2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
Cycle News Staff | October 24, 2017
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look – It’s been 15-plus years since Honda’s iconic tourer, the Gold Wing, has seen a major overhaul, but the drought is over with the introduction of an all-new, and we mean all-new, 2018 GL1800 Gold Wing. Nothing is carried over from the previous ‘Wing. Some of the highlights include available DCT transmission, double wishbone front suspension, new four-valve Unicam six-cylinder engine, electronically adjustable windshield, throttle-by-wire, multiple engine modes, Apple CarPlay compatibility, and 7-inch full-color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display. Honda claims it weighs nearly 90 pounds less, and gets the same fuel range despite having less fuel capacity.
The new Gold Wing will be available in five different models: Gold Wing Tour ($26,700), Gold Wing Tour DCT ($27,700), Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT ($31,500), Gold Wing ($23,500) and Gold Wing DCT ($24,700).
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
Honda Release:
2018 HONDA GOLD WING
Honda’s peerless touring machine becomes even more versatile with the latest evolution of Honda’s legendary Gold Wing, not only resetting performance limits for touring bikes, but also rewriting the very concept of motorcycle touring. Designed to be more compact, lightweight, and technologically advanced than any touring model to come before it, the 2018 Honda Gold Wing ushers in a new era of riding, with a long list of standout features meant for added comfort and performance, for both the rider and passenger. The next great adventure starts here.
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
Design
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency by 11.8 percent, to complement improved power-to-weight ratio and extend fuel mileage
- Compact side-mount radiator with higher performance allows for narrower front cowl
- New air-guiding ducts flow optimal amounts of air into the seat space, allowing a true motorcycling experience
- Electric windscreen, in varying heights depending on model, gives rider control over airflow through stepless adjustment for height and angle
- LED headlight provides new “wing line”
- LED turn signals with auto-cancelling function are integrated into mirrors at the front and into the taillights at the rear
- Two-piece seat is shaped in a way that allows the rider to easily move around in the saddle during spirited riding, and for passenger to tour in comfort
Engine / Drivetrain
- All-new 1,833cc liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine offers low center of gravity, minimal vibration, and quiet running
- New SCM440H material for the crankshaft is stronger, allowing the crankshaft to be made more compact
- Unicam valve train offers weight savings and improved fuel efficiency, while also contributing to engine’s more compact dimensions
- Four-valve head improves combustion efficiency and fuel efficiency
- Aluminum cylinder sleeves for reduced weight
- 29mm shorter engine (from front to rear of left cylinder head) enables engine and rider position to be moved forward in chassis to put more weight on the front, promoting sporty handling
- Single, 50mm throttle body for reduced weight
- Intake-manifold volume reduced by 10 percent for more direct flow of air to combustion chamber, for improved responsiveness
- Enhanced exhaust sound achieved through reduction in pipe diameter on two of the six cylinders and removal of fiberglass in muffler
- Fuel economy improved by 20 percent, enabling fuel tank to be made smaller for better vehicle packaging and reduced weight
- Manual transmission-equipped engine is 13.7 pounds lighter than previous-generation engine
- DCT-equipped engine is 8.4 pounds lighter than previous-generation manual-transmission engine
- DCT features Walking Mode for creeping forward and backward (.75 mph in reverse direction, 1.1 mph in forward direction)
- On DCT models, removal of reverse idle shaft needed in conventional transmission saves weight
- Reduced shift shock and noise on DCT models through use of fork-shaft dampers, master-arm damper, and DCT clutch-center damper
- Both new transmission options allow quieter running and lower engine speeds during high-speed cruising
- Assist and slipper clutch on manual-transmission models have reduced lever effort by 20 percent, and reduced shift shock on downshifts
- Cam damper on manual-transmission model reduces shift noise and shift shock
- Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) saves weight and improves quietness at start-up
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
Technologies
- Throttle-by-wire system provides basis for advanced electronics package
- Four riding modes—Tour, Sport, Econ, and Rain—help tailor the riding experience for specific riding conditions
- On Tour models, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system manages rear-wheel slip
- Hill Start Assist makes it easier to start from a stop on an ascent
- Optimized cruise-control function for relaxed cruising
- Smart Key for keyless starts and bag access
- Vehicle Viewfinder system simplifies locating motorcycle, for instance in larger parking lots
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System provides real-time status of tire pressure, also indicating when tire pressure drops below a certain level
- Apple CarPlay compatibility enables the rider to access Apple Music and Maps, make phone calls, and send dictated messages using Siri
- 7-inch full-color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display offers clear viewing of audio and navigation systems, as well as settings for individual rider-aid systems
Chassis / Suspension
- Robotically welded aluminum twin-spar frame
- Revised plate thicknesses in frame spars achieve optimized rigidity and flex characteristics
- Single-sided swingarm with new pivot-area structure
- Frame and swingarm are 4.4 pounds lighter
- Shorter seat rail moves rider and passenger forward, enabling better mass centralization
- Twin 320mm front-brake rotors, single 316mm rear rotor, for excellent stopping power
- Radially mounted 6-piston dual front-brake calipers and single three-piston rear-brake caliper
- Electronically controlled combined braking system with ABS uses single modulator for reduced weight
- Tires specifically designed for Gold Wing, in sizes 200/55-R16 (rear) and 130/70-18 (front)
- Double-wishbone front-suspension system reduces friction and enhances agility, reducing total shock transferred to the handlebars by 30 percent; inertial mass of components operated by handlebars is reduced by 40 percent
- Bearings for all shaft bushings on front-suspension system reduce friction for both stroke and steering
- Double-wishbone front-suspension system leads to more compact vehicle package, as new stroke trajectory allows more forward engine location
- Pro-Link® rear-suspension system ensures comfortable ride
- Convenient electrically controlled suspension-damping adjustment uses stepping motor acting on a needle to control oil flow rate
Additional Standout Features
- Weighs over 80 pounds less than its predecessor while still offering comfortable touring capability
- 30-liter storage capacity each for left and right saddlebags
- 50-liter storage capacity for rear luggage case on Gold Wing Tour models (optional on Gold Wing models)
- Dampers on saddlebag and rear luggage-case lids, for smooth operation
- Airbag model’s collision judgment system arranged closer to the center of gravity for better mass centralization
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
2018 HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING SPECIFICATIONS
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Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT
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1,833cc horizontally opposed six-cylinder four-stroke
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Single overhead Unicam® w/ 4 valves per cylinder, finger-follower rocker arm on intake, roller-rocker arm on exhaust
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Single throttle w/ 50mm bore, Throttle By Wire (TBW)
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Full transistorized ignition
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Electric w/ Integrated Starter Generator system (ISG)
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6-speed manual w/ Reverse
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7-speed automatic DCT w/ Walking Mode F/R
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7-speed automatic DCT w/ Walking Mode F/R
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(2) multi-plate wet clutches
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(2) multi-plate wet clutches
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Double-wishbone front-suspension system w/ Showa shock absorber, 4.3 in. travel
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Pro-Link® system w/ Showa shock absorber, 4.1 in. travel
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(2) radially mounted 6-piston Nissin calipers w/ 320mm rotors, electronically controlled combined ABS
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(1) 3-piston Nissin caliper w/ 316mm rotor, electronically controlled combined ABS
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56.3 in. low windscreen; 61.2 in. high windscreen
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52.8 in. low windscreen; 56.9 in. high windscreen
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Candy Ardent Red, Pearl White, Pearl Hawkseye Blue
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Candy Ardent Red, Matte Majestic Silver, Pearl Stallion Brown
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*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride
Meets current EPA standards
Models sold in California meet current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment All specifications subject to change
2018 Honda Gold Wing First Look
