Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes goldwings

I rode to work every night last week, nice on the way in, pouring rain on the way home. We have a place undercover where we park bikes when the weather's bad, and it gave me the opportunity to really check out a guy's new Goldwing for the first time. This guy has thousands of miles under his belt, been all over the states a few times, and this is probably his 3rd Wing. I respect his riding experience.

But this bike is another thing. I guess riding one of these does somehow qualify you as a motorcyclist on some level, but there isn't anything about it that says "motorcycle" to me. It looks more like some kind of hi-tech luggage with seats. Nothing but plastic and cup holders and plastic and armrests and plastic. I'm sure there is some kind of motorcycle under there, but I'd hate to have to find it to try and fix something. I'm sure it's comfortable. But so is a Winnebago.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but I could never own one.

i have a 91 voyager and it is like luggage w/ an engine. it is nice to ride like that once in awhile and the wife likes the comfort. i like to take 200 mile rides and listen to baseball games. then i hop on the bsa and that makes the speedy look like the voyager.

cat

Even though the Goldwing seems to be like huge luxury liner, it wouldn’t be all that bad to use for cross country travel with someone, especially because of the bags, stereo and seats. Traveling alone, the Speedmaster is fine.

What seems to be a shame is that there seems to be only two huge bagger cruising touring bikes on the planet anymore, the Goldwing and the Electraglide. Yamaha use to have the Venture and I don’t think Kawasaki makes the Voyager anymore. I really wish Triumph would do something like that with the Rocket III.

Soren

I think in the very near future Triumph will have the option available to buy a Rocket III from the factory as a full dress touring bike.
I would never want one, I've never liked the look of hard bags on a bike and I'd rather hear the rumble of the pipes rather than a radio.
I told my daughter that when I start looking a Goldwings, it was time to shoot me.

I was behind one of those old Goldwings yesterday. It had more chrome trim and random bars and reflecters and lights and stuff on the back of it...

I'm with Grump. Way too much plastic. You have to hunt to find anything mechanical on it. It would be great for a cross country ride, that's about it. How many times do you get to ride cross country? I'm 46 years old and still waiting for that chance( but thats another post).

cat,
That Voyager doesn't count, I can still see a motorcycle under there...

I rode a friends leadwing once, that was enough for me. They are bloody awkward to manage unless you live in Kansas and can park it on the road so you never have to make anything more than the gentlest turn. And, you havent seen a bike leak oil untill you see one of those blow a seal on the cylinder head drain. It gushes out like a cut artery.

You guys are a little biased eeh?
I think Wings are cool, for what they are, they are the best on the road. If'n I was gonna go cross country on a bike and didn't want my arse to fall off around the Mississippi, I'd go for one. I would prefer a R3 with the full dress gear though.
These 50 year old bones prefer the smooth ride on long runs.
I took my CB900C (custom) cross country twice, I love Speedy, but there was no comparrison. The shaft, air shocks, DVD, microwave, cruise control, port a potty, ....ahhh, relax and enjoy the views guys.

I'd be happy to do cross country with my America. Yeah, it might take a little extra effort to pack everything on the bike than it would on a Wing, and I wouldn't have that Freightliner-sized front end to protect me from the elements, but, then again, I seem to recall that was one of the reasons I bought a bike like I did. I did 1800 miles on the America, and it only needed 2 improvements to be quite honest, a better seat, and a throttle lock of some sorts cause my right shoulder gets sore as hell after a couple hours (no problem at all with the left!!!), but that is honestly all I would change. I have a tankbag, and saddlebags that would hold all I need, and if I need more, I could just strap a duffle bag across the rear fender. I don't plan on ever having someone ride cross country on the back (would be fun, if it were the right person), but IF that were ever the case, then a sissybar (YUCK!!!) and one of those sissybar bags would be in order. And all for a lot less than a Wing....

We have a few Wings over at the track (sponsor deal with Honda). One of them is metallic orange, and every time that I see it, I am afraid that it will either fall on me or explode and cover me in orange juice.

I would also agree that turning it would be an adventure best left to the 80 year old guy in the shorts and tennis shoes. BTW, is that standard riding attire for Wing owners?

Ryan

Last time I saw one was at our besiktning day,I walked round it several times and was most dissapointed when I couldn't find a TV.

It's under the microwave.

Cheers,I'll know where to look next time.

I'm not sure the R3 would make an acceptable full dresser. If you opened up the throttle suddenly the plastic luggage couldn't stand the G forces.

You just made me blow coffee visualizing a Rocket 3 turning onto a busy highway from a stopsign in a huge cloud of plastic bits and flying undies.

Now THAT's funny!

Envisioning a RoadRunner cartoon with Wiley Coyote trying to hang on as the plastic bits fly and his arms stretch!

Hey, ya know why 'Wing riders are classier than (most) Harley riders? Because at least they'll wave back as you meet 'em along the highway.

Me...I have absolutely nothing against comfort. Never having owned one, I still say "Long live the 'Wing". That caliber of motorcycle probably draws a lot of people into the world of 2 wheels that might not otherwise be willing to join us in the quest for that perfect ride.

I totally agree. I have a friend who lost his leg but rides. He got himself a trike and is still in the wind.

Pete gets the award for a Triumph pumpkin though!

...living room on wheels...
mert

i dont know the model but BMW has a bike that has an adjustable windshield, and,now get this, a center stand that sets itself??? yep, push a button and the center stand lowers or rises?? and i think reverse is pretty standard on all them bikes. but on another note, the thing that bugs me about honda is that, they have copied everything that has come before them. the BMW... wasnt that first?? honda has copied everybody else. i think if i wanted a cross country bike i would rather have the BMW. i want a parallel twin so i went to the creator.. Triumph. i know honda come out with the inline 4 (750) but that is a whole nother story.hahahahahaha