The GL1800 Gold Wing, a beautifully finished, premium ticket to ride designed to make short trips more accessible and enjoyable than ever, can be found wherever you turn. A stunning 1,833cc, six-cylinder engine, a choice of the manual, six-speed transmission, or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and a modern, nimble-handling chassis with double-wishbone front and rear suspension. Electronic damping all comes standard as well. Thanks to recently improved speakers and audio, every trip will have the ideal soundtrack. And Goldwing is about that. The ride was flawless in every way.
Honda 2021 Gold Wing DCT Tourer – Features and Specs
Design
The Gold Wing’s design draws attention to the bike’s roots in performance; its angular lines and exposed engine suggest the vehicle’s agile handling. By carefully planning the bike’s design, aerodynamic performance and thermal management are also considered, resulting in a machine that glides through the air with excellent efficiency and has ergonomics that last long on the open road. Are necessary for days. High aerodynamic efficiency is combined with an excellent power-to-weight ratio to improve fuel economy.
A narrow front cowl fit is possible due to the small size and good performance of the side-mount radiator. By directing the right amount of air into the rider’s area, the Air Guiding Duct enables an actual motorcycle experience. Electric windscreens vary by model, allowing the rider to manage airflow through seamless height and angle adjustments. The LED headlamps feature a recognizable “Swingline.”
LED turn signals with automatic cancellation features are built into the front mirrors and all-red rear taillights. A two-piece seat is designed to provide the rider with ease of movement in the saddle and comfort for the passenger during vigorous riding and commuting.
Engine / Drivetrain
A six-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with a horizontally opposed design has a low center of gravity, no vibration, and runs quietly. The engine delivers excellent performance, and the magic carpet ride feels that the Honda Gold Wing is known for. It is available with a Six speed manual transmission or Honda’s most advanced, 7-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
A 1,833cc of liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine makes for a fun ride in various conditions. The robust SCM440H material of the crankshaft allows for a compact design.
The Unicam® valve train contributes to a smaller engine size by reducing weight and maximizing fuel economy. A four-valve head provides excellent fuel and combustion efficiency, while aluminum cylinder sleeves minimize engine weight.
The short engine arrangement makes it possible to move the engine and seating forward in the chassis, reversing the weight bias to encourage sporty handling.
50mm single throttle body for lightweight. The reduced intake manifold volume allows air to flow directly into the combustion chamber, improving throttle response. The lack of fiberglass in the muffler and improved pipe diameter on two of the six cylinders allow for a sporty exhaust sound. Excellent fuel efficiency allows a compact gasoline tank for excellent vehicle packaging and low weight. Walking mode in DCT provides forwarding and backward crawling at speeds of 0.75 mph and 1.1 mph respectively. DCT versions also reduce weight by eliminating the need for a reverse idler shaft, which is required in conventional transmissions.
Fork shaft dampers, master arm dampers, and a DCT clutch center damper are used on DCT models to reduce shift shock and noise. Assist and slipper clutches on manual transmission models have minimal lever effort and less shift jerk on downshifts. The manual transmission model’s cam damper reduces shift shock and noise. An integrated starter generator (ISG) reduces weight and starting noise.
Technologies
The Gold Wing’s sophisticated electronics package is controlled by a throttle-by-wire system, allowing various riding modes and computerized rider assistance. Each of these systems is a tool to easily use and take advantage of Gold Wing’s enhanced performance. Throttle-by-wire technology serves as the basis for the latest electronics packages.
Tour, Sport, Econ, and Rain riding modes help customize the riding experience for different riding conditions. The Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system controls rear wheel slide on Tour models. Hill Start Assist creates it easy to start from a standstill on an incline. Improved cruise control for a more comfortable journey with intelligent, no-nonsense entry and luggage access.
The vehicle viewfinder system makes it easy to find a bike, for example, in large parking lots. The tire pressure monitoring system offers real-time tire pressure information and alerts the driver when the pressure drops below a certain level.
With Apple CarPlay, users can use Siri to make calls, send dictated messages, and access Apple Music and Maps. With Android Auto, users of Android 5.0 or later devices can use the Android Auto app to easily access services such as music, messaging, and voice calls. A clear view of the music and navigation systems, as well as settings for the various rider aid systems, are provided via a 7-inch full-color thin film transistor (TFT) display.
Chassis / Suspension
A carefully crafted aluminum frame and distinctive double-wishbone front suspension configuration combined with the bike’s Pro-Link® rear suspension system help the Gold Wing platform chassis balance stability and maneuverability. This combination gives riders unparalleled comfort on the highway while also enabling them to handle tighter road sections with confidence.
An automatic twin-spar aluminum frame. Optimum stiffness and flex properties are achieved by optimizing plate thickness in frame spars.
A swing arm with a one-way attachment. With more latitude to approach frame stiffness, this technique reduces stress on the swingarm pivot plate and consequently improves vehicle agility. The short seat rail moves the rider and passenger forward for excellent mass centralization—the lightweight frame and swing arm.
For outstanding stopping power, the front brakes feature dual 320mm rotors and a single 316mm rotor. There is a single three-piston rear brake caliper and a pair of radially six-piston brake calipers up front. A single modulator is used with ABS for an electronically controlled combined braking system to reduce weight. Specified Gold Wing tires with rear measurements of 200/55-R16 and front measurements of 130/70-18 (front).
When compared to the previous Gold Wing platform, the double-wishbone front suspension system reduces friction and improves agility while reducing total shock transmitted to the handlebars by up to 30%. It also reduces the inertial mass of the components driven by the handlebars by up to 40%, resulting in less steering effort. All shaft bushings of the front suspension system use bearings to reduce friction during steering and stroke. As a result of the stroke trajectory allowing the front engine to run, the double-wishbone front suspension system results in a compact car package.
The Pro-Link rear suspension system provides a smooth ride. Simple electronic suspension damping adjustment uses a needle-operated stepping motor to regulate the oil flow rate.
Additional Standout Features
Gold Wing Tour models can store two XXL helmets in the rear luggage case, which has a storage capacity of 60 liters (this feature is optional on Gold Wing models). The airbag model’s collision-decision system is positioned closer to the center of gravity for more excellent mass centralization. At the same time, four 45-watt speakers on the Gold Wing Tour (vs. two on Gold Wing variants) provide comfortable listening while driving.
Accessories
For the Gold Wing and Gold Wing Tour, more than 50 Honda accessories are available to personalize the rider or meet specific rider demands. The California version varies somewhat due to the exhaust equipment. Meets current EPA and CARB standards.
Honda 2021 Gold Wing DCT Tourer – Price
The new Honda 2021 Gold Wing DCT Tourer is available at $25,100.
Honda 2021 Gold Wing DCT Tourer – Technical Specifications
Engine and transmission
Displacement | 1833.0 ccm (111.85 cubic inches) |
Engine type | Six-cylinder boxer, four-stroke |
Power | 118.0 HP (86.1 kW)) at 5500 RPM |
Torque | 167.0 Nm (17.0 kg-m or 123.2 ft.lbs) at 4000 RPM |
Compression | 10.5:1 |
Bore x stroke | 73 mm x 73 mm (2.9 inches x 2.9 inches) |
Valves per cylinder | 4 |
Fuel system | Injection. Programmed Fuel Injection |
Fuel control | Single Overhead Cams (SOHC) |
Ignition | Computer-controlled digital with three-dimensional mapping |
Cooling system | Liquid |
Gearbox | Automatic |
Transmission type | Shaft drive (cardan) (final drive) |
Clutch | 7-speed Automatic DCT transmission |
Emission details | Meets current California Air Resources Board (CARB) and EPA standards. |
Chassis, suspension, brakes, and wheels
Frame type | Twin-spar aluminum frame |
Rake (fork angle) | 30.5° |
Trail | 109 mm (4.3 inches) |
Front Suspension | Double Wishbone Type; 4.3 inches travel |
Rear Suspension | Pro Arm® single-side swingarm with Pro-Link® single shock; 4.1 inches travel |
Rear wheel travel | 104 mm (4.1 inches) |
Front tire | 130/70-18 |
Rear tire | 200/55-16 |
Front brakes | Double disc. Floating discs. CBS three-piston calipers |
Diameter | 320 mm (12.6 inches) |
Rear brakes | Single disc. CBS three-piston calipers. |
Diameter | 316 mm (12.4 inches) |
Seat | Urethane. Waterproof cover. |
Physical measures and capacities
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc | 362.9 kg (800.0 pounds) |
Seat height | 744 mm (29.3 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting. |
Wheelbase | 1694 mm (66.7 inches) |
Fuel capacity | 21.01 liters (5.55 US gallons) |
Other specifications
Color options | Deep Pearl Gray |
Starter | Electric |
Light | LED lights |
Conclusion
Yes, the Gold Wing is expensive — my tester listed it at $25,000 — but it always has been, and there will always be people who appreciate what the Gold Wing has to offer.