2018 Honda Gold Wing Tour vs. 2018 BMW K1600 Grand America | On Two Wheels 

The most impressive part of the test is the microphones!

Just watching the 2-up laps made me nervous, I couldn’t imagine sitting on back during that. Balls of steel gents, we’ll done and I’m glad you both made it out alive.

It's still the Goldwing all day ever day for me. That comfort and the incredible flat six torque curve just can't be beaten.

The fact that these new tour bikes are so capable that they inspire a track lap says a lot about how good this segment has become!

I currently ride a '15 BMW r1200RT, but after riding the 1600 Beemer I have decided to go with a '21 GW DCT model. My ratioinale: back up assist gear, and also a lower CG. I am only 5'8" and 145 lbs, so the reverse gear, at my age (68) is now a necessity. I think BOTH of these bikes are fabulous, but the Honda is simply a better choice for me at this time in my riding life. THANKS for such a wonderful video !!

Can't wait, *sales person slaps the saddle bags* this baby can store so many geckos!

The engine of the k1600 is insane. It transforms the living room on two wheels into a rocket powered living room on two wheels

You two really are the Top Gear of motorcycles

-What's a litre anyway ‐1000 mil Lmao

One factor that made me chose GoldWing over the K1600 , maintenance costs of the BMW would kill me

god my heart was beating just by watching the laguna seca part. passenger racing on luxury tourers should be a legit motorsport, definetly exciting. do this at isle of man next time

These guys are amazing. The chemistry, the madness :) Loved this episode.... one of the best motorcycling shows. The humor... guys, just keep doing and enjoying this... Thumbs up!

On Two Wheels is by far my favorite thing on RU-vid. Funny, informative, creative, and you two, Zack and Ari, are absolutely perfect for the job (videographers, photographers, and editors are awesome too, lest you be forgotten...). The whole thing just has the right feel to it; it’s a little like top gear, but more kind-hearted, and you guys always look like you’re having a blast. To top it off, both of you are excellent riders (and racers)... the reviews are so much more interesting than just numbers and features lists. A shame that there doesn’t seem to be the budget to have longer episodes like this on a weekly (or bi-weekly, I don’t know how much time it takes to produce an episode, but guessing it’s not a quick process) basis. Anyhoo, keep up the good work!

You guys made my morning so lovely, especially in this Corona time

Best episode in a while! I'm not in the market for either of these bikes and thoroughly enjoyed this. Great job!

That was amazing! The absolute best testing I've ever seen! Two around Laguna Seca, you couldn't pay me enough to be the passenger.

Great banter, great bikes, great scenery, great roads, great fun - thanks, guys! I'm still undecided, however..... More, please 👍

Absolutely one of the best motorcycle test videos ever. This actually is closer to my riding style than any test (print or video) that I have seen. I'm retired now and I think riding on the back for a lap of LS would kill me. Think of what it must be like behind Randy Mamola. For the record I traded in my FJR 1300 for a R1200RT (WC). I liked both bikes immensely.

27:30 long video, was hesitant to watch the whole thing. After the fact I wish it was a full hour now. Great watch!

Having owned both of these bikes... your comments and conclusions are *exactly* what mine are. I put 45,000 miles on my 2013 Honda F6B and I miss it sorely. I drove it like a sport bike, though, and blew the transmission twice... both times repaired under warranty. I figured whether it was me or the bike causing the breakage, it probably wasn't the best fit for how I ride so I traded for the K1600 GTL. Now with 9,000 miles on my 2016 K1600 GTL the performance and handling are unquestionably better than the F6B. I love this bike dearly and any enthusiast who hasn't ridden one is missing out on a great motorcycling experience. With that said... the "grace" and stability of the Goldwing F6B still calls to me; a legendary bike indeed.

This was an amazing episode. More like this please!

My biggest question now is how the Goldwing underbelly and pegs look like after scraping. Would love to see pics!

You know, people are SUPPOSED to become MORE mature with age. It's great to see you two buck the trend. This made the Multistrada/XR video seem rather grown-up in comparison. Good stuff!

You two clearly have a high level,of trust for each other. Great comparo

what a fun, innovative and blast of a test. Thanks Ari and Zack.

I have had my K1600 B (for bagger) Grand America a week and put 1K miles on it. I looked at the Honda, but was so happy with my ‘06 1200RT Boxer that I stayed with BMW. I also had a “flying brick” K1200 LT before that! This is my best, unnecessary, extravagant, most outrageous motorcycle purchase yet. It’s so much more than the review suggests. The electric windscreen, side vents, keyless start, central locking, alarm, Bluetooth, Sirius, electric Reverse, the auto up/down shift feature (like paddles), the “on the fly” dynamic/road/rain suspension and traction control, the ABS Pro brakes that take lean angle into account (!), the Zenon angel eyes adaptive headlight, the road/Fog lights, all LED tail stop and directional, .... tire pressure monitor.... engine guard/floorboards... mine has every option but the forged wheels. I ride daily, year round in NV. It’s just an incredible bike; I prefer it to the GTL, as the rear passenger height is 3” lower, because the bagger rear is redesigned. About 39-41 mpg running “hard” on interstate and city combined. I’m a happy owner! 741 lbs dry. Just buy one. 😎

How people measure luggage capacity Everybody: Liters American: geckos

I shopped both these bikes, and test rode both the 18 Wing and the K1600B since there were no Grand America's available for test rides. Having been a Honda guy since the 70's, the last 20 years touring on a 99 Valkyrie, I wanted to love the Wing, but after experiencing the BMW's inline 6 at full honk, ripping off 8000 rpm clutchless upshifts with the optional Shift Assist Pro, it was all over. The Wing was very nice, but I was disappointed that after completely redesigning the motor, suspension, etc., Honda didn't significantly increase the power. If the Wing's redesign was supposed to be sportier and attract the next (younger) generation, more power should have been added. I'm 60 (legally old enough to buy a Wing;) and I still love horsepower! 160hp vs, 125hp is a damn big difference. I too was leery of the Beemers potential maintenance costs and sparse dealer network, especially since my Honda's have been so reliable. In the end, I went with a BMW K1600 GTL after getting $3500 in factory rebates, which brought the price down to what I would have paid for the Wing, $1000 less then the GA would have cost. I decided low maintenance costs and reliability weren't my most important criteria, that's for choosing home appliances, it's how I feel when I climb on and ride that's most important. I'm betting that, in the long run, the reliability and dealer network issues won't be so significant that I will have any regrets about choosing the BMW. IMHO, the Beemer's better suited for carving up mountain roads, the Honda at eating miles on the slab. Either way, there both great bikes for their intended purpose, buy the one you want and enjoy!

This channel is getting better and better

The 2 up lap was one of the funniest and best things I've seen in a long time You guys should do a 2 up lap with all your reviews

Hahaha... I was laughing out loud when you crazy bastards were on the track. One of my favourite video of the series!

I had a BMW K1600 prior to my 2018 GoldWing. While the Wing isn't perfect, I have never owned a motorcycle with as many electrical glitches as the BMW. It would come back from the shop with all new, unrelated issues. I barely made it to 1,000 miles before I had to get rid of it. When I took it to get the defective cruise control fixed the dealership couldn't even get it to start! That was the day I got rid of it for the new Wing. I actually liked the BMW more in many ways, but if it's not reliable it's not worth owning.

The most bromance ever

Here, in Australia, I have a friend who operates a motorcycle rescue service. The most common bike brand he rescues is late model Harley Davidsons.... closely followed by BMW (in particular, the 1600 series) ....then followed by Ducati. He has never had to rescue a Gold Wing (..and there are a lot of them in Australia.) The most common failure of the top three - electrical and/or computer issues. He recently rescued a K1600, that had died on the day after it was purchased. It had only traveled 310 klms (193 miles).

That was simply one of the best motorcycle vids ever! Lol

Great video, rode both chose the wing for its comfort and tech package. Long term reliability was the icing on the cake, I just never worry about owning a Honda

Brilliant. I’ve never been interested in tourers before but I really fancy a DCT Wing.

That double up track race was DOPE AF

Just watching you on that track terrified me. My hands were sweating for you!

Currently ride a 08 Goldwing and a Victory Cross Country Tour. Was considering the new Wing but demoed the new Indian Challenger at Daytona Bike Week and fell in love! Now I’m thinking of holding off until Indian offers the tour model. Then I’ll decide between the Indian and the Honda. Let’s get rid of the Coronavirus now!👍🏻

*Pulls out a calculator, conversion tables, for miles and gallons, time to do some math* phew.

40 Years biking and never been on the back of a bike. Never will be. Really enjoyed this video. Thank you.

lol, just a little "nut-to-butt" laguna riding!

This is probably the one of the best motorcycle videos on RU-vid. I can watch a ton of videos of pro racers on 100K ducatis lapping race tracks, but, this was more entertaining. Well done.

Zach and Ari, you two continue to impress the hell out of me. This is superb "work", thanks guys.

One of the funniest and most objective reviews I've seen. The last bit around Luna.. I was laughing my head off. Honda would do well to recruit you for their adverts. Great watch.

All your videos are good but this was one of my favorites. Was tired after a pretty rough day at work and you guys had me laughing all the way through the video. Neither bike would ever be on my list no matter what age as I just prefer smaller, lighter bikes and less gadgets (and I'm a high tech professional, go figure). Just like my bikes simple. That said I would lean toward the Goldwing as it's a bit more sleek even though it weighs more.

“Your turn to shit your leathers.” Hilarious track segment!

appreciate you guys pointed out drinking and riding no good.

Brilliant vid. I tried out a K1600B the other day and the thing that struck me was how lairy the engine is, proper pops and crackles from the exhaust and how quickly you could go without taking it above 4-5k RPM.

This has got to be one of the best and most entertaining side by side reviews I’ve seen.

I hear: "2-up lap time challenge" at 18:56, I smash LIKE!!!! 😁

That was awesome at Laguna Seca! I’ve seen many sports car races there and driven the track - but never ridden! The corkscrew on the back of a racing-tourer must be NUTZ!! ✊🏻✊🏽🏁

I feels like on two wheels is the equivalent of motor trend head 2 head but for motorcycle

This is probably the best one yet. I could have happily watched this for an hour. Great stuff guys ❤️

The track ride was hilarious and amazing. I was hooked and also laughing my @$$ off!! :) THANK YOU!

You mentioned the Honda double wishbone . The BM also has a special front end ...Duolever, no sliding forks. It’s utterly brilliant. No brake dive and improved safety

That was lovely. On racetrack I had goosebumps over and over. Love it! Thank you 🙏

Love the random tail light flashing feature on the BMW!

I was literally laughing out loud when you guys started the track test. And great German accents BTW.

I love the BMWs, but I just couldn't afford one. Besides, my 97 Goldwing 1500SE will never (ever) die. I look after it and honestly it may not ride as nice as the new ones, but it rides pretty much the same after 20 years of reliable service. I've tried out the new Wings and while I truly lust after them, it's hard to lay down 40 large (in Canada) for a machine that isn't really $30K better than the one I have. Maybe someday.

Shame about the BMW front end design. The bike seems great. Gold Wing looks better, at least the front half.

I traded in my Harley Road Glide CVO for the 2018 Honda Gold Wing. Based on your video I can see the BWM is a good running machine and the Gold Wing is a smooth comfortable ride. The Harley's can't compete with these bikes for handling and low maintenance. I had looked at the BMW before buying the Wing and after talking to a number of owners including the local police department, it seems like parts availability and maintenance on the BMW's is a problem. The low center of gravity on the Gold Wing makes it a great riding machine in the curves. Thanks for a great video, the race track looks like a blast!

Great video, you guys were having so much fun and at the same time educating your viewers about these particular bikes, I enjoyed that so much.

There is even more storage with the BMW GTL. This was one of the most unbiased tests I have ever seen on RU-vid. Great video !

Hilarious and brilliant episode! I'm in Afghan and watching this tonight really lifted my spirits and gave me a good laugh. Great stuff lads, thanks 😂👍

Service costs on the BMW is the lone reason why I'd shy away from it.

Great episode. I would have like to hear about the difference in the headlights too. You rode at night so there is bound to be some idea on how they light up the road and how bright they were.

I made the suggestion years ago about having a "Touring" class for racing, where you had to ride two--up. This video proves how ridiculously entertaining it would be. There's a battle of the baggers - or some such thing right now, so it shouldn't be too big of a leap to do it two-up.

4:20 I noticed the bmw is humping while the honda was smooth

Possibly the Best MM episode ever - the geckos and the LS raceway footage capped it for me - Nicely Done!

Kinda odd that the Honda looks more BMW to me.. those headlights scream BMW kidney grills, and the lines are very German looking too... while the BMW looks more like a Japanese bike, specifically something I'd expect from Kawasaki. Hmm... maybe the Honda team took inspiration from German luxury to build a big luxury bike on top of a sporty frame, and the Germans wanted to take inspiration from Japanese sports bikes to make their oversized luxury bike look a bit sportier and fun. ? Very interesting.

almost bought a used bmw1100rt some 25 years ago. smoothest best handling i've ever ridden. rode a k model too but the cg was too high. this goldwing is beautiful. thanks for the review. you guys are fun to watch.

One thing that was not mentioned when talking about gas tank size and range, the Goldwing runs on 87 vs 91 octane for the BMW. That's a big plus for the Honda.

I have had both of these and I pick the Goldwing. I haven't ridden the 2018, but the last version was great and I bet this new one is even better. Oh, and he called these luxury liners, but they ride like sport bikes in everyday street conditions... in REAL USAGE street conditions, the Goldwing handles a little better in traffic and TONS better out on the highway .. in my opinion. I don't think either are track bikes and if you push them too hard into a turn you better expect trouble. They are both powerful and smooth !! … The passenger space on the Goldwing is larger but that means she gets a little more wind because the envelope created by the windshield collapses right at the passenger zone at high speeds. The BMW passenger is close enough to the driver that she is better shielded. The storage room on the Goldwing is HANDS DOWN better and larger.

That was a movie.. a thriller!! Lol. Awesome time spent while watching this!! Hats off to your presentation...

No intention of buying either of these or watching this to the end but I accidentally watched the entire thing and loved it! Most reviews kinda suck but this one totally didn’t!

Loved the video. But I'm still a fan of the goldwing! May have a 2019 sitting next to my 2005 soon.

That was so much fun to watch, I almost forgot that it was supposed to be a motorcycle review. I was laughing my ass off the entire time for the racetrack segment! Really informative as well. Great as always!!

Why would Honda REDUCE the storage on their flagship motorcycle??? SMH Always wanted a Wing, still miss my Valkyrie

The bromance is strong with these two.

Isn't the K1600 GTL the one to compare to the Gold Wing Tour?

I have 2021 Goldwing DCT. I also tested the BMW bagger after riding the DCT. I have been riding for 55 years. I love the Beemer but significantly struggled to ride it (remembering to pull the clutch at stops). I was relieved to get back on the wing. Beemer is also a great bike. A real looker, speed demon.

Did you still have the geckos in the luggage whilst going around Laguna Seca?

Gents, I was leaning with you all the way through those bends at Laguna. Not real fair on the Honda because it's limited to 113mph and I am super surprised that no-one on any test or review has mentioned this yet. Currently I own a 2018 Goldwing DCT and have racked up some 35,ooo miles on it. Prior bike was the BMW 1600 GTL. Probably had around 13,000 miles seat time. I couldn't test the DCT but bought one on the say so of a good friend at Honda R&D. Motorcycle Division. What no one seems to dwell on is that the Goldwing's fit and finish is superb ,the handling is way better than my old 1500 Goldwing which flexed doing slow maneuvers around tight apex's. Here's my 2 cents worth. The DCT is so smooth and I am eternally grateful for no longer being pounded in the back of the head by my passenger everytime I get on it,. I live in Long Beach, CA and traffic is always horrendous here but I split lanes between Carpool and No.1 lane and spend an exuberant amount of time thanking courteous drivers who skim the central medium to let me pass. It's a luxury I can afford since my hands are not clutching like crazy up and down gears. I love showing off with my one handed pull aways from the line with my left hand reassuringly feeling up the knee of my passenger. I recently raced an Aprilia through down the 710 S and through the bends around shore line Drive. When we pulled up at the light together after he had had a good 800 ft lead on me , he looked, smiled and said " F*#@ Me, that thing is fast....I smiled back and said yeah and I'm old. There's one other thing you can't beat the DCT on and that is dropping the bike hard on a from stop left turn junction. Because you are not risking getting your toes ripped off by the asphalt as you go for the second gear upshift. I'm already in third gear and long gone before they even appear in my mirrors. The other thing bad on the Beemer is resale. I was lucky to find a buyer willing to give my half what I paid for my new looking low milage rocket ship. Try buying a 2018 Goldwing for $12,000 ....Again not mentioned in the tests. The bad points for the Honda. Luggage Space is minimal compared to the Beemer and sometimes in the heat the electronic latch releases don't always work. The fuel tank is not going to get you 200 miles if you are hard on it, you'll be lucky to get much more than 38.5 miles to the gallon. the seat is ripping after 35K mileage and I'm around 190lbs and 5'10" (Not that fatter bastard you could fit in my Belly!) Few last things and this is important.... if your bike is your primary transportation or not even. BMW will give you a loner bike whilst yours is being serviced. Nobody else does and they should when you are paying Mercedes money for the Goldwing . I don't want to have to sit at the dealer all day and having to have someone ferry me down to the dealer and then to work and later back to the dealer is a pain in the arse. The DCT eats brakes for lunch...Every 12,000 miles approx. They are not cheap at $190 for the front 2 sets. Tires, Not much choice. though there are a few more than when I bought mine. Lose the stock ones. California rain grooves in the freeway are not appealing to the single rib running down the stock tire. See if you can't get the dealer to put you some Bridgestone Exhedra's skins on it when you buy it. You will thank me for that tid bit of info later. That aside ..... I love the Honda, though I am concerned that they are halting production on it. Paul R. Long Beach , CA

I love your videos.keep it up😊😊👌👍

I have owned a BMW RT 2008 and a 2001 Goldwing, The BMW- There was a recall on brake system. I never had problems with the brakes. I did leave it out in the rain a lot while taking a trip through Florida and the controls must have had water seep into the cruise control. That malfunctioned till the sun dried handle bars controls. My Goldwing had headlight burn out, recall on welds on the frame and start/stop button. Plus it had expensive fork seal replacement. Both bikes I consider totally relievable. I wouldn't be buying these bikes if I didn't think both factories were not trying to make superior machines. Of course mechanical machines as bikes out in the weather and being pushed will need maintenance and some things may come up. Right now in my life I would take BMW for the horsepower advantage for passing all the semi trailers out there. Not for charging corners..

Awesome review! You guys rock. I definitely have a gold wing in my future I’m thinking f6b though

Sold my goldwing last year to buy a K1600. Best thing I ever did

Loved this video. Very entertaining. I have the K1600GT 2017 and love it. I like the mix of comfort and attitude. I love the power of acceleration. This June my girlfriend and I did 4,100 miles (6,600km) in 14 days with 1,046miles on the last day (Ironbutt challenge). Very comfortable. We loved it. I already have 8,000 miles this season (Since May). We elected not to get the top case and use the Sargent back rest that can be adjusted to any angles and position for better comfort. You can see some of our rides on my channel K On The Road.

It’s amazing that these big bikes can run hard with two up like that!

@21:38: "Your turn to ***t your leathers"... What a rider phrase! Love it. By the way, it takes a big ol set of balls to ride passenger on a tour bike run of Laguna Seca. No way I would do that....

Honda Goldwing all day.... My high mileage GL1800 is 18 years old and never asked for any major repairs. All I literally have done is regular maintenance, such as oil, tires, filters and brakes. A owned many motorcycles, and currently own 5 different bikes. But my Goldwing is a keeper and the it's definitely the most bullet proof bike I ever owned. Very hard for other brands in the same class to match the reliability, comfort e maneuverability of the Goldwing. Which in my personal opinion the most important features to consider.

Ok, this was an awsome review!! The grape juice was awsome, but the double up on the track was spectacular!! Looking at Cycle Trader you can get a deal on the BMW for $23K, the Honda is $31,500. No comparison in value!

The “purple liquid test” 😂 awesome!

I laughed my ass off listening to you two! Great video!

I do need to correct you on one thing. Two full face helmets will indeed fit in the top case on the goldwing. It just takes a bit of puzzle like positioning

My most favorite 'On Two Wheels' episode to date! 🍷😎 ...and Gold Wing for the WIN 🙃 ...like others have said, I have no desire to buy a BMW, and then basically pay for it a second time in maintenance costs 🤣

I cant believe how entertained i was. This was fun watching, i could only imagine how fun it was to make this the video. But; after reviewing both bikes... im still undecided. Both are great. (Slightly leaning towards the Honda tho)

Full disclosure: I own a 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT and have never ridden a BMW of any kind. After watching the video I would still choose the Goldwing over the K1600. Some good testing but some glaring flaws; The riders never switch out. The video becomes more of him vs. me rather than bike vs. bike. - They call out where their range is toward the end of their projected range but never say how much further the K1600 would have gone after the Goldwing runs out of gas. They couldn't because they didn't ride out the tank on the K1600. For me, the range difference when they called it out near the end of the range test was not a deal-killer. - They never compared the displays and the tech differences. The display, the Apple Car Play integration (Android Auto coming when licensing gets worked out), and the controls (dedicated Digital Assistant button, for example) all played an important part in my decision process. I have some nits about the tech, but the tech and the display are important to me. - Where did the handlebar on the K1600 come from? An old Cushman scooter? That, and that humpback whale of a gas tank just kills it's attractiveness for me. - Are the handlebars isolated from the road bumps on the K1600? I don't know. The suspension on the front wheel of the Goldwing allows the front wheel to bounce almost directly vertical instead of along the rake angle and this goes a long way in smoothing the ride. That and the front suspension is linked to the handlebars and so the road vibration isn't transmitted to your hands. None of this is covered in the video. - The K1600 clearly has more horsepower but, again, not a deal killer for me since what the Goldwing has, a notch just below 100 horsepower, is enough to accelerate out from under me on my DCT model in Sport Mode. That flat-six engine is a marvel of engineering. It provides the bike with a very low center of gravity. The bike will stay balanced right up to the moment of no more forward motion at a stop. No mention of the kind of engine the K1600 has and it's hard to tell for sure by its pictures but I'm thinking it's a V-Twin. Higher center of gravity. More vibration than a six cylinder. I've owned several touring Harleys and Indians and once I experienced the flat-six on a Goldwing I'll never go back to a V-Twin. If I'm right about the V-Twin, I would think mentioning that huge design difference in the video would have been important. Instead, the two bikes are presented as being about the same when only seen looking similar in the wide shots. - Finally, did they choose the manual shift Goldwing because the K1600 only comes as a manual shift? I don't know if the K1600 doesn't have a DCT option but I'm betting that it doesn't. Again, a big difference in the comparison that should have been mentioned. I went for the DCT after seeing so many RU-vid videos where riders who had never ridden a DCT model tried it and loved it. So, I went for DCT and it took me a couple of days to make sure I made the right decision and I became sure after riding in a group where the leader pushed the curves. I found myself staying on him no matter what he did. The DCT was making the right decisions faster than I could have done it with a manual transmission. However, I know one guy who has a DCT Goldwing and he had the optional toe shifter installed and he rides it in manual mode using the toe shifter. Still no clutch handle, but he likes the manual control of the DCT. The DCT has shift paddles on the left handlebar if you want to manually override the automatic shifting. I used it for the first time yesterday when I needed to gear down immediately and roll the throttle to pass. The DCT will gear down for you if you roll the throttle dramatically but it'll take a microsecond longer than if you just rolled the throttle and thumbed the downshift paddle at the same time. The DCT model has walking speed both in Reverse and Forward using the engine. The manual shift Goldwing only has walking Reverse using an electric motor. - The manual shift Goldwing has six forward gears but the DCT has 7 forward gears. The top gear in both is the same. Just finer ranges that better take advantage of the torque curve. Wait, what torque curve? The flat six develops full torque early and maintains it. Anyway, assuming I'm correct about the V-Twin, I wouldn't even consider the K1600. But, I think BMW engineering is on par with Honda engineering. Both are world class. Now, to be clear, the new Goldwing is not perfect. Most 2018 Goldwing riders have a whole list of things that need to be changed. But, that's a story for another time.