All Duels – Duel Goldwing Vs Roadmaster: carriages with agile feet! – Static: two rolling palaces!

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Duel Goldwing Vs Roadmaster: carriages with agile feet !

All Duels - Duel Goldwing Vs Roadmaster: carriages with agile feet! - Static: two rolling palaces!

The Honda Goldwing and the Indian Roadmaster satisfy, each in its own way, the desire for absolute comfort on a motorbike, large engines generous in sensations and luxury. With a bluffing common point on such ultra-road: an amazing dynamism ! Duel.

Static: two rolling palaces !

Aluminum frame integrating the airbox in its front part, generously dimensioned quality suspensions (46 mm in diameter for the fork, shock absorber mounted on rods), braking to match (300 mm discs at the front and ‘rear): like the one from which it derives, the Roadmaster voluntarily departs from the usual traditionalism in the custom category !

This bias is also verified at the mechanical level: if its magnificent 1811 cc V-twin exploits the fundamentals of the genre (tumbled distribution and mainly air cooling), this monumental conceals a state-of-the-art injection controlled by an electronic ride-by-accelerator. wire, a technology still recently reserved for sports motorcycles !

Equipped with a six-speed gearbox, the Roadmaster also benefits from a multi-plate clutch in an oil bath – like the Honda – to offer a remarkably easy and precise selection for this type of motorcycle. Its practical double branch selector enhances the pleasure. Even if the gear change remains quite slow and sound – more than on the Goldwing – we are far from the "grandpa tiller" style gearboxes still encountered on certain customs. !

The “big block” of the Roadmaster, with its large 101 mm pistons, also receives an oil cooler to ensure its cooling. This device is as discreet as it is effective: the right calf is certainly warmed by the chrome collectors (especially at low speed), but the radiation is appreciably less than that given off by the Twin Cam 103 "Twin Cooled" Harley-Davidson, however partially water-cooled (read "Markings facing the Electra Glide" on page 4)…

Thanks to a balancing pendulum, the "natural" vibrations of the twin Indian open at 49 ° are also reduced to a reasonable level, except when approaching high speeds: the intensity of the sensitive tremors in the hands and feet. becomes unpleasant from 4500 rpm and the rest up to 5750 rpm of the breaker.

On the Goldwing, none of these mechanical concerns reach the driver, as if isolated in a protective cocoon: the water-cooled six-cylinder does not heat up or vibrate at all, even around its ignition cutoff at 6500 rpm. / min. Ultimate luxury: its transmission includes a very practical reverse gear, an essential ally in view of its four well-packed quintals.

Despite its greater mass, the Indian ignores this equipment, however so useful … But the American takes its revenge by relying on one of the rare weaknesses of its Japanese rival: the slightly outdated side of some its components, such as its sound system or its manually adjustable windshield and only when stationary (see our).

This manual height adjustment is all the more detrimental as the protection of the helmet of a 1.75 m pilot in the low position is not perfect at high speed. For long journeys on expressways, raising the bubble is essential: on the Indian, the operation is done from the left stalk, without stopping. Note that in the high position, the two completely isolate the bust and shoulders: a real veranda !

The Goldwing drives home the point with its impeccable protection of the rest of the body: the hands and legs are completely sheltered from the elements, while the air tickles the outside of the knees and part of the calves on the Roadmaster. Small welcome tip: the Japanese has removable flaps used to direct the hot air released by the engine towards the feet. A heater, what !

On the Indian, retractable openings located in front of the shins – under the practical storage compartments – on the other hand allow to create a current of air around the v-twin, in order to "refresh" the legs when moving in strong conditions. heat. Since the Thunder Stroke 111 releases quite a few calories on the right side, it is not a useless gadget. !

Luxury and practical aspects: that’s a palace !

Unlike that of the Roadmaster, the Goldwing audio system does not have a Bluetooth system to connect it wirelessly to a telephone or an MP3 player: the connection is made either through a jack in the left storage compartment (although vu), or by a USB cable located in its top case. In the age of "all-connected", we have seen more practical…

The large square buttons on the left fairing return of the Honda reinforce this "old-fashioned" aspect: it is barely if you do not expect to find buttons to press to access the main stations broadcast on the long waves , like on – very – old car radios! Navigation in the menus, from the left stalk or the return of the fairing, is also less intuitive than on the Indian.

More modern but also more audible between 110 and 130 km / h, the Roadmaster sound system offers a USB connection in addition to Bluetooth: the socket is hidden under the right part of its dashboard, with a space for it. slip a phone. The American adds three intelligently placed 12V sockets (on the left front of the dashboard, in the right suitcase and in the top case), when the Honda shuns this means of recharging.

The Goldwing loses other points because of its instrumentation which is certainly rich and readable, but not as complete as expected: it lacks the gear engaged, the average and instantaneous consumption, but also a tire pressure indicator. As much information appreciated on this type of high-end motorbikes and that the Roadmaster does not fail to display – clearly – (compare all the equipment and practical aspects on page 5) !

In terms of carrying capacity, both motorcycles have a large top case in which two full-face helmets fit. The top! The Honda takes a slight rise in terms of "freight" thanks to its suitcases capable of accommodating a – small – helmet, something impossible to do with those of the Indian, just as deep but narrower..

The Goldwing is also more welcoming to the passenger, who has practical pockets at hand but also grab handles – two things the Indian does not need. The better designed and lower armrests of the Roadmaster, however, offer better forearm support: this largely compensates for the lack of handles, except in the case of hard braking..

The seat comfort of the Honda definitely reinforces its advantage in duo: the passenger seat is more enveloping and comfortable than that of the Roadmaster. The same goes for the pilot’s seat: the "Gold" is a real sofa with exceptional lumbar support! To avoid spoiling anything, the rider and passenger seats of the two motorcycles are heated, as well as the handles.

On the American, we appreciate being able to remove the suitcases without tools (fixed on the Japanese), after disconnecting the power supply from the central locking – and from the USB socket, right side – located behind the side panels. The operation is quick and simple, then allowing you to ride a motorcycle visually and physically lightened! To this argument, the Gold opposes levers adjustable in spacing and a center stand surprisingly easy to deploy given its mass..

Finally, a keyless start system – like that of the Indian – would be welcome on the Goldwing, as well as a small facelift: lighting and LED indicators would modernize its general appearance. Casually, the "Golden Wing" begins to show the weight of the years, as recalled by its cheap ventilation on its windshield and its bright orange indicators the size of a bin of ice…

Let’s end these – long – presentations with a point on the manufacturing quality of these motorcycles, an aspect to say the least important when it comes to releasing € 30,699 for the Honda and € 29,400 for the Indian! Both carefully crafted, the Goldwing and Roadmaster don’t suffer from any sloppy finishing points, rough fit, or sloppy surface treatment. Still happy !

Nevertheless, the chrome of the American and its magnificent brown leather upholstery give it a perceived superior quality, as does the care taken in polishing its engine and mufflers. Very beautiful work! The "Flat-6", with and its side radiators, disappears almost completely behind the enveloping plastic fairings…

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