The Long-Distance Tourer That Beats Harley-Davidson On Price And Features
Harley-Davidson’s touring lineup has long set the standard for big American mile-eaters — throne-like machines wrapped in massive fairings that shrug off wind and weather with equal indifference. They deliver serious wind protection, characterful engines, deep feature sets, and a heavy dose of heritage — that hard-to-quantify sense of belonging to something larger than yourself. Predictably, all of that comes at a significant price. But in a market where riders are more discerning than ever, the question worth asking is whether the badge alone justifies the premium.
What if heritage and brotherhood aren’t your priorities? What if you simply want a quiet, refined touring machine that eats miles with minimal drama and doesn’t drain your bank account in the process? Better still, what if that alternative could match or even surpass the American icon’s feature set? For riders asking those questions, the answer has been sitting in Honda’s lineup for decades — and it makes a genuinely compelling case.
The Honda Gold Wing Tour Beats Harley In Two Key Areas
The Gold Wing is an icon of the touring world, and it has gone from strength to strength over the half-century it has been on sale. The last major update arrived in 2018, when sweeping changes made it a more accessible motorcycle for a broader range of riders while preserving everything that made it beloved in the first place. With so many standard features, unbeatable refinement, and a handful of genuine world firsts, the Gold Wing Tour makes a strong case as the long-distance tourer that beats Harley on both price and features.
One should note that the price quoted above is the base price. There is no real difference in the core feature set across variants, but you can add the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for a modest premium, or step up to the automatic paired with an airbag. The airbag option is not available with the manual gearbox.
Honda Gold Wing Tour Highlights
- World’s only horizontally opposed flat-six engine in a motorcycle
- World’s only motorcycle with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
- World’s only airbag-equipped motorcycle
It’s Got The Six-Appeal
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
|---|---|---|
|
1,833cc Six-Cylinder |
124.7 HP |
125.3 LB-FT |
The Gold Wing shares a rare distinction with the BMW K 1600 series as one of only two motorcycles currently available with a six-cylinder engine. Honda’s powerplant stands alone, however, as the only flat-six configuration in production motorcycles today. This engine produces 125 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. It features upgraded cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder, while Honda’s Unicam SOHC technology keeps those heads compact and the overall engine width to a minimum. The latest iteration sheds 13 pounds compared to the previous generation — or 8 pounds in DCT form.
Transmission choices include a six-speed manual that retains an electric reverse motor for parking-lot maneuvers, or — for an additional premium — the world’s only seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission offered in a motorcycle. The DCT version adds a creep mode that walks the bike forward or backward at low speeds. Honda engineers configured the gearbox output shaft to rotate opposite the engine crankshaft, effectively canceling the rocking motion inherent to longitudinal engine layouts. Power reaches the rear wheel via shaft drive. Electronic sophistication comes courtesy of a six-axis IMU and ride-by-wire throttle, enabling multiple ride modes, traction control, cruise control, and hill-hold assist.
The Chassis Is Unique All Around
The Gold Wing uses a die-cast aluminum twin-beam frame, and it has seen some significant engineering changes over the years. The front suspension was redesigned around a double-wishbone setup — similar in concept to BMW’s Duolever system — which increases stability under hard braking by maintaining a more consistent rake angle. It also allowed Honda’s engineers to move the engine further forward in the chassis, since the front wheel now travels vertically rather than tracing the rearward arc of a conventional fork. The result is improved weight distribution, and positioning the rider further forward enhances the overall sense of control.
The rear suspension consists of a Pro-Link monoshock on a single-sided swingarm. Preload is electrically adjustable across four modes accessible through the display menus, and damping is electronically controlled as well. Up front, 320 mm dual discs are each gripped by a six-piston caliper. At the rear, a 316 mm disc is paired with a three-piston floating caliper. Honda’s C-ABS system distributes braking force according to the demands of each situation.
Comfort For The Long Haul: A First-Class Experience
The Honda Gold Wing Tour does not shy away from being a comfort-first motorcycle, as is evident in its butter-smooth engine and unique underpinnings. That character becomes even clearer when you examine the business-class level of luxury it extends to both rider and pillion. Of course, it has the basics — a relaxed riding triangle with neutral-set pegs and easy-reach handlebars — but there’s so much more to this bike than just that. The suede-like seat cover gives a premium feel, while the trunk doubles as a backrest for the pillion.
Taking comfort up a notch is the full-coverage fairing that directs air around the rider and pillion. It also features refined ducting to let some air pass through, reducing turbulence and keeping the rider’s bubble cool on hot days. The windscreen is electronically adjustable with a 4.9-inch range, and its angle changes as it rises or lowers. All of this combines to ensure that not only are you comfortable on your 500-mile days, but when you reach your destination, you’re fresh and not beaten by the wind.
The Gold Wing adds a third layer of comfort with storage, and don’t mistake what’s on offer here for something basic. The bike comes with integrated saddlebags that can hold 15.85 gallons of luggage, and the Tour model adds a topcase, bringing total storage to a whopping 32 gallons. The trunk is large enough to swallow two full-face helmets. That’s ample space for two-up touring, letting you carry everything you need for the ride and then some — and it’s details like these that make the Gold Wing Tour the benchmark in the segment.
It’s Got Everything You Need
The Gold Wing may carry a price that undercuts the full-dress Harley tourers, but it doesn’t cut corners on equipment. The standard feature list is extensive. Heated grips come as standard, and both the rider and pillion seats are heated as well. Other notable standard items include passenger armrests, passenger audio controls, an upgraded audio system, a tall windscreen, and wide rider footpegs. In its top-spec form — the Gold Wing Tour Airbag Automatic DCT — the bike also gets an airbag, which prevents the rider from going over the bars in a frontal collision.
Honda Gold Wing Tour Notable Features
- Optional airbag
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Adjustable windscreen with memory
- BASF-developed paint
- Tire pressure monitoring
- A button that allows you to open your garage door
Sources: Honda Powersports, Harley-Davidson
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