Originally Posted By: TucsonDon
Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
Reading in the October 2008 Issue of Cycle World on page 34, the Honda Gold Wing is a "giant sportbike"
The story is that when the GL1800 was refreshed in (I think) 2001, the project was headed up by the chief design engineer for the Honda sport bike line. He took what he knew about sport bikes and folded it into the redesign of the Wing. And the new Wing (at that time ... 2001) was a complete re-design ... a whole new frame and suspension setup. Whether all that is entirely true I can't say with certainty. But give the way the bike handles, and Honda's obvious pride in their sport bike heritage, it would not surprise me.
Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
still at this point in my life I think I am good with the FJR1300. When I do get in my late 40's and 50's maybe a wing....
The GL1800 was designed by Masanori Aoki, whose previous projects had been the CBR 600F3 and the CBR400RR. His goal was to build a sports bike that sacrificed no touring capability.
My opinion is that the GL1800 does sacrifice some touring capability when compared to the GL1500. The GL1500 is the ultimate interstate tourer, while the GL1800 is most comfortable in the twisties. While the GL1800 does Interstate duty better than any sport-tourer, it is like a sport-tourer in that you are always looking for the next set of twisties.
I owned a Concours 1000 when I first rode the GL1800. I was simply shocked to find that the GL1800 was just as quick, but felt quicker, and that it handled better than my Concours. The fact that it was far more comfortable sold me on the bike.
If you've never ridden a GL1800, you simply don't know what you are missing. I'm 38, but if I had known how wonderful the GL1800 was in 2001, I'd of bought one then. I was guilty of thinking that it was a road-going barge, as most who have not ridden it feel. While it is a heavy and large bike, all of that weight dissapears the moment you move out, and it actually feels lighter than the Concours 1000 that I came from, both when moving and stopped. My girlfriend has no problem pulling the Wing off of it's sidestand, where she had trouble pulling the Concours up.
The GL1800 is certainly not for everyone, but give it a try before you dismiss it.