I had some vibration on my Vulcan 1700 Nomad at higher RPMs. We wish the trunk space was better/bigger as well as the side bags! (Corbin has a $1k solution-cha-Ching$$$)I’m really getting good at removing the fine scratches in the paint but it’s way too easy to create the scratches! All in all We love the bike but since both are DCT I sometimes miss shifting the gears ⚙️
after 52 years behind bars,i finally tried a GW..2002 with 13k miles/ original owner..WOW!.. i had t ventures,bmwk1200lt(never will i go out on that bmw limb again) i have a guzzi norge (my 4th guzzi-love em) the best mitorcycle for all around use- pacific coast-been riding em 24 years/ never a problem- never had a harley.never will..my friends all ride rice burners too.. i like my “ new to me” wing...i never turn on radios or cbs or cds while riding ever..my wing is so pleasant ,smooth, a pleasure to operate and work on ( except changing that air filter, and flushing the clutch fluid) I resisted buying a GW , and bought the yamaha ventures because- you can change a stator- clutch- water pump-slave cylinder seal-on a venture practically using just basic toolkit tools on the side of the road..with a bmw, you have to have “ bmw” special tools or marry the dealer.. but these gold wings are on a completely different level. just going by you tube videos, the GWs have few mechanical flaws if any..i did have to bleed air out of the hydraulic line to adjust the rear shock spring preload..the original owner was not a maintenance freak like i am..he never changed brake or clutch fluid ever- it looked like melted chocolate ice cream. i’m surprised the calipers and master cylinders still worked..it still had the original air filter complete with mice living in it..18 years of neglect and everything still works ( so far) amazing.. i am thrilled with the GW..i am sorry i waited so long to try one.. that’s why i will not try the new 2020 GW..I don’t want it to burst my happiness love affair bubble with my 2002 GW..
Love my'04 with less than 20k and shez not going anywhere.The Wing world has wanted a smaller/lighter wing and they got it,ie smaller trunk and bags.The 6th gear,auto wind schield and trans still hasn't sold me. I'll wait a few more yrs.till they work it out.45yrs in with todays "Honda Tech" the radio/nav should be state of the art.
The 2010 wing had sticking sidebag doors, so nothing new. When you mounted your rack, more than likely you overtightened the screws and tweaked the trunk lid. Loosen them and see if that helps.
Very well said! Honda really should look into these shortcomings; however small, before anything develops into something serious! My old ‘77 (maybe ‘78) first generation 1k cc was awesome in every way! I’m considering this new generation and therefore interested in all those details! Thanks for eloquently sharing! 👍
I am from Ottawa, Canada and have the same fogging issue on my 2018 Cdn GL. I noticed it when I had about 7000 miles on it. I reported it to the dealer, but since it is hard to see unless the light just hit the dash at the right angle and that it is easily scratched, I told him to wait . Not a major issue now and since more scratches will appear, I will stretch the wait periodas long as I can to get it done under warranty . Unless the fogging gets so bad that it is getting hard to see the dials.
I just added a video to my maintenance series (gw18.cruisemansgarage.com) on how to remove the lens, so it can be cleaned. It is a BIG job, but doable.
Great presentation! I wish you also owned a BMW 1600 full touring dressed out model, and rode them both equally as much, and compared them, aspect by aspect!
Chris, as for the AM / FM reception it seems to be that some have terrific reception and others do not, on my 2019 I am blown away by how good the reception is. I had a 2014 F6B before that had an external antenna and that bike had very poor reception in comparison. I'm thinking on the new bikes with the antenna in the saddlebags that some of the antennas are good while others are not, could be a quality controll issue.
I have a 2018 Kawy Concours, but my buddy has had Goldwings all his life, he told me about not being able to fit to full faced helmets in the trunk, when i heard that, i told him whoever the IDIOT was that designed that should be fired from their position with Honda, of all bikes, that is a major issue especially on a Goldwing, Unreal, my wife just bought a 2019 Spyder, it holds 2 full faced helmets in the trunk no problem, Honda really needs to be ashamed of themselves !!!!!!!
I do agree with the AM / FM's reception. It's terrible. I use my iphone's Bluetooth functions to hear music on iheart radio, etc. The USB function works great. I have not used the AUX input yet. But I'm sure it works fine.
Hi Cruiseman, I picked up my first ever Goldwing on Friday. Thanks for the reviews, it really helped me make a decision. I almost bought an HD Road Glide because I liked my Low Rider, however the factor that none of the larger bikes HD sells has a factory reverse was a big factor for me. I’m not flat footed on my Goldwing, I do find it easy to keep my right foot on the break at stops while putting my left foot down. Did you do any video’s on reducing seat height? I’m looking for solutions to get more of my ‘feet’ on the ground. Thanks for your channel.
Sounds more like an AD from Honda than an honest review. I have ridden a dct for 12 days and although it may suit some riding styles it certainly didn't suit mine or my pal, we hated it, I prefer to be in full control of the gears and I dont like how the dct shifts up gears when I didn't want it to, especially in mid corner! I think the manual is better for anyone who likes to ride the twisties. The lack of luggage space and not being able to stow our helmets away in the trunk is just one of the real big negatives for me, there are several more. We regularly ride for 2 weeks, and more, every year and the reduction in luggage space from the Gen2 is just too much. My conclusion is - its a nice looking motorcycle, but its not a traditional Goldwing anymore, its now been downgraded into the Sports Tourer class and this new model is no longer the touring bike for me & my wife. That's sad, we've had 12 new Goldwings since 1998 because they've been the best touring bike on the market, until now :(
What would be a good price out the door for me to pay for a new 2018 like yours? Should I wait a couple of years to see if Honda fixes the issues? I think the same things that bothers you would bother me also.
The Goldwing overall looks like an awesome bike. Nothing is perfect and there will be flaws and some nit picking on any bike. However, on a 30K bike, I would expect every small detail to be addressed and taken care off, especially something simple as trunk space or radio reception, GPS or latches. I so much wanted a reason to upgrade to a 2020 Goldwing but as in 2016, decided to go with the BMW as the GPS and electrical windshield etc. blew the Goldwing away. I'll stick with my '16 BMW GTL for now which is an awesome bike in itself and keep waiting for the perfect bike haha. Flaws on the Beemer? Sure, the same with the trunk space as it could be slightly larger for the helmets as well. But at least I can take off all luggage pieces for cleaning or sport riding. If you live in the triple digit world like I do, the BMW is the best. Just my two cents.
I faced that same decision before buying the 2018 Goldwing. The large dealer network, lower cost of ownership, and reputation (and my experience) with Honda reliability won me over.
I find you very confusing , you spend a half an hour complaining about all the problems with Goldwing. Then at the end you tell us it's the best bike you ever owned . I ride a 2016 BMW K 1600 GT , all tho it isn't cheap to maintain , I sure don't have all the problems that you are having with your 2 year old Honda's . My dash doesn't fog up , my panniers open up fine , my foot pegs don't show any ware. Maybe the Beemer isn't so expensive after all .
What do you think of using the paddles (shift triggers) for shifting the DCT? Is there a paddles-only setting or does that work only when in full auto mode. I ask because maybe you want to shift later than the automatic would do it.
Great video. Just wondering have you tried the apple car play much? I have an Apple iPhone and use the Apple maps. You just bring up maps on the phone put in your destination and plug it into the Apple Car Play. I use this on my car and it works great. I wondered if you had checked out that option rather then installing a Garmin?
I’m just breaking in my 208 DCT in Arizona. No fogging here in the desert. All doors open and close as designed. The navigation was a huge disappointment to me, as well the AM/FM reception range. I spent hours learning how to preprogram my favorite Phoenix stations and lost fidelity on both bands 40 miles out. The speakers are fine. Wondering if I will lose storage space if I spring for XM radio. I bought this bike with the intention of visiting my brother and son in North Carolina, but since my ass is on fire after 125 miles on the stock seat, I’m pissed off. I need a seat, a radio, and a Garmin GPS. I’m passed the initial reluctance to go without the clutch, the mechananicals on this machine are incredibly nice. I’m proud of her, but she’s not perfect and too early for divorce. 🇺🇸🤣
Q: "Wondering if I will lose storage space if I spring for XM radio." A: No - the XM radio tuner itself is already built into the audio system. You *do* need to add the XM antenna and buy a subscription. CM has a video showing how to mount the Honda XM antenna, and it does not encroach on storage space at all.
i am right at 10000 miles, i look forward to any day i can ride even if just to work and home, i have had lot of bikes this my first goldwing and i do have the dct so i went all in on this , only parts i really dislike is the seat and i am about to upgrade that to an RDL in april is my production date so we will see , i to see you at WD this year
I have a 2018 Tour with the 6-speed and my biggest complaints are the low-beam illumination and the absolutely sub-par audio. My wife says the pillion must be replaced soon or she will no longer ride with me. Why can't we ever get our money's worth on these touring bikes? I do love this bike, but miss a lot of things about my 2008. The engine "drone" at highway speeds is about as un-Goldwingish (new word) as you can possibly get.
Regarding the rubber splitting on the foot peg, my drivers side split on my 2014 with less than 6k miles. The rubber is also very soft so not sure if this is a known issue?
Hi ! very informative , thank you - I am considering my first goldwing - rode cruisers for a long time - I have a choice to make - 2012 literally brand new goldwing or a 2018 almost new goldwing (without dct) -I still like the manual input - theres just about a $4K difference in price between the two.... What would you recommend - Please give me a solid direction not a "depends" answer lol :)
I've got a 2016 GW, and it has the most comfortable seat I've ever had. Mine is the audio comfort model, and I don't know if that has anything to do with it. But that new seat is like a board. Cruiseman had his worked on too.
As always, I agree with you. I love my 2018 Goldwing DCT. Mine is a bit over two years old and pushing 18,000 miles. I suffered from sticker shock when I was told my air filter need changing, around 15,000 miles. My dealer looked at it with a camera and confirmed it was filthy. The cost... $300.00. Oh My Gosh? Hey Honda, make this easier for the owner to remove and clean or replace. Let me put in my own K&N filter and move on. I don't think Honda's programmers in India will ever meet our Garmin experience, so just give us a better radio and antenna and forget about GPS until you are willing to pay Garmin like you do for all my car units. (I own 4 Honda cars and bikes).
I didn't' think it was possible for air cleaner R&R to be any more involved than the previous generation GL1800. But then again, I didn't think it was possible for air cleaner R&R to be any more involved than on the GL1500. Honda keeps proving me wrong...
Yet another great video Chris. I too have reached the 10k mark on my 2018. I’m coming from HD so the new wing is by far the greatest bike I have owned/ridden but I wanted to mention, I too have issues with my trunk actuator opening after a recent install of a Mustang passenger backrest. In a review I did of the product, I note that the piece is much heavier than the stock backrest. I can only come to the conclusion that it’s the extra weight causing problems. Not sure how heavy the luggage rack is compared to the backrest but I would suspect it’s within a few pounds of one another. I’ve tried to troubleshoot to determine the cause with no real resolution. Is it the extra weight, weak actuator, trunk lid hinge setup? I don’t know. After working the trunk lid over the course of a couple of weeks, it seems to be sticking less. The short - term remedy has been to close the lid tight again and it pops open on the first release button push. Every time Oh, and my peg covers are wearing out very rapidly as well. Keep up the great videos. Very informative and always well done. P.S. - Hero7 black is working out great! - Rick
Hi , Pete here from England! Usually your a bit over the top for me, as I find many (yankees) (lol) but you have a great vid here, it lets prospective Gold wing Buyers know what they are in for? I have been stopped here in England from buying one I love the Bike, but at £30000 its double the price most cars Here! And you can’t leave something of that price in the Garage to winter over (Right) it would financially hurt most people to buy one here ok unless you are Retired with a pension and no money worries! So enjoy your Gold-wing my friend and I will see what the future brings for me, have a great day!
Life is not 0 or 100, love or hate. We call that “Beavis and Butthead” thinking because the only responses they had were “cool” or “sucks.” No need to play into our culture’s obsession with extremes.
For my first GW, I am torn between a 2012 Abs model with a lot of nice upgrades as well as a color matched Bushtec trailer, or a new 2020. (Of course the 2012 is cheaper). What would you do?
I also have a video where I review the accessories I have added to my 2018+ Goldwing. ua-cam.com/video/HBJLhT2iuB0/v-deo.html
You failed to put a link to the Aeroline scratch remover. I guess you were too distressed, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed with all the faults of the Goldwing.
The negatives are not nit picking considering the price and the technology of this bike.
I make your words mine. Simply, not acceptable as the consumer perspective, especially when buying MSRP price.
Considering you can still buy new 2018 models for under $20K, I wouldn't consider these bikes expensive, considering how well it does literally everything...this bike is very inexpensive compared to Harleys or Indians, which are also far inferior bikes...
Joseph Marton Unless you’re making $50,000 a month, then it really doesn’t matter much
Your comment is fair. 👍
You’re right about the nit picking. I came from a 2018 Harley Road Glide Ultra. I now have the 2019 goldwing tour dct. I and my wife and I are blown away as to how smooth and easy it is to ride. Handles very well. I have never ridden a previous model goldwing. I hope I didn’t make a mistake and should’ve bought a previous gen goldwing. Maybe I should stay away from them lol.
I had a dct on test for 12 days thanks to my Honda dealer. When I got back onto my 2017 Gen2 Wing it made me realise just how awesome it is and much better than the new model. I think we've been spoilt by the gen2 Wing - its got a great Navi system, a great music system that fully integrates my iPod, the engine is smooth as silk, the seating is comfy, I get 2 helmets in the trunk with ease, its got a great helmet hanger system for when the trunk is full of luggage, it gives great weather protection, etc etc.
The downsides (if these are considered as downsides) are few - fixed windshield, only 5 gears, suspension benefits from Progressive spring install, other than that its a great bike and well worth considering if you fancy a pre owned bike.
Very interesting, @@IanCwinginit
Ian Car
I’m at about 14,000 miles and agree with your review. I have the manual shift version and have to say that it’s the best transmission yet for a Wing - not clunky like the last generation. Also, the stock suspension is very good and I think it handles every bit as well as my 2006 GL1800 with the full Traxxion upgrade. On the negative side, lousy stock seat, useless helmet holder and a cheap navigation system are not what you expect for an expensive touring bike. I do have some slight fogging on the display but not terrible yet and the pegs are not cracking (yet). Great video!
I rode a Kawasaki, a Victory, and currently have a 2016 Goldwing. I agree with your "nit picky" comment, I now have higher expectations of my bike. I do love the bike and am in the process of purchasing the 2019 DCT. I am grateful to you, Maxx McAlister and MCrider for your videos, they have been quite helpful. I will continue to use the Garmin GPS and Sena communication for my mapping and music needs.
Thanks for the review.
I have a 2018 Goldwing Tour with 12K miles.
Items you mentioned:
1. No dash fogging. I live In central Illinois and the bike has seen many variations in temperature.
2. I have a Honda trunk rack. No problem. Works fine
3. No saddle bag sticking both sides. No problem
4. No handle bar vibration. Seems smooth to me.
5. Rider pegs not cracked.
Blows the mind...that big companies don’t pay attention to the consumers....This is everywhere....your great...thanksss....
I have a 2005 Gl1800 and I ride with my wife. I always keep our helmets in the trunk when we park the bike, and I love my roomy trunk. It’s a value for me. Nice video.
I have a 1500. Tons of space in the trunk as you would expect for a two up touring bike. I spent about 30 grand less as well.
@@karlc8808 - Your answer to a customer complaint about insufficient storage is to lobby to change laws?
Great review. I have 9300 miles on my bike, 2018 Tour DCT, since last Sept. and I ride it mostly everyday. I don't have the problem with the dash fogging, but my bike is always garaged, and I have not left it out over night. I have not ridden when it is real cold early in the morning. It only gets to 35 -40 here in the winter, maybe sometimes a storm will bring colder weather, but mine is doing fine. My foot pegs are looking good at this point. The trunk lid, I did loosen the latches and pull on them as hard as I could and then re-tightened the screws and that did help with the closing, it is a lot better now with less effort. I have the HJC IS Max and use the Sena 20S Evo and I can set the helmet upright in the trunk and close the trunk lid, if the helmet is in a certain position. It was trial and error but I can get it to close without removing the Bluetooth. One thing I did notice is a couple of weeks ago we had 105 weather. I rode my bike to a client's business and parked in the parking lot. After a few hours, when I went to leave, I could not open the saddlebags or the trunk due to expansion of the plastic. I actually had to hold the button down and pry with my fingers to get the bags and trunk to open. Not looking forward to this summer when I will be dealing with that everyday! You are right about the smoothness of the engine. I did a video years ago, putting a nickel on my 05 Goldwing, and recently did one on my 2018. It can be done but it is not as smooth as the older 1800 engines. Go to UA-cam and type in flyboy1ron to see both of those videos. I can also tell you when I ride the bike and have pulled into my driveway, while I am waiting for the garage to open, I can hear the engine idling, and sometimes, I actually believe it sounds like a little diesel engine with all the noise it makes. I do love the bike and do have your videos and enjoy working on the bike. I ride the bike everyday I can, I am not a big guy, so the new size fits me perfect. I love the way it handles the twisties and overall smooth ride of the bike. Thanks for the review. It is nice to see a review from someone who actually owns one and can make an accurate review of the bike. I too have things to nit pick about, but overall it is a great bike.
I wouldn't say you made nitpicky points. I ride about 20k miles per year and any flaw can get really under your skin for long rides.
I tried it last week with my wife, i have a 2015 that i bought for 2 up riding and touring, the only reason i bought a Goldwing is for passenger comfort, i have a Super Tenere as my daily ride, she loves our Goldwing so much that i can never ride my other bike when she has spare time, she is always ready to ride, we did roughly 100km on the new one and she said bring me back to the dealership, your not trading my wing on this, she really prefers the comfort of the older one, the salesman who i know very well was honest enough to tell me this is the comment that keeps coming up, backseat riders prefer the last gen, i think this is a very important thing to compare since most wing riders do it 2 up
Too bad, i would have liked to trade up, i really like the looks of the new one but happy wife happy life
Love the nice honest review. I had a 1993 Goldwing until 1999 when I got my first Harley. I have a 2009 Streetglide with a tour pack and lowers that has a stage one and 50,000 miles on it. Never had any problems with it, but I have been thinking about getting a newer bike in a few years so doing my research. My wife loves the ride of the harley and I love the low end torque. The Honda is a beautiful bike but gosh it gets lousy mileage - I get around 45 with mine loaded down touring! I also didn’t like hearing about the radio. Biggest knock on the goldwing for me is NO FLOORBOARDS. What the heck kind of touring bike has pegs? I also really need my pipes at low speed. If they enlarge them over the next few years I will consider it but really think my next bike might be an Indian. We will see. Keep up the great videos!
I have a 2018 DCT Tour. I live in Illinois and for what ever reason I get great gas mileage. On my ride last year to Tennessee I averaged 48 mph towing a loaded trailer. Riding the back roads of Illinois at an average of about 60 mph I average 55 mpg. I weight 220 pounds so I'm not a light person, but I love my gas mileage.
I owned a GL1500 for several years. LOVED the comfort and tourability...eventually hated the weight and top heaviness. Bought a Versys 1000 sport tourer and really like it. Just saw a 2019 'Wing at the dealer recently and fell in love with the big Honda all over again!
Great review!
Best bike I’ve owned thus far, and I’ve owned many.
10,000 miles, I haven't done that much on all my bikes in the last 30 years, including my '81 Gold Wing Interstate! Would still love to get the new Gold Wing.
I have a 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT purchased in July 2018. Regarding the trunk I have successfully stored two helmets in it, one was a large HJC RPHA Max and the other was my wife's medium Shoei full face. Both also had Cardo Packtalks on them. It wasn't easy. My helmet had to be angled in with the face shield facing forward and hers had to be stowed on its side. It required patience and manipulation to successfully do it. Decided it also wasn't worth the time and hassle. Regarding Apple Carplay which you haven't addressed at all since you seem to have an Android phone. Even after Honda's January 2019 upgrade it still seems to be balky when ever you get on the bike to start out. Too bad, because it opens up a whole other aspect of the motorcycle's capabilities regarding music, navigation, receiving calls and texts while riding. Also, the lack of an accessory plug for external power. I installed the Honda accessory plug which took 14 man hours to complete. Honda could install this at the factory and add it to the cost to the bike which would be unnoticeable given the overall price. It came in handy during a trip last week when my son's bike suffered a flat rear tire. We plugged it then aired it up with a compressor powered by the accessory plug. Agree with the overall assessment of the bike though, it is very good.
Thanks for the update.
ST 1300 for a few more years! 120000 kilometers. Waiting for a few more issues to be resolved, best part is my ST is quicker, way better range, same mileage and from the sounds of it, has better luggage with the stock Pan European top trunk. Also has a large break light, holds 2 large helmets and has no issues closing! This model has had a power windshield since 2003 really Honda!
P.S. If it doesn't work with Android, GPS, Audio issues.
$31000 + CDN. Will have to wait.
Agree wholeheartedly w u on the navigation issues on the Honda systems. Only have 3000 on my 2018, thanks for the heads up on the foot pegs etc I’ll keep on eye out on these thing. I came from a Harley and just love my new smooooth motorcycle
I don't consider the 2018/19 a bike that you can compare to the gl1800. It's smaller, it has less wind protection, less storage and the trunk looks like a add on item (Harley). The engine is not as smooth and some people are having problems with that (Wavy). No excuse for the Navigation and FM radio. (they know how to do this)
I do like the front end a lot but for me that's it. the last three bikes I had were equipped with an adjustable shield that I hardly ever changed, on the other hand I do change the settings on the Baker wings my GL1800 has.
I personally think this bike was an upgrade for the ST1300 and should be called the ST1800.
It very much reminds me of the three Concours 14's and one FJR I owned in the past. (though better)
Just my opinion and I'm not biased to my GL1800 because the front end (and seat) sux!
I have owned over a dozen motorcycles in my career, but never one that weighed over 700 pounds. I purchased the 835 pound 2018 Honda Goldwing Touring DCT, with all the upgrades, hoping to take long comfortable road trips, but recently I sold it to get a BMW R1200RT, which I like much more because it's only 505 pounds. It is my humble opinion that the 2018 Goldwing was not worth the $32,000. It might be perfect for you. However, if you are considering purchasing one, don't listen to other peoples opinions, please rent or borrow one for the full day so you can experience it longer than a ride around the block. The stock seat is the worst I have ever experienced and was only good for a one to two-hour ride. The 2018 Goldwing trunk is too small for two full-size XL and Large helmets, and the side bags cannot hold one full-size helmet. The recommended upgrade seat that Cruiseman suggested for $850 did not work for me either. I did not have these issues with the new BMW, which I rented for a full day ride before purchasing because I learned my lesson the hard way. Ride safely and have fun.
Good honest review. That said, I didn’t hate my BMW RT until it hit nearly 100 000 miles; I loved it for the first 50 000 miles, liked it for the next 30 000 miles, had mixed feelings for another 10 000 miles and at 100 000 . . . well, by then my relationship with Otto the Parts & Service guy had run its course.
So, you biggest issue was the cost to maintain the RT? I thought those twins were pretty reliable.
Cruiseman's Garage: My RT was reliable and the boxer had character, but the cost of ownership, over 100 000 miles and five years, was not low. It was high. Then again, I’m comparing the RT against my three Suzuki V-Strom’s (which I purchased new) and over 160 000 miles cost me next to nothing, and my ‘09 Honda VFR which is, in my opinion, as perfect a sport-tour as a bike can be.
I own both a 2018 R1200RT (my daily rider) & 2018 GW. So far I love them both
I've had mine for 6 months, with just under 3,000 miles ( I travel for my job, so don't get to ride as much as I would like).
I agree with many of the points you brought up, especially with this being the best bike I've ever owned. Here's my experience with some of the items you brought up.
1. Digging on the dash, no sign of it, yet. Same with scratching.
2. Footpeg rubbers, no splitting, but do appear to be worn much more than I would expect, and more than the floorboards on my 2016 Vaquero. Not a huge issue to me, but still a niggle.
3. I have the Honda trunk rack fitted, and no issues.
4. Pannier opening, I do experience the sticking mentioned.I
The Nav system has no issues for me, as I don't want to download complex routes, with multiple waypoints. I just set a destination, and go. When I get there, I input the next. Works for me.I
I listen to my own music choices on a USB stick, so radio reception is irrelevant to me.
One other thing I'd like to bring up is the display. I don't like having to hit the info button to see my average consumption, especially with not being able to see musical track information at the same time, or even toggle between the two.
With the capabilities of the screen, I think it should be possible for the software engineers to develop a "custom" screen for the next update. This to allow the user to select the information displayed, such as digital speed , tire pressures, average consumption, instantaneous consumption, etc., etc.
I think this would be welcomed by most owners.
2018 (purchased new in Sept 2020) w/ 4,000 miles (always garaged) and so far no issues at all.
You confirmed a number of issues I suspected about this new model of the Goldwing. Thanks for a very honest evaluation!
2018 Goldwing Tour DCT owner here... I pretty much agree with Cruiseman on things our bikes have in common, but I do have one 'hate'. That's the 4-way pad on the left handlebar. Being flat, you are forced to take your eyes off the road to see what your left (gloved) thumb is pressing. Reaching for the far side you will nearly always press another button trying to lay your gloved thumb across the pad. I MUCH prefer the smart way that my Indian Chieftain did it; a JOYSTICK! Without looking, you can easily feel the tip of that joystick and that joystick had the same functionality. You can tilt it in any of the four directions and press down on the tip of the joystick for the 'OK' button. All without dangerously taking your eyes off the road. AND, the joystick took up much less real estate on the left handlebar. My second concern is the turn signal timing. I don't 'hate' it, but it is certainly an irritation. The right turn timing is the worst; it will certainly auto cancel before I actually turn right unless there's a right turn lane to lean into before the turn, then the signal will last long enough. Again, I have divide my attention to the right turn signal to re-enable it again before the turn when turn signals are in auto-cancel mode. I'm using them in manual mode for the time being. Again, my 2018 Indian Chieftain auto-cancel turn signals never failed me. Plus, on the Indian, I could hold the turn signal for more than one second and it would then immediately cancel on release. This was great for lane changing. Instant on, hold to change lanes, instant off on release. Beautiful. Change those two things Honda and I won't care about any other nits about the bike. Still, like Cruiseman, the redesigned Goldwing is the best bike I've ever had by far. If I were taken back in time and could change my mind about my next bike, I would still buy the redesigned Goldwing. Hands down.
I think I've heard most ex-goldwing riders hope they would come out with a touring model where the storage and wind protection was better for longer rides. The new model is more sport touring, but you are right that overall more riders wont be as intimidated by the current size and would be a good fit. I still love my 2006. Keep up the great vids!
I had a GL 1800 Goldwing, I tried for two years, I could not fall in love with that motorcycle. Even the simplest maintenance chores were not simple on that machine because of all the plastic that you have to remove to do just about anything that is simple on any other motorcycle..
well I had to goldwing i bought met two guys that were really into gold wings. They were Goldwing honors club members for years. They go to all the rallies.
they traded in their 2013 and 2015 gold wings on 2020 gold wings. Four months later, they traded those 2020 gold wings in on leftover 2017 gold wings. They said they were very disappointed with the 2020 gold wings because they were smaller, cramped, their wives said the passenger accommodations were much smaller and less comfortable than the previous models. They said the saddlebags and trunk were much smaller also. They just didn’t like them, so they took a big loss and traded both of their machines in on those leftover 17s.
I was searching videos on UA-cam and I’m finding more than just a few videos of 2018 and newer gold wings having major problems, engine problems, transmission problems, navigation problems, but it’s mostly the engine problems. That is unbelievable.. The GL 1800 gold wings were good for 300,000 miles before with basic maintenance. What happened to Honda Gold wings? They were the most technically advanced perfect motorcycles on the face of the earth at one time. did Honda transfer their Goldwing assembly plant to the BMW plant or something. I mean I could completely understand all these problems with a BMW, I had one of those, never again. But I had zero trouble with my Goldwing. I had no mechanical issues with it, I found it boring, but it was no trouble..
Have the 2019 wing. 1500 miles on it now. No issues in wet, humid, hot, cold, central Texas weather so far with fog in the dash. Radio is still trash for AM/FM. I actually like the Navi system. Took me about a month to get used to it and get my settings all set, but I use it. Problem I have is getting trunk sensor off. Close lid, and it stays on. Give the lid a stiff push down on the closed trunk and sensor indicator turns off.
I have had the opportunity it sit on the new wing. Yes it's smaller (reminded me of an updated ST1300 honestly) but it "feels" easier to handle, at least in non moving position. My biggest hurdle is my wife instantly didn't like the seat. She said the bike felt too small and I would agree. It would be nice if Honda offered an optional larger top box and a way to move the trunk back about .5 inch. I was surprised at the lack of storage up front as well. Other than those, I am considering updating to the new bike, still deciding about DCT vs manual.
Thank you for the review Cruiseman. Just sold my 08 Airbag model and put a deposit on a still in the crate 18 DCT Tour. I was torn between the wing and a Indian Challenger but bought the wing at $7000 under MSRP otd was about 10k less than the Challenger modified to a tour model. Looking forward to many trouble free miles and good times on my last bike!😎👍🏻
What price did you pay? Found a similar deal. Confused how dealers can have 2018s in the crate but no 2019?
Same. I found a 2018 crated GW Tour (manual) and purchased it Sept. 2020 for $20,000 🤙
I think you make an excellent point about the relative ownership experience of the new Gold Wing compared to other bikes. The 2018+ Gold Wing is a wonderful bike *compared to other bikes*, but when you compare it to *the last Gold Wing*, it comes up lacking in a surprising number of areas.
It surprises me the number of long-time GL1800 owners (2001 and up) who had high hopes for the newest version, but who have ended up going backwards to the previous generation. I, for one, ended up buying a NOS 2016 and am loving it.
Good review! I have a ‘97 Honda Valkyrie with just over 100,000 miles. An 09 BMW 1200RT, a 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100 and 94 BMW R1100RS. Cost of maintenance on the RT is shocking, plus having just returned from the dealership that will no longer work with on bikes over ten years old has me looking carefully at which bike I might buy next. The Valk has been relatively low maintenance cost, but it is analog vs. digital. The Triumph is low cost with a high fun factor, but wouldn’t go cross country with it or two up.
I am about to turn 26,000 miles. Have not had any fogging issues on the dashboard and I live in the Austin, TX area. my foot peg rubber have not cracked yet. But on my last 7 Gold Wings I had problems with the rubber cracking and wearing badly. I have not had any problem with my left saddlebag sticking but the right saddlebag stick on hot days out in the sun. I have an extra largeHJC IS-Max II helmet with a J&M BT-03 bluetooth and I am able to set it right side up in the trunk with a 3/4 helmet with full face shield in the trunk and close the trunk. I have never had a GPS other than the GPS's installed on the 2008 and 2012 Gold Wing and I have little problem putting a multi day trip in the GPS and flowing the route that I planned on Honda Trip Planner. I have the Honda Luggage rack and brake light installed by the Dealer when I bought the bike in February 2018 have not had any trouble opening or closing the trunk. Had the Dunlap OEM Tire whenI bought the bike and put 13,500 on them before rplacing them with the Bridgestone OEM tires and getting close to needing to replace them. Hoping Dunlap will come out with the Elite 4 rear tire because the Elite 4 front tire for the pre 2018 Gold Wing will fit the 2018 Gold Wing.
I'm kinda disappointed at the $1400 (plus installation) CB radio. It works, but it does not work well. Biggest flaw is reception volume - once in motion, road noise drowns out incoming transmissions - both on speaker and thru headset (J&M). Infotainment update apparently didn't help. PITA on group rides - I'm usually the tail, so it's tough to keep in contact with the lead.
I just got a 2018 gw after having my first Goldwing ever, 07, for only 6 months with 24,000 miles. Wanted something newer, however the ride is totally different to me. I had a FJR before the 07 and I love the 07 as I took a 1000 mile ride. This 18 is very stylish, but it’s a total different ride. To me the bike is trying to find where it fits in; sport or sport touring or pure touring. Only had it for 3 days but want to take ride to Los Angeles from Pensacola, Florida.
Corbin makes a larger outer shell for the new GW saddle bags. They add about 2.5" of width to each saddle bag and come painted to match OEM colors. Maybe Corbin will make a larger trunk lid that will make the trunk handle some helmets.
Jane, we can always hope, but I doubt it. The cost to tool up for a bigger trunk would be huge because of all the components involved.
Just broke 10k myself on my BD. No fogging on my dash yet. Foot rubbers doing fine. Yes, I've had my left saddle bag stick on particularly hot days. South Carolina weather, ridden nearly every day. Re: the AM/FM reception issue. I agree it's terrible, and it's almost certainly interference. In my case, the FM reception is fine in ACC, but as soon as you go ON, the reception drops significantly.
I have the sticking in the left saddlebag and the sticking of the trunk lid. I have the trunk rack installed. My Goldwing is a 2018 model. Mine had a new clutch master cylinder installed and clutch lever installed under warranty due to the hill assist icon on dash blinking continuously. Mine had issues with the TPMS light blinking continuously when the tire was cold even though the cold tire air pressure was correct. My Goldwing has 10,250 miles. I have owned 2 other Goldwings a 2003 and a 2008 previously. This Goldwing is truly superior.
Thank you for your 10,000 mile update.
Maybe someday I’ll be fortunate enough to own one!
There’s a company in the UK called Speedo Angels that makes anti-glare, anti-scratch overlays for a host of motorcycle dashboards. Like the overlay you can put on a smartphone. Currently they do not list an application for the new Goldwing but I’m sure if enough riders contact them and request it, they’ll be happy to produce one.
It would be good to prevent scratches, but would do nothing to prevent the fogging on the inside of the dash.
Cruiseman's Garage agreed. That’s an issue Honda needs to address
I have a 1985 Goldwing Limited and was planning on buying a new 2018 Goldwing, never thought about anything else. Test drove a Yamaha Venture and bought it?? WTH? The Goldwing is a much smaller bike now and I like the feel of a big solid bike that rides great and has fewer cylinders. I do love the DCT but wouldn't trade my smooth shifting Venture for one. I NEVER thought I would end up with an air cooled Yamaha, never! RIDE ONE (Yamaha Venture) BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING!
Those Ventures are BIG bikes. Tons of storage. Have not ridden one, but would like to soon.
I agree it's silly the trunk doesn't fit 2 helmets. For that sticky trunk hinge, you could spray some graphite lubricant in those hinges and work it in, I bet that would make the trunk work better for you.
I had a 2001 Goldwing and then a 2012 Ultra Limited. The Ultra bars vibrated at about 1000 rpm at a stop and stopped vibrating at about 1200 rpm. At Highway speeds it is dead quiet. I could always hear the engine whirring on the Goldwing which I did not find relaxing at all. The Harley just lopes along in a very relaxed manner in my opinion. Oh and both full face helmets fit in the top box plus gloves and vests etc.
I have 1000 miles on my 2019 and my foot pegs are wearing too.
The other thing I would say about the engine is that it really lacks torque and speed for an engine of that size. To only have the same amount as my 1500 Valkyrie at the rear wheel with all of the technology the fuel injection the multiple timing mapping better known as modes. This bike should pull like no other. However they have detuned it to the point where it's really lacking for an 1800 cc motorcycle. When you have the Katy 1600 pushing 175 horsepower you have to wonder what they were thinking. I will say one thing the handling of this bike is phenomenal.
Katy? You mean BMW K-series?
Agree with comments on the wing. As far as the scratches I put some 3M film on the all the cases and trunk, as well as the dash, which keeps all the scratches away. A film called SunTek will actually heal itself from any scratches when the heat from the sun hits the film. Not that expensive !
Good idea thanks.
2019 just turned 32,000 miles. 1) Dash is spotted, difficult to see except in the right light. Thanks for mentioning this one, I couldn't quite understand what it was but I'm sure that's the same problem I've got and because it's inside that's why I can't clean it. I've attempted to show the dealer but in the shade it was impossible to see and we didn't move it out. I was thinking with the comments in the owners manual about never getting it wet (yeah, that's funny), that they wouldn't replace under warranty and even if they did, it would just happen again. I'm told the part is only about $90 but then there's the bear of tearing the bike down to swap it out. 2) Absolutely the foot peg rubber split before or around 10,000 miles. I ordered more but still haven't put them on in these last over 20,000 miles. It doesn't seem like its getting much worse so I'm holding off. 3) I've had a few times when the trunk doesn't want to open.. not sure what I've done to get it to open but I get a bad feeling when it happens. It also seems to take spells when it doesn't want to close but then other times it works properly. 3) No trouble with the left saddlebag door on mine. There's been a little with the right one but it could be from overstuffing my ride jacket in there. 4) AM/FM, spot on. XM, mine didn't work well at all around here (Columbia SC) during the trial period, 1st quarter of 2018. I did notice when I took it to Daytona March/April timeframe of 2018 that the XM reception was MUCH better. I canceled the XM after the trial period and just kept weather and traffic. Only recently I've noticed there a few news stations I still get and they seem to be coming in better so maybe some of the updates improved this. Thanks for the great review and for bringing up these issues things, I thought I was the only one with them, particularly the dash.
XM has the same problem as satellite TV like DirecTV or Dish - there *must* be a clear path between the antenna and the satellites - which for most of us, are in the southern sky, and the further north you are, the closer to the horizon they are. Tall trees on the side of the road are enough to block the signal where I am (Northern Indiana), and so are mountains. If I go far enough north (into Canada, say), the XM signal will even cut out if the bike's pointed the wrong way. I got around it on my 01 Wing by removing the antenna from it's mounting point and letting it dangle to the south side of the bike. I won't be able to do that on the new one, since the antenna's covered by that body panel in the front. Even with all that, I still like it.
A few items you may have mentioned, and maybe I missed ... Honda did a good job with the front end suspension on this iteration of the Goldwing. The stock seat ... really bad, even after the WingSoft modification. I just can't get comfortable with out a gel pad from Saddlemen. Kickstand ... well done, especially for us shorter riders. More places to anchor highway pegs more easily would be appreciated, as well as more tie down spots for carry bags. How about some adjustable ergonomics for foot pegs and handlebar reach, its not 1999 anymore. A little bigger standard windscreen would be good, its a touring bike. And the GPS ... after two updates (thank goodness) its still not 'very good' but at least its become usable. I love that it's relatively light and easy to get off its kick stand. Motor and riding modes - well done!
Recently saw a video that pointed out a potential problem in the front suspension. The issue is the "bump stop "on the shock , which looks as though it will wear prematurely.
I agree with everything you said about the 18 GW. The trunk sticks a little after I installed the rack. My right saddle came off one side on the road (I'm usually pretty good about closing). The GPS is at best, underrated. I also have a Garmin add. The radio is the worst I've had in 7 GWs after 40 years. The engine does vibrate a lot for GW, not so much as ND. Thanks for the incisively words of wisdom.
I have 2017 Honda Gold wing i have 20k miles i am 70 i had the Calit9nia sidecar trike conversion done with Escapade trailer i had it painted Star Trek matched Bike and trailer i love it
I have a 2015 Anniversary edition that just passed 41k. I like the looks of the new wing but not the price. I am a retired 73-yr-old and 30k is pretty steep.
I’ve had a ‘76 with a windjammer and this Wing along with several others. The seat is absolutely perfect for me. The grips are exactly where they should be. The storage is superior. At 73 I may not live long enough to own another bike.
One (rather two: a 2003 and a 2009) ST1300 with the electric windshield. It is nice. The underside of the w/s picks up as many bugs as the front. Rain comes in under but isn’t too bad. I’ll wait four years or so and see how the tech shakes out.
I use my GW for everything and it shines. I think the new will as well.
Kim,
I got mine for $23,500 in Oklahoma at Shawnee Honda!
I can afford the new Goldwing but I'm still prefer the older one, better cargo capacity, bulletproof engine, better finishing and for me better style. Not always the new one it's better.
Also, i saw several videos here on youtube, you also may have seen them, where people are saying that the new front wishbone suspension is flimsy and has no travel , it bottoms out very easily, my buddy was going to get an 18 or 19, since i showed him those vids on the front wishbone suspension, he said im going to wait til they fix that before he gets a new one, he has a 16 now w 35,000 on it in great cond. so he figured wait til they get the bugs worked out of them...search those vids ....
That is BS. Maybe if the rider is 275 lbs. But mine has only bottomed out once when I hit a big pothole. I have seen those same videos and I have to question the validity. I love the front suspension.
Cruiseman's Garage I agree. Honda didn’t spend millions on R&D just to put out a POS. I love the suspension on my 2019 and my 2018 . Yes, I have two (2).
One is a standard and one is a DCT.
Cruiseman, my wife and I both have 2018 Goldwings and we love these motorcycles! But we have experienced some of the same issues you noted in the video. We came from Kawasaki to Honda so we cannot confirm the engine vibration as I had some vibration on my Vulcan 1700 Nomad at higher RPMs. We wish the trunk space was better/bigger as well as the side bags! (Corbin has a $1k solution-cha-Ching$$$)I’m really getting good at removing the fine scratches in the paint but it’s way too easy to create the scratches! All in all We love the bike but since both are DCT I sometimes miss shifting the gears ⚙️
after 52 years behind bars,i finally tried a GW..2002 with 13k miles/ original owner..WOW!.. i had t ventures,bmwk1200lt(never will i go out on that bmw limb again) i have a guzzi norge (my 4th guzzi-love em) the best mitorcycle for all around use- pacific coast-been riding em 24 years/ never a problem- never had a harley.never will..my friends all ride rice burners too..
i like my “ new to me” wing...i never turn on radios or cbs or cds while riding ever..my wing is so pleasant ,smooth, a pleasure to operate and work on ( except changing that air filter, and flushing the clutch fluid) I resisted buying a GW , and bought the yamaha ventures because- you can change a stator- clutch- water pump-slave cylinder seal-on a venture practically using just basic toolkit tools on the side of the road..with a bmw, you have to have “ bmw” special tools or marry the dealer..
but these gold wings are on a completely different level. just going by you tube videos, the GWs have few mechanical flaws if any..i did have to bleed air out of the hydraulic line to adjust the rear shock spring preload..the original owner was not a maintenance freak like i am..he never changed brake or clutch fluid ever- it looked like melted chocolate ice cream. i’m surprised the calipers and master cylinders still worked..it still had the original air filter complete with mice living in it..18 years of neglect and everything still works ( so far) amazing..
i am thrilled with the GW..i am sorry i waited so long to try one.. that’s why i will not try the new 2020 GW..I don’t want it to burst my happiness love affair bubble with my 2002 GW..
@@Jodyrides Welcome to the club 😁
Love my'04 with less than 20k and shez not going anywhere.The Wing world has wanted a smaller/lighter wing and they got it,ie smaller trunk and bags.The 6th gear,auto wind schield and trans still hasn't sold me. I'll wait a few more yrs.till they work it out.45yrs in with todays "Honda Tech" the radio/nav should be state of the art.
The 2010 wing had sticking sidebag doors, so nothing new. When you mounted your rack, more than likely you overtightened the screws and tweaked the trunk lid. Loosen them and see if that helps.
Very well said! Honda really should look into these shortcomings; however small, before anything develops into something serious!
My old ‘77 (maybe ‘78) first generation 1k cc was awesome in every way!
I’m considering this new generation and therefore interested in all those details!
Thanks for eloquently sharing! 👍
I am from Ottawa, Canada and have the same fogging issue on my 2018 Cdn GL. I noticed it when I had about 7000 miles on it. I reported it to the dealer, but since it is hard to see unless the light just hit the dash at the right angle and that it is easily scratched, I told him to wait . Not a major issue now and since more scratches will appear, I will stretch the wait periodas long as I can to get it done under warranty . Unless the fogging gets so bad that it is getting hard to see the dials.
I just added a video to my maintenance series (gw18.cruisemansgarage.com) on how to remove the lens, so it can be cleaned. It is a BIG job, but doable.
Any update from your dealer on this?
Great presentation! I wish you also owned a BMW 1600 full touring dressed out model, and rode them both equally as much, and compared them, aspect by aspect!
He gets overwhelmed and underwhelmed very easily so that may not be such a good idea.
Chris, as for the AM / FM reception it seems to be that some have terrific reception and others do not, on my 2019 I am blown away by how good the reception is. I had a 2014 F6B before that had an external antenna and that bike had very poor reception in comparison. I'm thinking on the new bikes with the antenna in the saddlebags that some of the antennas are good while others are not, could be a quality controll issue.
Now that's interesting. You are the first one I have heard from getting good reception.
On the average, for how long (years/mileage) you have kept your motorcycles?
I have a 2018 Kawy Concours, but my buddy has had Goldwings all his life, he told me about not being able to fit to full faced helmets in the trunk, when i heard that, i told him whoever the IDIOT was that designed that should be fired from their position with Honda, of all bikes, that is a major issue especially on a Goldwing, Unreal, my wife just bought a 2019 Spyder, it holds 2 full faced helmets in the trunk no problem, Honda really needs to be ashamed of themselves !!!!!!!
Thanks for the thorough & faithful review, I'm now own a Honda ST1300 Pan European, hopefully will own a Wing someday, happy riding!
I took a demo for a quick ride and the brakes are really great on this new model.
The fogging dash is a big down side and the helmet storage. I have never owned a Gold Wing. But always dreamed of one day touring around on one.
Thanks for the review.... I will stay with my Concours 1400... other than missing CC I see nothing I could .miss.
I do agree with the AM / FM's reception. It's terrible. I use my iphone's Bluetooth functions to hear music on iheart radio, etc. The USB function works great. I have not used the AUX input yet. But I'm sure it works fine.
100% right on every aspect of your review. Keep un the good work.👍
Hi Cruiseman, I picked up my first ever Goldwing on Friday. Thanks for the reviews, it really helped me make a decision. I almost bought an HD Road Glide because I liked my Low Rider, however the factor that none of the larger bikes HD sells has a factory reverse was a big factor for me. I’m not flat footed on my Goldwing, I do find it easy to keep my right foot on the break at stops while putting my left foot down. Did you do any video’s on reducing seat height? I’m looking for solutions to get more of my ‘feet’ on the ground. Thanks for your channel.
Hope you love it!
I hear the seat gets uncomfortable after long riding , what seat do you recommend switching to ?
Search his channel. He has at least two videos about the seat and other options. 🤙
Sounds more like an AD from Honda than an honest review. I have ridden a dct for 12 days and although it may suit some riding styles it certainly didn't suit mine or my pal, we hated it, I prefer to be in full control of the gears and I dont like how the dct shifts up gears when I didn't want it to, especially in mid corner! I think the manual is better for anyone who likes to ride the twisties. The lack of luggage space and not being able to stow our helmets away in the trunk is just one of the real big negatives for me, there are several more. We regularly ride for 2 weeks, and more, every year and the reduction in luggage space from the Gen2 is just too much.
My conclusion is - its a nice looking motorcycle, but its not a traditional Goldwing anymore, its now been downgraded into the Sports Tourer class and this new model is no longer the touring bike for me & my wife.
That's sad, we've had 12 new Goldwings since 1998 because they've been the best touring bike on the market, until now :(
Yes, Honda pay me a small fortune to trash the radio, the too small trunk, the fogging of the dash, the sticking trunk, and the lousy GPS.
What would be a good price out the door for me to pay for a new 2018 like yours? Should I wait a couple of years to see if Honda fixes the issues? I think the same things that bothers you would bother me also.
The Goldwing overall looks like an awesome bike. Nothing is perfect and there will be flaws and some nit picking on any bike. However, on a 30K bike, I would expect every small detail to be addressed and taken care off, especially something simple as trunk space or radio reception, GPS or latches. I so much wanted a reason to upgrade to a 2020 Goldwing but as in 2016, decided to go with the BMW as the GPS and electrical windshield etc. blew the Goldwing away. I'll stick with my '16 BMW GTL for now which is an awesome bike in itself and keep waiting for the perfect bike haha. Flaws on the Beemer? Sure, the same with the trunk space as it could be slightly larger for the helmets as well. But at least I can take off all luggage pieces for cleaning or sport riding. If you live in the triple digit world like I do, the BMW is the best. Just my two cents.
I am between
Honda gold wing
&
BMW K 1600
LOST
WAITSH ONE TO CHOOSE ???
I faced that same decision before buying the 2018 Goldwing. The large dealer network, lower cost of ownership, and reputation (and my experience) with Honda reliability won me over.
I find you very confusing , you spend a half an hour complaining about all the problems with Goldwing. Then at the end you tell us it's the best bike you ever owned .
I ride a 2016 BMW K 1600 GT , all tho it isn't cheap to maintain , I sure don't have all the problems that you are having with your 2 year old Honda's .
My dash doesn't fog up , my panniers open up fine , my foot pegs don't show any ware. Maybe the Beemer isn't so expensive after all .
What do you think of using the paddles (shift triggers) for shifting the DCT? Is there a paddles-only setting or does that work only when in full auto mode. I ask because maybe you want to shift later than the automatic would do it.
Great video. Just wondering have you tried the apple car play much? I have an Apple iPhone and use the Apple maps. You just bring up maps on the phone put in your destination and plug it into the Apple Car Play. I use this on my car and it works great. I wondered if you had checked out that option rather then installing a Garmin?
My pads are worn out too. 9.5K miles. Warranty Item??
Good review. There's motorcycles, then their is Goldwing. Ride safe.
I’m just breaking in my 208 DCT in Arizona. No fogging here in the desert. All doors open and close as designed. The navigation was a huge disappointment to me, as well the AM/FM reception range. I spent hours learning how to preprogram my favorite Phoenix stations and lost fidelity on both bands 40 miles out. The speakers are fine. Wondering if I will lose storage space if I spring for XM radio. I bought this bike with the intention of visiting my brother and son in North Carolina, but since my ass is on fire after 125 miles on the stock seat, I’m pissed off. I need a seat, a radio, and a Garmin GPS. I’m passed the initial reluctance to go without the clutch, the mechananicals on this machine are incredibly nice. I’m proud of her, but she’s not perfect and too early for divorce. 🇺🇸🤣
Q: "Wondering if I will lose storage space if I spring for XM radio."
A: No - the XM radio tuner itself is already built into the audio system. You *do* need to add the XM antenna and buy a subscription. CM has a video showing how to mount the Honda XM antenna, and it does not encroach on storage space at all.
Mark Smith isn’t there different seat options?
I have a 2013 f6b which I really like and the power the goldwing, I’m trying to decide on a newer goldwing or a road glide
Cruiseman... How does your trailer pull with the DCT? Is there any difference between the previous version?
Pulls fine in Tour mode. Have not pulled the trailer while also carrying a passenger, but will be in August.
i am right at 10000 miles, i look forward to any day i can ride even if just to work and home, i have had lot of bikes this my first goldwing and i do have the dct so i went all in on this , only parts i really dislike is the seat and i am about to upgrade that to an RDL in april is my production date so we will see , i to see you at WD this year
I have a 2018 Tour with the 6-speed and my biggest complaints are the low-beam illumination and the absolutely sub-par audio. My wife says the pillion must be replaced soon or she will no longer ride with me. Why can't we ever get our money's worth on these touring bikes? I do love this bike, but miss a lot of things about my 2008. The engine "drone" at highway speeds is about as un-Goldwingish (new word) as you can possibly get.
Didn't you test ride one? Lol
At 13000+ miles foot pegs are not cracking. The side luggage compartments are not sticking.
Excellent video and discussion. Now a subscriber.
Hi Cruiseman, Mark and I are wondering if you will be trialing a mustang seat on your 2018 Goldwing?
Have not talked with Mustang, but Ultimate has reached out to me about reviewing one of their seats in the future.
Hello Chris, I have the 2018 tour and foot pegs were cracked at 600 miles.
Regarding the rubber splitting on the foot peg, my drivers side split on my 2014 with less than 6k miles. The rubber is also very soft so not sure if this is a known issue?
Is the navigation by REVER or is this new for 2020. Thanks
No, it is from Harman. However, Honda now recommends REVER for creating routes.
Hi ! very informative , thank you - I am considering my first goldwing - rode cruisers for a long time - I have a choice to make - 2012 literally brand new goldwing or a 2018 almost new goldwing (without dct) -I still like the manual input - theres just about a $4K difference in price between the two.... What would you recommend - Please give me a solid direction not a "depends" answer lol :)
The suspense is killing me. Which did you choose?
How do people get the display screen replaced ?
The dash cover plastic or glass?
Plastic. A very SOFT plastic that scratches very easily 👎
I've got a 2016 GW, and it has the most comfortable seat I've ever had. Mine is the audio comfort model, and I don't know if that has anything to do with it. But that new seat is like a board. Cruiseman had his worked on too.
As always, I agree with you. I love my 2018 Goldwing DCT. Mine is a bit over two years old and pushing 18,000 miles. I suffered from sticker shock when I was told my air filter need changing, around 15,000 miles. My dealer looked at it with a camera and confirmed it was filthy. The cost... $300.00. Oh My Gosh? Hey Honda, make this easier for the owner to remove and clean or replace. Let me put in my own K&N filter and move on. I don't think Honda's programmers in India will ever meet our Garmin experience, so just give us a better radio and antenna and forget about GPS until you are willing to pay Garmin like you do for all my car units. (I own 4 Honda cars and bikes).
I didn't' think it was possible for air cleaner R&R to be any more involved than the previous generation GL1800. But then again, I didn't think it was possible for air cleaner R&R to be any more involved than on the GL1500.
Honda keeps proving me wrong...
@@tomboyd224 It took them 19 years to figure out how to make it more complicated.
Yet another great video Chris. I too have reached the 10k mark on my 2018. I’m coming from HD so the new wing is by far the greatest bike I have owned/ridden but I wanted to mention, I too have issues with my trunk actuator opening after a recent install of a Mustang passenger backrest. In a review I did of the product, I note that the piece is much heavier than the stock backrest. I can only come to the conclusion that it’s the extra weight causing problems. Not sure how heavy the luggage rack is compared to the backrest but I would suspect it’s within a few pounds of one another. I’ve tried to troubleshoot to determine the cause with no real resolution. Is it the extra weight, weak actuator, trunk lid hinge setup? I don’t know. After working the trunk lid over the course of a couple of weeks, it seems to be sticking less. The short - term remedy has been to close the lid tight again and it pops open on the first release button push. Every time
Oh, and my peg covers are wearing out very rapidly as well. Keep up the great videos. Very informative and always well done.
P.S. - Hero7 black is working out great!
- Rick
Hi , Pete here from England! Usually your a bit over the top for me, as I find many (yankees) (lol) but you have a great vid here, it lets prospective Gold wing Buyers know what they are in for? I have been stopped here in England from buying one I love the Bike, but at £30000 its double the price most cars Here! And you can’t leave something of that price in the Garage to winter over (Right) it would financially hurt most people to buy one here ok unless you are Retired with a pension and no money worries!
So enjoy your Gold-wing my friend and I will see what the future brings for me, have a great day!
Life is not 0 or 100, love or hate. We call that “Beavis and Butthead” thinking because the only responses they had were “cool” or “sucks.”
No need to play into our culture’s obsession with extremes.
For my first GW, I am torn between a 2012 Abs model with a lot of nice upgrades as well as a color matched Bushtec trailer, or a new 2020. (Of course the 2012 is cheaper). What would you do?
Personally, I would go with a 2020 just because of the warranty and the new tech. Both are good choices.
@@cruisemansgarage thank you. I really appreciate your videos and your advice.
Yes the handlebar vibrations!! I’m finally getting over it and stopped comparing it to the smooth ride of my 16
Love the review I am interested in buying the F6B version instead since it is hard for me to step over.
I am looking at that same bike. I do not need a stinking trunk. (hehehe)