As the title states... this is mainly written for new owners. But after years of being here on this board, I think many others ought to read it as well.
Although there are folks on this board who are senior to me... as a owner since 2005, I think I qualify as at least a semi-expert on these bikes. As such, I have a few tips / pointers / suggestions for you that will make your Gold Wing experience a far more pleasant one.
Of course, before I get started, there are a few caveats:
* While these are meant to be generalized statements, they are by no means ‘global statements’ that will apply to everyone’s situation.
* You probably will not always agree with me. That’s fine. I’m ok with that.
* None of the points I make should be considered as being a ‘slam’, ‘diss’, or attack directed at any one person or group. Having said that, you know the old sayings: if the show fits, wear it... and if your phone rings, answer it.
These are listed in no particular order... and while some may dove-tail @ reference previous points, most should simply be taken individually.
1) Chances are, you WILL find physical flaws with your Gold Wing. It’s an assembly line product, not a custom built bike... and as such, regardless of how good the quality control measures are, there are bound to be mistakes made every now & then. Sometimes it’s a defective part, while other times it’s simply bad workmanship.
2) Even if your bike does not have any physical flaws... chances are you WILL find something about your bike that you either do not like, or wish did something differently. Notice I did NOT say, “better”. The word “better” is a relative term... because, while YOU may find something works “better” for you, the same thing may not necessarily be “better” for someone else. Though this could apply to many things, the first thing that comes to mind here are the bike’s ergonomics. While moving the seating position relative to the handlebars & foot peg positions might be “better” for your 5’ 10” frame... I can guarantee you that the same seat position won’t be “better” for our taller riders.
3) Your bike will probably have at least one feature that you could care less about and wish you didn’t have to pay for. Conversely, it probably also has at least one feature that you feel you couldn’t live without. Unfortunately for Honda... the same feature that is useless for you is something that another owner feels they couldn’t live without. Again, this is not a custom built bike.
4) It’s a fact that motorcycle parts & accessories are sometimes expensive... especially in comparison with parts & accessories for other vehicles. Sometimes outrageously so. Most of the time, it comes from the fact that... while the same research, development, production, and testing dollars gets spent by a company making an accessory for a car or for motorcycle... the company making them for cars can spread that cost over far more items than can the company making an accessory for a motorcycle. It’s simply a matter of numbers. Other times it’s simply because they can. Either way, unless you want to begin making your own, that’s the way it is.
5) Maintaining your Gold Wing costs money... and yes, is sometimes expensive. Tires aren’t cheap, but necessary. So are brake pads. The oil & filter should be changed often. The brake & clutch fluids should be changed annually... as should the air filter (or at least, checked). I change my windscreen every 2 years, no matter what... because it’s taken a lot of abuse over that time, and usually has a few dings & scratches by then (your mileage may vary). And when you do your maintenance (or have it done), don’t skimp. I’ll not get into the “best oil” or “best tire” issues here, but I look at it like this: you bought a $20,000+ motorcycle... don’t bitch & skimp on a $1 crush washer, or a $3 caliper bolt.
6) Some people are fortunate enough to have a great hometown dealer, while the majority of people don’t. If you have a good dealer... SUPPORT THEM!! They need it. Even if they charge a little more for a part or accessory you could get cheaper on the internet... the investment in supporting them will most likely be rewarded when you need something badly from them. However... regardless of what type of dealer you have or may encounter, remember this: they are in business to make money. As such, respect that need. If you are the type who feels it’s ok to buy your tires off of the internet and expect your dealer to mount them for $10 or $15 each... then expect to get raped by that same dealer when you need real service done on your bike. Think about it... would you buy a steak at the grocery store, and then ask the cook at your favorite restaurant to cook it so you could take it home to eat?
7) Not all Honda dealerships & service facilities are the same. Nor will they always be conveniently located if or when you have a problem on the road. And even if they are, they may not have the part that you need in stock. This is a huge headache for us Gold Wing owners, but is a fact of life. If a dealership is located in a rural area, chances are the majority of their clientele will be dirt bike & ATV riders... and they will stock parts & accessories accordingly. If the dealership is in a large city, their focus will quite possibly be the cruiser & sport bike crowd. You can’t expect them to invest & stock items they don’t sell often. And when they can accommodate you... again, remember: while the dealer may be able to commiserate with your situation, he is in business to make money. None of us want to be gouged on parts or service, but you can’t expect the dealer to extend a discounted price to you... a 1-time transient customer. This is especially true is he’s going to stop work on his other customers’ bikes to get you back on the road again. Expect to pay full price... and if they gave you excellent service and got you back on your way again quickly, a $20 bill placed into the hand of the mechanic who wrenched your bike wouldn’t be inappropriate.
8 ) If you have one of the upgraded versions of the Wing (with comfort package, ABS, air bag, etc.), you may have had to pay for a feature you didn’t want in order to get the one that you did want. Well, see point #3 above. Ok, seriously... while it would be nice to order various packages ‘a la carte’, the assembly line process is streamlined for efficiency. While I don’t know the engineering or marketing reasoning behind Honda’s decision for that (I have a good idea, but don’t KNOW)... you are the one who made the decision to buy the bike & pay for it, so do yourself a favor: get over it. It’s water over the dam.
9) This brings me to the various posts, polls, and other grumblings you’ll see on this board occasionally. Let me try to save you some heartache & time right off the bat: HONDA DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE ADDED - OFFERED - CHANGED - MODIFIED - and/or REMOVED FROM FUTURE MODEL GOLD WINGS. Period. Sure, ok... if it makes you feel better to vent, rant, rave and commiserate with your fellow owners here on the board about why Honda did this, or why they don’t do that... then go right ahead. But if you think Honda gives 2 hoots in hell about what you or others on this board type, you’re living in fantasy world. Think about it...
A) For one, Honda knows they make the number one touring bike in the world, and have done so consecutively for the past 20 years or so with no serious contenders. Oh sure, every few years, someone comes along with their ‘touring model’ bike... but in the end, they’re usually just bagged versions of a bike they already make, and always fall short of the mark. And while it appears that BMW has made a real effort to break into this market by create a completely new design with their K 1600 GT & GTL bike... it’s still in its infancy with flaws that need to be addressed & corrected before it’ll be any real competition for Honda. They know this, and as such, build the bike they feel will continue to appeal to the greatest amount of buyers.
B) Even though many of us on this particular forum may like to ride our Wings aggressively in the curves, and take them on Iron Butt rallies.... a Honda marketing rep for North America told me face-to-face last year that they know their baseline Gold Wing customer is over 40, around 6-feet tall, either successfully employed or living on a pension, and usually rides with their spouse or significant other with the bike either near or slightly over its cargo capacity rating. They interpret this to mean that their customers want a comfortable, ‘tame’ bike... tuned for long distance but not necessarily high-speed performance, with low gearing for full cargo loads. And while they don’t recommend pulling a trailer, they do understand it is widely adopted practice (especially among older married owners)... which is another reason for keeping the gearing on the machine low and tuning the engine for its current torque range.
10) Finally... NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THE NEXT GENERATION GOLD WING WILL DEBUT... nor does anyone know what the engine size will be, what accessories will be included, etc. While all brands secretive about their R&D processes... Honda is notoriously tight-lipped about its new models, not even letting their dealers know what’s coming until they make their public announcements each year. So when anyone tells you they’ve heard this, or got a good source telling them that... just smile and say “ok”, because they don’t know jack.
So what does all of the above mean? It’s simple:
STOP BITCHING & WHINING about the things you may not like about your Wing, or wish were different!! It will do you absolutely no good, and will only make you miserable.
Instead...
* Remember all of the good things about the bike, which made you select it over the other models you compared it to.
* Begin thinking of ways to modify the things you either don’t like or wish were different. The vertically challenged actress Linda Hunt as the saloon manager in the movie Silverado uttered a very poignant line to Kevin Kline’s character. As she steps around the back of the bar, and up the ramp she stood on to bring her to the same height as her customers, she tells him... “The world is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations.” So figure out a way to make things work they way you want them to. Since the bike has remained basically unchanged since 2001... you’ll find many ideas & things that have already been modified by others that you can either copy or further amend to meet your own particular needs.
* If you can’t figure out a way to simply modify something you don’t like... then consider adding an accessory that will do the thing you want. And if the item doesn’t yet exist on the market... then consider designing it yourself, or enlisting the help of others to do it for you.
Bottom line... LOVE your Wing! Don’t spend your time & energy bitchin & whining about what you wish it was. Instead, enjoy it for what it is. It’ll make your ownership and the time you spend browsing this forum much more enjoyable.
Ok… that's it. Flame suit on. Ride safe, and have fun!!
Although there are folks on this board who are senior to me... as a owner since 2005, I think I qualify as at least a semi-expert on these bikes. As such, I have a few tips / pointers / suggestions for you that will make your Gold Wing experience a far more pleasant one.
Of course, before I get started, there are a few caveats:
* While these are meant to be generalized statements, they are by no means ‘global statements’ that will apply to everyone’s situation.
* You probably will not always agree with me. That’s fine. I’m ok with that.
* None of the points I make should be considered as being a ‘slam’, ‘diss’, or attack directed at any one person or group. Having said that, you know the old sayings: if the show fits, wear it... and if your phone rings, answer it.
These are listed in no particular order... and while some may dove-tail @ reference previous points, most should simply be taken individually.
1) Chances are, you WILL find physical flaws with your Gold Wing. It’s an assembly line product, not a custom built bike... and as such, regardless of how good the quality control measures are, there are bound to be mistakes made every now & then. Sometimes it’s a defective part, while other times it’s simply bad workmanship.
2) Even if your bike does not have any physical flaws... chances are you WILL find something about your bike that you either do not like, or wish did something differently. Notice I did NOT say, “better”. The word “better” is a relative term... because, while YOU may find something works “better” for you, the same thing may not necessarily be “better” for someone else. Though this could apply to many things, the first thing that comes to mind here are the bike’s ergonomics. While moving the seating position relative to the handlebars & foot peg positions might be “better” for your 5’ 10” frame... I can guarantee you that the same seat position won’t be “better” for our taller riders.
3) Your bike will probably have at least one feature that you could care less about and wish you didn’t have to pay for. Conversely, it probably also has at least one feature that you feel you couldn’t live without. Unfortunately for Honda... the same feature that is useless for you is something that another owner feels they couldn’t live without. Again, this is not a custom built bike.
4) It’s a fact that motorcycle parts & accessories are sometimes expensive... especially in comparison with parts & accessories for other vehicles. Sometimes outrageously so. Most of the time, it comes from the fact that... while the same research, development, production, and testing dollars gets spent by a company making an accessory for a car or for motorcycle... the company making them for cars can spread that cost over far more items than can the company making an accessory for a motorcycle. It’s simply a matter of numbers. Other times it’s simply because they can. Either way, unless you want to begin making your own, that’s the way it is.
5) Maintaining your Gold Wing costs money... and yes, is sometimes expensive. Tires aren’t cheap, but necessary. So are brake pads. The oil & filter should be changed often. The brake & clutch fluids should be changed annually... as should the air filter (or at least, checked). I change my windscreen every 2 years, no matter what... because it’s taken a lot of abuse over that time, and usually has a few dings & scratches by then (your mileage may vary). And when you do your maintenance (or have it done), don’t skimp. I’ll not get into the “best oil” or “best tire” issues here, but I look at it like this: you bought a $20,000+ motorcycle... don’t bitch & skimp on a $1 crush washer, or a $3 caliper bolt.
6) Some people are fortunate enough to have a great hometown dealer, while the majority of people don’t. If you have a good dealer... SUPPORT THEM!! They need it. Even if they charge a little more for a part or accessory you could get cheaper on the internet... the investment in supporting them will most likely be rewarded when you need something badly from them. However... regardless of what type of dealer you have or may encounter, remember this: they are in business to make money. As such, respect that need. If you are the type who feels it’s ok to buy your tires off of the internet and expect your dealer to mount them for $10 or $15 each... then expect to get raped by that same dealer when you need real service done on your bike. Think about it... would you buy a steak at the grocery store, and then ask the cook at your favorite restaurant to cook it so you could take it home to eat?
7) Not all Honda dealerships & service facilities are the same. Nor will they always be conveniently located if or when you have a problem on the road. And even if they are, they may not have the part that you need in stock. This is a huge headache for us Gold Wing owners, but is a fact of life. If a dealership is located in a rural area, chances are the majority of their clientele will be dirt bike & ATV riders... and they will stock parts & accessories accordingly. If the dealership is in a large city, their focus will quite possibly be the cruiser & sport bike crowd. You can’t expect them to invest & stock items they don’t sell often. And when they can accommodate you... again, remember: while the dealer may be able to commiserate with your situation, he is in business to make money. None of us want to be gouged on parts or service, but you can’t expect the dealer to extend a discounted price to you... a 1-time transient customer. This is especially true is he’s going to stop work on his other customers’ bikes to get you back on the road again. Expect to pay full price... and if they gave you excellent service and got you back on your way again quickly, a $20 bill placed into the hand of the mechanic who wrenched your bike wouldn’t be inappropriate.
8 ) If you have one of the upgraded versions of the Wing (with comfort package, ABS, air bag, etc.), you may have had to pay for a feature you didn’t want in order to get the one that you did want. Well, see point #3 above. Ok, seriously... while it would be nice to order various packages ‘a la carte’, the assembly line process is streamlined for efficiency. While I don’t know the engineering or marketing reasoning behind Honda’s decision for that (I have a good idea, but don’t KNOW)... you are the one who made the decision to buy the bike & pay for it, so do yourself a favor: get over it. It’s water over the dam.
9) This brings me to the various posts, polls, and other grumblings you’ll see on this board occasionally. Let me try to save you some heartache & time right off the bat: HONDA DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE ADDED - OFFERED - CHANGED - MODIFIED - and/or REMOVED FROM FUTURE MODEL GOLD WINGS. Period. Sure, ok... if it makes you feel better to vent, rant, rave and commiserate with your fellow owners here on the board about why Honda did this, or why they don’t do that... then go right ahead. But if you think Honda gives 2 hoots in hell about what you or others on this board type, you’re living in fantasy world. Think about it...
A) For one, Honda knows they make the number one touring bike in the world, and have done so consecutively for the past 20 years or so with no serious contenders. Oh sure, every few years, someone comes along with their ‘touring model’ bike... but in the end, they’re usually just bagged versions of a bike they already make, and always fall short of the mark. And while it appears that BMW has made a real effort to break into this market by create a completely new design with their K 1600 GT & GTL bike... it’s still in its infancy with flaws that need to be addressed & corrected before it’ll be any real competition for Honda. They know this, and as such, build the bike they feel will continue to appeal to the greatest amount of buyers.
B) Even though many of us on this particular forum may like to ride our Wings aggressively in the curves, and take them on Iron Butt rallies.... a Honda marketing rep for North America told me face-to-face last year that they know their baseline Gold Wing customer is over 40, around 6-feet tall, either successfully employed or living on a pension, and usually rides with their spouse or significant other with the bike either near or slightly over its cargo capacity rating. They interpret this to mean that their customers want a comfortable, ‘tame’ bike... tuned for long distance but not necessarily high-speed performance, with low gearing for full cargo loads. And while they don’t recommend pulling a trailer, they do understand it is widely adopted practice (especially among older married owners)... which is another reason for keeping the gearing on the machine low and tuning the engine for its current torque range.
10) Finally... NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THE NEXT GENERATION GOLD WING WILL DEBUT... nor does anyone know what the engine size will be, what accessories will be included, etc. While all brands secretive about their R&D processes... Honda is notoriously tight-lipped about its new models, not even letting their dealers know what’s coming until they make their public announcements each year. So when anyone tells you they’ve heard this, or got a good source telling them that... just smile and say “ok”, because they don’t know jack.
So what does all of the above mean? It’s simple:
STOP BITCHING & WHINING about the things you may not like about your Wing, or wish were different!! It will do you absolutely no good, and will only make you miserable.
Instead...
* Remember all of the good things about the bike, which made you select it over the other models you compared it to.
* Begin thinking of ways to modify the things you either don’t like or wish were different. The vertically challenged actress Linda Hunt as the saloon manager in the movie Silverado uttered a very poignant line to Kevin Kline’s character. As she steps around the back of the bar, and up the ramp she stood on to bring her to the same height as her customers, she tells him... “The world is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations.” So figure out a way to make things work they way you want them to. Since the bike has remained basically unchanged since 2001... you’ll find many ideas & things that have already been modified by others that you can either copy or further amend to meet your own particular needs.
* If you can’t figure out a way to simply modify something you don’t like... then consider adding an accessory that will do the thing you want. And if the item doesn’t yet exist on the market... then consider designing it yourself, or enlisting the help of others to do it for you.
Bottom line... LOVE your Wing! Don’t spend your time & energy bitchin & whining about what you wish it was. Instead, enjoy it for what it is. It’ll make your ownership and the time you spend browsing this forum much more enjoyable.
Ok… that's it. Flame suit on. Ride safe, and have fun!!