For whom
Here are the main features of the Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing:
- heated seats, legs, steering wheel;
- airbag;
- ABS.
This model is an excellent choice for those who prefer to travel on smooth country roads. For off-road use, this bike is not the best solution. Still, this is not an all-terrain vehicle, but a motorcycle designed to transport a large amount of luggage.
Velvet revolution: test drive Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT 2022
The history of the Honda Gold Wing motorcycle began in 1974. In those days, fairings had not yet come into use on touring motorcycles, but the liter boxer “four” at that time looked almost cooler than the “six” today. Here it is, the ideal touring motorcycle - huge, high-torque and comfortable.
It was these three words that determined the vector of development of the “golden wings” family for more than forty years. And even though the times when the Japanese shocked the world with the wonders of their engineering reached our country only as an echo: in the form of used GL1500 and GL1800, this was enough to once and for all gain a foothold in the minds of compatriots as the motorcycle of the son of his mother’s friend.
Video review of the new Honda Gold Wing Tour 2018:
Do not laugh. Any person at least somewhat connected with motorcycles has probably heard from a person far from the topic of motorcycles about “this one, you know, huge, with music and lights, so beautiful!” And even though the Golda has competitors in the form of the HD Ultra Limited and the BMW K1600GTL, they will talk to you with genuine delight about it, a device that is too popular in our latitudes.
The new “Golda” is so much smaller than the old one that from certain angles it looks more like “Paneuropa”
The success of the Japanese motorcycle, created for the USA (and until recently even produced there), in our latitudes was obvious. We also love everything big and expensive: more than 400 kilograms of mass, 6 cylinders, 1.8 liters of working volume (leave the measurements in “cubes” to scooterists!), an incredible number of options and cases that even a not too finely chopped person will fit into – a super motorcycle for serious adults and those who want to appear as such.
Moreover, “Golda” has been developing exclusively in one direction for forty years - becoming larger, heavier, more powerful and more functional. It is not surprising that the emergence of a new generation (the previous one, let me remind you, appeared already in 2000) simply drove everyone involved and concerned crazy: is it even possible to create a motorcycle cooler than the Gold Wing 1800?
There are only two rear lights, there is not even a brake light on the trunk. But owners can easily turn the tourer into a bagger
Today's Honda is a game against the rules and canons. A striking example is the Africa Twin: in a world where large tourenduros have grown to 1200-1300 cc, and medium-sized ones have swelled to 800-900, the Japanese have produced an absolutely classless “liter”. Too simple and light to be called a large-capacity car, too fast and progressive to compete with mid-sized ones, and the only “automatic” transmission in the class has become a real challenge.
Dimensions and weight
The weight of the vehicle including fuel reaches 413 kg. The rear tire dimensions are 180/60 R16 (74H), and the front tire size is 130/70 R18 (63H). The tank volume of the GL 1800 is 25 liters, which is quite a lot considering the relatively low average consumption per 100 km of road - only 6.5 liters.
Engine
The engine here is excellent: it is a longitudinal unit with four strokes and the same number of cylinders. Its effective volume is 1182 cm³, compression ratio is 9:1. The engine is cooled by liquid; there are a pair of valves per cylinder. There is an excellent carburetor system.
The limit figures are as follows: at 7000 rpm the power is 94 hp, at 5500 rpm the torque is 105 Nm, the peak speed of the car is 172 km/h. These are remarkable characteristics for an eighties touring bike.
Chassis and brakes
The motorcycle has a diamond-shaped aluminum twin-spar frame. Both black and red colors perfectly match its solid yet elegant design. The car is equipped with a medium-sized steering wheel, excellent windproof glass and alloy wheels.
A monoshock with 105 mm of travel acts as rear suspension. A telescopic fork measuring 45 mm and with a stroke of 140 mm serves as the front fork. The brakes can be equipped with ABS. They are combined. The brakes at the rear are a three-piston caliper and a 316 mm disc. At the front there are three-piston calipers and two discs, 296 mm each.
Not long ago, I became the owner of a Honda Gold Wing 1200A. To be honest, buying Golda was not a conscious step, but rather an accidental one. I wanted to travel in my old age. As an option, I considered a Harley-Electric, but only with an Evolution, 1340cc, carburetor. For injection, no matter what it was, I feel incredulous. Or maybe a short trip on Harley had that effect, but I wasn’t impressed with the injection one. Since I live quite far from Moscow, it was decided to buy a motorcycle through the Internet and only through a store. I’ve been looking for the motorcycle I need (for the money) for three months, but so far I was in correspondence with a motorcycle dealership, the Electric Train was taken away. Out of frustration, I began to consider other manufacturers Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha, but the last two had no offers for tourers. As a result, I came across a Suzuki Cavalcade LTE 84. I immediately wrote to the managers a letter with a request to reserve the engine for me. The answer came almost immediately, it turned out that Susa had some electrical problems and the pump seal was leaking. I asked for a couple of weeks to troubleshoot the problem. After calling after the specified period, I found out that the electrics had been fixed, but the seal had not been repaired, because .k.the spare part did not arrive. I was ready to take the motor as is and replace the oil seal myself, but fate decreed otherwise - they made an advance payment for the motor! In general, the Gold Wing was not considered as an option, I really didn’t like it - I’m talking about the 1500-1800 models, well, these are not motorcycles in my understanding, a bunch of plastic stuffed with electronics, may the owners of these models forgive me. But in the same motorcycle dealership I came across an offer GL1200A with about 10k miles and an attractive price. In fact, I bought it! A similar model is practically not found in motorcycle dealerships. There were several offers from private owners, but no one wanted to bother with Transport companies. I picked up the motorcycle at T.Komp. a week after purchase. Having unpacked it at home and assessed the condition, which fully corresponded to the description from a motorcycle showroom. Now about the motorcycle. Honda Gold Wing 1200A Aspenside, white, almost perfect condition for 1987, everything is in place and everything works. After unpacking and filling the gasoline, I turn on the ignition and... nothing happens. The battery is dead. Having put it on charge, I began to inspect trunks and in one I find a new battery in a box! Having recharged a little, I install it on the bike and turn the ignition key, the electronic panel comes to life. I have associations with the panel on an airplane. After turning the starter and safely filling the spark plugs, I didn’t use the corrector flap correctly; meanwhile, it was -10 degrees outside. I unscrewed the spark plugs and burned them on the gas plate. I screwed it back in, turned it with the starter and the engine came to life. While the engine was warming up, I checked the operation of the rest of the Honda systems. The air suspension inflation in front of the rear works, the readings are displayed on the LCD display. Tire inflation, there is a special hose, the same works. Turning lights and the radio is normal. I didn’t find any leaks of technical fluids. After warming up, I decided to go for a ride anyway. Dressed warmly and hit the road. Feelings from the trip: it goes smoothly, at speeds up to 90 km per hour it’s absolutely not cold, comfortable seating, enough standard light quite. But the dashboard is something of course! After a couple of days, when it got a little warmer, we decided to ride on a few motorcycles, eat some food and arrange a small closing of the season. The entire mileage was 60 miles. By the way, the odometer and speedometer are in miles and in the usual km. They are converted by the trip computer. If we say that the motorcycle is good on the go, this is nothing to say! It’s just a pity that winter has arrived so badly. Now Goldochka is warm. During the winter I’ll change the tires, spark plugs, oil, filter and we’ll wait for spring.
MGOLD2008ARF
The old Wings (GL-1200 and GL-1500) have already washed all their bones, or rather feathers. But the GL-1800 model in Russia has long left the category of “only a service” motorcycle. Many gold growers repair their equipment themselves. And there are not always adequate motorcycle services nearby. Yes, it’s paradoxical, but the “very, very” luxury tourer can be found not only in the capital, but also in the vast expanses of the CIS, beyond the Urals and in the Far East.
The motorcycle does not lose much in price over time: over the 8 years that the GL-1800 has been produced, the basic equipment (without tuning and body kit) has become cheaper by about a third (remember, a new motorcycle costs about 30 thousand dollars, and for an unused Gold Wing 2001 years with a mileage of 30–40 thousand km they ask for “from twenty”). When choosing, you shouldn’t trust the odometer readings too much - it’s extremely rare to see a Golda of early production just imported into the Russian Federation with a mileage of 15,000 km. Better pay attention to the wear of the seat, footrests, and rear brake pedal; It’s worth looking at the wear on the brake discs, especially the rear ones (they wear out faster than the front ones) and examining the wheel rims for scratches from repeated tire mounting.
This device is incredibly reliable, but not perfect. Let's focus on the most important aspects of its operation.
THE HEART BREATHES, IS POUSED WITH OIL
In principle, the engine is a low-powered “millionaire”, but only with proper care. Although Honda recommends mineral oil (Honda HP-4 10W40 SJ, 4 l), it is better to pamper it with synthetics like Castrol Power1 or Motul 300V - and the gears will engage more softly, and there is less chance of “driving” the engine when operating it at high speeds. The frequency of replacing the air filter is 10,000–15,000 km, spark plugs are 15,000–20,000 km. Adjustment of valve clearances - once every 50 thousand km; At the same time, it is worth changing the timing chain tensioners. When operating on domestic gasoline, it is not a bad idea to wash the injectors once every 50 thousand km. Solvent is easier, ultrasound is more effective, but in any case, the operation is in demand. After washing with a solvent, it is necessary to replace the spark plugs (the common NGK BKR6ES are suitable). Once every three years or 50,000 km, it is worth changing the antifreeze.
Sometimes completely rotten gasoline (of which there is a huge amount in the vastness of our homeland) forms a coating on the working chamfers of the intake valves; the consequence is loose closure and burning of the valves. It can be treated by disassembling the heads and grinding the valves into the seats (if, of course, you notice the dangerous knocking in time and do not allow the valves to burn out completely). The first call to change fuel is frequent detonation during acceleration and driving uphill.
!!vin
The clutch is very reliable, even with occasional wheelie driving and very dynamic acceleration at full throttle, it easily lasts up to 100,000 km.
Replacing the air filter - 2 thousand rubles.
Adjusting valve clearances - 5-10 thousand rubles.
Grinding in valves - 20-30 thousand rubles.
Replacing timing chain tensioners - 5-10 thousand rubles.
Replacement of antifreeze (including antifreeze, 4 l) - 3 thousand rubles.
Replacement of 5th gear gears (including spare parts) - 60–90 thousand rubles.
SKELETON
On motorcycles from 2001–2006, a defect in the rear of the frame in the area where the swingarm is mounted is common. Driving on bad roads causes cracks to appear in the places where the load-bearing rear pipes are welded to the cast parts of the frame (see photo). The same fate sometimes befalls the crossbar to which the central stand and progression levers are attached - it cracks along the welds. Some motorcycles were recalled by dealers as part of the Frame Welding Control program to eliminate these defects, as evidenced by a mark in the form of a chipped dot on the VIN plate (see photo). When inspecting your motorcycle, be sure to take a flashlight with you and carefully inspect the welds for cracks.
It is important that those who undertake to restore damaged frames do not always know the brand of alloy from which it is made - it contains a lot of magnesium. It cannot be welded with ordinary aluminum filler material. Welding a frame in Moscow will cost 25–100 thousand rubles. (depending on the severity of the “disease”).
TWO HIT – EIGHT HOLES
The fork is frankly weak for such a heavy motorcycle. The GL-1800 is asking for a good “shifter” - at least the one on the GL-1500C Valkirie. But it is not in our power to change the design, so we will be content with what we have.
