Honda Gold Wing (GL1800) reviews

The engine is smooth and powerful with major power available at any engine speed. The throttle is a bit sensitive at lower speeds but not unacceptably so. Handling and braking are quite good and the bike is stable even in significant crosswinds. The weight does show up at walking speeds and the electric reverse is a life saver when backing uphill. Storage space available is phenomenal. With the addition of the taller windshield and air wings, air management is near perfect. The seat is good and my wife loves the rear seat but the passenger backrest leans too far back. For my size/weight, more outboard support would be desirable in the driver's seat and I may switch to an aftermarket seat. The suspension could be more compliant to smooth tar strips. Overall, we love it and would buy it again. Show less

Turn on the music, turn off your stress, and become one with the road. This bike has an amazing capability to give the rider everything you can imagine. It is a steady ride, has amazing response on tight turns and comfort that is second to none. Take it on a long ride along Hwy 1 or park at the grocery store. The bike turns heads and out come the smiles. Every season is GoldWing season. With the power and smoothness of this Honda, you will never want to ride any other bike again. Show less

This is an excellent bike for a rider who wants convenience and comfort out of the machine. I commute to and from work, which is 28 miles each way. It handles well. The only draw back is if the wind speed is over 20 miles per hour. It does not handle well against wind resistence. Show less

The front springs are too soft, but can be replaced with little problem. I set up a back rest, not a butt rest and have a great ride. You can ride with the big boys all day, with more storage, just get over the "macho" thing and you will be way ahead. No more so-called bikes for me. Show less

This bike is super smooth and comfortable, performs well and has decent ground clearance in turns. The navi, cb, and audio work seemlessly together for simpler operation than you might think. The switch housings put most of the controls at your fingertips. Stock lighting is more than enough as far as I am concerned. Air management is great with the help of airwings or similar. The aerodynamics are very stable at speed. Handling is so light and nimble when the bike is moving that you forget how much it weighs, however it will remind you at parking lot speeds, (a small price to pay for everything else the bike offers). The engine is in a class by itself with it's smoothness and the quality of its power delivery. The engine coupled with the handling characteristics combine for a superior riding experience. Show less

This bike is super smooth and comfortable, performs well, and has decent ground clearance in turns. The navi, cb, and audio work seemlessly together for simpler operation than you might think. The switch housings put most of the controls at your fingertips. Stock lighting is more than enough as far as I am concerned. Air management is great with the help of airwings or similar. The aerodynamics are very stable at speed. Handling is so light and nimble when the bike is moving that you forget how much it weighs, however it will remind you at parking lot speeds, (a small price to pay for everything else the bike offers). The engine is in a class by itself with its smoothness and the quality of its power delivery. The engine coupled with the handling characteristics combine for a superior riding experience. Show less

It's a great motorcycle. I previously owned a 1994 'Wing, but the improvements in ride and comfort in the '10 model are impressive. It's a great bike and I do not believe if anyone rides one, if they are honest, will be disappointed. Show less

I've been riding since I was 18. This is my first scooter and I can't help but notice the odd center of gravity compared to a regular bike. I attribute this to the smaller wheels. It takes a little getting used to. It has great power and is a really fun bike. Also, harkening back to the street bikes I used to have, it makes me wish for a more masculine exhaust note. Getting one of these is worth it just for the looks on the faces of Harley riders as I catch up and pass them! Show less

The 2012 Gold Wing looks slightly different, but it's basically the same as it has been since 2001. I have owned seven Gold Wings since the first new GL1000 I bought in 1975. That was a four cylinder naked bike, but was an amazing advance in motorcycle engines. The 2012 still has the same 1832 cc six cylinder engine that is the heart of this great Honda motorcycle. I paid about $2,400 for that first Gold Wing brand new and now the base model lists for nearly ten times that at $23,199. I traded a 2009 ST1300 ABS with just under 10,000 miles on the odometer. I live in hot, humid Savannah, Georgia and the ST just throws too much heat onto your legs in warm weather. But I miss the smoother shifting transmission and compact feel of the ST. It's much more fun to ride than the Gold Wing, but the Wing is more comfortable. I enjoy having cruise control, stereo, the extra storage capacity, and the sound of that powerful six cylinder engine, but I miss the sportiness of the ST. The new Gold Wing has two tone paint for a different look and different saddle bags with a center tail light instead of lights on the bags. Supposedly better wind protection from the fairing, and supposedly a more comfortable seat, but so far I can't tell the difference. I'll have to wait until I have an opportunity to go on a longer ride to see if the seat is actually more comfy. The 2005 I had was the most comfortable seat of any bike I've owned. I rode nearly 1,000 miles on two separate days one week apart on that bike. I was tired, but my rear wasn't sore. Also the 2012 Wing has a better suspension according to Honda. It does seem like a softer ride, but I can't tell a difference in handling yet. Overall, I like the new look just because it looks different than previous models. It's still basically the same bike with a few more standard features than before. It isn't nearly as hot to ride as my ST was because of the fairing and because the engine sits lower. I'll have to get used to riding a barge again. It's not as much fun to ride as the ST, but a lot more comfortable for long trips. Show less

This is my first motorcyle (5+ years on a 400 cc maxi-scooter, though). I was blown away by the ease of operation. Slow speed handling takes some getting used to, but at highway speeds the Wing handles as well as the scooter. The handlebars are just slightly too far front for 100% comfort, so I will have to extend them back about 1 to 1.5 inches at some point. The stereo is awesome. GPS is adequate although I understand there may be no map upgrades available, which may eventually be a problem. i highly recommend this bike! Show less