Honda Gold Wing Tour Airbag Automatic DCT 2020 — Specifications

Who would have bet that an institution as massive as the Gold Wing could one day be reborn? Yet, in 2020, Honda’s flagship model was indeed lightened, physically and in spirit. We no longer speak of a liner, but of a luxury cruiser, designed for the highways of the 21st century. With its 384 kilograms when ready to ride, it remains a behemoth, but it has shed 22 kilograms of superfluous weight compared to its predecessor. This diet, coupled with a reworked 1833 cm³ six-cylinder boxer engine, radically changes the game. The power of 126 horsepower is not dazzling on paper, but it is the monstrous torque of 167 Nm, available from 4000 rpm, that writes the score: a sovereign, linear, inexhaustible surge, which swallows departmental roads with ease and transforms highways into leisurely rides.

The real stroke of genius on this Tour version is the arrival of the third-generation DCT gearbox. A seven-speed double-clutch transmission, lighter than the previous five-speed mechanical system. For the rider, it’s the end of clutch juggling in traffic jams. The magic works thanks to several modes. D mode is a lullaby, ideal for grand cruising. S mode, with its three levels of aggression, awakens the boxer and offers a more present engine brake to tackle hairpin turns seriously. And there’s this little miracle of everyday life: the “Pedestrian” function. A button on the handlebar moves the beast forward or backward at a maximum speed of 2 km/h, a lifesaver in parking lots or to extract this giant from a tight parking space.

Comfort remains the raison d'être of the Gold Wing. The double-wishbone front suspension is a work of art that isolates from road imperfections, while the electronic suspension settings adapt to the chosen riding mode. The rider and their passenger are seated in an armchair, rocked by instrumentation worthy of an aircraft cockpit, with a 7-inch TFT screen, Apple CarPlay integration, and sound that is nothing to envy to a high-end car. The electric windscreen sculpts a perfect cocoon, and the trunks, although reduced to a total of 110 liters, remain practical. It should be noted the absolute exclusivity: the airbag, still present, recalls that active safety is pushed to its maximum here.

Faced with competitors such as the BMW K 1600 GTL or the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited, the Gold Wing plays a different card. It bets everything on technological integration and absolute fluidity, thanks to its DCT. It doesn’t have the rough character of a Harley or the sharp sportiness of the BMW. It is the apotheosis of relaxing and connected travel. Its audience? Demanding globetrotters who travel thousands of kilometers without a drop of sweat, couples who prioritize passenger comfort, and tech enthusiasts who love ingenious solutions.

Ultimately, this Gold Wing Tour DCT is a brilliant synthesis. It has managed to preserve its essence – imperial comfort and sublime engine – while embracing its time with omnipresent electronics and a formidable automatic transmission. It is not perfect: its price flirts with 37,000 euros, and its weight, even reduced, commands respect when stopped. But once in motion, it frees the rider from all constraints to leave only the pleasure of the road. It’s no longer a motorcycle, it’s a personal transportation system for lovers of wide-open spaces.