Honda GL 1800 GOLDWING F6B 2013 — Specifications

Who would have thought you could put a Goldwing on a diet and give it the look of an American bagger? Honda did just that in 2013 with the GL 1800 F6B, a slimmed-down version of its Grand Touring queen, designed to appeal to fans of stylish cruising without the ocean-liner factor. The concept is simple: take the mechanical foundation and chassis of the classic Goldwing, strip away everything that isn't strictly necessary, and dress the result in dark bodywork with custom accents. On paper, the idea seems almost sacrilegious. In practice, it answers a genuine demand from across the Atlantic, where the bagger has become a genre in its own right.

The weight-loss program is serious. Gone are the tall windshield, the top case, the heated seat, the reverse gear, the automatic turn-signal canceller, and the GPS and airbag options. The passenger loses the stock armchair and footrests in favor of more compact dedicated equipment. The result: 28 kg shaved off the scales, bringing the total to 384 kg wet. It's still a substantial machine — nobody will mistake it for a Sportster — but the silhouette gains in dynamism. A small wind deflector tops the headlight fairing, a pair of hard saddlebags provides the bare essentials for touring, and the audio system with USB and MP3 compatibility stays on the spec sheet. The price follows the same trimming logic: at 23,990 euros, the F6B sits roughly 6,000 euros below its big sister, which is no small selling point.

The heart of the machine remains untouched, and that's where the F6B plays its strongest card. Its 1,832 cc flat-six produces 118 hp at 5,500 rpm and, more importantly, 167 Nm of torque from just 4,000 rpm. Numbers that won't make BMW's K 1600 and its 160 hp tremble, but that tell an entirely different story once you're in the saddle. This horizontally opposed six-cylinder delivers a mechanical smoothness that no one else offers in this category. The thrust is linear, the engine runs silky at all rev ranges, and the five-speed gearbox paired with shaft drive ensures effortless operation. The claimed top speed of 200 km/h confirms that the F6B is no sportbike, but it never aspired to be one.

On the chassis side, Honda changed nothing compared to the standard Goldwing. The diamond-type aluminum twin-spar frame houses a 45 mm telescopic hydraulic fork with 140 mm of travel, equipped with an anti-dive system. At the rear, the Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm works with a Pro-Link shock absorber offering 105 mm of travel. Braking relies on a combined ABS system with twin 296 mm discs gripped by three-piston calipers up front and a single 316 mm disc at the rear. The low seat, perched at just 725 mm, makes stopped maneuvers easy and reassures average-height riders. The 25-liter fuel tank allows for decent range between stops without anxiety.

The visual identity clearly sets the F6B apart from the classic Goldwing. Engine, wheels, frame, belly pan, fork, and tubular side guards all sport a matte or gloss black finish that contrasts sharply with the chrome typically found across the range. Dedicated logos embedded in the fairing sides complete its distinctive character. The F6B is aimed at riders who want the mechanical refinement of a Honda flat-six without the bulk or the price tag of a full-dress Goldwing. It targets tourers who favor style over absolute comfort, those who ride two-up occasionally rather than permanently. Against the Harley-Davidson Street Glide or Indian Chieftain, it offers a unique argument: the sophistication of its six-cylinder engine and a chassis built with thorough Japanese precision. A niche positioning, certainly, but one fully embraced.