Jun 28, 2015 08:13 AM
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(Updated Jun 28, 2015 08:13 AM)
BASIC SPECS: This classic Hondatouring machine—the last Gold Wing made in the US—is powered by a silky smooth flat-six, a fuel-injected 1, 832cc mill that mounts in a sporty aluminum chassis. The GL1800, the first new Gold Wing in 13 years, is a lighter bike than its GL1500 predecessor, and it gobbles up the highway miles with ease, pampering its rider with what we called on its debut “the smoothest, most luxuriating ride in all of motorcycling.”
WHY IT’S DESIRABLE: No surprise, the Gold Wing of this generation took home five straight Cycle WorldTen Besttitles ( as Best Tourer) from 2006 to 2010. Just as impressive, from 2001 to 2010, the big Honda was named our Best Tourer a remarkable eight times.
It’s easy to see why. With its spacious cockpit, superb weather protection, excellent handling, and torquey engine, the GL1800 really had no rivals. In 2006, GPS navigation and heated grips became available, and by 2010 the Gold Wing had it all—a superb sound system, cruise control, heated grips, heated seat, adjustable windscreen, cockpit-adjustable headlight, and rear-suspension preload—plus outstanding build quality.
THE COMPETITION: Two possible alternatives are the four-cylinder BMWK1200LT and boxer-powered R1200RT, which were named Cycle World’s Best Touring Bikes in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The six-cylinder K1600GTLis also an obvious choice, but it’s newer and considerably more expensive on the used market. American-style full-dressers offer similar abilities but simply can’t match the Honda’s performance.
