Honda GL1800 GOLDWING; the most COMPLETE & HONEST OWNER review of the 5th gen Gold Wing on YouTube! 

I started riding in probably 1981. I have NEVER rode a bike that approaches the grace and beauty of my Wing!! Powerful, elegant, smooth, sexy, sporty, and utilitarian all at the same time!! What more could a rider want?!! My vote is the Wing!!! Hands down, no hesitation.

I've owned a Harley Dyna, Roadking, and Road Glide Ultra along with a 2018 Honda Goldwing DCT but after I damaged the frame on the DCT I went to a 2016 (older body style) Goldwing that was like new and so far I am in love with this bike. The 2016 Goldwing would be my choice to ride forever.

Yep! 2004 GW and a 1987 Hurricane 1000. The Wing is the Rolls Royce of motorcycles, blessed to have it!

The goldwing is the king of the road! I wanted one for many, many years...I finally bought one. A 2005 with 38,000 miles one owner mint condition paid 9,000 and I love the bike. Awesome machine wouldn't want anything else.

I have the 2003 Wing in Candy Apple Orange and bought it because of the colour mainly. After 63 years of riding over a dozen types of bikes, and over a million miles in total mileage all over the world, the Wing is my final and last bike. Had I known it was such a perfect touring machine, I would have moved to the Wing much earlier in life. I have spent a lot of money customizing it for comfort and I am now easily able to travel in a day much further on the Wing than in either of my cars. As you say in the video, it handles beautifully and is as sporting a bike as I have ever had...nothing missing there at all The saddest part is that now that I have the perfect machine for me, my touring days are coming to an end due to increasing age. At 75, I am of the mindset that the day I sell my Wing is the first official day of old age. This 20 year old superb machine looks like and performs like the day it rolled off the assembly line as I am anal about maintenance. Old age will only necessitate changing the switches on both handlebars but they are literally an easy change out at about $125 a side ( you don't want to ever be in Upper Rubber Boot, Montana and find yourself stuck in reverse.......) The Wing is the ultimate machine. There is nothing finer for real long distance touring. Your mileage may vary but you have my vote.......

pretty accurate. I'm now older and have been middle income w/ no kids for a long time. I bought mine in 2003, at 37 years old, and have enjoyed 20 plus years of weekend rides and frequent transportation to and from work or errands. You're spot on if you could buy one and enjoy, this is the bike. Sometimes I don't like all the plastic and dislike the air filter access but it will keep putting a smile on my face when I hop on and get a little spirit. I'll just keep it until I'm 6 feet under!

I love the humour at the end. Riding a Goldwing is definitely on my bucket list

I've been looking at other offerings in the Gold Wing's category, and thanks to this video, I'm warming nicely to the Gold Wing. I had a '95 750 Magna in Pearl Yellow that I really loved. Honda is legendary for their quality, intelligent design (read here ease of maintenance!).

Nice review, thanks. I just got a 2006 GL1800 back on the road after purchasing it as an insurance write off and fixing it up. Very different bike to get used to after also having grown up on sport bikes. Think I need to get it resprung as it's loving to drag the centre stand and footpegs at the moment. But absolutely cannot fault the power and comfort. It balances surprisingly easy for it's weight at low speed. The real mind bender is adjusting to 5 gears and low redline, have to change gears and drive it more like a car in that respect. Not sure if I could ever only own a Goldwing... but I still have my GSX-R1000 track bike so all bases are covered for now!

Love my 2002 goldwing. King of the motorcycles!

Early on in my ownership of a 2012 BMW R1200GS Adventure I was riding some easy single track trails though the forest when it dawned on me; I'm riding a Gold Wing through the forrest! This massive machine is sure footed and nimble over all types of terrain and when the trail ends and you're back on pavement it has no problem gobbling up hundreds of miles in plush comfort. The whole reason I bought it was I was on an amazing road on my street bike when out of nowhere the pavement and my journey for the day ended when the road turned to gravel. Even if I never took it off road, the huge tank gives me over 400 miles of range, nothing else on the market does this.

showed a lot of interesting features i havent seen on other reviews. most of the others just hop on and ride. nice to see someone taking the time to show and not just talk about how stuff operates on this bike. given how fast these bikes lose value i would never purchase one new. used and well cared for is the best way to shop. ps, i hate that yellow color but to each their own.

06 “ Gold “ gold wing, 8 years running now , gave up my 84 aspencade Ya said it all in one statement. If your not smiling EVERY time you get off , then DON’T get back on ! Thanks.

Yep... gotta agree... absolutely love my 2012 wing! I've ridden many different brands and models of bikes and I have to say the goldwing has earned its place as #1 for me... best of all worlds... Goldwing is king...😉😁

Very high quality video! Very Good job!

Awesome beautiful review, absolutely love my 2002 illusion blue, best motorcycle ever made in my opinion, all the very best.

The problem with a Gl1800 is that once you have one you won’t be happy riding anything else. Sold my first 2001 Wing and shopped around for my next ride.....realized other bikes seemed inferior to me. Got an 08 Wing now. Love it. BTW I enjoy having a radio, nice to have onboard entertainment for the long hauls. All the handlebar buttons are backlit on the 06 (I think) and newer bikes.

I had a Kawasaki KLR650 dual sport that I commuted on for 10 years at 120 miles a day. I had a blast with that bike, but the highway wind beat the snot out of me. This year I traded it for a 2001 Goldwing and I am so loving this bike!! Its got massive amounts of power, it's so nimble, great comfort and wind protection, lots of storage space, great radio and controls. Believe it or not the mirrors are my favorite thing, they are perfectly situated and I can see cars coming from all around me. It's a 900 lb bike which gives me greak comfort on the highway in stiff wind conditions. The seating position is just like my dirt bike, my feet are on the pegs just below my knees...very comfortable and no stress on my legs. I should have bought one years ago. I plan to make this my last bike. I bought it used with 49k miles for $5k and it looks and rides like new. I just replaced the air filter myself and it was way easier than I thought it would be. Honda did an awesome job of making the bike easy to maintain. It's just as easy to maintain as my dirt bike was. I'll do all my own work on this bike and save bundles of money. It's a great daily commuter/ sport touring bike.

Good video. I agree 100% about radios on motorcycles. I have had two Yamaha ventures and a BMW K 1200 LT. I’ve never listened to the radio. I did have recordings made of some of my favorite songs, they quickly became songs I used to like.. I have owned dozens and dozens and dozens of motorcycles. Actually 106. If I had to have just one motorcycle. It would be a Honda pacific coast. I have been riding them commuting mostly for 24 years. I have upgraded the suspension front and rear, the only Corbin seat I ever tried that was any good for me, a taller windshield, and reel horns off of a Moto Guzzi I owned in 1979. Those horns go with me from bike to bike to bike now. I own a yellow 2002 Gold Wing. Great bike, but if I had to just do with one ,it would be the Pacific coast. I consider the Pacific coast the greatest motorcycle in the history of the universe.. Like I said, I’ve had dozens and dozens of motorcycles since 1968. I have over 700,000 miles behind bars. And in my opinion, the Honda pacific coast is the best of the motorcycles I have owned. The most useful. It’s my mule..you get no heat onto the rider in hot weather. Zero heat. In cold weather, the faring protect you from the wind chill. It has hydraulic valve adjustment, shaft drive, two spark plugs per cylinder which means it will run on Mexican gasoline, they actually use the Pacific coast in London as taxis because of the horrible traffic jams there. I like my Gold Wing, I like my Moto Guzzi norge,But I love my Honda Pacific Coast

I started out in the 70s with Yamaha 400, Kawasaki 400, stopped riding. Resumed riding 2016 with Victory Sport Cruiser, then Triumph Rocket III. Now I've purchased a 1990 Honda Goldwing GL1500 SE. Test rode it. Loved it. Picking it up October of this year. it has everything all the other bikes didn't have stock. I got all the others out of my system and the Goldwing is at the top of the food chain.

Nice review, made me smile too 😊👍, my mother in law subscribed

The bike to have is the Goldwing love it.

Great video! I've also own a GW 06 in mint condition. I'm 46 but I've bought my wing at 40 because I like to travel a lot. I've always ride sportsbikes, owned dozen of these bikes and still own a 05 CBR 1000rr and 07 CB1300 Super Four both strictly stock in mint condition but I agree, the GW It's for life, I can't even think in not having my wing in my garage. Of course I ride my others bikes and love them so much, every bike has a place in my heart and bring me a lot of joy. I have to say that I also had HD's but this is a different story to me, I'm prefer the Wing hands down but I also respect the opinion and choice of every HD's riders. To me, the GW's are extremely reliable, cheap to maintain, easy of use, sporty, good looking and very comfortable, the best (Sport) touring bike ever.

I have a 2006, along with a 1982, 1976...love my wings..

Good video...thanks!

I probably would choose the Golding do to this video plus my own experience owning a 1500 model I also owned a Harley full dresser which at low speed is a little more nimble but the Golding features and longevity sell me on a lifetime of ownership! Thanks for the video!!

I have a 03 Honda Goldwing now this is all new for me coming from riding a Kawasaki Versy 650 for years so hopefully the Goldwing is truly the king of the road .

Thanks so much for your reply and help

I love my 2010; LOVE San Diego too!!!

Straining the engine at 90? I’ve ridden my 06 across the country five times and there have been stretches where I cruised 110 for hours with no strain at all.

Geweldige video! Ik rij al 20 jaar supersport. Ik ben overtuigd mijn volgende motor word een Honda Goldwing!😎

It would be the Goldwing for me without any doubts. I t is a magnificent bike as you said “the king of the road “for sure”

Thanks for a great video. Love the Gold Wing. Such an iconic bike and so much bang for the buck second hand. I tend to hold on to bikes and ride them till I’ve rung every last drop of experience from them. My bike history includes learning on a TS185 dirt bike, graduating to a two stroke RZ250 race rep. Then the do it all sports tourer you could race the VFR750. A big break then back to biking on a Triumph Scrambler 900 as a weekend machine and a change last summer to my current ride a Ducati Multistrada 1200. I recently rode the Ducati from London, England through France and Andorra down to Spain to ride the Pyrenees mountain range. A wonderful 2200 mile round trip. Always looking for that next iconic machine. I’m sure a Gold Wing is in my future.

I think the fjr gen 3 would be my pick. The six speed transmission increased gearing 10 percent over gen 2, which also had a 2,7 percent taller top gear than gen 1. I find most large bikes do not have tall enough gearing, although the gen 3 fjr does. One of the criticisms of the gl 1800 is that it could have had a sixth gear, or taller gearing. This is solvable, through commissioning a gear manufacturer to cut a larger drive pinion gear for the final drive, and space the driven pinion gear, but it would cost. if I was allowed to alter the gearing, then the Goldwing gets the nod. 10:39

I definitely want one

Love the review man, definitely the Goldwing rocks! But hey, I just gotta ask a tiny question: why ride the bike in between vehicles instead of doing the lane-change thing? Seems so many people who do the review vids are into that... just wondering that's all.....

Great video, thankyou.

this review was extremely useful as im looking at one right now for sale the low top end speed is a little upsetting but i guess in reality id probably not push more than 80 mph

I busted out laughing and almost choked on my sandwich when you mentioned taking mother-in-law for a ride. Nice review.

God im so looking forward to owning a 2010 goldwing for my trips to mexico from Los Angeles. Currently doing that ride on my rebel 300 and i need an upgrade for my long distance rides.

I'm 65 and not ready for a Goldwing yet, so I have the 2013 F6B Deluxe which is kick ass.

I have a 2010 Goldwing great bike comfortable and dependable. I had a 1200 Goldwing with over 260,000 miles on it .

I'm only at the intro and I already love the video! the song goes on for a bit long though... maybe watch some tutorials about how to use the audiance's attention span in your advantage

Hopefully the ABS can be switched off by pulling a fuse? Many of us old timers (and possibly a few youngers too) simply LOATHE ABS!

Glad you asked that question! As Ive thought about it for years! One bike for the rest of your life? To me? Its easy! Answer is The BMW 1200 GS Adventure! Near heres why! Supose your tour the rest of your life? Eventually...Someone is going to force you off the road..probably at 75 mph or so!? Now? Youre touring ..so you want to be on something thats a comfortable ride? At this point ...going from pavement to turf? Youre going to crash! Unless youre on one life saving bike!!!!! And that is the GS! Ive had mine up to a hundred miles an hour on a freshly graveled road and felt totally safe! A Goldwing would go down so fast...there would be no time to think! I cant say enough about The BMW GS! They are just heavy enough for the highway...yet just light enough for unpaved state roads. With Jesse bags...a ton of gear or groceries are easily carried. I am suprised this guy here? Didnt mention the fact! That the 1800 Goldwing is probably the best touring Sport Bike ever made! Look on You Tube at the famous eleven mile piece of road called Deals Gap! Theres videos on there of a fella on a yellow Gold Wing...burning up those 313 curves with only highly skilled racers on racing sport bikes able to keep up with him! Its something to do with Hondas frame ergonomics I had a 1999 Honda Valkyrie that my son ended up with .He took the bike across country and back!!! With his little girlfriend on the back and 60 pounds of camping gear. She said ...that at nite...going thru the twisties in Colorado that theywould throw sparks for hours! When he made it back? both driver foot pegs were ground in half!! To a sharp point! He was isane! and bragged about that bike all the time! I said" Ya! You were lucky you never hit a big leaf in the middle of a turn!! I drove a GS at the time...and he could outrun me at Deals Gap on that old Valkyrie!! He finally overshot an exit ramp here at home... by about a foot...and as soon as the tires left the pavement? He high sisded and the bike did end over end flips for 120 feet. It was late a nite and he was probably doing a 100mph or better! Nothing ..bags... mirrors etc remained on the bike! Yet it fired right up the next day! He broke his leg and was beat all to hell

Agree with this review. I was a road racer for 7 years (Privateer) so I feel somewhat qualified to make this comment: After owning 2 Road Kings & a Street Glide...I recently purchased a 2013 F6B. I really like it. The two things I like most are its handling (low center of gravity) and wind protection. Both these aspects are superior over the Harleys. Question: If you could only have 1 helmet - what would that be? (Love your Pegasus Tour biz!)

The color matched dash is sick

I miss the stereo on my bike. I once had an XS11 with a Windjammer fairing and a Cycle Sound stereo. It was awesome. My next bike will be a GoldWing.

I was thinking, way you love your Honda, I wanted to tell you I got a phone call from Mr Honda. He took my 750cb an developed 100cc oversized piston system for all his Honda shops! Interesting story. I loved my Yamaha Venture Royale, but I'd have newer goldwing for only one bike (not automatic)

I have a 2012 Goldwing and I have ridden a 2020. When I don't like about them is that the motors don't rev like a normal motorcycle. I compared the motor to the V8 in my truck. It has a lot of torque but not much rev. My previous touring bike was a Kawasaki Voyager 1200. That motor seemed a lot more interesting to me.

GL1800 yes but on the 2001-2017 generation you have to do a few things right away to make it top of the line. Front suspension is briefly garbage on a stock bike. Why Honda did that is a big question but... You need to upgrade it to either Progressive or Traxxion Dynamics suspension and also replace stock cheap bearings with ceramic ones. Then put on a front brace and you have a superb bike with no wobble or other riding issues. Earlier models (2001-2005) had also a temperature-rising issue at a slow speed, side radiator cooling fans needed to be rewired in the opposite direction. 2006+ models have better cooling, correctly wired fans, better and bigger radiators, better speakers, and a new cluster. Stock seat is so-so and if you ride a lot think about Corbin or Saddleman seat upgrade. Always use good tires like Bridgestone Exedra (I prefer these) or Dunlop Elite 4.

I’ve own an ‘06, ‘08 and now a ‘19 Goldwing. The ‘19 is by far my favorite Goldwing and a contender for the number one spot. But if I had to pick only one to do it all, it would be the FJR1300. It’s sportier and fits my riding style a little bit better, It’s easier to work on and it’s a tad more comfortable for me.

Just bought a 2007 GL1800. Excited to get it out.

Great 👍👍👍👍 my next bike Honda Goldwings 😎💪

King of the road . It's cool bro . 👍💪

For me Tony strohman it will be the going hands doenhance down it is the king of the road you done a great job and describing the king

The last person that is riding with me will be my mother in law. That was very funny the why you said it and after that there is just silence. Good information. Thanks.

as crazy regulated as Kalifornia is, i cant believe they still allow lane splitting on a motorcycle!

Just over two years ago, I traded a 2012 Goldwing for an Indian Roadmaster. The GW is a decent ride, but has a personality of a refrigerator. Looking past a few design flaws and limited aftermarket options, Polaris has it figured out on the Roadmaster. Maybe one day in the future, if I feel the need for a quiet ride, I will go back to Honda.

I had 1984 1200 1989 1500 and now a got 2007 1800 i love it

I've always loved Goldwings, and have a 2003 right now, but sometimes my hips cramp up because it is so wide on the foot placement.

I loved the review, and the mother in law joke 😉. I'm in the market for one as we speak, just not sure what to buy. A used older looking goldwing, or the more recent one in bagger or tour version. Coming from sportsbikes and being almost 40, i have owned a bmw rt, so it's time to buy the best GT Touring sports in the market. Regards from belgium!

I had a 79 gl1000, it was an incredible machine. But I currently have an 07 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic. It by far is a more enjoyable motorcycle. But I would probably replace it with a newer goldwing if I couldn't get a new Harley.....

I have a 2010 Honda Goldwing GL 1800 Pearl Yellow. Looking for replacement engine assembly. Original engine assembly that forth gear locked up.

I own i have a 2002 goldwing and best bike I have ever own. Ride on

Great video man. I just wonder the its' accelarstion of it and the maxımum stability speed

By the way the bike I would love to own is the Honda Valkyrie Rune but won't due to future shortage of parts since it was only produced in 04 and 05.

For the record I went out and got an 02 GL1800 to go along with my 2105 KTM 1290 Super Adventure

The longest one engine run is with an Argentinian rider Emilio Scotto 457000 miles

I'm really digging the New Harley Adventure Bike. I just can't decide one one bike. I've got the Wing, Honda St1100 and a Harley Vrod. I may be selling 2 to get the Harley Pan America .. I doubt the Wing gets sold!!

Great vid, thanks. Getting close myself on pulling the trigger on a used Wing. Rented an 1800 for a long weekend, and now nothing else is good enough, especially with the missus on board. However, my question is this: which model, which year? My buget is limited, so it will either have to be a high milage 1800, or a low milage 1500 (yes they exist, believe it or not). I know pretty much the very big differences between the 1500 and 1800, but within each of those, I can't seem to find much info on which year's update makes a big difference, eg "... Make sure you get from 06 on, because they improved the blah blah..." or something like that. It sounded like you did a fair bit of homework before buying yours, do you have any insights which years are the desirable ones?

Main reason is that the 1800 engine is considered bullet proof, honda set the limit around 6,000-6500 rpm. In reality it is closer to 8,000rpm, so this boxer engine is just purring no stress what so ever. Honda knows how to build motors.

Love it . Am gonna own it one day . How much is the second hand one

great video.....the lane splitting isn't really too safe or smart

buying a 03 honda goldwing tomorrow going from a 1997 honda valkyrie

the goldwing the ultimate bike there is no other

Good video...TGBTG....what is the name of Beautiful Mirror attached to the Factory Mirror on the Wing? Thank you.

I own two and love it, also from SD let’s ride

Phil Steiner of Ohio - 2002 GL1800 - 539,xxx miles

I'm on my second goldwing now, and no interest in any other bike. Indeed no bike is perfect but this one checks all the boxes for me.

My 2007 Goldwing

I have the BMW K1200LT and shall stick to it.

V6 boxer? I’ve got news for you 😂

A * " WING " IS THE THING TO RIDE , COMFORT , SMOOTH HANDLING & P O W E R WHEN NEEDED . FOR LOND DISTANCE RIDES ADD A BACK REST & AIRHAWK SEAT CUSHIONS ---- MAKING COMFORT EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE !!!!!! **** RIDE ON * " WINGERS " , HAVE FUN & BE SAFE !!!!!

I've read on Goldwing years to avoid and 2003 was one of them regardin aluminum frames. Is this valid or any truth to this? And second, is the '03 pretty much the same model/features as the 2005 30 yr anniversary addition?? I'm not a goldwing owner yet and Love the 2012-2017 appearance, however really dig the models between years 2002-2011 and those are definitely with a more forgiving price tag that's along my ability to afford. Any advise??

None of the vents draw warm air from the engine bay. They are connected to plastic ducts that lead to the front of the fairing.

I have an 03 myself and love it. In order to listen to the radio you will need a new antenna, yours is broken...

The true Road King

I am 32... and I am a big dude... I am considering a wing as I have never been comfortable on long rides... the discomfort is distracting.

Great color. Not dreary.

Gl1800 is the way to go 🙃!!

My 2003 does not lock the trunk when closed unless I lock it, that must be a select-able option. My 2002 would not lock the trunk automatically either...

the first goldwings were not 1500cc but 1000cc. Then there was an 1100, 1200 and the 1500 ccs finally was released in 1998.

The Triumph rocket 3

Honda VFR1200F DCT. Comfy, can tour, can rip it up hard. 1 bike does all? Pretty close. It's one of my bikes I won't be getting rid of for any foreseeable time.

Goldwing all the way for me

I have a 1985 Honda goldwing limited edition 1200cc in very good condition. My choice would be a goldwing trike..

Most motorcycle enthusiasts myself included find it impossible to just own 1 ! You need at least 4 minimum in my experience. You know horse's for courses 🤷🏾‍♂️

Love the review but if I cut cars like you did I will be dead

My club requires a HD, but im getting a Goldwing on the side.