Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing Tour DCT airbag 2018 touring test

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Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing Tour DCT / Airbag in the touring test

Departure with the touring flagship

Honda’s new touring flagship, the Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing Tour DCT / Airbag, carried us on a golden swing arm from the Allgau to the Rhineland, from Neuschwanstein to the cherry blossom festival in Bonn. Always inspired by the philosophy from the land of the rising sun.

D.he jovial late fifties curiously circles the huge two-wheeler. "Is that still a motorcycle or is it already a convertible?" Hmm, he is right when it comes to dimensions, a Smart is hardly bigger. And the equipment of the Honda Gold Wing is more reminiscent of luxury sedans: six cylinders, a good 1.8 liter displacement, airbag, stereo system, brilliantly bright LED headlights and lights all around, seven-speed dual clutch transmission, large seven-inch navigation system, electrically adjustable window, separately heated seats front and rear, heated handles, hill start assist, cruise control, three luggage compartments, reverse gear, keyless start system and, and, and. Still, I disagree.

Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing Tour DCT / Airbag in the touring test

Departure with the touring flagship

"This is a really good touring motorcycle!"

Honda Gold Wing, Erica and I have completed the first part of the tour, to Neuschwanstein Castle. And we enjoyed every single kilometer. The latest Gold Wing generation looks sleeker and slimmer than before. It is an elegant giant. And processed to the highest quality. But also as expensive as a mid-range car, 35,990 euros, uff. That’s a chunk of money. After all: the handlebars and side panels are no longer overloaded with dozens of switches, buttons and rotary controls, as was the case with their predecessor, which has been built since 2001. Only two new ones were added: the multi-function button on the tank console and the keyless ignition lock above.

Quickly unlock the electronic steering lock, and it goes we! The “Smart Key System” also controls the case, top case and the storage compartment in the cladding. The display on the right in the cockpit reports an open trunk cover on the right. So get off again and press the hydraulically damped (!) Cover a little tighter … Praiseworthy: The handlebar fittings are illuminated at night. We are looking for the Japanese philosophy of perfection – for which Honda stands like no other brand and the Honda Gold Wing, which has been built since 1975, like no other model from the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In fact, we meet whole busloads of Asians, goal only Chinese and South Koreans.

Sounds like a Porsche

The six-cylinder boxer from the Honda Gold Wing wakes up with a bark. Sounds like a Porsche, only better muffled. This is a wonderful soundtrack by Potenz: throaty-dull-distinguished. Simply rattier than before – Honda has been using the Flat Six since 1988. Now completely redesigned. We were probably going for a long walk in Fussen. Astonishing: With a cold start, the idling speed levels off at around 1,800 laps. One revolution per cubic centimeter? The Chinese pull out their cell phone cameras. Now just don’t show any nakedness … 385 kilograms of combat weight may be 40 less than the previous model, but two with luggage we almost scratch the permitted 585 kilograms. Honda has taken precautions: A maneuvering aid, the "walking speed mode", helps when reversing out of parking spaces at 1.2 km / h, and – new – forwards at almost 1.8 km / h.

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Noticeable: the difference between the up and down shield is big.

The luxury steamer Honda Gold Wing has the port tug firmly installed on board and is ready to cast off. Concentration! The exact sequence of which switches are to be operated in which sequence. So: Deactivate the maneuvering aid again, then activate the third-generation DCT dual clutch transmission while idling. It almost always works perfectly when upshifting. The transitions when automatically changing the seven gears are so smoothly smooth and imperceptibly finely ground that it is often the gear display in the cockpit that reveals that the computer colleague has just shifted up two or three gears. Fits perfectly to the requirements of the Honda flagship. That’s the cherry on top of the cream!

The standard “Tour” mode works great

It goes over the "Romantic Road" and "German Alpine Road". Only when you shift down automatically do noticeable knocks go through the engine room, for example when coasting at traffic lights. That should be smoother. The exact switching times (speeds!) Depend on the selected one of the four driving modes. They also couple power output, ride-by-wire response, damping and the intervention thresholds of traction control. The standard "Tour" mode works great. "Rain" and "Econ" (omy) noticeably reduce potency, and switch up earlier and down later. On the other hand, it makes "sport": This makes the Flat Six of the Honda Gold Wing almost too snappy on the gas.

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Welcome: The "maneuvering mode" helps when parking forwards and backwards.

The Honda Gold Wing is the perfect sightseeing motorcycle. With an upright sitting position and with DCT: it clears your head. The option: to be able to shift up or down at any time, using Tiptronic. But never having to do it the other way around. The motor control only accepts plausible switching commands. The transmission only accepts the sixth gear from 60 km / h, the seventh not below 70. Shifting through the gears manually puts you in a good mood, stepping through the gears with a snap of your finger! Also works down (with automatic double-declutching!) Great. You only have to get used to turning. Not because the turning circle is so large. But because despite, no because of two clutches, you can’t pull a hand lever as a corrective. Trick: help regulate with the rear brake.

What an engine that is lazy to shift!

Once you’ve got the hang of it, you maneuver the red giant almost nimbly in the other direction. You notice the low center of gravity. The 385-kilo colossus is easy to drive and is well balanced. The six-cylinder thrust means splendor and glory. The incomparable engine of the Honda Gold Wing has plenty of power, offers the greatest torque from idle speed, marches powerfully forward during the traffic light sprint. What an engine that is lazy to shift! It can always be driven one gear higher than other motorcycles. The feel-good speed usually levels off between 1,500 and 2,000 turns. In the here and now we are touring north on the A7. Today we will not rush through the (second) longest continuous street in Europe to Flensburg in one go. That’ll have to wait a little longer..

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Safety first: Honda only allows the navigation system to be (re-) operated when the vehicle is stationary. Really annoying!

Our mission is different. Japan in mind, north-west to Bonn. Incomparably low the speed level: Tempo 140 in seventh gear means gentle 3,000 revolutions. In contrast, every Harley is a high-speed concept. But the six-cylinder is cut in its potency. Honda leaves it at just one central throttle valve and one overhead camshaft. And cuts the top speed to 180 km / h. Sure, that’s enough for a tourer. Goal there is still a lot of free travel left on the electronic throttle … The cruise control of the Honda Gold Wing only regulates up to 160. The straight-line stability is steadfast, stable like a medieval castle. Basta. The giant runs like on rails. Photographer Jacek thinks this is striking: “There is absolutely nothing dancing when you drive behind.” The golden swing arm does not even accept arbitrary shaking impulses on the handlebars. Nothing upsets her. With the windshield raised steplessly and the visor open, there is no wind, with a slight pull forward. Visor and jacket always stay clean. Up to a speed of 120 you can listen to the on-board entertainment program in a distorted manner up to 140 – from the radio or iPhone. Does “Apple Car Play” mean “Bike Play”? Clear sound comes from the four loudspeakers, two sit in the front panel, two sound for the pillion passenger.

6.4 liters per 100 kilometers

The long-distance seating position of the Honda Gold Wing is extremely comfortable. Even small people can reach saving ground at any time thanks to the low cut. The 21.1 liters of fuel are stored far below the driver’s saddle. Our average fuel consumption on tour with the motorway, many federal highways, some city traffic and many turning / starting maneuvers for the tour: 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers. Makes a range of almost 330 kilometers. Revealing: The navigation system prefers motorways in its default setting. Really annoying: it can only be operated while standing. To enter a new destination, such as a gas station, you have to stop first. Stupid on expressways. Where does security thinking end, where does paternalism begin? It’s amazing that Honda allows the 0.6 ton truck to be driven hands-free. Goes well with cruise control!

Comfort and well-being

Get off the train and have fun: After having passed the Danube, Iller and Lech, we now follow the Neckar on the B27 and later the B37. Move into the fine, inexpensive Wasserschloss-Hotel Lehen in Bad Friedrichshall. Parking brake in – with DCT you cannot shift into gear against possible rolling away. Comfort and well-being: there is now a USB port in the top case instead of the former make-up mirror. Other times. There is also Bluetooth connectivity so that you can make calls while driving. But who wants that? It’s hard to believe: The luggage capacity of the new Honda Gold Wing is already fully exhausted on a long weekend trip for two.

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Tourer technology: Cardan single-sided swing arm, second brake caliper as a parking brake.

Oops, forget the parking brake when starting the next morning. The ox engine pulls off violently even then. What a silky, smooth drive it is, so wonderfully smooth. Especially when taking off the accelerator, there is always this moment of complete vibrationlessness. Is there a crankshaft rotating at all? Or even in plain bearings made of butter? Are the cylinders coated with velvet and silk? The only downer: When idling, the new four-valve engine runs mechanically rougher than its two-valve predecessor. Refuel quickly (two flaps have to be opened) and then along the Audi plant in Neckarsulm towards Heidelberg. The dashing taillights of the Honda Gold Wing look almost like the Audi A6. Fast changing curves in the Odenwald are surprisingly easy.

Magic carpet on the street

The new chassis of the Honda Gold Wing has taken a giant step forward. The Goldflugel copes with potholes with ease. The suspension comfort is high, especially at the front. It’s sensational how sensitive, really super-sensitive the front wheel suspension with two trailing arms follows the asphalt relief. She confidently fishes out every unevenness. It turns the front into a real glider. A magic carpet on the street. Even on allegedly flat streets, the pull and push rods to the left and right of the massive steering head are in constant motion. As if they were Morse the asphalt relief in the ether. The result: litter-like comfort and complete decoupling of suspension and steering.

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The perfect match for the touring steamer: seven-speed dual clutch transmission.

Only feedback from the front wheel is in short supply. Reminds of various BMWs: You just have to trust yourself. The gimbal-armored hindquarters are a little less sensitive. Dunlop Sportmax D 423 have good grip on dry roads. Praiseworthy: Electronic tire pressure control and angled valves. Individual and classy: bright low beam from ten LED lenses meets fan-tas-tic high beam. There are also large, permanently lit indicators in the wide, foldable mirrors of the Honda Gold Wing. They enlarge the intuitively visible forehead silhouette. If a car driver crosses the train carelessly, an automatic loud horn is used. In the event of emergency braking, the tail lights and rear indicators pulsate.

Currently in the 100,000 kilometer endurance test

As has been the case since 2006, the only airbag in series motorcycle production functions as the ultimate lifeline. All in all, this is the safest motorcycle in the world! The combination brake system always adapts the front / rear deceleration to the dynamic wheel load distribution. Watch out for the many tourists in Rudesheim am Rhein. The charm of this place can only be explained by its wine bliss. Otherwise, you want to stop every few kilometers in the picturesque valley of the Middle Rhine. We’ll do that at the Rheinhotel Dreesen in Bonn, where Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin have already stayed. The next day we wind our way up serpentines to the Petersberg in the Siebengebirge. Go! The view sweeps far over the Drachenfels and the Rhine Valley. It’s wonderful that we still have many tours ahead of us in the Gold Wing endurance test over 100,000 kilometers. We should go to Dusseldorf together, to the largest Japanese colony in Europe. Next time then. The main thing is on the road, with this "Rolls Royce among motorcycles" (passer-by in Bonn), before we jet back onto the A3. It was a cherry blossom festival for us!

Tour tips between Allgau and the Rhineland

Between the Allgau and the Rhineland there are tons of places worth seeing and fascinating landscapes. Cast off! Friends of cultivated romance will get their money’s worth well north of the Allgau in Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Dinkelsbuhl. In spring, the foothills of the Swabian Alb around Teck Castle and the town of Neuffen appear as a white sea of ​​thousands of cherry, pear and apple trees in bloom. Very picturesque! During the week, the former Hohenneuffen hill climb can also be used by motorcyclists. From the venerable imperial city of Esslingen, follow the Neckar later. The Schlossplatz in Stuttgart appears chic and urban. We recommend the Cafe Kunstlerbund and the Schlesinger, the best pub restaurant with the largest selection of beers in Stuttgart. The Swabian metropolis shines with the Wilhelma, the only zoological-botanical garden in Germany. From there follow the B 27 to the north, along the fantastic Ludwigsburg Castle (great park!). Under steam: the South German Railway Museum in Heilbronn is worth a detour.

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Encounter at Boppard: The paddle steamer "Goethe", the most beautiful ship on the Rhine, dates from 1913.

The salt mine in Bad Friedrichshall offers halls at a depth of 180 meters that are as big as cathedrals. Magnificently illuminated, with laser shows and the 150 meter long drill core including dinosaur models underground as a cross-section of the earth’s history. A must for motorcyclists are the German Two-Wheeler and NSU Museum and the Technik Museum Sinsheim – climb a Concorde once … Many castles follow the course of the Neckar to the world-famous city of Heidelberg. From there it is either curvy through the Odenwald to the north (take a break in Michelstadt or in Darmstadt, the center of Art Nouveau) or quickly take the A5 / A67 kilometers. The Hessian state capital Wiesbaden is worth seeing. In the Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site, you can spend the night in style at the Romantik Hotel Schloss Rheinfels. High above the Rhine, the Marksburg is considered the best preserved medieval castle in the region.

In Koblenz, the cable car and road lead to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with a youth hostel, restaurant and a unique view of the Deutsches Eck (sunset!), Where the Moselle flows into the Rhine. In addition to the romance of castles and rivers, there are also corner joys. Just try out mountain routes in bonsai format or drive down winding river valleys such as Ahrtal, Wispertal and Wiedtal. We the left bank of the Rhine it goes on the B 9, on the right bank on the B 42 northwards. Here as there are historical places like Andernach, Linz and Unkel or the world-famous town of Remagen with the Peace Museum. The only bridge over the Rhine that the Allies were able to capture in World War II stood here.

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Out and about in the picturesque valley of the Middle Rhine.

In Bonn, the museum mile attracts with great exhibitions on art and culture, technology and nature. In the wonderful House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany there are also motorcycles, see MOTORRAD 2/2015. For motorsport fans: From Bonn it is only 50 kilometers to the Nurburgring via the B 257. You can end the day in a neat way in the Bonn beer gardens directly on the Rhine. The Alte Zoll and the Rheinlust in Beuel are particularly beautiful. On the Rhine island Grafenwerth near Bad Honnef, a beer garden attracts with a unique panorama: the Siebengebirge with the Drachenfels downstream. The big pots pass right next to the table. Wonderful!

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