‘Luxury motorcycle’ is usually synonymous with American or European brands. We don’t usually associate the Japanese brands with luxury. It isn’t that The Land Of The Rising Sun isn’t capable of making them. In fact, Japan has managed to develop luxury motorcycles that have competed with the best in the world. There is one such motorcycle that doesn’t just compete, but it crushes the opposition.
It is so popular that it was assembled in the United States despite being a premium product that cost as much as a car. Even today, this touring motorcycle is assembled in only a single plant globally and exported, and demand has not fallen. Yes, we’re talking about the Honda Gold Wing Tour, which is worth every penny.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources such as Honda Powersports.
The Honda Gold Wing Tour Is The Luxury Japanese Motorcycle That’s Worth Every Penny
Price: $28,700
A front action shot of Honda Gold Wing Tour leaning down a corner on a highway. Honda
The words ‘luxury’ and ‘value’ are usually at odds with one another, so saying that a luxury motorcycle is worth the money usually means that it has other things going for it rather than a great price-to-performance or price-to-features ratio. Things like appreciating value, or emotional appeal. Well, the Gold Wing is all of these things and then some.
It is priced quite reasonably for what it is. Look at the competition, and you’ll realize that to add the kind of equipment the Gold Wing offers, their prices will go beyond the Gold Wing’s. The Gold Wing also has a great reputation for reliability. This is a motorcycle that you can truly use, it isn’t meant to be sheltered in your garage. It has a bunch of features that are unique to it among Japanese motorcycles.
It has been so popular that GWM has even tried to copy it, but has tried to better it by adding cylinders, displacement, and speeds in the automatic gearbox. However, the Gold Wing will hold its value because it has so many features, will not break down, and is a reasonable motorcycle to maintain. That is why it is the luxury Japanese motorcycle that’s worth every penny.
Why We Picked The Honda Gold Wing Tour
Features that no other Japanese motorcycle has
All the luxury features you’d expect from its segment
Priced quite reasonably
Holds its value really well
Honda Gold Wing Tour Engine
World’s Only Flat Six Motorcycle Engine
Honda Gold Wing Chassis and SuspensionHonda
The Gold Wing is the only motorcycle in Honda’s entire fleet that is powered by this engine. This horizontally opposed flat six got a major update for this generation of Gold Wing. It was given four valves per cylinder, but Honda also fitted it with the Unicam SOHC head, meaning the engine’s width isn’t as wide as we’d expect it to be.
There is other trickery going on to make the owner’s life easier – this is a longitudinal engine, so placing the gearbox in line with the engine at the back would make the Gold Wing an unmanageably long motorcycle. Honda has therefore placed the gearbox under the engine, reducing its overall length.
The Gearbox Is Also Worth Talking About
The six-speed gearbox has an electric motor so that the rider can walk the bike backwards while maneuvering in a parking lot. Its output shaft rotates in the opposite direction to the engine’s crankshaft to reduce the side-to-side rocking motion that usually occurs when you rev a motorcycle with a longitudinal engine. There is also the option of a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox with manual control. This is the only one of its kind in the world, and has proper reverse gear and a ‘walk’ mode to help with the same parking lot maneuvers.
Engine Configuration
Horizontally opposed six cylinder, liquid cooling, Unicam SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement
1,833 cc
Bore x Stroke
73 x 73 mm
Compression Ratio
10.5:1
Power
124.7 HP @ 5,500 RPM
Torque
125.3 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Transmission
6 speed manual/7 speed automatic transmission
Final Drive
Shaft drive
Honda Gold Wing Tour Chassis
Great Touring Chassis
Honda Gold Wing Tour corneringHonda
The Gold Wing has a twin spar chassis made of aluminum. This is tied up with a double wishbone front suspension setup, quite like BMW has got on the full-size GS models. The front forks that were present on the previous model would bring the front wheel backward when the suspension compressed, so the engine needed to be mounted farther back in the chassis.
With the new front suspension, the engine can be mounted a little more in front. This has changed the weight distribution for the better, and the rider doesn’t have as long a reach for the handlebars either, making it easier to ride. The rear suspension consists of a single-sided swingarm and a link-type monoshock. The suspension is electrically adjustable for preload at the back, as befits a luxury tourer. The damping is also adjustable, but is best just left in automatic mode so it adapts to the situation at hand.
The braking setup is another unique one: the front braking system has twin 320 mm discs gripped by massive six-piston fixed calipers, while the rear has a 316 mm single disc gripped by a three-piston floating caliper (so it is the same size as the fronts) are used. Sintered pads help braking performance, while the linked brakes with ABS help reduce the stopping distances to the optimum. The six axis IMU helps with the braking as well as the electronic damping for the suspension.
Honda Gold Wing Tour Dimensions
Fuel Tank Capacity
5.57 gallons
Length/Width/Height
102.9/36.4/56.2 inches
Wheelbase
66.9 inches
Rake
30.5 degrees
Trail
4.3 inches
Seat Height
29.3 inches
Ground Clearance
5.1 inches
Curb Weight
847 LBs (ready to ride, full tank of fuel)
Honda Gold Wing Tour Features
All The Features You Could Possibly Want
A shot of the instrument panel of a 2025 Honda Gold WingHonda
The Gold Wing is Japan’s premier touring motorcycle. It has a 7-inch TFT color display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The sat-nav system has technology that allows it to work even in tunnels, meaning it isn’t solely dependent on GPS. The audio system has an auto volume leveling function as well – it increases the volume with speed.
The Gold Wing also has keyless ignition and luggage that locks and unlocks remotely. There is also hill hold assist. You also won’t need to push the Gold Wing around in a parking lot, both the manual and automatic gearboxes have provisions to move this large touring bike under its own steam. Finally, the top-spec variant has the world’s only motorcycle airbag.
Honda Gold Wing Tour Notable Features
Motorcycle airbag is an option
Sat-nav that works even without GPS lock
Auto volume leveling audio system
Individual temperature control for rider and pillion seats
Keyless ignition
Luggage that locks and unlocks remotely
7 inch TFT color display
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Linked brakes distribute braking force automatically
Hill hold assist
7 speed automatic gearbox with reverse gear and ‘walk’ mode
Electric reverse gear for manual gearbox
Horizontally opposed flat six engine
Double wishbone front suspension
Electronically adjustable rear suspension preload
Honda Gold Wing Tour Competition
No Real Japanese Competition
The large Japanese tourers all died out a while ago, with the exception of the Kawasaki Vulcan VN1700 Voyager, which is powered by a V-twin but has not been updated in a very long time. Therefore, we are left with American and European competition. The obvious competitor is the world’s only other six-cylinder motorcycle: the BMW K 1600 GTL.
BMW K 1600 GTL
BMW
It is a sporty tourer with a great power figure, and an exhaust note unlike any other bike. If you prefer a twin cylinder engine and a cruiser-type touring position, then there is also the BMW R 18 Transcontinental with its unique flat twin engine. It offers an experience that is a combination of the Gold Wing and the traditional V-twin tourers.
Street Glide Ultra
Rider and passenger on a 2025 Harley-Davidson Street Glide UltraHarley-Davidson
America brings the fight to the Japanese with the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra, a full-dress tourer that spares no expense but is priced reasonably for a Harley. You get a massive TFT touchscreen and enough oomph from the Milwaukee Eight series engine for a good time. Indian has the Roadmaster available with both the Thunderstroke air-cooled engine or the PowerPlus liquid-cooled engine, depending on what you prefer.
The price difference between the two Roadmasters is negligible, but the experience will differ as you’ll be powered by either a long-stroke torquey air-cooled engine or a relatively high-revving liquid cooled one. The feature set of the Roadmaster is quite impressive as well – it is just as luxurious as any of the others here and offers features like real-time bike location and traffic updates if you tick the right options.
Honda Gold Wing Tour Vs Rivals
Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT
BMW K 1600 GTL
BMW R 18 Transcontinental
Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra
Indian Roadmaster Thunderstroke
Price
$28,700
$27,745
$24,395
$30,749
$32,999
Engine
Horizontally opposed six cylinder, Unicam SOHC, 4 valves/cyl
Inline six cylinder,DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
‘Boxer’ flat twin, DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
45 degree V-twin, pushrod OHV, 4 valves/cyl
49-degree V-twin, pushrod OHV, 2 valves/cyl
Displacement
1,833 cc
1,649 cc
1,802 cc
1,917 cc
1,890 cc
Power
124.7 HP @ 5,500 RPM
160 HP @ 6,750 RPM
91 HP @ 4,750 RPM
105 HP @ 4,600 RPM
92 HP @ NA RPM
Torque
125.3 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM
132.7 LB-FT @ 5,250 RPM
120 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM
130 LB-FT @ 3,250 RPM
126 LB-FT @ 2,900 RPM
Final Drive
Shaft
Shaft
Cardan exposed shaft
Belt
Belt
Curb Weight
847 LBs (ready to ride, full tank of fuel)
789 LBs (ready to ride, full tank of fuel)
955 LBs (wet)
866 LBs (wet)
919 LBs (wet)
AloJapan.com