Well I'm about to get a Goldwing

[wymple]

I have a 77 Wing I acquired last year. It floats pretty good, but my 850 is a better ride all things considered. Things are not as they once were for sure. My son traded his BMW K bike for a full boat Harley and that Harley really rides & handles. Surprising to me, I spent forever mocking Harley. When I rode my 1100E back in the 80's I ran with an older guy on an 80's Wing. I rode that and considered it a pig. At my age I'm not ever going to consider another behemoth, more into the 750 stuff.

[Wingsconsin]

Goldwings are kinda my thing...
I have a 2002 GL1800 right now after owning a GL1100, GL1200, (2) GL1500's - so I have some experience.
That 2006 is a GREAT bike. It WILL take some getting used to before you are ready to scrape pegs and ride it like you stole it.

It is a heavy bike - but balances well when at a stop so you don;t have to 'hold it up' -- just keep it upright.
It is a powerful bike which you will find when riding it -
It has torque aplenty --
Do your slow speed maneuvers in 2nd gear not 1st - 1st is too twitchy (you can even do it in 3rd sometimes)

Be sure the maintenance is up to date for longevity - oil - brakes - etc.
Fuel injection is awesome - the bike will start -
Prepare for 200 miles per tank range (6 gallons of fuel at 37-40 mpg avg)
Ride it - love it - enjoy

And once you re good at riding it - take the significant other for a ride -
I promise you she will like it..
In my life "she who must be obeyed" likes the GL1800 best of all the bikes I have had.

Feel free to contact me with questions - I like to share knowledge.

[Charlie G]

Thank you for your comments and well wishes for my Dad and his motorcycle. My Dad is struggling adjusting to this change screaming and kicking even though his ability to walk and understand his limitations have been greatly compromised. I enjoy your thoughts on having the wife ride pillion. I seriously doubt that she'll get on the back. All my tactful efforts of the last 11 years have fallen on deaf ears and the look of my pending death, so I must walk softly (2nd gear) here. It would be nice though......

I followed Hammerhead, a member of the forum, around Mt St. Helens (Washington state) through shaded forests and sunken roads . I think he would have give Trevor a run for his money on his GoldWing. Pegs and center stand were dragging and sparks were flying as we hit the sunken parts of that road trying to rejoin our comrades before dark. I understand what they can do in capable hands. Gees they're heavy! I hope they have a power center stand? My shoulder and lower back are shot from lifting onto a center stand.

I really appreciate the post of you guys who have one of these beasts. I'm not looking forward to loading it on and off a trailer to get it home as it's getting a bit cold here now. Highs in mid forties. anyone have any thoughts about riding in colder weather on one or loading on a trailer. For some reason I hate loading and unloading a bike form a trailer. Never dropped one or got hurt, just stresses me out. He's done all of his own maintenance on the bike for a while. Sure he has it written down. I know he has records for all of his 11 trucks and cars. Caddies, Corvettes(newer), trucks and a Jeep. Why couldn't he have had the taste of Combat850 with a few Norton's and a Lotus? Ungrateful son as I am........

Thanks a lot guys and if you think of anything I should know, I'm here. HondaPotamus........I love it! I'm considering Goldynosoreass

[Wingsconsin]

The Wing offers great wind protection.
Both for the body and the legs - primarily the hands and the rear of your neck will get wind
as the air flows UP & over the windscreen - typical complaint about the the GL1800s is the HEAT from the radiators
which flows onto your lower legs.
I am riding mine down to 25 degrees still here in Wisconsin - mid 40's would be doable without electrics if bundled up a bit
Wear good gloves and put a balaclava on (or use a band type ear muff to cover your neck)
Of course warm wind resistant jacket, and extra layers of pants --
You COULD ride it home -
For me - my hands get cold and it's miserable - but I own electric gloves and a jacket liner for under 40 degrees.
Stop every 100 or so miles - warm up and carry on ...

As for lifting it onto the center stand - it's more technique than strength - practice ad it will be better -
the Wing also is perfectly happy on the side stand (just not for transporting in a trailer)

I find my GS850 harder to put up onto the center stand than my Goldwing. ??

Usually the one thing GL1800 riders need to be diligent about is tires - they tend to wear out every 10K miles.

[nejeff]

Charlie, sorry to hear of your dad's situation. That has to be tough having to hang up the mc keys If I can ask how old are you two?

About the GL, you can't NOT get it, that's not a question but if you already have 6 bikes then I agree with your wife, if I were her I'd pressure you to part with some. Not going to be a popular opinion but I think 3 is a magic maximum number for most of us normal married folks with other obligations. You can only ride one bike at a time right? I'd pick two favorites, keep yours dad's GL because you will like it, and have a sale. Good luck.

[Charlie G]

Good advice nejeff! Actually I already have 5 bikes, and the GL makes 6. Three of my bikes run. One needs to have the timing reset and see if in fires up with my rebuilt carbs. One I suspect has a frozen clutch or damaged drive gears. I could see me losing 2 maybe 3 bikes, we'll how quickly that happens. I retired last year.
cg

[argonsagas]

Thank you for your comments and well wishes for my Dad and his motorcycle. My Dad is struggling adjusting to this change screaming and kicking even though his ability to walk and understand his limitations have been greatly compromised. I enjoy your thoughts on having the wife ride pillion. I seriously doubt that she'll get on the back. All my tactful efforts of the last 11 years have fallen on deaf ears and the look of my pending death, so I must walk softly (2nd gear) here. It would be nice though......

I followed Hammerhead, a member of the forum, around Mt St. Helens (Washington state) through shaded forests and sunken roads . I think he would have give Trevor a run for his money on his GoldWing. Pegs and center stand were dragging and sparks were flying as we hit the sunken parts of that road trying to rejoin our comrades before dark. I understand what they can do in capable hands. Gees they're heavy! I hope they have a power center stand? My shoulder and lower back are shot from lifting onto a center stand.

I really appreciate the post of you guys who have one of these beasts. I'm not looking forward to loading it on and off a trailer to get it home as it's getting a bit cold here now. Highs in mid forties. anyone have any thoughts about riding in colder weather on one or loading on a trailer. For some reason I hate loading and unloading a bike form a trailer. Never dropped one or got hurt, just stresses me out. He's done all of his own maintenance on the bike for a while. Sure he has it written down. I know he has records for all of his 11 trucks and cars. Caddies, Corvettes(newer), trucks and a Jeep. Why couldn't he have had the taste of Combat850 with a few Norton's and a Lotus? Ungrateful son as I am........

Thanks a lot guys and if you think of anything I should know, I'm here. HondaPotamus........I love it! I'm considering Goldynosoreass

I have zero experience on a Goldwing, so not direct comments available.

Cold weather I do know, at least for fairly short trip times. I have often gone off for rides of two of three hours at 20 F. Like you I have cold hand problems, so I have to stop a few times.

Having never had either heated gloves or grips when I was riding all year, I suffered a lot.

Mitts I learned are better than gloves..and they MUST be leather.. if you are out and get freezing rain, put plastic bags over them. Slippery, perhaps, but what a difference in warmth

Decent pants should be part of your gear year-round, and they are particularly beneficial in cold weather

Make thick/windproof covers to fit over the toes of your boots and ankles. Laugh if you wish, but try it. (not necessarily on the 'wing, as it has excellent lower leg protection, but works well on other bikes

There are neck warmers that are excellent for cold weather. They snap in place and fit just over your chin, so they remain comfortable under any helmet and their bulk diminishes inflow of cold air under the chin bar (you do wear full-face, don't you?)

Like you, we have been seeing temps in 30s and 40s (F) for several weeks with a scattered few in 60s, We say high 40s today and I got a few miles in when heading to see my MIL, as her hot water heater tanked.
All that nice stuff is about to end after tomorrow, according to forecasts, which say nothing above freezing for the next week and snow is in there, too..

I will still go out for short rides until they salt/sand the roads....THAT signals the end of the season for me.
The big parkas that fit over your handlebars and levers work well. I tried the Vetter ones on my 1100G one time and rode with bare hands for about forty minutes.....then i needed an hour to warm them up again. gloves and/or mitts are still needed.

[azr]

Just got caught up on all this Charlie. No matter what you do with the bike it will be fun to just ride a different bike so you know the feel. I'm all with you on the 'dad why didn't you buy a cool bike' thing, ha,ha,ha... we're always someone's kid Charlie, no matter how old we get

[Sandy]

Charlie, do remember how Hammerhead (Steve) could ride that Wing of his. He could bring tears to the eyes of most sport bike riders. Now you've got a goal ......sorry.

[azr]

I remember that, it was a sight to see. Didn't he also have to double Eric's wife at the Bruce's rally once? and it didn't slow him down at all.

[azr]

[Charlie G]

That is about what it was like to follow Steve, except when he'd go over a frost heave the suspension would compress when he came down, the center stand would drop and scrape, leaving a trail of sparks. New skills from every bike!

[exdirtbiker]

I like how you can hear the side (pipes? stand? ) scraping on the chase bike during the video. In EVERY corner.

[Wingsconsin]

I like how you can hear the side (pipes? stand? ) scraping on the chase bike during the video. In EVERY corner.

Probably the footpegs dragging...

[B.C.G.S.]

I read somewhere that the chase bike is a goldwing, also.