I would buy a Goldwing for two reasons, and two reasons only: 1 - so I could call it a G-wing. 2 - to play various Wagner excerpts at touring speed whilst I cruise through Europe.
Zack is pretty much the opposite of every other motovlogger on his commutes, so cheery and lighthearted about everything. Wish I could borrow a little of that positive mindset every now and then! Keep it up!!
You can tell he's done plenty of powerslides before. An inexperienced rider would tend to panic and abruptly cut the throttle while sideways... which is a recipe for disaster.
Im an inexperienced driver and I powerslide so much by accident on my bandit. You know where is your theory wrong? I was so shit scared that my hand freezes and could not cut the throttle :D :D
J Martins Mate, you act like filtering (lane splitting) is some kind of stunt, a death sentence, when in fact it's a completely normal thing for any rider with a decent experience. So thanks for hoping I don't end up in a box and yes, it is my life and I'll take care of it. I certainly don't have a death wish but equally I don't wish to be stuck in slow traffic like a fool when I don't have to. There's plenty of space on the road and when done right and at a proper speed, filtering makes life easier for everyone. But you go ahead and be stuck, waste your time and gas because you're too afraid to use what you have. Motorcycle doesn't have a cage or weather protection, but it is small and that's one of its advantages. Riding a bike like a car is a complete waste of potential and frankly, with that thinking you might as well get a car. But hey, it's "your life".
Having the bigger gas tank is not a huge issue because most people I know want to get off their bike before or around 200 miles to stretch their legs, bathroom break or to drink/eat. So at that point you gas up anyways.
I was satisfied with the backing in, very good job on a goldwing :) and i was sure you were going to crash at the second drift, you are mad man :) I never wanted a goldwing, but this new generation just looks like an excellent bike
Once you see it, you can't unsee it...the dials (gauges) are the eyes, the wind screen stays are the horns, the mirrors are the ears, the middle console is the snout. During the entire video, I kept seeing a cow.the black and white color scheme added to the effect...
I think Honda did a great job repositioning the Goldwing as a direct threat to the BMW K1600LT. As a BMW owner I would have to include this machine as a strong option in this segment. I know a lot of old Wing owners are not happy with the refresh, but I feel they made a smart move going for a younger demographic.
I think the reason they put higher pitched horns on bikes is because people instinctively look for a small vehicle when they hear a high pitched horn, the same way you look for a truck when you hear a truck horn.
I always thought the horns sounded like that, because they're small & alone, for the space & weight in a bike. I always wanted to use low note horns like from an old Cadillac, because I really like how they sound. But whether it's a junkyard find, or aftermarket. I have to figure out where to hide them. And I hope they don't weigh too much, compared to common motorcycle horns. I still care about handling. Every bit of weight counts.
One thing about this new Wing is the optional DCT in this market segment. Love it or hate it the DCT will upset the segment. We'll have to see if others move toward that now as well. BMW will most likely be next I think. Also with the DCT the engine is used for forward and reverse creeping instead of an electric motor.
I don't think dual clutch trans will really ever catch on. Sure u have bikes like the africa twin, aprilia 850, and that honda 700 that have it but i just dont think it can ever get enough momentum to make an impact on the market.
Just gotta say guys, because of how informative you guys have been with all the bikes you review, I am proud to say you guys helped me make up my mind on buying my Ninja 650. Keep it up!
My 2006 VFR800 has a 5.8 Gal tank vs 5.2 on the Goldwing. Horsepower on the dyno is about the same, MPG is just about the same 38-45 vs. the Goldwings stated 42. The saddlebags are larger than the Goldwings bags, and are removable. I know the Goldwing absolutely smashes a VFR in all other touring aspects such as comfort, rider aids, and long distance gadgets but come on Honda, 220 mile range on your flagship touring bike?
I'm sooo glad I waited to get this bike. It's beautiful and hopefully I'll get one eventually but not until Honda replaces that gawdawful GPS and increases fuel capacity. Otherwise it's amazing and exactly what I've been waiting for to tour and do IronButts. C'mon Honda you're almost there!
I'm sure it has enough torque to do so.. but I would question if the tire could. I would think it would slip before lifting up. Also that's a LOT of weight to place on one wheel... and a LOT of weight to place back down haha. A not so smooth landing and I could imagine the front wheel turning into a taco.
Great review Zack.Was horrified when you were sliding that big ol' bike around. Thought you were going to stack it! Meanwhile you were just laughing away. Magic. Where the hell do you learn those skills?!
Nice review, Zackl. I have an '02 GL1800 as my daily driver. I commute on it. Super comfy. I recently put a car tire on the back. I got tired of spending $300 every six months on a new rear tire. Maybe it's just me, but every tire should last longer than fifteen thousand miles, but especially one that costs over $250!
I've never understood why these touring / sport touring bikes get such a bad wrap as commuter bikes. I don't have to take any backpack with me on my FJR - nor would you on the goldwing. You actually have storage. I can put my lifting belt in there, some gym clothes, etc. etc. and drive comfortably. These are the best commuter bikes!
I watched your review of the BMW K1600B Grand America just prior to watching this review of the new Goldwing and there was a dramatic difference in your reaction when you stomped on the throttle of both bikes from a standing start. You were genuinely thrilled by the acceleration of the K1600. In fact, you accelerated hard more often on the K1600 because you enjoyed it so much. As for the Goldwing, you said it was good but you had far less of a reaction. I am currently riding a BMW K1200S, which accelerates hard, and will be transitioning to a bike more suitable for 2-up. I still want a bike that is thrilling but it has to be comfortable for the missus. I am thinking, based on your reaction comparison for acceleration, that the K1600 is more thrilling. I like the engine, the larger fuel tank, the added storage, and the adaptive headlight in the K1600, but I wish the K1600 had the larger screen and infotainment system of the Goldwing.
Almost thought that second drift was going to end badly. That motor does sound pretty good, glad they went to the effort to do that rather than just make it totally quiet. Also surprised they didn't give you a DCT model.
Cool video! I just bought a white one also today. I got the automatic. Put about 140 miles on it today and this evening. Love it so far! Traded my 2014 Harley Ultra Classic Limited. I have had five 1500's and one 1200. I did not like the body style of the older 1800's. Loving the new style!
That song on the radio was perfect. I love these videos. Really give some propper insight on how the bike handles & what is actually relevant instead of the crazy 'WOAW, A 1,2k CC MOTORCYCLE WOAW' bullshit. No statistics that are worthless. 'This is a fast bike, compared to x y z' - that's how you give the masses some actual insight that a dealer can't give you. Favorite motorcycle channel. I should read up more on your website tbh. MUCH LOVE, REGARDS, Bruno!
Zack that was awesome controlled power slides on a 2018 Goldwing you got my respect today bro! You knew that s*** was going to go sideways and you just said f*** it and went with it. Way cool!
Honda will be making larger bags and top case before long I’m sure. I have the same color that your on there and love everything about it. They have already made the new passenger grab rails that I have now. This goes to show they are listening to their customer base about a few complaints. Love your vids. Keep them common. Ride safe.
Great job Zack. I probably missed it, where’s the highway boards for Iron Butt rides or actual long range Touring? Leaving a cheap little foam pouch for storing your expensive Smart phone was a bit lack of attention to detail. For this price a little thought would have solved it. However, I like the direction Honda went with this bike and it looks fabulous..Please review, if ever possible, the new BMW K1600b and let us know. This bike absolutely sounds like it would rip. Good review here.
I must be getting old, bought a 1200GS last year and now I'm thinking this Gold Wing looks great! Can't understand why anyone would get the manual transmission version though - on a bike like this DCT must be perfect. Great for highway cruising, great for touring in unknown cities.
I got a chance to ride the 2018 GW with DCT and I have to say ALL tour bikes should have a DCT option cause I feel the DCT is more practical for those really long trips.
I drive my GW mostly in the Swiss Alps, I would never consider the automatic version, but if you live in the US with long straight roads it makes sense.
Maybe I'm strange but for road riding in general, sporty or otherwise, I don't really see what the benefits are of a manual transmission. Nor the fun for that matter. You can still override the DCT if you wish using the shifter buttons and that allows you full manual control of the gear selection. Is it the action of clutching and shifting gears? Even racers use quick shifters and never touch the clutch. Or am I missing something? Either way, good that the options are there for all different tastes :) Now off road of course is an entirely different matter where clutch control is important for maintaining traction and pulling off more advanced maneuvers.
Already signed-up for a demo ride and I'll be taking the manual out. Why? That's because I love going through the gears/mechanical feel of the manual. The DCL reminds me of a glorified version of my wife's little Yamaha BWS.
If you haven't tried the DCT yet I'd really recommend giving it a go :) I found the manual shifts to be really crisp when using the gear switches on the left hand bar. The automatic programming on the Goldwing is a bit lazy in Touring mode though, and a bit too harsh in Sport - if they had a "Normal" mode somewhere in between the two I'd be happier :)
Windshields: when they are all the way up, you have silence in your helmet, but you also have sweat pouring down your face for lack of air through the vents. When they are down, you have 30 rubber hammers beating your head all of the time, and still lack adequate flow to stop the sweat. Naked bikes are awesome.
Honda has this combi-brake thingie on all its low end scooter (I ride one). It's gimmicky but still glad to know it is a trickle down technology and also not just something that a marketing guy came up with from scratch like the thing actually exists on a legit bike
OH my. I've been waiting for this since I saw your post on Instagram. Thanks for backing it in, I think every single reply to your post said something about that LOL. You know, I've never considered these huge bikes - I've always just thought - go buy a car if you want all that stuff - but gee I loved watching this. That sound... all the cool things it has. Really loved it and sitting behind the handlebars with you on the ride I can see why people LOVE these bikes and they have such a huge following. Wow. It's a really awesome machine. Edit: Oh yes, I was waiting for the wheely as well :-)
Zack, has anyone told you that you sound creepily similar to Jonathan Ward! Both, in terms of voice and speech diction. Also surprisingly, you both look alike as well.. I love MC Commute and bought myself the KTM 390 Duke recently. Best wishes from India.
100hp is a bit low I think given the weight of this bike, does anyone else wish that they moved it towards the K1600 range from BMW with their 160hp straight-6?
Yeah man, just steppin out 400 an sum kg's of bike like it ain't no thing. Must be hard to keep the bike balanced with those great big brass balls you got on board!
guambra2001 its not aesthetics. its aerodynamics. Wider luggage and bodywork doesn't cut through wind easily and requires more grunt from engine to fight it. this also results in poor fuel efficiency. Its why sbks keep getting smaller
Kind of glad lane-splitting isn't allowed in North Carolina, what's wrong with cranking up the music? LOL, when I test rode the tour 2018, I couldn't even hear the radio at 85 miles an hour under a my helmet. Sticking with the F6B
Motor Bikes have always had crap horns. When I was on cars I bought and fitted A set of Air Horns. Which I removed when I scrapped the car. I bought a little Honda 250 with Full Fairing, Panniers and Twin Top Box. My .daily ride for the next 7 years. After about 4 months I needed to sound my horn because of an idiot? Result was he didn't hear me. Went home and the next day I fitted the Air Horns. Here in the U.K we have an annual test called an MOT. for your vehicle to pass it must have the original horn fitted. So I had both with a change over switch. The examiner asked about the Non working Air Horns? I showed him how much difference there was and how much louder they were. He had to agree as half the road turned around with the Air Horns.
That's not my cup of tea at all but I gotta say that's a pretty badass looking bike for what it is. And I REALLY thought you were gonna dump it on that one slide!! You've got some serious riding skills!
Traction control off let me see what its really capable of. You handled the it which what I like. I like spinning the tire every once in awhile. I bet with traction off you could chirp a few gears? Nice job on the video as well, I think I'm all set.
Great vid once again.... Curious to see how that new front suspension holds up after a long ownership.... It looks to be a very "Consumable area" with all those expensive little moving bits!!
How much of a difference can you feel between this and the base Goldwing (the bagger)? I thought it lost more weight. Didn't I see them say the base bike is 760 lbs.? Seems like the top case should only add another 50 lbs..
Comment and a question. I, too, thought you were going to drop it on the third time playing with the traction control. Great skills! My question is, is it just me or are the turn signals flashing or something when the bike is off? It looks like it at the beginning and end of the video.
Didn't actually tell is what it's like to ride... I've only ridden a wee naked bike, and a dirty big adv bike, so I'm kinda curious to know what something that big feels like.
17:16 dude, my stomach dropped.
Just keep that front wheel pointed correctly :)
Same here. But, in the end, Zach is a better rider than 99% of people on the planet.
i like how zach just laughs.. most of us would shit ourselves lol
Same! He's super talented.. but my heart stopped like I was the one riding it.. lol.
KABAR432 I shit myself and I wasn't riding
Man Zack's riding always impresses me but sliding around a goldwing like that might be the craziest thing I've seen him do
Heated seat... pfffff my Ducati comes with that standard (and cannot be turned off) 😆. I love Zach, great video!
ducati can make ur thigh mature
U made me think for a while 😂😂
LOL and ROFL
Guess that reliability isn't one tho ;)
My GTR 1400 comes with a free right foot roaster and i didn’t even have to pay extra for it
I would buy a Goldwing for two reasons, and two reasons only:
1 - so I could call it a G-wing.
2 - to play various Wagner excerpts at touring speed whilst I cruise through Europe.
Gerhard Symons Based on all of my prior G-wing sightings, I’m pretty sure these only get oldies stations, and of course....classic rock
At 17:17 I thought it was not gonna end well. Great review though!!!!
Zack is pretty much the opposite of every other motovlogger on his commutes, so cheery and lighthearted about everything. Wish I could borrow a little of that positive mindset every now and then! Keep it up!!
I really thought you were gonna drop it on the 3rd slide, but you just laughed it off. lol
Sick skills and confidence to match. :)
And then he did another one! ZEN MASTER ZACK!
You can tell he's done plenty of powerslides before. An inexperienced rider would tend to panic and abruptly cut the throttle while sideways... which is a recipe for disaster.
Im an inexperienced driver and I powerslide so much by accident on my bandit. You know where is your theory wrong? I was so shit scared that my hand freezes and could not cut the throttle :D :D
J Martins
Yes, I do. Why ride a motorcycle if I'm not taking advantage of its size?
J Martins
Mate, you act like filtering (lane splitting) is some kind of stunt, a death sentence, when in fact it's a completely normal thing for any rider with a decent experience.
So thanks for hoping I don't end up in a box and yes, it is my life and I'll take care of it. I certainly don't have a death wish but equally I don't wish to be stuck in slow traffic like a fool when I don't have to. There's plenty of space on the road and when done right and at a proper speed, filtering makes life easier for everyone.
But you go ahead and be stuck, waste your time and gas because you're too afraid to use what you have. Motorcycle doesn't have a cage or weather protection, but it is small and that's one of its advantages. Riding a bike like a car is a complete waste of potential and frankly, with that thinking you might as well get a car. But hey, it's "your life".
The most impressive thing in this review are your riding skills. Power sliding this beast... Damn! Huge respect
I love the cockpit layout of this thing, and looks really nice from the seat
Zack, how can you be so calm sliding that thing around?
Skill & Experience.
Start gentle, and practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.
And don't get cocky.
2020: this guy calmly off roads a Harley lowrider and a Ducati streetfighter V4.
Having the bigger gas tank is not a huge issue because most people I know want to get off their bike before or around 200 miles to stretch their legs, bathroom break or to drink/eat. So at that point you gas up anyways.
word! not even close to a deal breaker..
Spinning the rear out like that on such a big bike looks terrifying to me.
As far as bikes, how about the FJ 09.
I was satisfied with the backing in, very good job on a goldwing :) and i was sure you were going to crash at the second drift, you are mad man :)
I never wanted a goldwing, but this new generation just looks like an excellent bike
Once you see it, you can't unsee it...the dials (gauges) are the eyes, the wind screen stays are the horns, the mirrors are the ears, the middle console is the snout. During the entire video, I kept seeing a cow.the black and white color scheme added to the effect...
route 246 wraith lol
I think the dash looks like a robot. Honda should include heads up display on the windshield like some cars do.
I'd love to see you and ari do a goldwing tour through the years starting from the gl1000.
Yes!!!! A 1000 x yes!
roscocsa On Two Wheels Retro comparison would be dope. Original versus new Goldwings
Yeah that would be so cool. But hard to do man.
Or a bromance tour on this goldwing.
Maybe a craigslist get into touring for 1000$ thing like they did with the $1000 get into motorcycling episode.
I think Honda did a great job repositioning the Goldwing as a direct threat to the BMW K1600LT. As a BMW owner I would have to include this machine as a strong option in this segment. I know a lot of old Wing owners are not happy with the refresh, but I feel they made a smart move going for a younger demographic.
This is the coolest the G-wing has ever been. Nice!
I think the reason they put higher pitched horns on bikes is because people instinctively look for a small vehicle when they hear a high pitched horn, the same way you look for a truck when you hear a truck horn.
I always thought the horns sounded like that, because they're small & alone, for the space & weight in a bike. I always wanted to use low note horns like from an old Cadillac, because I really like how they sound. But whether it's a junkyard find, or aftermarket. I have to figure out where to hide them. And I hope they don't weigh too much, compared to common motorcycle horns. I still care about handling. Every bit of weight counts.
My 92 saab 900 honks like a truck.
One thing about this new Wing is the optional DCT in this market segment. Love it or hate it the DCT will upset the segment. We'll have to see if others move toward that now as well. BMW will most likely be next I think. Also with the DCT the engine is used for forward and reverse creeping instead of an electric motor.
I don't think dual clutch trans will really ever catch on. Sure u have bikes like the africa twin, aprilia 850, and that honda 700 that have it but i just dont think it can ever get enough momentum to make an impact on the market.
The horn is freakin awesome!
Just gotta say guys, because of how informative you guys have been with all the bikes you review, I am proud to say you guys helped me make up my mind on buying my Ninja 650. Keep it up!
My 2006 VFR800 has a 5.8 Gal tank vs 5.2 on the Goldwing. Horsepower on the dyno is about the same, MPG is just about the same 38-45 vs. the Goldwings stated 42. The saddlebags are larger than the Goldwings bags, and are removable.
I know the Goldwing absolutely smashes a VFR in all other touring aspects such as comfort, rider aids, and long distance gadgets but come on Honda, 220 mile range on your flagship touring bike?
220 miles if lucky. Not so impressive.
could you guys do a Z900RS?
I'm sooo glad I waited to get this bike. It's beautiful and hopefully I'll get one eventually but not until Honda replaces that gawdawful GPS and increases fuel capacity. Otherwise it's amazing and exactly what I've been waiting for to tour and do IronButts. C'mon Honda you're almost there!
I've watched 10 other reviews on this bike yours was by far the best you were very comprehensive and very detailed thank you!
agree 100% with the horn sentiment. I've been wanting to find a better horn for my R3, but not much fits into it
Don't need a horn with a full system exhaust 😜🤙
OML those powerslides at the end were badass! Especially considering the size of the gold wing lol I don’t have the balls or the skills
And this is why Zack is one of the best bike reviewers out there. Loved it!
but can u wheely it?
Pop the clutch!
I'm sure it has enough torque to do so.. but I would question if the tire could. I would think it would slip before lifting up. Also that's a LOT of weight to place on one wheel... and a LOT of weight to place back down haha. A not so smooth landing and I could imagine the front wheel turning into a taco.
BmxDieseldude I would like to see the landing xD
Good point. They did move everything forward on it as well, so all that weight is RIGHT on the front!
ua-cam.com/video/Jz-1i7ZCO8w/v-deo.html yes, yes you can
I love MC Commute, and damn lane splitting, backing it in, power slide a Gold wing you could not made me more happy in the morning :)
Great review Zack.Was horrified when you were sliding that big ol' bike around. Thought you were going to stack it! Meanwhile you were just laughing away. Magic. Where the hell do you learn those skills?!
So glad Honda finally made a GW that isn’t for old guys. This thing is a spaceship! Mine with DCT please.
Zach and Waheed are probably 2 of the most talented motorcycle journalist riders out there.
Nice review, Zackl. I have an '02 GL1800 as my daily driver. I commute on it. Super comfy. I recently put a car tire on the back. I got tired of spending $300 every six months on a new rear tire. Maybe it's just me, but every tire should last longer than fifteen thousand miles, but especially one that costs over $250!
Riding a Goldwing and VH playing on the radio, can’t get much better…!
You guys should do an Aerostich review, as you are always wearing one! maybe a "mc commute gear choices" or something?
I've never understood why these touring / sport touring bikes get such a bad wrap as commuter bikes. I don't have to take any backpack with me on my FJR - nor would you on the goldwing. You actually have storage. I can put my lifting belt in there, some gym clothes, etc. etc. and drive comfortably. These are the best commuter bikes!
I watched your review of the BMW K1600B Grand America just prior to watching this review of the new Goldwing and there was a dramatic difference in your reaction when you stomped on the throttle of both bikes from a standing start. You were genuinely thrilled by the acceleration of the K1600. In fact, you accelerated hard more often on the K1600 because you enjoyed it so much. As for the Goldwing, you said it was good but you had far less of a reaction. I am currently riding a BMW K1200S, which accelerates hard, and will be transitioning to a bike more suitable for 2-up. I still want a bike that is thrilling but it has to be comfortable for the missus. I am thinking, based on your reaction comparison for acceleration, that the K1600 is more thrilling. I like the engine, the larger fuel tank, the added storage, and the adaptive headlight in the K1600, but I wish the K1600 had the larger screen and infotainment system of the Goldwing.
Almost thought that second drift was going to end badly. That motor does sound pretty good, glad they went to the effort to do that rather than just make it totally quiet. Also surprised they didn't give you a DCT model.
Cool video! I just bought a white one also today. I got the automatic. Put about 140 miles on it today and this evening. Love it so far! Traded my 2014 Harley Ultra Classic Limited. I have had five 1500's and one 1200. I did not like the body style of the older 1800's. Loving the new style!
Those power slides were golden! Loving the TC off for sure.
ua-cam.com/video/RY9u0LxIWJk/v-deo.htmlm1s
Hands down the best motorcycle review I’ve ever seen!! Nice job!
That song on the radio was perfect.
I love these videos. Really give some propper insight on how the bike handles & what is actually relevant instead of the crazy 'WOAW, A 1,2k CC MOTORCYCLE WOAW' bullshit. No statistics that are worthless. 'This is a fast bike, compared to x y z' - that's how you give the masses some actual insight that a dealer can't give you.
Favorite motorcycle channel. I should read up more on your website tbh. MUCH LOVE, REGARDS, Bruno!
We going through an ice age here but god I love motorcycles, even this huge beast.
Jump was about the most appropriate song to come on during a GoldWing ride lol
8:50 that's a doug demuro moment there. You should show us the quirks and features next. Lol
Zack that was awesome controlled power slides on a 2018 Goldwing you got my respect today bro! You knew that s*** was going to go sideways and you just said f*** it and went with it. Way cool!
After seeing it, I can't not see a giraffe's face looking at the goldwing's dash 😂
No wheelie this time?! Zack? that's 15% of the reason I never missed your commute vids.
Nice that it come with 90 degree angled valve stems....
New bike suggestion: Kawasaki Vaquero. Green lime.
Others: Kawasaki Vulcan 2000cc, Triumph Rocket Touring, Honda VTX 1800 Neo, 2018 Harley Davidson Fat Boy (160 front/240 back!), 2018 Suzuki M109, Yamaha Raider, 2017 Yamaha V-Star Deluxe, Yamaha Eluder & 2018 Indian Chief Classic.
Motorcycle Gear Hub just make a letter to those Manufacturers!!
Honda will be making larger bags and top case before long I’m sure. I have the same color that your on there and love everything about it. They have already made the new passenger grab rails that I have now. This goes to show they are listening to their customer base about a few complaints. Love your vids. Keep them common. Ride safe.
Came for the drift, wasn't disappointed.
100% agree on the horn needing to not sound like it already gave up on survival.
Great job Zack. I probably missed it, where’s the highway boards for Iron Butt rides or actual long range Touring? Leaving a cheap little foam pouch for storing your expensive Smart phone was a bit lack of attention to detail. For this price a little thought would have solved it. However, I like the direction Honda went with this bike and it looks fabulous..Please review, if ever possible, the new BMW K1600b and let us know. This bike absolutely sounds like it would rip. Good review here.
How do you compare the wing to the BMW k1600B?
I must be getting old, bought a 1200GS last year and now I'm thinking this Gold Wing looks great! Can't understand why anyone would get the manual transmission version though - on a bike like this DCT must be perfect. Great for highway cruising, great for touring in unknown cities.
I got a chance to ride the 2018 GW with DCT and I have to say ALL tour bikes should have a DCT option cause I feel the DCT is more practical for those really long trips.
I drive my GW mostly in the Swiss Alps, I would never consider the automatic version, but if you live in the US with long straight roads it makes sense.
Maybe I'm strange but for road riding in general, sporty or otherwise, I don't really see what the benefits are of a manual transmission. Nor the fun for that matter. You can still override the DCT if you wish using the shifter buttons and that allows you full manual control of the gear selection. Is it the action of clutching and shifting gears? Even racers use quick shifters and never touch the clutch. Or am I missing something? Either way, good that the options are there for all different tastes :)
Now off road of course is an entirely different matter where clutch control is important for maintaining traction and pulling off more advanced maneuvers.
Already signed-up for a demo ride and I'll be taking the manual out. Why? That's because I love going through the gears/mechanical feel of the manual. The DCL reminds me of a glorified version of my wife's little Yamaha BWS.
If you haven't tried the DCT yet I'd really recommend giving it a go :) I found the manual shifts to be really crisp when using the gear switches on the left hand bar. The automatic programming on the Goldwing is a bit lazy in Touring mode though, and a bit too harsh in Sport - if they had a "Normal" mode somewhere in between the two I'd be happier :)
You are 100% right that horn does sound great and even better than their Civic they make. You can never have a horn thats too loud on a bike!
Windshields: when they are all the way up, you have silence in your helmet, but you also have sweat pouring down your face for lack of air through the vents.
When they are down, you have 30 rubber hammers beating your head all of the time, and still lack adequate flow to stop the sweat.
Naked bikes are awesome.
Great review. Just put my $deposit down for my 2022 6cyl touring bike - a retirement gift to myself. Keep these video's coming. Loren
Lane splitting in a Gold WIng. Made me nervous.
I bought my Sena based on your guys usage throughout your video, couldn't be happier.
Great slides, you are really crazy, in a good way 😉 great driving!!
Honda has this combi-brake thingie on all its low end scooter (I ride one). It's gimmicky but still glad to know it is a trickle down technology and also not just something that a marketing guy came up with from scratch like the thing actually exists on a legit bike
OH my. I've been waiting for this since I saw your post on Instagram. Thanks for backing it in, I think every single reply to your post said something about that LOL. You know, I've never considered these huge bikes - I've always just thought - go buy a car if you want all that stuff - but gee I loved watching this. That sound... all the cool things it has. Really loved it and sitting behind the handlebars with you on the ride I can see why people LOVE these bikes and they have such a huge following. Wow. It's a really awesome machine. Edit: Oh yes, I was waiting for the wheely as well :-)
Just found your video. So funny, you're driving in my neighborhood, and I have the exact bike.
Yes, as a matter in fact, I do think motorcycle horns should be extra strong! I always wonder if they can even hear me when I honk...
OMG, I thought you were going to highside there...your skills are way beyond mine! Another awesome Moto Commute, nice work 😜😜👍
Man, those speakers would be awesome... I want. One day ill have every type of bike.
Zack, has anyone told you that you sound creepily similar to Jonathan Ward! Both, in terms of voice and speech diction.
Also surprisingly, you both look alike as well..
I love MC Commute and bought myself the KTM 390 Duke recently.
Best wishes from India.
100hp is a bit low I think given the weight of this bike, does anyone else wish that they moved it towards the K1600 range from BMW with their 160hp straight-6?
Yeah man, just steppin out 400 an sum kg's of bike like it ain't no thing. Must be hard to keep the bike balanced with those great big brass balls you got on board!
What I really want to know is what are those gloves you’re wearing? I love the way they close at the top.
Bold. Too bad (after this video) any other motorcycle reviewer will be hard-pressed to win my confidence more than Mr. Zack Courts.
Why did it lose so much storage capacity? My Ninja 1000 is close with an aftermarket topbox and the oem panniers.
aesthetics
kolby4078 fair enough but I think most gold wing riders care about storage just as much if not more then Appearance.
I don't think they want the same market with this bike though. seems like they're going for more of a gt bike.
guambra2001 its not aesthetics. its aerodynamics. Wider luggage and bodywork doesn't cut through wind easily and requires more grunt from engine to fight it. this also results in poor fuel efficiency. Its why sbks keep getting smaller
As many GWers are starting to call it the new 2018 Goldwing Tour should have been called the 2018 Goldwing Sport
Kind of glad lane-splitting isn't allowed in North Carolina, what's wrong with cranking up the music? LOL, when I test rode the tour 2018, I couldn't even hear the radio at 85 miles an hour under a my helmet. Sticking with the F6B
With the bike weight & passenger you got about 10 lbs / HP. That is very powerful. High performance cars have similar performance characteristics.
Motor Bikes have always had crap horns. When I was on cars I bought and fitted A set of Air Horns. Which I removed when I scrapped the car. I bought a little Honda 250 with Full Fairing, Panniers and Twin Top Box. My .daily ride for the next 7 years. After about 4 months I needed to sound my horn because of an idiot? Result was he didn't hear me. Went home and the next day I fitted the Air Horns. Here in the U.K we have an annual test called an MOT. for your vehicle to pass it must have the original horn fitted. So I had both with a change over switch.
The examiner asked about the Non working Air Horns? I showed him how much difference there was and how much louder they were. He had to agree as half the road turned around with the Air Horns.
Thumbs up for the back it in attempt!!! This must be a standard feature on any bike :D
They gave the goldwing a facelift and it looks beautiful now
That's not my cup of tea at all but I gotta say that's a pretty badass looking bike for what it is. And I REALLY thought you were gonna dump it on that one slide!! You've got some serious riding skills!
Front suspension is best change. Good to see another attempt at replacing forks.
That soundtrack couldn't have been more fitting with this bike.
dude! you got my hart skipping a beat every time you slide that bike 17:16
What a torque, drifting a 850 pounds like that. Just great. Where is the next Honda shop?
Traction control off let me see what its really capable of. You handled the it which what I like. I like spinning the tire every once in awhile. I bet with traction off you could chirp a few gears? Nice job on the video as well, I think I'm all set.
Crazy Zack lol I really thought you would bin it at 17:17. Great stuff, as always 🏍
I was happy to see you lane filter on this big girl with the fixed panniers..
Great vid once again.... Curious to see how that new front suspension holds up after a long ownership.... It looks to be a very "Consumable area" with all those expensive little moving bits!!
17:18 is that a 1980's Honda Elite 150 DELUXE??? THE SCOOTER WITH A POP UP HEADLIGHT!!!
New drinking game... Take a shot every time Zach says "cockpit"
klspeed congrats you just poisoned alot of people
Goldwings are made for a specific thing. It sounds like this version does that thing very well.
Own one...love it. A few glitches in the Nav system, but waiting for Honda to put out a patch
Oddly enough, I find at 7:31 that Van Halen is an appropriate soundtrack for a commute on the G-Wing!
I need to keep an eye out for you near JWA, red jump suit diping and diving through the streets.
No backup camera? Hey, great review, got my heart going with a couple of those slides... LOL
How much of a difference can you feel between this and the base Goldwing (the bagger)? I thought it lost more weight. Didn't I see them say the base bike is 760 lbs.? Seems like the top case should only add another 50 lbs..
Bike of my dreams
Comment and a question. I, too, thought you were going to drop it on the third time playing with the traction control. Great skills! My question is, is it just me or are the turn signals flashing or something when the bike is off? It looks like it at the beginning and end of the video.
Didn't actually tell is what it's like to ride... I've only ridden a wee naked bike, and a dirty big adv bike, so I'm kinda curious to know what something that big feels like.