I love to ride, been doing it my entire life. My retirement goal is to walk into a Honda dealer and pay cash for a brand new GoldWing.

I’ve been perusing local used GoldWing’s, and am going to look at a 2003 either today or tomorrow. I know there was a recall for within this model year range, but anything else I should know about buying a used GoldWing?

The wife has given me the green light. Most Wing’s I see are meticulously kept, but what should I look for as a first timer? Bike has 64,000 miles on it.

I recently bought my first Goldwing (new) as a retirement present. When researching all the important information in making my decision I stumbled across an VERY helpful site at GL1800riders.com

I'm getting to know my bike and am looking forward to taking her on on extended trip to Montana in a few weeks.

Good luck!

I’ve got a friend who is into Goldwings (and basically anything with two wheels). I’ll shoot him a text and see if there are any known issues to look for.

Most Goldwing owners are more mature riders so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a good example. Defiantly look for any scrapes in the parts that would contact the ground. That’s sort of their flagship cruiser so it should be a great bike.

I would look for a 2006 and newer GW. Improved frame, improved audio system and has more options like ABS and inboard GPS (Garmin 2610).

I owned a 2006 with level four options for 8 years and 80,000 miles. Heated grips and heated seat, plus ABS and GPS. I bought the Extended Honda care warranty at the time was $440, mail order, which fixed everything except brake pads and batteries.

For long distance travel on a motorcycle, I feel there is no equal. 6 cylinder motor, RUG fuel requirement and the most comfortable OEM motorcycle seat in the industry.

It's heavy. Around 900lbs, which makes it a handful in heavy traffic, but not on the open road.

Look for used GW maintenance records. Proof of major service is important. Any transmission issues from a heel/toe shifter on the bike? Have fork seals been replaced? Any open factory service recalls?

There are two good Gold Wing forums on the Web.

Did I mention the Gold Wing is heavy?

Is it a 1500 or a 1800?

Stick, it's an 1800.

This would not be a long term bike. Just something the wife and I can use to get away for the weekends, maybe a week or two trip. Our oldest son is leaving for basic training in a few weeks, and I just feel we could use it, she loves to ride. Ironically, the seller knows my father in law, they've known each other for 30 years, and my father in law lives in NV. I live in PA, but my father in law said his friend takes excellent care of his bikes. He is the third owner, which is odd, but the bike looks in great shape from the pics I've seen. Owner said he is selling due to surgery, and not able to handle it anymore.

The majority of my riding is all backroads, I tend to avoid traffic if possible. The current ride is a 2003 V-Max, and it's just not a good traveling bike. It's fun, and I plan on keeping it, but anything over 20 miles is a literally pain in the butt. No storage, crappy mileage, loves to go fast...

I know I'd get my money out of it, when I sell it in a few years.

GWBiker,

What should I look for as far as heel/toe shifter issues? I'm not a fan of those, I've only ridden toe shifter bikes.

I'm just looking at bikes that I think are a good deal. I've been perusing GoldWings for a while, so I'm familiar with their selling point. Just not sure what to be wary of...

Owner is looking into a Honda recall to reweld some frame issues, but it's an open recall still covered by Honda. He's just not sure if it has been done as the third owner.

The "heel/toe" shifter accessory is not a bad design, as Harley Touring baggers come from factory with such a device. it's how the rider uses them. SOME GoldWing owners would rest their foot on the shifter,causing premature shifter fork wear, resulting in missed shift or transmission jumping out of gear. You do not want a GW that jumps out of any gear.

The 1800CC Gold Wing motor/transmission is one unit. Repair means removing motor from frame and splitting the case.

The Honda factory frame recall resulted in sending the bike to a shop that did aluminum welding. Most parts were stripped from the bike beforehand.

You DO NOT want to go thru this experience. The GW wiring harness section in the repair manual is dozens of pages long.

Prior to purchase of a used GW, find a local independent GW technician, as not every Honda dealer has a service tech with the know how.

Fork seals are a constant wear item. I had to replace two on right side.

IMO, you should look for a later model GW. 2006 or later. Maintenance records are very important.

Feel under the chrome crash bars for any scrapes indicating the bike was tipped over.

Feel both braking systems for firmness. The GW brake system is very complex.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:

It's heavy. Around 900lbs . . . Did I mention the Gold Wing is heavy?

Oh, yes, it is!

I rode a Gold Wing once, for maybe 1/4 mile. This was maybe ten years ago, I had finished work for the day, closed up shop at the hangar and was heading out of the airport on my much lighter and nimble BMW. I saw the guy who was in charge of grounds maintenance at the airport, being loaded into transport to the hospital with a bad knee injury, and his Gold Wing lying on its side, just off the road.

None of the guys helping him were riders, so he yelled at me, "Hey, L.R. -- will you lock my motorcycle up in a hangar?"

Of course I would. It took three of us to get it upright. I got on it, started it, and it was a real handful for me because of the weight. I had probably been riding motorcycles for fifty years at the time, I held a MSF Instructor certificate, I was definitely not a newcomer, but riding something that heavy was a whole new experience, almost like learning from the very beginning. I can see how it would be a great highway traveler, but not my cup of tea.

I second getting a bike this big and powerful with ABS. Only 1 of my 4 scoots have ABS, and the ABS on my biggest PTW has saved my life 3x.

And yes, it's heavy. My buddy bought a brand new 2018 or 2019 non-shifty. Beaut, but it's a beast. Great at speed but a bear with low speed manuvers.
He was staying with me while visiting from New Mexico back in the fall of 2019 and one evening he calls and asks if I'm home. Long story short, he had to stop at an angle in the hills where his cousin lived and the bike dropped on it's side.
He couldn't get the bike up off it's side so I came over to help. The alley was on a bit of an incline and I was scared it would crush he or I but fortunately we were able to get it upright and on level ground.

If you like non-shifty's, another riding buddy (who previously rode large MC's for almost 30 years) rides Suzuki Burgman 650's. Great bikes, lots of storage, power, ABS, and comfy for touring with the wife.

I just picked up an '01 for a song and like most Wings it has been very well maintained by previous owner (1). Ask if previous owner was the original owner.

You can check recalls by VIN here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

Heavy, yes, but Wings are well balanced; I find it handles well even at parking lot speeds (as compared to other Tourers such as some of the HD's and, God forbid, a Yamaha Royal Star Venture).

Pick a good one and enjoy.

Belwolf,

He is not the original owner, he is the third, which I thought was odd. But with bikes that's not uncommon. Mileage is 64k, which sounds about right for a 20 year old GoldWing, and it looks pretty immaculate.

I guess the V-Max was my mid-life crisis bike, and now the GoldWing is our "empty nest" bike. My wife and I just want to be able to get away and get lost for a few days or weeks. She's actually more excited than I am.

I've been researching our local market for the past few years, and this is average for the price range. All the ones I see are very well kept, they are "old man" bikes, and generally treated better than their wives. lol. Seller is getting back to me, once he knows if the frame recall was performed.

If it doesn't work out, the search will continue...

https://youtu.be/37XLJNLpzxQ

The 1800 doesn’t have a timing belt the 1500 has one which I would have recommended changing but thankfully that’s a non issue in your case. Changing the belt on the model that has one as cheap insurance was the only thing my friend could think of.

Big, heavy bikes can still surprise you with their handling. My BMW R1150GS is a heavy beast to have to push around in the drive way but once it gets moving under its own power you would be shocked how agile the bike feels.

The GoldWing I am looking at did have the recall work done, but someone else is looking at it today. I want my wife to go with me (I know she'll say yes), but she works during the day.

The search continues...

I have been eyeballing the F6B for a couple of years now, wife has given me permission already

https://www.cycletrader.com/li...6B-DELUXE-5016168952

Motorcycle market is hot, people want out, new and used are commanding good prices and sell fast.

Gold wings are good bikes, that would be an American Assembled model, Honda closed the Ohio plant when the contract ended and the taxes on imported bike ended and took the wing back to Japan in 2010. So at least its a USA assembled model.
Honda Closes USA Plant

If you haven't ridden one, if you can find one close by, take it for a ride, solo and two up. Seat height is taller, wider, and controls are mid mount, so be sure that fits the way you like to ride. A wings wider engine and mid mount controls make the riding position different. Point is, short legs and 900 pound bikes don't always go together well, and the mid mount position felt cramped to me after a long day...

Having a passenger changes things, my wife didn't like the taller bike, leaning into turns made her feel she was tipping over Much like how a ship tilts more at the top vs the bottom. Again it's personal preference. Point being if momma ain't happy....

Fast, quiet, smooth, everything you want in a cruiser/touring bike. It could be a good start, motorcycle market is hot now, and an inexpensive way into the hobby plus you could fly to NV and ride it home.

HRK,

I'm in no hurry. I just know eventually I will have one. We are preparing for our oldest son leaving for the Army, so we are looking at ways to spend more time together. We have another son who will be a freshman, but I'm surprised at how fast the last 20 years have gone.

A few years ago, we stopped at a bike shop. I pointed out a GoldWing to her, and told her that will be my retirement bike. She replied, "Seriously??? That's the bike you want?" She's use to me have fast bikes with no purpose. I explained to her what a GoldWing was all about, and now she wants one. We turned down a NIB one a few years ago, still sitting on the showroom floor, but 2 years old. It was a killer deal, and I regret passing it up.

We took the V-Max out the other day, and stopped at a Harley shop, and I was pointing out the full dressers. Her main interest was how comfortable the back seat was. So that's a selling point. I was kind of shocked at how much Harley prices had dropped. I told her the bike I was looking at would have been about $46,000 a few years ago, and it was priced about the same as a fairly loaded GoldWing, $34,000.

We have time, we still enjoy hoping on the V-Max, going for a ride, and having breakfast somewhere.

I guess I'm just dreaming right now. We still have a bike in the garage keeping us happy.

(BTW, my father in law lives in NV, the bike is in PA. The seller and my father in law have been friends for 30 years)

BigSwede,

I love the F6B. But my wife is calling the shots. She wants all the bells and whistles on the back seat and backrest. Who am I to argue?

I am seriously looking at the Can-Am Spyder. But just looking. I like the concept for a long distance tourer, but reviews are so-so. The weight on baggers and long distance bikes is a concern for me.

quote:

Originally posted by ASKSmith:
BigSwede,

I love the F6B. But my wife is calling the shots. She wants all the bells and whistles on the back seat and backrest. Who am I to argue?

Kind of opposite for me, this is my bike. Get your own lady