Another touring bike's in town- Honda Goldwing 1800

Readers of this blog would know that I have a fondness for touring bikes- and the good news is that there's a new model in town, and it's the infamous Honda Goldwing 1800. The model would be launched tomorrow (31st May 2012) and here's an extract from Paultan :



The Honda Gold Wing is by no means an ordinary bike. And here’s the new one. Boon Siew Honda will be launching the 2012 Gold Wing on May 31, 2012 and will be available at all authorised Impian Honda shops.

The bike comes at an on-the-road price of RM174,900 with two colours to choose from – white and black. No, really. The official names of the colours are Pearl Fadeless White and Graphite Black.



The new Gold Wing is powered by a 1,832 cc liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine. The powerplant features PGM-FI tech that promises crisp throttle response and low emissions. The engine also comes with a HECS3 oxygen-sensing catalytic converter that makes sure this bike complies with EURO 3 emission regulations.

A five-speed gearbox is partnered with the engine; the fifth is essentially an overdrive that allows for low rev cruising. The transmission cancels out the side-to-side torque effect.



Being a touring bike, the Gold Wing gets some luggage capacity. The pannier cases, fairing pockets and top box give a luggage capacity of over 150 litres. There’s also a 2.8 litre central storage compartment to store small personal items.

Like previous examples, this Gold Wing also comes with an audio system with surround sound. The system can be hooked up to an iPod, iPhone or USB stick and is compatible with MP3, WMA and AAC formats.

For riding comfort, the bike features a new weatherproof seat cover and urethane seats to comfortably cushion the posterior. The seat and foot warming system ensures that the rider and passenger enjoy a nice temperature throughout the journey.


Handling of the bike is neutral and responsive, thanks to the Pro-Arm Rear Swingarm. The low centre of gravity also improves stability and low-speed balance.

There’s some convenience engineered into the bike as well. With a push of a button, the rider can engage the slow-speed reverse gear. Cruising is also made easier with a lightweight electronic cruise-control system, which comprises of a 16-bit ECU-based, motor-actuated throttle mechanism.



There are six settings in which the windscreen can be adjusted, which makes it safer when riding through rough winds. Safety is enhanced with ABS and Combined Braking System that bites the front and rear brakes evenly.