A few years ago while enjoying a sunset walk, I saw a bright light in the distance cover the road up ahead.
It became brighter as it approached, creating a sensation of some kind of space-craft.
Coming into sight was a metallic blue mass of a motorcycle. Everything about that encounter was so ‘space-age’ and how strange it was that even the rider resembled John F Kennedy.
I had never seen a motorcycle so large, so aerodynamic and so advanced at the same time. The sound was a silent, yet deep, zoom as he revved it, unlike anything I had ever heard before. That was my first encounter with a modern cruiser, specifically the Honda Gold Wing.
This was a moment. It was as if time had stood still or like something out of a movie – the scene where one runs into a soul-mate at busy airport terminus. Since then, I have been an ardent Gold Wing fan; it also sparked in me a love for cruisers.
The first Honda Gold Wing was introduced in 1974 at the Cologne Motor Show. The design team had put together a liquid cooled flat-four SOHC engine with a gear-driven generator that contra rotated, with transmission beneath the engine block which was driven by a propeller shaft. The Gold Wing entered the market as a revolutionary motorcycle offering superbike-level power, incredible smoothness and unmatched technology.
The Gold Wing was a hit as it quickly went on to become popular in the United States, Western Europe, Australia and Japan where it was assembled. The second-generation Gold Wing was introduced in 1979 and ran on the market for a five-year period carrying dimensions and styling unseen on a two-wheeled vehicle. It also faced competition, but constant improvements such as air suspension, lengthened wheel base and more pep which made it a market leader and the most innovative of its sort. The same trend has run through its generations – six generations to present.
For the 2018 model, Honda set out to improve every aspect of it; looks, engineering, handling, technology, comfort – performance resulting in an edgy looking, lighter, amore powerful, more nimble and more engaging bike. The Honda Gold Wing shares almost the same face as its sport bike sibling Honda CBR Fireblade and it shares some underpinnings too.
For infotainment, the Gold Wing comes with seven-inch full colour thin film transistor (TFT) display offering a clear view in sunlight. Apple CarPlay connects to an iPhone to show maps, contacts and music – the first for a motorcycle. It also has Bluetooth connectivity for a compatible helmet and a USB port. No motorcycle matches this level of infotainment.
The Gold Wing is driven by a 1833cc, horizontally opposed six-cylinder, four-stroke engine, the largest motorcycle engine we have encountered to date. It generates a 93kW output at 5500rpm and a 170Nm torque when the rubber meets the road, channeled via a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) automatic with reverse and forward.
It is controlled by a throttle wire system and an advanced electronics package with four riding modes to help tailor experiences for specific riding conditions: Tour, sport, rain and economy. It also has a walk mode. The mode select also changes damping characteristics by controlling the oil flow in the front and rear forks. This helps optimise manoeuvrability in different road conditions.
The Gold Wing is suspended on a double wishbone front suspension with a single shock. It reduces friction and enhances agility, diminishing total shock transferred to the handles by 30%. The rear is made of a single sided swing-arm pro-link Showa shock.
This ought to be the safest set of two wheels and it comes with features like hill start assist and Honda selectable torque control (HSTC) which manages rear-wheel slip, electronically controlled anti-lock braking system and airbags, and is featured with all round aluminium LED lighting. Another great feature is an electronically controlled wind shield moving up and down as well as tilting.
The Gold Wing will literally drop your jaw. It is the ultimate machine to saddle up to and hit the road to the coast, as you pack, you will also be spooked to find that even its saddle bags are electronic/remote control operated. It’s the ultimate cruiser or simply the ultimate motorcycle, and we have a date for a cross country ride in the near future.
