New generation Honda GL1800 Gold Wing: characteristics, photos and videos

RU-MOTO rating

• Reliability
• Chassis
• Appearance
• Comfort

3.3

Verdict

Honda Gold Wing is a motorcycle whose purchase is approached as if it were a matter of adding a child to the family. Often, owners stay with this motorcycle for many years. The target audience is adults, serious men who know exactly what they want. All these arguments certainly have a positive effect on the reputation of the motorcycle. This is no longer a summer toy or the result of youthful impulsiveness.

Today we will take a closer look at such a motorcycle as the Honda Gold Wing, popularly known as “Golda”. Let's delve into its life history, delve into the technical characteristics and try to form an unprejudiced opinion about such a legendary device.

It is worth understanding that the Honda Gold Wing has become one of the few motorcycles that can rightfully be called culture-forming. What do we mean? And the fact that there are entire communities of bikers who prefer only Golda as a motorcycle. A culture with its own history, traditions and ideas.

Motorcycle Honda Gold Wing 1800

The first copy of this brand came off the assembly line in 1974. Presenting the modern version of Honda, it is difficult to believe that it all began with the classic road motorcycle Honda Gold Wing GL 1000, equipped with a four-cylinder boxer engine. This was followed by several more modifications of this motorcycle.

A significant moment in the history of the development of the brand can be considered the release of the second generation of the 1980 GL1100 Gold Wing motorcycle. Here Honda has already chosen the vector of development of the model, the motorcycle has acquired the features of a real tourist, and I must say, it made the right decision. Over the years, the motorcycle continued to acquire new technological features, and the company tirelessly announced new models.

The next breakthrough was the release of the GL 1800 in 2001. The motorcycle was the result of many innovative technological solutions. During development, the company registered more than twenty patents related to the technical part. The model continues to be produced to this day, so we will take a closer look at it.

Specifications

Main technical characteristics of Honda Gold Wing 1800

Let's start by analyzing the model's engine. The volume is 1832 cc, which is comparable to the average passenger car engine. It is also not very different in structure, having as many as six cylinders and a four-stroke type of operation. But the arrangement of the cylinders is opposed, which is no longer very typical for a car. Equipped with a liquid cooling system. Our unit produces 120 hp at 5000 rpm, maximum torque is observed at 4000 rpm and is 167 Nm.

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The fuel system is represented by PGM-FI electronic injection and has an automatic air damper. Still, the character of the motorcycle cannot be called wild; the engine feels, again, similar to a car and you don’t have to wait for a powerful pickup when spinning it. But it’s great for long, languid highway trips and will allow you to fully enjoy the surrounding view. The gearbox is five-speed and has a reverse gear. The drive to the wheel is carried out via a cardan shaft.

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The suspension is represented by a 45 mm telescopic fork at the front, an anti-lock system is installed, and the travel is 140 mm. Rear: Pro-Link Pro-Arm, electronic preload control, with 105mm of travel.

In order to stop such a ship, an effective braking system is required. At the front, it is represented by a disc hydraulic system with a disc diameter of 296 mm, a combined three-piston caliper and floating pads. At the rear there is a disc with a diameter of 316 mm and also a combined three-piston caliper.

The most interesting aspect of the technical part of Golda is the motorcycle’s equipment with electronics and various features that increase comfort. In this, Honda can compete with the car on equal terms. We have a whole range of different settings and sensors on board. There is a radio, cruise control, suspension adjustments, and various types of driver heating. But here’s the paradox: there is no windshield height adjustment. This can be explained by slight Japanese conservatism, but releasing updates quite rarely, the company should look much further into the future. As for equipping the protecting driver, what can we say if the motorcycle has an airbag installed.

Honda Gold Wing 1800 control panel

Honda is certainly stuffed to capacity with various functions, but to say that this is progress is unlikely. The engineers know their target audience, so everything is done “richly,” but in the old fashioned way without newfangled sensors and complex computer gadgets.

As we have already found out, the strong point of the motorcycle is comfort. It is also interesting that the Honda is designed for traveling mainly by two people. The driver is given a comfortable, wide seat, while the passenger receives a full-fledged seat.

The significant capacity is also confidently stated by the number and size of the cases, and that’s not all. For those who like to create a complete comfort zone while traveling, a trailer can be attached to the motorcycle.

Engine

Transmission

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Dimensions and weight

Chassis and brakes

Performance characteristics

Gold does not fade!

GOLD DOESN'T FADE!

Dmitry TYURIN

HONDA GL1500 Gold Wing, grand tourer

(from the anniversary series) | Mileage not established | Approximate price

$ 12 700

HONDA GL1500 Gold Wing,

50 thousand km

$ 21 500

IN NO WAY WE WERE SHY.

Will we be able to cope with the mastodons in the city until we get to the track? Is it easy to maneuver at low speed when the total weight of the motorcycle and rider is about half a ton? There was no room for error: the motorcycles were not their own, they were borrowed, and their total cost was about 35 thousand dollars

Both have a 6-cylinder boxer engine with a cardan drive to the rear wheel, almost absolute wind protection and simply crazy equipment designed to raise the bar of driver and passenger comfort to unprecedented heights. There is a reverse gear, windshield height adjustment, a radio with four speakers, a ticker system on the RDS radio panel (on the new model), and a supply of warm air to the hands and feet, and headlight range control, countless glove compartments and trunks. The body of any driver will fit most comfortably in a leather seat: the shape and size of its loin do not matter. Both motorcycles form a classic upright riding position, with the lower back supported by a small backrest. Very comfortable: all muscles are relaxed. If the driver still gets tired of his back and fifth point of support, the seat of the new model can be adjusted “to suit himself”. It's like in the massage chairs of executive cars.

What if you move to the passenger (or passenger) seat? Not only do you “sit high and look far away,” but you really sit as if in a limousine: a throne with armrests (under which you can hide a lot of small things), on the “fresh” model there are also all imaginable and inconceivable adjustments. Even the volume of the rear speakers can be adjusted! The chair has a large backrest, so you can at least read a book while driving. Or even drink beer (and who will forbid the passenger?) * Emotions after at least temporary possession of such luxury excite

While we were licking our eyes at all the delights of our experimental subjects, the engines warmed up. The engine of the new model is equipped with a proprietary PGM-FI injection system, so it starts instantly. In the warm-up mode, it maintains higher speeds - you don’t have to push the enrichment lever in, like on the old one. The engines of both motorcycles operate barely audibly, without mechanical noise. But there was a sound, and clearly audible: the previous owner installed it on the “wedding steamer” (that’s how we called the white “Golda”). direct flow! Have you ever seen a Gold Wing with straight flows? So, such a miracle exists in nature.

The windshield on both is height adjustable. Two levers at the edges of the dashboard release the lock and the glass can be raised or lowered. I would like an electric drive. Well, okay, we are not lazy, we won’t overstrain ourselves.

Well, let's go! No, not right away - when they rolled out of the cabin, they were forced to move backwards for a couple of meters. In the one and a half liter Gold Wing, the reverse gear is engaged with a lever located at the level of the left knee, in the new one - with a button on the right steering console (you have to specify its location, since here, in addition to the steering consoles, there are also a bunch of all sorts of switches and buttons). The “R” - “Reverse” light up on the dashboard, you press the starter button and the motorcycle moves backwards. It’s nice that the Japanese took this need into account: at the slightest slope, when the “nose” is pointing down, moving the motorcycle back while sitting in the saddle is beyond human strength. Let the horses work better.

And since we started talking about mass. It is worth mentioning that motorcycles not only have side stands (which are easy to use), but also central ones! We looked at them and thought: were the designers making such a nice joke? Do they really think that it is possible to drag such a thug onto the “pedestal” alone? (How can we not remember that the equally heavy BMW K1200LT has a stand with an electro-hydraulic drive.) And come on, we tried it - it’s even very easy to install the “gold” masses on the “central”! There is a lever on it, I pressed it with my foot - and the rear wheel is already in weight.

The fear of not being able to control the car disappeared immediately after the first click of the gearbox: after 10 km/h both hippos turned into well-trained circus animals. Whether you go slowly or quickly, the motorcycles steer easily.

GL1500

A small “jamb” was discovered: both of us (and we changed devices) had the impression that the guides in the front fork were worn out, as a result of which the motorcycle in a turn, if the wheels got into a hole, was forced to steer. There's nothing you can do about it, age is making itself felt: in 11 years, the white “Golda” has probably covered more than the 33 thousand kilometers that its non-functional odometer showed (at a motorcycle service center, repairing the device will take 3-4 hours).

The acceleration dynamics exceeded all expectations. One and a half liters of volume, crammed into six cylinders, literally shoots out like a “limousine” when the tachometer needle passes the 3000 rpm mark. With an energetic start from a traffic light, cars that decided to race with us quickly turned into specks in the wide rear-view mirrors. Acceleration is vigorous up to 140 km/h, but then the windage of the crew takes its toll and the pace weakens. The box works “like a Honda” - smoothly, without any problems. When the top gear is engaged, the OD - OverDrive symbol lights up on the dashboard (this is the top gear). Nevertheless, the motorcycle gains “kopeck piece” without much effort. This speed is affected by the insufficient torsional rigidity of the chassis - the body begins to “wobble.” The suspensions “chew” small irregularities - they won’t choke, but on large ones it breaks the front fork every now and then. This means that it is necessary to change not only the guides, but also fill the shock absorbers with more viscous oil. The rear suspension is adjustable, so it can be adjusted to almost any weight of the driver, passenger and cargo in the panniers. The option is powered by a pneumatic compressor. This function has one very convenient side effect: in the right case there is a hose with a spool sticking out, by hooking up a second special hose (it comes with the motorcycle), you can use the same compressor to inflate the wheels.

I had to push into the recesses of my brain the sportbike habit of braking only at the front and remember that sometimes on motorcycles the rear brake is also relevant. But, I must say, by today’s standards the front one is also frankly rather weak, especially when compared with the brake of the 1800.

In general, the motorcycle is very, very lively and after a little maintenance it will give the owner many thousands of interesting kilometers.

GL1800

The Gold Wing 1800 in blue gave the impression of being new. For him, a run of 32 thousand miles (about 50 thousand kilometers) is like a break-in. There is not a scratch on the body; the rubber, although worn, is still factory. It is very similar to its predecessor, however, once you take the helm, you understand that it’s the same as transferring from the helm of a TU-134 to the helm of a Boeing 747. Everything seems to be the same, only more modern. In general, the engineers inexplicably managed to make a motorcycle of such mass truly controllable. The torsional frame is also stiffer compared to its predecessor.

Dynamics are a different matter. None of us expected that such a motorcycle could jump so quickly - just open the throttle all the way! From the very bottom, the motor “snatches” you with the roar of a big cat (and the uterine purr of a cat like a tiger) and confidently pulls you, breaking the wall of air. But after 3000 rpm, the colors of the world become a little blurry, the purring turns into the sound of a fighter in afterburner, and the “blue bird” rushes forward. Of course, he doesn’t take his hands off the steering wheel, but to say in a car “during acceleration I was pressed into the back of the seat” is appropriate. The dynamics are quite comparable to a 600 cc sports-road motorcycle and half a head higher than the dynamics of the 400-horsepower BMW M5, which dared to race us from a traffic light. By the way, the old one, one and a half liter, also did not give offense. The brakes on the 1800 are sharper and more precise than on the 1500. This is a merit not only of modern mechanisms, but also of a combined braking system (when braking with the front or rear brake, the mechanisms of both come into play), which has proven itself well on the CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird model. Here the Japanese did not skimp on technical delights and pumped up the brakes to the fullest. They even installed ABS! The system will not allow the wheels to lock during emergency braking, even on a wet (and you understand, terribly slippery) road markings.

Price

For a new model of such a behemoth you will have to pay approximately $28,000, which may sound scary for a motorcycle, but justified for this class. Used options are also not cheap. The inflated price is explained by the excessive love for this technology, as well as frequent modifications, for which the owners, getting carried away, pay a good part of the cost of the motorcycle.

Screenshot 1. Prices for used Honda Gold Wing on Avito

Honda Gold Wing Logo

Replacing brake fluid in all circuits - 3-5 thousand rubles. Replacing pads - from 500 rubles. for the caliper.
NERVOUS SYSTEM The motorcycle's electrical system is very reliable, but sometimes it has glitches. But they are quite easy to treat, because the wiring is not digital, but analog - and with due patience, any malfunction can be diagnosed using a multimeter and the original service manual with color diagrams (more on this at the end). It can also be used to diagnose ABS and injection systems (PGM-FI). KIT

Tuning

Gold Wing can rightfully be called one of the most tuned motorcycles. There are several reasons for this. One of those that we mentioned earlier is buying such a motorcycle for a long time, and any thing, as we know, tends to become boring, then the owner begins to add new colors.

Another thing is that this motorcycle is well suited for modifications; factory accessories for Golda are also often found. It has become almost a tradition for tuning this Honda to install LED strips around the perimeter of the entire motorcycle; it is rare to see a Golda that does not glow like a Christmas tree at night.

You can often find modifications to motorcycle headlights, replacement of seats with custom ones, and installation of additional chrome parts. For travel, a trailer, the size of which varies from one suitable for carrying bags, to a trailer for overnight stays.

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And this is what a comparison of the power characteristics of the “Golda” and “Rune” looks like: the multi-throttle engine has more thrust in the middle and gives up at the top.
And this is what a comparison of the power characteristics of the “Golda” and “Rune” looks like: the multi-throttle engine has more thrust in the middle and gives up at the top.

I thank megamotorists Sanya Shklyarik and Vitya Ivanov from Multipass Moto for setting up the motorcycle on a dyno stand and providing advice, Gena Makhankov for providing “Rune” for measurements, as well as all those who sympathize with this crazy project.

Gold Wing Muscles: Honda GL1800 supercharged

Comparison with analogues

As a competitor to the Honda Gold Wing, we decided to choose the BMW K 1600 GT.

Motorcycle BMW K 1600 GT

We won’t compare numbers today, these are not the same motorcycles. Let's turn to the feelings and reviews of users.

Looking at the appearance and equipment, we understand that BMW looks more technologically advanced. If the Honda has a whole scattering of buttons, then the BMW motorcycle is controlled through the settings of the on-board computer. For example, Honda's suspension settings are on one button, but with a German representative you have to look for them in the menu. On the one hand, it is more technologically advanced, but on the other hand, it will not be very convenient to do this on the go.

Regarding the engine feel, the BMW will sound and feel angrier. Up to 150 km/h the difference is not yet so noticeable, but above that the differences are felt. At a cruising speed of 120-130 km/h, Honda is praised more.

Spaciousness is one of the main criteria for transport of this class. Honda has it slightly larger, plus Honda is more adapted to modifications that can increase capacity.

The advantages of the Honda Gold Wing include its high prevalence in motorcycle parties; the presence of like-minded people can help in many issues related to the motorcycle.

Disadvantages of the model

In terms of technical characteristics, the Honda Gold Wing has no complaints, although its appearance, dimensions and significant weight cause dissatisfaction among some motorcyclists. It should also be noted that in no case should a motorcycle be used as a first vehicle, since even a large number of functions that facilitate control will not be able to correct insufficiently developed driving skills.

If you were attracted by the characteristics of the Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and you wanted to buy it, then you need to know that this equipment is not cheap. The average market price of the model varies from 1 million 200 thousand, although it is worth paying this amount for a real “yacht on wheels”.

Repair and service

The most common breakdowns of the Honda Gold Wing

Nothing is perfect, and our Honda has a couple of pain points. Basically it's the suspension. Quite often, the weakness of the subframe turned into a breakdown, for several reasons: overloading the panniers, the specifics of Slavic roads, and unnatural use for a motorcycle.

There are problems with the gearbox, specifically fifth gear. Here the main role is played by the design feature of the copy shaft. The problem is manifested by the transmission being thrown out. It’s easy to check, engage fifth gear at low speeds and move “tightly”.

Otherwise, there are no system failures noted.

As for service, there are also few problems. Change consumables more often and Honda will not let you down on the road. And the resource of consumables is much greater compared to motorcycles of other classes.

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Owner reviews

Gennady (Chelyabinsk)

I'll start without any background. When I read reviews about the gold wing 1800, I noticed one drawback that many complained about, so I want to immediately please Honda fans, in the 2012 model the problem of “boiling” of the driver’s legs has been practically solved. Separately, I want to warn those motorcyclists who want to switch to the GL 1800, it is completely incapable of forgiving the pilot’s mistakes - I experienced this myself. Sometimes there is a false sense of personal invulnerability, which relaxes and can even kill. My advice to you: always wear a helmet and other equipment; crashing on Gold is as easy as shelling pears, even easier than in sports, so be vigilant. You will only begin to understand and fully feel your motorcycle after 2-3 thousand miles. At first, only euphoria is felt, so the first thousand are the most dangerous for an inexperienced pilot. As for handling and comfort, I can say that this motorcycle really does not like dirt roads. It becomes difficult to control on sand and grass. There is no EBD system, the wheel starts to slip as soon as you touch the gas, so you need to keep an eye on it. It's a little easier to ride with a passenger. Good comfort on the gold wing 1800 can sometimes play a cruel joke, I have already talked about this, unnecessarily relaxing the driver. Cruising speed is about 120 km/h. If the rain is not heavy, then you don’t have to worry about getting wet. In the rain, you will have to lower the windshield and look over it, because visibility is greatly affected by raindrops on the glass; they are not brushed off by oncoming traffic. If the wind is sideways or a very strong headwind, for example, when driving around trucks in the oncoming lane, it can “rearrange” quite strongly. The most dangerous scenario is when the wind is blowing from behind at three quarters of the windshield. I didn't see any problems driving around the city. Everyone lets you in and even respects you if you don’t push yourself. You should go on a long journey only when you have completely run it in; this primarily applies to the most “experienced” motorcyclists. These are the conclusions I made after driving the GL 1800/2012 for a season. I wish everyone good luck on the roads! Gennady

Prokhor (Vladivostok)

Of course, before buying, I read all possible reviews about the Gold Wing 1800 in order to make the right decision, but as often happens, all the advice came down to discussing one or another particular case of buying a used motorcycle. I was lucky - I decided to buy a used one, but through a trusted person. For me personally, the Honda Gold 1800 is simply a kind of queen of the roads, a kind of masterpiece among the huge variety of motorcycles, and even the pricing policy is quite lenient. The seats are very comfortable, both for the pilot, the passenger and the passenger - I simply don’t experience fatigue on such a motorcycle. The windshield is adjustable in height and provides good protection from the wind: even when driving in a convoy, at speeds over 100 km/h, I rode in a hat without strings, which never blew off even once. For driving in cool weather, warm air is provided here, the Gold Wing 1800 has cruise control, for traveling long distances (press a button and the bike maintains the desired speed without revving up). I bought the gl1800 in the old configuration, but it’s not even a matter of the very significant difference in price between the old and new models. The models have a very different design: in the new models, they are very pompous, they are more like a mega scooter. And the old model in its design looks very nice and discreet. So even in the future I do not intend to change this model to a newer one. The price for the gl 1800 gold wing is quite steep; for several years I spent several years searching daily for my dream, in good condition and at an acceptable price for a family with a monthly income of 50 thousand rubles. I reassured myself only by the fact that having shelled out a rather impressive amount for a purchase only once, provided that it was not a wreck, I would save on many things in the future. Since three large trunks are hidden from prying eyes under the plastic covering of the gold bags, and therefore, you won’t have to spend money on buying panniers, and this is already a significant saving. You can additionally mount a trunk on the rear box, either open or closed. You can tie up to a lot of junk to a high arc. The Honda I bought already had such a trunk with an arch. What's next. In terms of gasoline consumption, I can say that this 6-cylinder motorcycle consumes about 6 liters per hundred. I myself was shocked when I found out. A pleasant addition to this fact is the huge tank, which is enough for 400 km. And with today's price of gasoline, I think there is no need to explain where the savings lie. The factory equipment of the Honda Gold already comes with a radio, although the old one still has a cassette radio. Although for a man with arms growing from the right place, this is not a problem - he connected a modern player to the speakers and that’s it. I haven’t gotten around to making it beautiful yet, the player is lying in the side case next to the car battery, this is so that you can always listen to music - even when I’m standing or when I’m driving. And the extra power won’t hurt the Gold backlight either. With this configuration, you can easily arrange a night disco somewhere on the shore of a reservoir: lights and music, all with me. The saving on repairs is that getting into an accident on such a motorcycle is very unlikely. Due to its rather large dimensions, the Golda 1800 (well, just like other representatives of this family) is more noticeable to motorists than other smaller motorcycles. Plus there are arches that can protect the motorcycle in case of a slight fall. I can object to those who think that a large motorcycle is clumsy compared to its smaller comrades. I tested it with Krasnoyarsk sharp turns and traffic jams. Even car drivers perceive such a device with respect and do not push it, although they tend to forget the fact that a motorcyclist is also an active participant in road traffic and must occupy the entire lane, along with cars. When I decided to buy a Honda Gl 1800 gold wing, I thought it was time to quit frantic driving on the highways, it was time for a measured, solid ride. But I was deeply mistaken - my beauty does almost 200 km/h, accelerating to such a speed very quickly. Bikers on sports bikes, on rides, just had their eyes wide open when my beauty bypassed sports bikes with a smaller volume, one and a half liters, no matter how! As a conclusion, I can add that from that moment on, driving around the city became not only beautiful for me, but also comfortable. And the passenger can ride in stiletto heels, and in heels, and in nylon tights, and in white jeans - whatever you like!!! Prokhor

001_MOTO_0910_054

I have always been impressed by American muscle cars with their insanely brutal beauty. Huge, with compressors sticking out of the hoods, with a power of up to a thousand horsepower, with a bass roar and crazy dynamics. However, we are not in America, and the motorcycle has half as many wheels. But we also have our own national dishes. To be honest, the idea of ​​adding agility to the “Golda” had been brewing for a long time - having appeared a year after buying the motorcycle, it grew and became stronger, taking up more and more space in the brain. When critical mass is reached, it breaks through, as expected. No, tell me, isn’t it a disgrace - a six-pot motorcycle with a level of engine boost similar to that of a Zhiguli (and this is not a joke). And those who drive Goldwings will say in unison that the engine has amazing traction. Yes, but not at high speeds. And so, having read on the Internet materials on boosting gasoline engines, I unsuccessfully brainstorm the Americans from DynoJet about the Power Commander in gold, and also draw in my head various schemes for expanding the channels in the heads, increasing the compression ratio, boring the throttles and other nonsense . (Why nonsense, you will understand later, just as I understood it.) At the same time, I was working on the idea of ​​​​installing a multi-throttle intake from the “Rune” (NRX1800 Valkyrie Rune), which has the same engine as the “Gold”, only it breathes after six 32 mm dampers, and not through two 40 mm ones, as on the Gold. And with a sinking heart I look at the power curves of the “Golda” and “Rune” - and I fall into a stupor: it would seem that the Goldwing engine, strangled at the inlet, turned out to be... 5 forces more powerful (the power data is on the wheel)!!! Immediately, motorists Sanya and Vitya from Multipass Moto, having gotten into the swing of things and having listened to my sorrowful story about plans for boring channels and throttle bodies, did not, as I expected, mock and giggle at me, but at my quote from “What to do?” They answered briefly: “Blow.”