As an owner of a 2021 goldwing DCT tour. I can tell you this. It's a goldwing in name alone. It's a completely redesigned machine. It's stunning. It's design was meant to pull in younger riders. It looks similar to a BMW k1600. However, the wing is just perfect. So comfortable. The DCT is flawless. Especially on the blueridge parkway. Just twist and go. It's a rocket. Don't let it's size fool you, this bike flies when you snap that throttle. If you are in the market and you can afford one. Get it.
@HahrtDood The chain has benefits, but the upkeep is too much. I have a Rebel 1100 and I may be a little overboard in keeping it in spec, but I am cleaning and lubing every ~600 miles, and I'm having to adjust the wheel for tension every 1500-2000. When I've put 10k miles on it in a year, that is a lot of work that gets old very fast. If I didn't ride it as hard, the chain would probably not stretch quite as fast though 😊
My Dad (ex Honda GL1100 owner) would have loved this. He always embraced new technology and he would've been very impressed with how the Goldwing has evolved. Unfortunately he's no loger around, so I can appreciate it on his behalf.
Thanks for the review of the bike a year on. I plan on getting one, but you showed the good, bad, and ugly of ownership. I am sold on the Goldwing. Ride safe out there. ..
An honest and thorough review Andy, thankyou. I have the same bike and agree with all your comments. I’m a retired pilot and have been involved in testing and flight deck design development and one thing that wouldn’t have got passed an assessment by an actual operator is the cruise control switch on the right! You either have to cross hand it or accept you’ll slow down in the process of selecting it. Madness! I got a riders backrest fitted for my poor old back. Helps a lot, but again that was over £300, which is a bit much. I haven’t had any tyre pressure warnings, but I do check the pressures fairly regularly. Worth mentioning that the brakes are outstanding. A real plus point with a heavy bike. I agree CarPlay is a bit of a faff, but once I got the knack it’s pretty reliable. I have used the USB port in the boot (which I can fit both my headset and pillions in - guess we have small helmets?!) to transfer routes created on MyRoute-app to the bike satnav. Works really well for creating good routes rather than accepting the quickest generated by the satnav. Overall I agree; fantastic bike.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I’ve given up trying to transfer routes from Computer to Nav……I just set a route from origin to destination….and then go where I want to go…the Nav will get me to the other when I choose to pay attention to it.
Thank you - if people take the time to write I try and take the time to reply - I usually do a few hundred a day across my back catalogue....it keeps me budsy!
After soaking up all your Goldwing content I will be picking up my Black 2022 DTC Tour on Thursday morning. I think this could be one of the first ones in the country. Following a weekend test drive I know it will be as good as you say
Very thoughtful review. I agree on many points. I have a 2018 blue GL 1800. Fantastic bike. I am lucky enough to have five other interesting bikes that I ride as well, but every time I get on that Goldwing I’m utterly amazed at what a marvelous piece of engineering it is.
A thoroughly entertaining overview of the the mighty Wing. Nice piece on the jacket, should be snug as a bug on colder days in the garage with that on. Loved the outtakes at the end too, nice to show everyone it is not always easy when shooting a video.
Great stuff, TMF, I enjoyed watching that and listening to your thoughts. I also purchased a Goldwing in September 2020, although mine's the Bagger version but also with the DCT gearbox. The phrase that you used several times in your vlog was "I absolutely love this bike..." and that definitely came across during your commentary. I entirely agree....I think this is the best bike I have ever owned, and I've had a few including K1600GT, FJR1300, GS1200, Diavel and 3 previous generations of Goldwing. The current GW is the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering in my opinion....but that's not to say it's perfect. Like all bikes (and cars) it has its own foibles and idiosyncrasies. Taking some of the points you raised and comparing them to my bike: TPS: you say that your warning light comes on quite often. I've only ever had mine come on once while riding and that turned out to be a genuine puncture in my front wheel , so the system did exactly what it should do and probably saved my bacon! I don't ride through the winter months so perhaps it's just a cold weather thing. I would definitely recommend TPS on a bike. Tailpipe corrosion: have you considered a warranty claim? Don't know about your bike but mine came with a 3 year warranty. I spotted a tiny bit of paint peeling on one of my (matt black) exhausts recently and the dealer replaced it with a new one no questions asked. Radio: I can't say I've experienced any problems with mine....it tunes to stations without any problem. Perhaps its a signal thing and its stronger near me? Throttle jerkiness at very low speed: this is something I've also noticed with my bike, although it isn't a major issue and it is something you can adapt to / learn to live with. I might try the DCT reset at some point. Hill hold: I think I remember from the manual that it stays on for 5 seconds once activated... but I totally agree with you....why doesn't it stay on until you apply throttle? My K1600 did that and it was much easier to "pull on and forget" One thing you didn't mention was the side panels....you have to be really careful when taking them off and putting back on in order to avoid scratching neighbouring panels. Max at Traxxion Dynamics has a good little video on how to do it. Having said all of the above, I still think the bike is marvellous and its pros far outweigh any cons, if indeed they are cons, rather than being just "character". I wish you many more happy miles riding "big blue"
You just gotta love this guy! After all the woe with the Interceptor's spiralling cost ... oh what the hell, I just blast away the blues by goin' out on the Goldwing! It's not such a bad ole life after all!
After watching your review in 2020 I decided to buy a big tourer. I went with the K1600 Grand America. (Hello from Minnesota, USA). I rode one and couldn’t not buy it. I should have at least tried GW but it was a hot deal from BMW and didn’t want to miss it. They both have their pluses and minuses. You should do a head to head comparison. My K16 is tuned and has Remus exhaust. I think I’d smoke ya in a drag race.😁 Anyway, just thought I’d let you know your video sold me on tourers. (I sold my VFR 1200X or “Crosstourer” for you tea drinkers). Come to the USA and ride with us some time. I’d love to meet you and Mrs. Flyer.
I put 33,000 miles on my 2019 Goldwing tour 6m and your observations are spot on! FYI, the radio reception in the States is as poor as it is in the UK. I had quite a few failures on my bike such as the hill start assist, reverse gear and the pocket door refusing to open, thereby making it impossible to open the fuel door. That door works off a servo motor and they tend to allow water into it causing it to fail. The windshield operation became intermittent and Honda was unable to fix it (they did fix the other problems under warranty). The reverse works off a cable that needs to be greased, Honda shipped them dry.
I put 880k on my GL 1500. I put 90k almost on my gl1800 2009. I have owned for GL 1500 motorcycles and two gl1800 motorcycles. Every single one of my wings has had rubbish radio reception especially when it rains. Both as my gl1800 motorcycles has had problems with the front heated seat module but apart from that goldwings in general are rock solid reliability. I honestly can't speak for newer wings but I didn't particularly like the design and I don't think they are as reliable. So many things I like about the older models I'm not sure if I will ever upgrade I hope Honda listen to their customers feedback and make changes according me there's far too much electronics on this bike far too many things to go wrong and when it does go wrong it cost an arm and a leg to get fixed.
@@elixier33 I was contemplating buying a 2017 model as opposed to the redesigned model. In retrospect I should have gone with the older design. I found the 2019 over engineered and complicated to use. Wouldn't be so bad if everything worked reliably but it didn't.
In addition to the recalibrate, you can put it in Rain Mode in traffic or at low speed. I only use the navigation as a map. If I need directions I ask Siri through my headset. That works fine. Get the F4 windshield with the recurve.
Hi Andy, nice to see how your getting on after a year. I bought a 2018 geared model in red, absolutely love it. But like yourself get a little bit miffed at some of the things Honda don't include but then change on a later model, which really should have ben on the orginal models from day 1. I did the change on the grab handles, only difference is I only paid £270 becasue I bought from the USA and even inlcuding shipping and tax/customs I saved £70 off the local dealers quoted price, best of all they arrived on the Friday after ordering them that same week on Monday. I also ordered a Pathfinder wiring harness and pathfinder led cowl lights that are then simply plug and play. Although the boxes are smaller the only thing I really miss is being able to put a couple of helmets in, when on my own it's obviously not an issue, but handy when there are two of you. Dont get Honda and the hill start! On my K1600 it was on and stayed on util you pulled away, but here it is only on for a few seconds so really you end up holding the brake after all !! seems a wasted feature .. The satnav I love, intergrated and actaully easy to use and even program routes with mutliple waypoints and uploading routes from my favourite PC planner as GPX is a doddle. Screen wise I changed to the GIVI tour and it obviously costs a lot less than Honda's and does the job for me. There are plenty of aftermarket goodies, and honda accessories but do you need them all? i did purchase pannier inner bags and pannier storage pockets (these sit inside the dropdown side of the lid so dont really use up extra space, keeps things tidy. I didn't purchase the carpets though. For my topbox I use a generic bag that actually fits remarkably well that I had bought for my GT1600 and keeps it all tidy, plus I can remove it with eeryhting in when you stop overnight. Just need some better weather so i can get out and do some longer riding days, mini tours of the UK. Keep the vblogs coming really like your style and it's always informative, even if I am not really intersted in buying or riding a particular bike you review, it's intersting to see how it stacks up against your experience of others.
Thanks for the long comment Bob - very interesting....where in the US did you buy from I wonder? I couldn't make the numbers work! Thanks for the kind comments - A.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I used WingStuff, I have a USA currency card so didn't have to do any conversion by payiing in dollars, which helped as the rate was really good on my card, I then used the option to include tax/customs shipping. Some of the places in US are not as helpful with customs/tax such as J&P Cycles but can still work out cheaper and still get to you within 5 days.
About that horn you should listen to the one on the CB1100RS/EX. I've not listened anything like that since I haven't got the opportunity to see a goldwing in action but not any other brands sound like that. It would be great to see you reviewing one of it and listen to your opinions of the bike. Cheers and safe rides from Spain.
I have a white 2018 (manual). I love it. It’s my first GW but I had to change the seat, add a backrest & install highway pegs. I’m in the USA and the radio reception (FM) is horrible. Great video. 👏👏
My case is the opposite- he convinced me that a Gold Wing isn't my cup of tea. Much too complicated and laden with features I'm not interested in. But to each his own, and it does look attractive in that lovely blue color.
As usual, a superb video. One thing you don't mention is the ridiculous method for checking the oil level.. I'm in the UK and own a 2019 manual version and checking it is an absolute curse! Maybe you could do a video on that as not even Honda dealers know how to check it properly! Thanks again for the ongoing entertainment.
A great real life review of owning a Gold Wing. The bike does look great, but as you say a real shame about the lack of storage, even though the boxes look huge.
Gr8 review as always! 2 points. The auto stop start feature will drastically reduce battary life. Which on bikes is already poor. The tyre pressure sensors being very sensitive i see as a good thing. Not something i would specifically order on a new bike but i bought a used bike that already had them. In 1 week the tyre pressure sensor saved the day twice. When the weathers cold tyre pressure a bit lower the warning light tells u the system is working and its telling u to be careful and warm your tyres up. Honda brilliance imo love it
Great summary on an awesome bike. The biggest surprise I ever had was a demo ride on a Goldwing. Cruisers are heavy and clumsy, sport bikes are nimble, fast and uncomfortable, expectations met when I tried them out. The Goldwing blew away expectations, supremely comfortable, felt far lighter than it was to the point it was almost sporty. I was completely impressed. It really is the ultimate long distance tourer.
Maybe you could ask Honda if there's a software update to make the tyre pressure monitoring less fussy. Must be computer code involved somewhere on that. I'm yet to find a sat nav, car or bike, that I'm happy playing with whilst going along. I only set them whilst I'm stationary. When I'm driving my car, I get Mrs Karlosh to do on the fly sat nav twiddling ! Hill hold, I have no clue how necessary it is on a 360 Kg bike, on my max 210 Kg bikes, the rear foot brake works for me. In my car I find it to be a pain. I do live in flatish Essex, so maybe hill hold isn't much needed around my way :) Glad to see you still love your Goldwing, I'd like to get a ride of one someday, but this side of a large cash windfall, bigger house and garage I'm not going to buy one. It's a similar scenario for me having a Triumph Rocket 3 ! Anyway enjoy, ride safe, and keep up the good videos :-D
A much needed review, given that the bike is so rare and expensive. Not many would have the chance to find all this out for themselves. Nice one, Andy.
Good content. Honda Goldwing just the best touring machine. So reliable and good looking. And safety devices. I see a lot of these bike's all ages in very good condition . On the roads .they just keep going .good video is
As far as weight, the center of gravity is so low I'd buy a Goldwing tomorrow if it was in my budget. I currently ride a Honda CTX1300 and it has a higher center of gravity, but still handles very well. Someone approached me in a parking lot because he noticed the CTX was handling like a sport bike. I've seen many reviews saying the same about this generation Goldwing. I've only picked up a Goldwing off the side stand, haven't had a chance to test ride yet. But instantly fell in love with the feel and overall dimensions.
I LOVE your videos, been watching for a couple of years. This one... you're scrounging for negatives. Petty, and way beneath your usual high standards.
I used to have a pan european and I had the same problem with the screen it gave me a cold feeling in the small of my back. Great vlog again thanks, Steve
Clean up chrome with kitchen foil. Don’t let the foil come into contact with anything else, but it’s safe and really good on chrome with a small amount of water.
Great review Andy. I've got a 2018 year DCT Goldwing and completely agree with your comments regarding Apple Play and the radio reception. I got better reception out in the middle of Arizona on a 2012 model than I get on the 2018 one in leafy Buckinghamshire (I'm just down the road from you in Chalfont, was good to see the local roads in the review). Plus add the fact that the speakers are nowhere near as good as the previous model makes the sound system all a bit underwhelming. Thanks to your review I've also now got FOMO over the fact that later models have a larger top box! :D (they certainly needed one) Apart from that, love the GW, fantastic machine to ride, certainly not perfect as your review points out, but still wouldn't contemplate slinging my leg over anything else for a long tour. Off to the Alps this summer and can't wait!
Great review! I have a 2021 US model, and I agree with 90% of your niggling points. A couple comments: When moving, the left and right grip buttons *do* work to go through nav menus *but* you need to press the menu button first to bring up the menu bar at the base of the nav screen before hitting the left/right buttons. For creep mode, try holding the +/- button a bit longer. I find the system to be quite strong, but the computer is cautious, and only after sensing a load for a while will it pick up the torque output (you are correct, reverse is handled by the DCT, with a gearset 1/2-way down the transmission gear shafts that causes torque to cross over from one shaft to the other to reverse rotation direction; the computer controls the amount of clutch engagement, hence the seemingly uneven initial creep torque output as it hunts for the right amount of engagement for the demand). I do not believe the 2020+ bikes got larger saddlebags, only the two-helmet trunk. I agree about the hill assist -- it was handy on my BMWs, but the auto-turn off on the Honda make is (dangerously) not-useful; after experiencing the first surprise release, I never use it. You don't need to recalibrate the DCT every 1k miles; an occasional re-cal to compensate for friction plates wear is all you really need. I'm envious of the auto-stop/start -- unlike many people, I like the feature on our cars, but on this side of the pond it its only available in Canada (wft??).
Very fair & balanced assessment. Especially like the button-flap-button- flap for the pertrol cap lol. As for the rusty bits on the end of the cans, (or anywhere) not sure if you're already familiar with it but you could try Hammerite Kurust. It oxidizes the rust & turns it dark inky blue/ black which you can leave if the surrounding metal is black or it provides a stable surface to paint in about 15 mins.
Just guessing here... but I think the extra button for fuel is how they could fit a mechanism for locking the gas cap. They couldn't fit it, especially with the airbag model, and still have the gas cap lock, so they stuck the release under a locked door...... ?
Nice review, Andy, thanks. I agree with many of your comments, especially the HSA cutoff after 3 seconds, which IMO, renders it just useless. I have a 2021DCT non-tour. Now has 9,900 miles on it. I have no problem with the Cruise control setup. I usually keep it armed, and use it when desired. Just press the Set button with your thumb to engage it while your hand is on the throttle. To change speeds up or down just press the +or - buttons. Each+/- tap changes speed by 1 mph. There a four ways to disengage,. I usually close the throttle momentarily to disengage it. FYI, the first set of tires appear to have about 2,000 miles left until they need replacement. They are Dunlop D423's. I plan to use Dunlop Elite 4's (per the Dunlop Tire Co. motorcycle specialist in the USA). Keep up the great work!
love your videos, love to see the countryside in England.. Lived there for 4 years... brings back memories.. great bike. ever consider coming to the USA?
@@TheMissendenFlyer I took it for a ride didn't like it. Yeah it handles better but that doesn't make it better. Ive ridden every single wing out there Ive owned everything pre 2012 I really don't like the new bike. my 2009 wing will reverse up a steep incline with 2 people no problem. Alternator changes don't need the whole engine to be dropped a week job! The nav is still garbage, less space in trunk and so on. Yeah its a different beast its lost its character. I love the electric windscreen on these things but hey I have an electric on mine . I'm happy with mien. Smaller fuel tank? no thanks!
Great review! I have a 2022 DCT and absolutely love it. You are spot on with your review. You also said you fly!!!! I also have a Cessna 185 on amphibious Floats and American Champion Scout. I have attended Oshkosh for 45 years now and would love for you to be my guest sometime to go with me. We could trailer my Honda and my 2022 BMW Transcontinental to Oshkosh for a great vacation. If that interests you just let me know. Plus we could do some flying and water landings. That would be fantastic!! Take care and be safe out there!!!!
Very nice one again, Mr Flyer! And really informative, too! Seeing both your pickiness and your fatalistic attitude towards accessory prices you might just as well make a perfect Harley owner. I definitely hope I can finally arrange a Gold Wing test ride this spring, seems ridiculously difficult in these parts. Hope to see you and Mrs Flyer out on tour again soon!
Mrs Flyer, 'we're going to have to get one of these, and the bike was mine'....classic ..lovely bike enjoy more....im a K1600B rider.....also love the massive low down torque wave
Excellent review Andy, thank you. Even though I'm not in the market for a Goldwing it's still compelling viewing. With that list of negatives though 🙄 tsk tsk, you should immediately give it to me 😂. That noise you hear from the GM trains (which are electric) is known as "Tap Changing" in the traction motors. I suppose it's akin to gears (loosely). What it does is select various transformer taps according to load and/or speed. Some combinations being preferable for high torque, others for speed. When they set off it selects a high torque "low gear" and then progressively "changes up" as speed builds. Then the opposite occurs during deceleration to make use of the regenerative braking effect. In the old locos (circa 1960's) this was a manual control but it's all done electronically (and automatically) nowadays. So the manual vs dct analogy is quite appropriate 😁
Regarding scratches, I’ve always made my own anti scratch “patches” for want of the right word. I’ve purchased transparent/clear sticky back plastic or vinyl as they seem to call it now. Make a template and transfer to the vinyl, cut it out and apply it. I’ve got an H2SXSE and the paint is so soft like so many paints now, but my little shapes/patches save the paint and you can hardly see them… And yes I know you can get second skin kits, but my option is far cheaper, all it needs is a bit of patience and a steady hand👍🏽
Refreshing to get an honest review from an owner , not a journalist in a 5 star hotel in the Mediterranean provided by the manufacturer .. Also love the out takes ! please wear the glasses more it makes me feel better about me having to wearing them now ..😎 👍🏻☮❤
Loved to see him pick it off the ground, you know it's going down, guaranteed. No problem with my CB100, and at my age I don't have to remember 40 different setting.
Great video as usual. I am one of those people who always write off the goldwing as too big and boring(never having tried one) but I have gained a huge amount of curiosity to try one. I'll have to have a go on one someday.
I'm strangely drawn to watching these vids of your Goldwing Andy, interesting machine🤔I think it would be the sort of bike I would enjoy route 66 on, yeah😉 perfect👌
Love everything about it but the price😱 Never mind good stuff never comes cheap does it, but those accessory prices make the manufacturers who do stuff for the GS look like they're almost giving stuff away 🤣. Oh I forgot to add cheers for being just about the only mainstream uk UA-cam bike channel that I can rely on to post regular videos.
My pleasure Adrian - I try and make sure I post when I say I'm going too...currenty guaranteed on Wednesday's but quite a few bonus Saturday videos to come too....
Hi Andy. Just bought a 2019 DCT tour and have only managed a couple of hours on it so far. You, I am afraid, had some influence in my decision :) I have watched so many UA-cam videos about the GL1800 and on one (I can't remember which) the VLOG'er stated that he used the ECON mode around town as it made the journey so much smoother. Yet to try that out.
That was probably Cruiseman. The DCT can be a little snatchy at very low manoeuvring speeds so I always start my ride and end it in the garage in rain mode which allows very reduced throttle response. Also its useful in tight city situations. I use econ for gentle riding around the area and tour when on faster roads. Sport mode great for overtaking lines of traffic in short distances and on twisties if I fancy a blast but no good for manoeuvring or slow riding without considerable refinement and care with the right hand. You've got a wonderful bike. Happy riding.
I fully agree with everything what you tell in the video, Andy, but I have some further remarks : there should be an audible or even better a visible warning on the dashboard when the handbrake is on when one starts driving, or it should unleash automatically. Honda should review the sport mode and call it rather Dynamic whilst recalibrating the throttle pitch being to sensitive. A Goldwing is not a sportbike after all, and a less sensitive throttle-feel would make feel the bike more comfortable to ride. I would suggest Dynamic then and is about similar in revs as it is in Sport actually with the same engine braking but a throttle-feel like in Tour. The mode Econ is needless to me. The filler cap should have a holder at the inner side of the filler cap panel to make refueling more comfortable. The satnav is absolute unsatisfactory to me, not intuitive as you mention, moreover not user-friendly and you can't even erase the history of previous destinations ! I use a TomTom Rider 550 with a suction cap as on a GoPro-device and I put it on the screen of the Honda satnav so the Honda GPS is completely hidden. It ' s a far better alternative anyway ! And yes, even in my country (Belgium), the reception for the radio is poor and mostly deceiving. For that amount of money, Honda should have offered DAB I think ! For the rest : and things I forget ... , the SC 79 with DCT is a very lovely machine to drive. After a bit more than two years, I have done about 12.000 miles with it and I relish every ride with it ! Good luck to you as well and meanwhile I am still in the expectation of my Triumph 1200 GT Explorer in Lucerne Blue next to my Goldwing. I hope it will be mine somewhere in June ! Cheerio ! 😉
You can remove the tyre pressure monitor from inside the tyres. Very pricey bits. You’d think it was a BMW. Car engine in a bike frame. That chrome on the ends of the exhausts should have been stainless steel I reckon. It seems very techie with all the gadgets and gizmos. I like my Garmin satnav, clip onto the bars and sorted. Smash and grab handles at £300 wow. No point of hill hold for 10 seconds, it’s a good concept. It’s a real faffy machine. Too much to go wrong. Sorry for being negative about it. I suppose you’d squeeze a open face helmet in the top box maybe. Heavy bikes are great when you’re out on a windy day. Shaft drive machine no faff with a chain. Your GS will be 110BHP but like you say the torque on the Goldwing is outstanding.Thanks for a super in-depth review Andy. It’s pure luxury. Much appreciated.
TMF, I agree with all your assessments. I also have a 2019 DCT. The US spec by the way doesn't have the start stop feature for idle time. I wish it did. Also, the US spec bikes radio is rubbish as well. I'm like you, I don't listen to music anyway. A few things I don't like and do like that you didn't mention are; Don't like: The dash lense is too easily scratched A trunk rack should be included Like: The paddle shifters, love them, they make riding Twisties great fun without changing ride modes. The inclusion of a center stand is great, Harley, Indian, and I don't think the GTL BMW do this. The shaft drive is awesome, I don't notice any shaft pull away from center on throttle. I'd argue this is the best all around road bike you can buy. If I could only have one bike, and money wasn't a factor, this is it.
I have the 2021 Tour DCT non-airbag version. The TPMS sensor is irritating. First time it went off I stopped the bike and walked around to see if I had a flat. You’d think they could just have a readout for what the tire pressure is like my car does. The 2021 has a larger top case but why didn’t honda put a light in the trunk. It’s an option you can buy but come on. CarPlay is finicky at best but I use it 100% of the time. My biggest complaint is the parking brake doesn’t work and there is nothing to keep you from riding off with it on. There is an aftermarket fix that won’t let you go if the brake is set but again come on Honda.
Yes I should have mentioned that hand brake issue - to be honest I'm yet to use it but am aware you could ride off with it still on, a bit rubbish that....
1minor gripe to add to the negatives. The auto cancel indicators switch off way to early for my liking and I usually have to put them on twice to give a nice length signal that I am about to turn or move direction.
As soon as I got the bike, I disabled the Auto Start/stop. It's a useless option. Never use it. Horrible on the battery and starter motor. The horn button should be made bulkier so you can feel it without searching for it. I glued a rubber disc on it. The GPS is garbage, should be voice activated. Never used it once. Air filter replacement is crazy as hell. Seat could have been a lot more comfortable and adjustable for a 30K bike. Other than that, amazing machine and DCT.
Great video, I know so much more about this motorcycle! On my BMW XR the hill hold stays engaged until I want to disengage it which I’m sure is an easy software fix for Honda. Hopefully they do that at some point. I sat on a gold wing at a local dealership last weekend and while it is a land yacht it was easier to get off the side stand than the BMW R18 so I really need to take one for a test ride.
Very thorough and interesting review. I really do like that engine sound! Glad the 'Hey Kids' is back and I think your next catch phrase could be 'Lets do that again'
Good honest review , on the older gl1800, the starter motor was used for the creep mode. And yes parts are pricey. Handles a lot better than people think, built on a sports chassis. Planted solid touring machine, with a brilliant flat 6 motor.🙂
Currently I have the HONDA AFRICA TWIN. Dct. But I do quite like this GL.. As you may know both bikes have apple car play. Man’s I 💯 agree or did agree that to get it all connected was an absolute pain in the arse. But finally I bought a cardo headset. Today I used it for the first time.. It was amazing. The maps worked. I could hear.. the phone worked I could answer and talk at 70mph And the music worked.. Basically I think depending on what headset you use is to what best it all works… Before this cardo.. I had a cheaper head set, I could get the maps to work but that was it… no sound for anything else… Now the question is.. should I go for the goldwing… ?
If you are thinking of spending a considerable amount of money on a Gold Wing, this is the perfect sort of information you need to know before making such a commitment! Well done Mr Flyer, top job 👍 (and yes I still fancy one but just need a garage extension first 😆)
Not a Goldwing owner, but a Royal Star venture owner, which also has the cruise controls on the right handlebar. i never had a problem with the location of the controls. As for the floorboards, get them, they make a huge difference on rider comfort on long rides
Now that you are riding a few different Harleys you should try an Ultra Limited. More of a cruiser/tourer than the GW. Ultra is a lot more low tech and has the Harley character, which some people don't like and others love. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
Yes I'd love a go - and I love the Harley "Character" - not sure I'd want to live with it on this type of bike but sure would be fun to try for a short while...stay tuned!
On the issue of navigation that requires a phone app: My Garmin 396 LMTS has self-contained map, but requires a phone app for traffic info. One day it unexpectedly wanted to detour me on the way home from a ride up in the mtns, claiming the highway I needed to get home was closed. I didn't believe it until I pulled up Google Maps on the phone and it confirmed a traffic accident had closed the highway. Had it not been for the traffic alert via the phone, I would have taken that highway and spent hours stuck in a traffic jam, due to a fatal accident involving an 18-wheeler.
Wow. I don’t remember such a long negative list in your videos. Most of them were small issues and we can tell that you love the bike. If you ever get to New Mexico I would love to co-host a video. I’m nowhere near the pro that you are, but I’d be honored to show you around some nice mountain roads!
Thank you for this in depth and accurate review of the 2018+ Goldwing. I have a manual 2018 Tour and I totally agree with everything you pointed out as the good and less good points. I fully agree that the FM Radio is totally useless due to the very bad reception. I have tried using an external antenna and/or add an amplifier but nothing fixed the issue soI gave up listening to FM. All things considered though I really in love with that bike and the pros outweigh the cons by far
I would not say it’s like a car , it’s a gorgeous motorbike but not for me as I prefer a naked bike even though the weather will give me a battering . But I think for long distance for you and Mrs Fly it great , like you say comfort and whether protection , great engine etc 👍🏍😎
Great review.........yup if I was in the market for something like this, where once I wouldn't have given it a first much less second look; now I'm really!! liking it......looks good too: never thought I'd say that of a Wing, since the first GL1000 (yes I remember those well)
Very balanced, objective vid 👍 The hill hold you mention - the KTM's only hold for 5 secs then release. The abs light flashes when it's on. To be fair I like mine and don't mind the timer. Works well when two-up, full luggage, full tank on a weirdly cambered, steep junction with gravel under foot and you're trying to get out of it into fast moving traffic. In a different country. Don't use it all time only when the junction is a bit iffy! 👍
Really enjoyed your video today Andy thanks buddy. You could try putting some “ACF50” on the chrome. Leave it on overnight the just wipe with a cloth, then replete after each wash. Had to do it on my old bandit chrome engine bars after it was put away after a winter ride and not washed. I was taken I’ll that night (heart attack) and bike was left for 3 months. Once I’d remember the rust spots I jus TT wipe them with ACF50 and it’s not come back. That was 12 years ago and they still look great
@@TheMissendenFlyer I may be wrong, but if you see a rust on chromed bits then it is probably a metal underneath that started to rust and rust leaked out through micro holes and cracks on chrome. Chrome does not rust. So applying ACF50 will just remove what came off on surface, you may still see lines and dots. To remove it completely you need to either re-chrome or buy new exhaust tips (and then maintain with ACF50).
I think for extra security they should have a flap you need to open to access a button which unlocks a flap you have to open to give you access to another button which you press to open a third flap containing a selection of buttons which you need to guess at random. By that time, any would-be thief will have got bored and left.
Great "review" on your Goldwing. I don't know if it helps, but for better radio tuning, see if you have [RDS] and Regionalisation ON. The pre definition on this is ON. But from your experience, I'll say you have the [AF - Alternative Frequency] off. The AF when turned ON, searches for a better signal of the radio station you are listening to, or other station if the signal is better than the previous one. Give it a try! 😉 The Hill control on the Goldwing doesn't work like that, or other bikes. It doesn't stay on for indefinitive time, which means you have to keep the brake on stay like that until you take off. The system will work for 3 seconds, after you realease the brake lever, so you can accelerate with ease. In this 3 seconds after releasing the lever, symbol in the dash will blink. You probably never experienced, but the hill control [HSA] should work if the bike is movind up or down, the principle is the same.
"Peace and quiet.. it's so civilized, I love that" 👌 And at the same time, there's the Sport Mode!! 🤟 what a beast it can be! For me, it's impossible not to smile every time I start mine 😉
Great Review - lots of effort - ty Engine auto stop : can't be good for the engine - it lets the oil run down from the upper running gear. Also multiplies the use of the starter motor. Emissions? I wonder if when you add everything up whether it makes a difference....on starting it flattens the battery a little, the alternator is then loaded up which is run by extra power needed from the engine ie extra engine emissions to recharge the battery...and don't forget the extra engine wear, more emissions...turning the bike off for emissions probably only works for stops over 10minutes?? Thus, I don't see how turning off all motorcycle engines at junctions is going to make much of a difference to our air quality. These things are often marketing lies - just to make people feel good and sell more product. ...a luxury vehicle that has an engine cut off for emissions?? Eco-luxury : is that an oxymoron? PS where I live in Essex - all the "pink bag" recycling goes to the landfill !
Great review Andy that looks an awesome bike one day maybe 😜 i had the chance years ago and rode a 2004 goldwing even on that older bike you felt like the king of the road as ever take care and all the best
Great review. I agree on the electronics, sometimes too "smart", agree with Trumpets 4 me, hill hold is right hand or foot. Enough on your lists to help decide whether or not to test ride.
Good video! You say the radio reception is pants, but I don't recall seeing an aerial on the Goldwing, maybe that's the problem, needs a decent external aerial fitted, didn't earlier Goldwings have aerials fitted to the rear end? The BMW R1150rt & 1200rt bikes I had had external aerials and the reception was great..
As an owner of a 2021 goldwing DCT tour. I can tell you this. It's a goldwing in name alone. It's a completely redesigned machine. It's stunning. It's design was meant to pull in younger riders. It looks similar to a BMW k1600. However, the wing is just perfect. So comfortable. The DCT is flawless. Especially on the blueridge parkway. Just twist and go. It's a rocket. Don't let it's size fool you, this bike flies when you snap that throttle. If you are in the market and you can afford one. Get it.
I agree Jim...great bike.
@HahrtDood NT1100 has a chain... I don't know how anyone could call that a touring bike...
@HahrtDood The chain has benefits, but the upkeep is too much. I have a Rebel 1100 and I may be a little overboard in keeping it in spec, but I am cleaning and lubing every ~600 miles, and I'm having to adjust the wheel for tension every 1500-2000. When I've put 10k miles on it in a year, that is a lot of work that gets old very fast. If I didn't ride it as hard, the chain would probably not stretch quite as fast though 😊
first time i would buy a goldwing if i had the money i own a fjr 2002
My Dad (ex Honda GL1100 owner) would have loved this. He always embraced new technology and he would've been very impressed with how the Goldwing has evolved. Unfortunately he's no loger around, so I can appreciate it on his behalf.
Good to keep the family tradition going! Your dad would be proud!
Thanks for the review of the bike a year on. I plan on getting one, but you showed the good, bad, and ugly of ownership. I am sold on the Goldwing. Ride safe out there. ..
Yes it’s an amazing machine Raymond
An honest and thorough review Andy, thankyou. I have the same bike and agree with all your comments. I’m a retired pilot and have been involved in testing and flight deck design development and one thing that wouldn’t have got passed an assessment by an actual operator is the cruise control switch on the right! You either have to cross hand it or accept you’ll slow down in the process of selecting it. Madness! I got a riders backrest fitted for my poor old back. Helps a lot, but again that was over £300, which is a bit much. I haven’t had any tyre pressure warnings, but I do check the pressures fairly regularly. Worth mentioning that the brakes are outstanding. A real plus point with a heavy bike. I agree CarPlay is a bit of a faff, but once I got the knack it’s pretty reliable. I have used the USB port in the boot (which I can fit both my headset and pillions in - guess we have small helmets?!) to transfer routes created on MyRoute-app to the bike satnav. Works really well for creating good routes rather than accepting the quickest generated by the satnav. Overall I agree; fantastic bike.
Yes maybe I should look into how to go about tranferring routes to the satnav - what software do you use on the PC end??
Yes I've tried that a few years back but it was very clonky - has it been improved I wonder?
@@TheMissendenFlyer I’ve given up trying to transfer routes from Computer to Nav……I just set a route from origin to destination….and then go where I want to go…the Nav will get me to the other when I choose to pay attention to it.
Loved the "Look at that E-Type"! That was a great looking car!
Yes it was! (I have an F Type - also gorgeous!)
Had a test ride on one following your reviews......only gone and bought one......absolutely love it. Gone down the DCT route.
I did warn you!! Congratulations!
At the time of writing this, 427 comments, and you’ve replied to a hell of a lot of them. Fair play to you !
Thank you - if people take the time to write I try and take the time to reply - I usually do a few hundred a day across my back catalogue....it keeps me budsy!
That is without doubt the best ever review I have seen on a Honda Goldwing 😎🇨🇦
Wow - thank you!
After soaking up all your Goldwing content I will be picking up my Black 2022 DTC Tour on Thursday morning. I think this could be one of the first ones in the country. Following a weekend test drive I know it will be as good as you say
Ooh congratulations- you’ll love it!
Very thoughtful review. I agree on many points. I have a 2018 blue GL 1800. Fantastic bike. I am lucky enough to have five other interesting bikes that I ride as well, but every time I get on that Goldwing I’m utterly amazed at what a marvelous piece of engineering it is.
I'm the same jack...love my 'wing.
A thoroughly entertaining overview of the the mighty Wing. Nice piece on the jacket, should be snug as a bug on colder days in the garage with that on. Loved the outtakes at the end too, nice to show everyone it is not always easy when shooting a video.
Thanks for watching!
Great stuff, TMF, I enjoyed watching that and listening to your thoughts. I also purchased a Goldwing in September 2020, although mine's the Bagger version but also with the DCT gearbox.
The phrase that you used several times in your vlog was "I absolutely love this bike..." and that definitely came across during your commentary. I entirely agree....I think this is the best bike I have ever owned, and I've had a few including K1600GT, FJR1300, GS1200, Diavel and 3 previous generations of Goldwing. The current GW is the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering in my opinion....but that's not to say it's perfect. Like all bikes (and cars) it has its own foibles and idiosyncrasies.
Taking some of the points you raised and comparing them to my bike:
TPS: you say that your warning light comes on quite often. I've only ever had mine come on once while riding and that turned out to be a genuine puncture in my front wheel , so the system did exactly what it should do and probably saved my bacon! I don't ride through the winter months so perhaps it's just a cold weather thing. I would definitely recommend TPS on a bike.
Tailpipe corrosion: have you considered a warranty claim? Don't know about your bike but mine came with a 3 year warranty. I spotted a tiny bit of paint peeling on one of my (matt black) exhausts recently and the dealer replaced it with a new one no questions asked.
Radio: I can't say I've experienced any problems with mine....it tunes to stations without any problem. Perhaps its a signal thing and its stronger near me?
Throttle jerkiness at very low speed: this is something I've also noticed with my bike, although it isn't a major issue and it is something you can adapt to / learn to live with. I might try the DCT reset at some point.
Hill hold: I think I remember from the manual that it stays on for 5 seconds once activated... but I totally agree with you....why doesn't it stay on until you apply throttle? My K1600 did that and it was much easier to "pull on and forget"
One thing you didn't mention was the side panels....you have to be really careful when taking them off and putting back on in order to avoid scratching neighbouring panels. Max at Traxxion Dynamics has a good little video on how to do it.
Having said all of the above, I still think the bike is marvellous and its pros far outweigh any cons, if indeed they are cons, rather than being just "character".
I wish you many more happy miles riding "big blue"
Wow thank you for that lot David!
A very good honest review! 2 negative things I agree with are the paint and the annoying seat removal and installation. Great review!
Thanks for watching - glad we concur!
You just gotta love this guy! After all the woe with the Interceptor's spiralling cost ... oh what the hell, I just blast away the blues by goin' out on the Goldwing!
It's not such a bad ole life after all!
I’m not complaining….
After watching your review in 2020 I decided to buy a big tourer. I went with the K1600 Grand America. (Hello from Minnesota, USA). I rode one and couldn’t not buy it. I should have at least tried GW but it was a hot deal from BMW and didn’t want to miss it. They both have their pluses and minuses. You should do a head to head comparison.
My K16 is tuned and has Remus exhaust. I think I’d smoke ya in a drag race.😁 Anyway, just thought I’d let you know your video sold me on tourers. (I sold my VFR 1200X or “Crosstourer” for you tea drinkers). Come to the USA and ride with us some time. I’d love to meet you and Mrs. Flyer.
Cheers Steve - would love to ride there too!! One day!!
I put 33,000 miles on my 2019 Goldwing tour 6m and your observations are spot on! FYI, the radio reception in the States is as poor as it is in the UK. I had quite a few failures on my bike such as the hill start assist, reverse gear and the pocket door refusing to open, thereby making it impossible to open the fuel door. That door works off a servo motor and they tend to allow water into it causing it to fail. The windshield operation became intermittent and Honda was unable to fix it (they did fix the other problems under warranty). The reverse works off a cable that needs to be greased, Honda shipped them dry.
Crikey! Sounds like you got a Friday afternoon one!
I put 880k on my GL 1500. I put 90k almost on my gl1800 2009. I have owned for GL 1500 motorcycles and two gl1800 motorcycles. Every single one of my wings has had rubbish radio reception especially when it rains. Both as my gl1800 motorcycles has had problems with the front heated seat module but apart from that goldwings in general are rock solid reliability. I honestly can't speak for newer wings but I didn't particularly like the design and I don't think they are as reliable. So many things I like about the older models I'm not sure if I will ever upgrade I hope Honda listen to their customers feedback and make changes according me there's far too much electronics on this bike far too many things to go wrong and when it does go wrong it cost an arm and a leg to get fixed.
@@elixier33 I was contemplating buying a 2017 model as opposed to the redesigned model. In retrospect I should have gone with the older design. I found the 2019 over engineered and complicated to use. Wouldn't be so bad if everything worked reliably but it didn't.
@@TheMissendenFlyer funny expression man
In addition to the recalibrate, you can put it in Rain Mode in traffic or at low speed.
I only use the navigation as a map. If I need directions I ask Siri through my headset. That works fine.
Get the F4 windshield with the recurve.
I have a 2009 GW and love it but I really love the new GW's styling and design and hope to have one in near future.
I have a 2018 I bought new, love everything about this bike, the fuel door and air filter are off the charts ridiculous but the bike is amazing.
I simply just LOVE your “after clips” 😂 thanks for that🙏🏼
Glad you like them!
EXCELLENT, BRILLIANT. REALLY ENJOYED your view and comments. BEAUTIFUL bike.
Many thanks! I agree!
Hi Andy, nice to see how your getting on after a year. I bought a 2018 geared model in red, absolutely love it. But like yourself get a little bit miffed at some of the things Honda don't include but then change on a later model, which really should have ben on the orginal models from day 1. I did the change on the grab handles, only difference is I only paid £270 becasue I bought from the USA and even inlcuding shipping and tax/customs I saved £70 off the local dealers quoted price, best of all they arrived on the Friday after ordering them that same week on Monday. I also ordered a Pathfinder wiring harness and pathfinder led cowl lights that are then simply plug and play.
Although the boxes are smaller the only thing I really miss is being able to put a couple of helmets in, when on my own it's obviously not an issue, but handy when there are two of you.
Dont get Honda and the hill start! On my K1600 it was on and stayed on util you pulled away, but here it is only on for a few seconds so really you end up holding the brake after all !! seems a wasted feature ..
The satnav I love, intergrated and actaully easy to use and even program routes with mutliple waypoints and uploading routes from my favourite PC planner as GPX is a doddle.
Screen wise I changed to the GIVI tour and it obviously costs a lot less than Honda's and does the job for me.
There are plenty of aftermarket goodies, and honda accessories but do you need them all? i did purchase pannier inner bags and pannier storage pockets (these sit inside the dropdown side of the lid so dont really use up extra space, keeps things tidy. I didn't purchase the carpets though. For my topbox I use a generic bag that actually fits remarkably well that I had bought for my GT1600 and keeps it all tidy, plus I can remove it with eeryhting in when you stop overnight.
Just need some better weather so i can get out and do some longer riding days, mini tours of the UK.
Keep the vblogs coming really like your style and it's always informative, even if I am not really intersted in buying or riding a particular bike you review, it's intersting to see how it stacks up against your experience of others.
Thanks for the long comment Bob - very interesting....where in the US did you buy from I wonder? I couldn't make the numbers work! Thanks for the kind comments - A.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I used WingStuff, I have a USA currency card so didn't have to do any conversion by payiing in dollars, which helped as the rate was really good on my card, I then used the option to include tax/customs shipping. Some of the places in US are not as helpful with customs/tax such as J&P Cycles but can still work out cheaper and still get to you within 5 days.
About that horn you should listen to the one on the CB1100RS/EX. I've not listened anything like that since I haven't got the opportunity to see a goldwing in action but not any other brands sound like that. It would be great to see you reviewing one of it and listen to your opinions of the bike.
Cheers and safe rides from Spain.
I have a white 2018 (manual). I love it. It’s my first GW but I had to change the seat, add a backrest & install highway pegs. I’m in the USA and the radio reception (FM) is horrible. Great video.
👏👏
Glad it’s not Only here where the radio is pants!
Is there anything you can do to get better reception?
I have worked for Honda for 34 years the feature when the engine shuts down when you stop is called “Idle Stop”. Love the new Goldwings!
Great review Andy! You’ve just increased Honda sales no end. They are a beautiful machine alright.👍🏍
Cheers Dave - if only I was on commission!
My case is the opposite- he convinced me that a Gold Wing isn't my cup of tea. Much too complicated and laden with features I'm not interested in. But to each his own, and it does look attractive in that lovely blue color.
As usual, a superb video. One thing you don't mention is the ridiculous method for checking the oil level.. I'm in the UK and own a 2019 manual version and checking it is an absolute curse! Maybe you could do a video on that as not even Honda dealers know how to check it properly! Thanks again for the ongoing entertainment.
My pleasure - thanks for watching...
A great real life review of owning a Gold Wing. The bike does look great, but as you say a real shame about the lack of storage, even though the boxes look huge.
Yes that is a bit rubbish I have to say - fixed on the 2020MY onwards....
@@TheMissendenFlyer2021😉
Gr8 review as always!
2 points.
The auto stop start feature will drastically reduce battary life. Which on bikes is already poor.
The tyre pressure sensors being very sensitive i see as a good thing. Not something i would specifically order on a new bike but i bought a used bike that already had them. In 1 week the tyre pressure sensor saved the day twice.
When the weathers cold tyre pressure a bit lower the warning light tells u the system is working and its telling u to be careful and warm your tyres up. Honda brilliance imo love it
That's why anyone with any sense fits an AGM battery. I don't know anyone that uses lead acid batteries in any of their vehicles.
Great summary on an awesome bike.
The biggest surprise I ever had was a demo ride on a Goldwing. Cruisers are heavy and clumsy, sport bikes are nimble, fast and uncomfortable, expectations met when I tried them out. The Goldwing blew away expectations, supremely comfortable, felt far lighter than it was to the point it was almost sporty. I was completely impressed. It really is the ultimate long distance tourer.
Couldn't agree more - that is most peoples reactions in my experience....
Not sure if you guys have it but try on your tips
Evapo-Rust Rust Remover
Or sand it down and have the ends powder coated .
Maybe you could ask Honda if there's a software update to make the tyre pressure monitoring less fussy. Must be computer code involved somewhere on that.
I'm yet to find a sat nav, car or bike, that I'm happy playing with whilst going along. I only set them whilst I'm stationary.
When I'm driving my car, I get Mrs Karlosh to do on the fly sat nav twiddling !
Hill hold, I have no clue how necessary it is on a 360 Kg bike, on my max 210 Kg bikes, the rear foot brake works for me. In my car I find it to be a pain. I do live in flatish Essex, so maybe hill hold isn't much needed around my way :)
Glad to see you still love your Goldwing, I'd like to get a ride of one someday, but this side of a large cash windfall, bigger house and garage I'm not going to buy one. It's a similar scenario for me having a Triumph Rocket 3 !
Anyway enjoy, ride safe, and keep up the good videos :-D
Thanks for watching Karlosh!
A much needed review, given that the bike is so rare and expensive. Not many would have the chance to find all this out for themselves. Nice one, Andy.
Thank you!
Good content. Honda Goldwing just the best touring machine. So reliable and good looking. And safety devices. I see a lot of these bike's all ages in very good condition . On the roads .they just keep going .good video is
Couldn't agree more!
As far as weight, the center of gravity is so low I'd buy a Goldwing tomorrow if it was in my budget. I currently ride a Honda CTX1300 and it has a higher center of gravity, but still handles very well. Someone approached me in a parking lot because he noticed the CTX was handling like a sport bike. I've seen many reviews saying the same about this generation Goldwing. I've only picked up a Goldwing off the side stand, haven't had a chance to test ride yet. But instantly fell in love with the feel and overall dimensions.
I LOVE your videos, been watching for a couple of years. This one... you're scrounging for negatives. Petty, and way beneath your usual high standards.
Sorry!
I used to have a pan european and I had the same problem with the screen it gave me a cold feeling in the small of my back. Great vlog again thanks, Steve
Clean up chrome with kitchen foil. Don’t let the foil come into contact with anything else, but it’s safe and really good on chrome with a small amount of water.
Tryed it Malcolm - worked a treat - if you're on Instagram you can see mt results there...nice one, thanks you!
Great review Andy. I've got a 2018 year DCT Goldwing and completely agree with your comments regarding Apple Play and the radio reception. I got better reception out in the middle of Arizona on a 2012 model than I get on the 2018 one in leafy Buckinghamshire (I'm just down the road from you in Chalfont, was good to see the local roads in the review). Plus add the fact that the speakers are nowhere near as good as the previous model makes the sound system all a bit underwhelming. Thanks to your review I've also now got FOMO over the fact that later models have a larger top box! :D (they certainly needed one) Apart from that, love the GW, fantastic machine to ride, certainly not perfect as your review points out, but still wouldn't contemplate slinging my leg over anything else for a long tour. Off to the Alps this summer and can't wait!
Sounds great - I’m just back from there - enjoy!
Great review! I have a 2021 US model, and I agree with 90% of your niggling points. A couple comments: When moving, the left and right grip buttons *do* work to go through nav menus *but* you need to press the menu button first to bring up the menu bar at the base of the nav screen before hitting the left/right buttons. For creep mode, try holding the +/- button a bit longer. I find the system to be quite strong, but the computer is cautious, and only after sensing a load for a while will it pick up the torque output (you are correct, reverse is handled by the DCT, with a gearset 1/2-way down the transmission gear shafts that causes torque to cross over from one shaft to the other to reverse rotation direction; the computer controls the amount of clutch engagement, hence the seemingly uneven initial creep torque output as it hunts for the right amount of engagement for the demand). I do not believe the 2020+ bikes got larger saddlebags, only the two-helmet trunk. I agree about the hill assist -- it was handy on my BMWs, but the auto-turn off on the Honda make is (dangerously) not-useful; after experiencing the first surprise release, I never use it. You don't need to recalibrate the DCT every 1k miles; an occasional re-cal to compensate for friction plates wear is all you really need. I'm envious of the auto-stop/start -- unlike many people, I like the feature on our cars, but on this side of the pond it its only available in Canada (wft??).
Great feedback Mark - thank you very much for your hints and tips!
They probably assumed, based on what they've seen so far, that Americans enjoy wasting gas so they didn't even bother. 🤣
SOLID! Ive been looking at the new BMWR18 vids... beautiful... but some weirdness. GW is very impressive.
Very fair & balanced assessment. Especially like the button-flap-button- flap for the pertrol cap lol. As for the rusty bits on the end of the cans, (or anywhere) not sure if you're already familiar with it but you could try Hammerite Kurust. It oxidizes the rust & turns it dark inky blue/ black which you can leave if the surrounding metal is black or it provides a stable surface to paint in about 15 mins.
Tinfoil got it off nicely!
Just guessing here... but I think the extra button for fuel is how they could fit a mechanism for locking the gas cap. They couldn't fit it, especially with the airbag model, and still have the gas cap lock, so they stuck the release under a locked door...... ?
@@AyaWetts You could well be right. Whoever designed is no doubt smarter than me!
Nice review, Andy, thanks. I agree with many of your comments, especially the HSA cutoff after 3 seconds, which IMO, renders it just useless.
I have a 2021DCT non-tour. Now has 9,900 miles on it.
I have no problem with the Cruise control setup. I usually keep it armed, and use it when desired. Just press the Set button with your thumb to engage it while your hand is on the throttle. To change speeds up or down just press the +or - buttons. Each+/- tap changes speed by 1 mph. There a four ways to disengage,. I usually close the throttle momentarily to disengage it.
FYI, the first set of tires appear to have about 2,000 miles left until they need replacement. They are Dunlop D423's. I plan to use Dunlop Elite 4's (per the Dunlop Tire Co. motorcycle specialist in the USA).
Keep up the great work!
Thanks for watching and for stopping by Allen!
Stunning machine. Maybe I’ll get one when I retire in 17 years!
Great plan!
Another enjoyable review with my morning coffee.
Glad to hear it!
love your videos, love to see the countryside in England.. Lived there for 4 years... brings back memories.. great bike. ever consider coming to the USA?
I've been many times Tim, even had the odd bike trip there!
I’m pretty sure that the forward and reverse creep mode works off the starter motor and is available with both the manual and DCT versions.
Not on the DCT according to ny information. Does on the manual.
I finally sold my gl1500 5 months back and bought my second gl1800 (2009) I actually preferred the older model to this. How odd. Love Goldwings
2018 onwards is the way to go - another animal entirely...
@@TheMissendenFlyer I took it for a ride didn't like it. Yeah it handles better but that doesn't make it better. Ive ridden every single wing out there Ive owned everything pre 2012 I really don't like the new bike. my 2009 wing will reverse up a steep incline with 2 people no problem. Alternator changes don't need the whole engine to be dropped a week job! The nav is still garbage, less space in trunk and so on. Yeah its a different beast its lost its character. I love the electric windscreen on these things but hey I have an electric on mine . I'm happy with mien. Smaller fuel tank? no thanks!
Rock on....
@@elixier33Wait a minute the engine has to be dropped to change the alternator??😮
A little autosol metal polish on a rag should clean those exhaust tips nicely and help protect them!
Great review! I have a 2022 DCT and absolutely love it. You are spot on with your review.
You also said you fly!!!! I also have a Cessna 185 on amphibious Floats and American Champion Scout. I have attended Oshkosh for 45 years now and would love for you to be my guest sometime to go with me. We could trailer my Honda and my 2022 BMW Transcontinental to Oshkosh for a great vacation. If that interests you just let me know.
Plus we could do some flying and water landings. That would be fantastic!!
Take care and be safe out there!!!!
Sounds flippin' brilliant to me Dennis! Have you seen my "flying videos" playlist?? ua-cam.com/play/PL_719tkJvufZfQOwwqet31jg1maisFm0a.html
Very nice one again, Mr Flyer! And really informative, too! Seeing both your pickiness and your fatalistic attitude towards accessory prices you might just as well make a perfect Harley owner.
I definitely hope I can finally arrange a Gold Wing test ride this spring, seems ridiculously difficult in these parts.
Hope to see you and Mrs Flyer out on tour again soon!
Yes we'd love to get out ASAP - I'm sure it will happen, stay tuned!
I like the way you compare the Honda goldwing. Very good.
Great real world review Andy, I’m thinking I would like to own one, more so than a BMW r1250 rt. 👏😀👍
Can’t beat them for 2 up touring….
Mrs Flyer, 'we're going to have to get one of these, and the bike was mine'....classic ..lovely bike enjoy more....im a K1600B rider.....also love the massive low down torque wave
Thanks for watching Jonathan - enjoy!
Excellent review Andy, thank you. Even though I'm not in the market for a Goldwing it's still compelling viewing. With that list of negatives though 🙄 tsk tsk, you should immediately give it to me 😂. That noise you hear from the GM trains (which are electric) is known as "Tap Changing" in the traction motors. I suppose it's akin to gears (loosely). What it does is select various transformer taps according to load and/or speed. Some combinations being preferable for high torque, others for speed. When they set off it selects a high torque "low gear" and then progressively "changes up" as speed builds. Then the opposite occurs during deceleration to make use of the regenerative braking effect. In the old locos (circa 1960's) this was a manual control but it's all done electronically (and automatically) nowadays. So the manual vs dct analogy is quite appropriate 😁
How cool is that!! Certainly sounds similar!
Regarding scratches, I’ve always made my own anti scratch “patches” for want of the right word. I’ve purchased transparent/clear sticky back plastic or vinyl as they seem to call it now. Make a template and transfer to the vinyl, cut it out and apply it. I’ve got an H2SXSE and the paint is so soft like so many paints now, but my little shapes/patches save the paint and you can hardly see them…
And yes I know you can get second skin kits, but my option is far cheaper, all it needs is a bit of patience and a steady hand👍🏽
Yes good call....
Isn't that on the Kawasaki the new kind of self-healing paint (I believe that's what they call it) that repairs itself over time?
@@mickeypopa It does to a degree, but putting a skin of soft clear plastic over the top saves chipping and light damage.
Refreshing to get an honest review from an owner , not a journalist in a 5 star hotel in the Mediterranean provided by the manufacturer ..
Also love the out takes !
please wear the glasses more it makes me feel better about me having to wearing them now ..😎 👍🏻☮❤
He he - glad you appreciate the realism!!
Loved to see him pick it off the ground, you know it's going down, guaranteed. No problem with my CB100, and at my age I don't have to remember 40 different setting.
"him"? - me you mean???
Great video as usual. I am one of those people who always write off the goldwing as too big and boring(never having tried one) but I have gained a huge amount of curiosity to try one. I'll have to have a go on one someday.
Do - you’ll be surprised in a good way!
I'm strangely drawn to watching these vids of your Goldwing Andy, interesting machine🤔I think it would be the sort of bike I would enjoy route 66 on, yeah😉 perfect👌
Oh yes perfect for a Transamerica trip!
Another well thought in depth review mate👍Looking forward to your review of the latest generation BMW k1600GTL in comparison to your Goldwing.
Yes me too - hopefully later this year.....
How lovely to see Ye Olde Roadworks still running in Ye Olde Amersham 😉
Love everything about it but the price😱 Never mind good stuff never comes cheap does it, but those accessory prices make the manufacturers who do stuff for the GS look like they're almost giving stuff away 🤣. Oh I forgot to add cheers for being just about the only mainstream uk UA-cam bike channel that I can rely on to post regular videos.
My pleasure Adrian - I try and make sure I post when I say I'm going too...currenty guaranteed on Wednesday's but quite a few bonus Saturday videos to come too....
Hi Andy. Just bought a 2019 DCT tour and have only managed a couple of hours on it so far. You, I am afraid, had some influence in my decision :)
I have watched so many UA-cam videos about the GL1800 and on one (I can't remember which) the VLOG'er stated that he used the ECON mode around town as it made the journey so much smoother. Yet to try that out.
That was probably Cruiseman.
The DCT can be a little snatchy at very low manoeuvring speeds so I always start my ride and end it in the garage in rain mode which allows very reduced throttle response. Also its useful in tight city situations. I use econ for gentle riding around the area and tour when on faster roads. Sport mode great for overtaking lines of traffic in short distances and on twisties if I fancy a blast but no good for manoeuvring or slow riding without considerable refinement and care with the right hand.
You've got a wonderful bike. Happy riding.
Cool - must give Econ mode a try around town and see if it sorts that response out a bit...nice one!
Thank you.
I would love to try a Goldwing Bagger, but I don't think it would fit in my garage if I bought one to keep.
Good choice!
I fully agree with everything what you tell in the video, Andy, but I have some further remarks : there should be an audible or even better a visible warning on the dashboard when the handbrake is on when one starts driving, or it should unleash automatically. Honda should review the sport mode and call it rather Dynamic whilst recalibrating the throttle pitch being to sensitive. A Goldwing is not a sportbike after all, and a less sensitive throttle-feel would make feel the bike more comfortable to ride. I would suggest Dynamic then and is about similar in revs as it is in Sport actually with the same engine braking but a throttle-feel like in Tour. The mode Econ is needless to me. The filler cap should have a holder at the inner side of the filler cap panel to make refueling more comfortable. The satnav is absolute unsatisfactory to me, not intuitive as you mention, moreover not user-friendly and you can't even erase the history of previous destinations ! I use a TomTom Rider 550 with a suction cap as on a GoPro-device and I put it on the screen of the Honda satnav so the Honda GPS is completely hidden. It ' s a far better alternative anyway ! And yes, even in my country (Belgium), the reception for the radio is poor and mostly deceiving. For that amount of money, Honda should have offered DAB I think ! For the rest : and things I forget ... , the SC 79 with DCT is a very lovely machine to drive. After a bit more than two years, I have done about 12.000 miles with it and I relish every ride with it ! Good luck to you as well and meanwhile I am still in the expectation of my Triumph 1200 GT Explorer in Lucerne Blue next to my Goldwing. I hope it will be mine somewhere in June ! Cheerio ! 😉
Thanks Alain - I pretty much agree with everything you said! All the best and ride safe!
You can remove the tyre pressure monitor from inside the tyres. Very pricey bits. You’d think it was a BMW. Car engine in a bike frame. That chrome on the ends of the exhausts should have been stainless steel I reckon. It seems very techie with all the gadgets and gizmos. I like my Garmin satnav, clip onto the bars and sorted. Smash and grab handles at £300 wow. No point of hill hold for 10 seconds, it’s a good concept. It’s a real faffy machine. Too much to go wrong. Sorry for being negative about it. I suppose you’d squeeze a open face helmet in the top box maybe. Heavy bikes are great when you’re out on a windy day. Shaft drive machine no faff with a chain. Your GS will be 110BHP but like you say the torque on the Goldwing is outstanding.Thanks for a super in-depth review Andy. It’s pure luxury. Much appreciated.
Really is my pleasure James!
TMF, I agree with all your assessments. I also have a 2019 DCT. The US spec by the way doesn't have the start stop feature for idle time. I wish it did. Also, the US spec bikes radio is rubbish as well. I'm like you, I don't listen to music anyway. A few things I don't like and do like that you didn't mention are;
Don't like:
The dash lense is too easily scratched
A trunk rack should be included
Like:
The paddle shifters, love them, they make riding Twisties great fun without changing ride modes.
The inclusion of a center stand is great, Harley, Indian, and I don't think the GTL BMW do this.
The shaft drive is awesome, I don't notice any shaft pull away from center on throttle.
I'd argue this is the best all around road bike you can buy. If I could only have one bike, and money wasn't a factor, this is it.
I agree with your points Chad - although not sure it would work as my only bike.....thanks for watching!
As a testament to how good this video is, I have been looking for a BMW K1600 GT, now looking for a 2021 or later GW
Cool!
Great review Andy, it is a lovely bike and your comments are very fair.
Thank you Ken - always appreciate your positive comments!
I use Eagle One Nevr-Dull on chrome and other metals for removing rust and such...works wonders
Thanks for the recomendation Pete!
I have the 2021 Tour DCT non-airbag version. The TPMS sensor is irritating. First time it went off I stopped the bike and walked around to see if I had a flat. You’d think they could just have a readout for what the tire pressure is like my car does. The 2021 has a larger top case but why didn’t honda put a light in the trunk. It’s an option you can buy but come on. CarPlay is finicky at best but I use it 100% of the time. My biggest complaint is the parking brake doesn’t work and there is nothing to keep you from riding off with it on. There is an aftermarket fix that won’t let you go if the brake is set but again come on Honda.
Yes I should have mentioned that hand brake issue - to be honest I'm yet to use it but am aware you could ride off with it still on, a bit rubbish that....
1minor gripe to add to the negatives. The auto cancel indicators switch off way to early for my liking and I usually have to put them on twice to give a nice length signal that I am about to turn or move direction.
As soon as I got the bike, I disabled the Auto Start/stop. It's a useless option. Never use it. Horrible on the battery and starter motor. The horn button should be made bulkier so you can feel it without searching for it. I glued a rubber disc on it. The GPS is garbage, should be voice activated. Never used it once. Air filter replacement is crazy as hell. Seat could have been a lot more comfortable and adjustable for a 30K bike. Other than that, amazing machine and DCT.
Great video, I know so much more about this motorcycle! On my BMW XR the hill hold stays engaged until I want to disengage it which I’m sure is an easy software fix for Honda. Hopefully they do that at some point. I sat on a gold wing at a local dealership last weekend and while it is a land yacht it was easier to get off the side stand than the BMW R18 so I really need to take one for a test ride.
Yes the R18 feels a lot more heavy than the GW....I enjoyed the R18 but I wouldn't be able to live with one.
@@TheMissendenFlyer agreed!
Informative and entertaining in equal measure Andy….including the outakes 😂
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching until the end!
Very thorough and interesting review. I really do like that engine sound!
Glad the 'Hey Kids' is back and I think your next catch phrase could be 'Lets do that again'
Yes that’s my secret catchphrase that’s been there all along!
Good honest review , on the older gl1800, the starter motor was used for the creep mode. And yes parts are pricey. Handles a lot better than people think, built on a sports chassis. Planted solid touring machine, with a brilliant flat 6 motor.🙂
Starter motor still used on 2018+
Only on the manual I believe - the DCT like mine uses a different system....and has both forward and back creep modes...
@@TheMissendenFlyer Correct.
Currently I have the HONDA AFRICA TWIN.
Dct. But I do quite like this GL..
As you may know both bikes have apple car play.
Man’s I 💯 agree or did agree that to get it all connected was an absolute pain in the arse.
But finally I bought a cardo headset. Today I used it for the first time..
It was amazing.
The maps worked. I could hear.. the phone worked I could answer and talk at 70mph
And the music worked..
Basically I think depending on what headset you use is to what best it all works…
Before this cardo.. I had a cheaper head set, I could get the maps to work but that was it… no sound for anything else…
Now the question is.. should I go for the goldwing… ?
If you are thinking of spending a considerable amount of money on a Gold Wing, this is the perfect sort of information you need to know before making such a commitment! Well done Mr Flyer, top job 👍 (and yes I still fancy one but just need a garage extension first 😆)
Glad it was helpful!
Not a Goldwing owner, but a Royal Star venture owner, which also has the cruise controls on the right handlebar. i never had a problem with the location of the controls. As for the floorboards, get them, they make a huge difference on rider comfort on long rides
Now that you are riding a few different Harleys you should try an Ultra Limited. More of a cruiser/tourer than the GW. Ultra is a lot more low tech and has the Harley character, which some people don't like and others love. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
Yes I'd love a go - and I love the Harley "Character" - not sure I'd want to live with it on this type of bike but sure would be fun to try for a short while...stay tuned!
Or what about the Indian Roadmaster?
On the issue of navigation that requires a phone app: My Garmin 396 LMTS has self-contained map, but requires a phone app for traffic info. One day it unexpectedly wanted to detour me on the way home from a ride up in the mtns, claiming the highway I needed to get home was closed. I didn't believe it until I pulled up Google Maps on the phone and it confirmed a traffic accident had closed the highway. Had it not been for the traffic alert via the phone, I would have taken that highway and spent hours stuck in a traffic jam, due to a fatal accident involving an 18-wheeler.
Wow. I don’t remember such a long negative list in your videos. Most of them were small issues and we can tell that you love the bike.
If you ever get to New Mexico I would love to co-host a video. I’m nowhere near the pro that you are, but I’d be honored to show you around some nice mountain roads!
Now that sounds like fun - thank you!
Thank you for this in depth and accurate review of the 2018+ Goldwing. I have a manual 2018 Tour and I totally agree with everything you pointed out as the good and less good points. I fully agree that the FM Radio is totally useless due to the very bad reception. I have tried using an external antenna and/or add an amplifier but nothing fixed the issue soI gave up listening to FM. All things considered though I really in love with that bike and the pros outweigh the cons by far
Couldn't agree more!
Love the colour of that Goldwing, think i might paint my GS Hp that colour, those bloopers crack me up
I'm glad you enjoy them Glenn - thanks for watching until the very end! ...and yes I agree, that blue is a beautiful colour on the 'wing.
I would not say it’s like a car , it’s a gorgeous motorbike but not for me as I prefer a naked bike even though the weather will give me a battering . But I think for long distance for you and Mrs Fly it great , like you say comfort and whether protection , great engine etc 👍🏍😎
Great review.........yup if I was in the market for something like this, where once I wouldn't have given it a first much less second look; now I'm really!! liking it......looks good too: never thought I'd say that of a Wing, since the first GL1000 (yes I remember those well)
I'm with you Laurie....
Very balanced, objective vid 👍 The hill hold you mention - the KTM's only hold for 5 secs then release. The abs light flashes when it's on. To be fair I like mine and don't mind the timer. Works well when two-up, full luggage, full tank on a weirdly cambered, steep junction with gravel under foot and you're trying to get out of it into fast moving traffic. In a different country. Don't use it all time only when the junction is a bit iffy! 👍
Really enjoyed your video today Andy thanks buddy. You could try putting some “ACF50” on the chrome. Leave it on overnight the just wipe with a cloth, then replete after each wash. Had to do it on my old bandit chrome engine bars after it was put away after a winter ride and not washed. I was taken I’ll that night (heart attack) and bike was left for 3 months. Once I’d remember the rust spots I jus TT wipe them with ACF50 and it’s not come back. That was 12 years ago and they still look great
Yes someone else mentioned that - I wil go and squirt some on shortly!
@@TheMissendenFlyer I may be wrong, but if you see a rust on chromed bits then it is probably a metal underneath that started to rust and rust leaked out through micro holes and cracks on chrome. Chrome does not rust. So applying ACF50 will just remove what came off on surface, you may still see lines and dots. To remove it completely you need to either re-chrome or buy new exhaust tips (and then maintain with ACF50).
I think for extra security they should have a flap you need to open to access a button which unlocks a flap you have to open to give you access to another button which you press to open a third flap containing a selection of buttons which you need to guess at random. By that time, any would-be thief will have got bored and left.
Brilliant 😂
Yes that sounds an excellent idea!
Great "review" on your Goldwing.
I don't know if it helps, but for better radio tuning, see if you have [RDS] and Regionalisation ON. The pre definition on this is ON.
But from your experience, I'll say you have the [AF - Alternative Frequency] off. The AF when turned ON, searches for a better signal of the radio station you are listening to, or other station if the signal is better than the previous one.
Give it a try! 😉
The Hill control on the Goldwing doesn't work like that, or other bikes.
It doesn't stay on for indefinitive time, which means you have to keep the brake on stay like that until you take off.
The system will work for 3 seconds, after you realease the brake lever, so you can accelerate with ease. In this 3 seconds after releasing the lever, symbol in the dash will blink.
You probably never experienced, but the hill control [HSA] should work if the bike is movind up or down, the principle is the same.
Thanks for the tips!
"Peace and quiet.. it's so civilized, I love that" 👌
And at the same time, there's the Sport Mode!! 🤟 what a beast it can be!
For me, it's impossible not to smile every time I start mine 😉
@@marioaraujo74 Yes it's a very special bike - love mine....a keeper!
As always, honesty
Too many spons for me , but if I was looking, I'd look here.
Happy, luxuriant travels
Thank you TT!
Great Review - lots of effort - ty
Engine auto stop : can't be good for the engine - it lets the oil run down from the upper running gear. Also multiplies the use of the starter motor.
Emissions? I wonder if when you add everything up whether it makes a difference....on starting it flattens the battery a little, the alternator is then loaded up which is run by extra power needed from the engine ie extra engine emissions to recharge the battery...and don't forget the extra engine wear, more emissions...turning the bike off for emissions probably only works for stops over 10minutes??
Thus, I don't see how turning off all motorcycle engines at junctions is going to make much of a difference to our air quality.
These things are often marketing lies - just to make people feel good and sell more product.
...a luxury vehicle that has an engine cut off for emissions?? Eco-luxury : is that an oxymoron?
PS where I live in Essex - all the "pink bag" recycling goes to the landfill !
I love the look of these Andy. What a machine! Great review. I’m very envious of your bike collection 😭
Thanks!
So when moving, the left/right buttons on the left grip will cycle through radio station presets when Enter has not been pressed to engage the GPS.
Beautiful bike, so majestic on the road. They really add a fantastic presence on the road. Riders are usually cool!!
Well I’m not sure about that last bit!! But the bike sure is good!
Great review Andy that looks an awesome bike one day maybe 😜 i had the chance years ago and rode a 2004 goldwing even on that older bike you felt like the king of the road as ever take care and all the best
Cheers Paul!
Great review. I agree on the electronics, sometimes too "smart", agree with Trumpets 4 me, hill hold is right hand or foot. Enough on your lists to help decide whether or not to test ride.
Oh and the garage is looking very minimalist! Nice
Tried a bit of decluttering!
Good video!
You say the radio reception is pants, but I don't recall seeing an aerial on the Goldwing, maybe that's the problem, needs a decent external aerial fitted, didn't earlier Goldwings have aerials fitted to the rear end?
The BMW R1150rt & 1200rt bikes I had had external aerials and the reception was great..
Yes the aerial is hidden on these 2018+ bikes