First impressions: new '07 Gold Wing

[user 3386]

I picked up my new '07 Gold Wing today at L.A. (Los Angeles) Cycle Sports. It has every option except the new Honda air bag: Premium Audio (80 watts, 4 speakers), Comfort Package (butt-friendly, heated saddle and grips), Navigation and ABS. I rode it home from L.A. (about 20 miles), read the manuals (lots of technology, here), then did a twilight ride down and up the Pacific coast.

First impressions: Certainly faster and more torquey than my '98 1500cc 'Wing. Handles similarly, but it weighs 100lbs less and is more rigid, so it instills an "almost" sportbike or FJR level of confidence. (I have NOT yet put the new 'Wing through its paces.)

First farkle I'll buy is a Utopia backrest, like I have on my 1500. Horn is "car loud," so that's fine. Naturally, headlight modulator and brake light flashers come next. And all that "safety chrome" that so many 'Wingers seem to crave: fughetaboutit! Bling is for MTV, not motorcycles.

More later, after I join up with the some of my FJR brethren and take the new 'Wing through the canyons to evaluate whether or not she's truly Sporty Spice, or just a pretty poser.

Now, PLEASE, somebody buy my [uPDATE: SOLD!] very cherry and reasonably priced '06 FJR so I can afford to pay for this new 'Wing! This Sunday at 6pm it goes on the eBay auction block, and I just hate dealing with all those crazies...

 

[E1Allen]

i'll take some of them farkles

 

[twowheelnut]

Loved my Wing, except for the horrid seat. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised in the canyons. I was always faster on the Wing v. my VFR. Not so, the FJR, though. Go figger. Nice color, too. Enjoy it!

 

[MCRIDER007]

More later, after I join up with the some of my FJR brethren and take the new 'Wing through the canyons to evaluate whether or not she's truly Sporty Spice, or just a pretty poser.

Nice bike but if you want to keep your FJR brethren in sight you are going to have to write a pretty good sized check to Traxxion -- but you will love the ride afterwards.

 

[dcarver]

Hey Lee,

I fully understand! My 1991 FLHTCU scratches and itch the FJR can't. And vice versa.

My bud may be interested in your POS Yamaha. I'll email him so he can email you.\

...and stay posting on the board huh? I enjoy your entries..

 

[shokdimn]

Very nice Lee! Took my wife for a ride on a Goldwing. She’s been hoping I’d get one. I’m about to accommodate her. Unless of course a Rocket III or something equally substantial overrides that decision, for about a year! :bike:

 

[user 3386]

Update: Put about 200 miles on the new '07 'Wing today. Not too many twisties, but enough to discover that peg draggin' occurs PDQ. Not disconcerting, though, just a "What the hell is that?" moment, before, "Oh...the peg's on the asphalt."

Riding buddy Steve, on his '04 FJR, is still quicker off the line. (No! We'd never compete from light-to-light on a mostly deserted road!) But not by much. Probably not recommended in Honda's 'break in' section of the owners manual, but I was high-revving through the gears, trying to stay even with Steve, and I SWEAR that heavy front wheel of the 'Wing was trying to come up. But a 'Wing wheelie?...no. Faster than my '98 GL1500 Gold Wing SE? Oh, yeah.

ABS brakes worked great. Ditto the heated grips and seat. My iPod Shuffle is wired through the left fairing pocket AUX port (and Velcro'd to the "dashboard") so everyone could hear my it-goes-to-eleven homage to the late, great lead singer Brad Delp of Boston who passed away yesterday at the not-so-old age of 55. (That's Brad on the left. I switched from playing trumpet to drums in 1977 because of drummer Sib Hashian's [seated] hypnotic groove. Nothing fancy. Just solid.)

Yes, riding the new 'Wing was, "More Than a Feeling." (Okay, fellow Boston fans, which Boston tune best represents your feeling about your beloved bike?)

 

[GalaxyBlue]

So, What was the OTD price on that beauty? Nice bike!

 

[shokdimn]

Yes, riding the new 'Wing was, "More Than a Feeling." (Okay, fellow Boston fans, which Boston tune best represents your feeling about your beloved bike?)

For me, when it comes to street-bikes, two tunes come to mind. Radar Love and Money. :bike: Sorry, neither of ‘em by “Boston”.

 

[user 3386]

So, What was the OTD price on that beauty? Nice bike!

Galaxy: '07 'Wing with audio/comfort/navi/ABS lists for $23,099. Many Honda dealers do not discount, figuring (correctly) that someone will buy the bike at that price sooner or later. Me? Homey don't play dat. L.A. Cycle Sports advertises the same 'Wing for $20,833 ($2,266 below list). Add CA tax (8.25%), $45 doc fee, (but no freight fees or set-up fees), plus $195 DMV fee and the OTD price is $22,799. (Worth every penny.)

 

[kindofblue]

Update: Put about 200 miles on the new '07 'Wing today. Not too many twisties, but enough to discover that peg draggin' occurs PDQ. Not disconcerting, though, just a "What the hell is that?" moment, before, "Oh...the peg's on the asphalt."

Lee, if you raised the pegs a bit would be scraping other bits or would you get better lean angles?

 

[twowheelnut]

Update: Put about 200 miles on the new '07 'Wing today. Not too many twisties, but enough to discover that peg draggin' occurs PDQ. Not disconcerting, though, just a "What the hell is that?" moment, before, "Oh...the peg's on the asphalt."

Lee, if you raised the pegs a bit would be scraping other bits or would you get better lean angles?

Yep. Other bits come to know asphalt intimately shortly after the pegs meets its acquaintance.

 

[user 3386]

Update: Put about 200 miles on the new '07 'Wing today. Not too many twisties, but enough to discover that peg draggin' occurs PDQ. Not disconcerting, though, just a "What the hell is that?" moment, before, "Oh...the peg's on the asphalt."

Lee, if you raised the pegs a bit would be scraping other bits or would you get better lean angles?

Yep. Other bits come to know asphalt intimately shortly after the pegs meets its acquaintance.

TWN is 100% correct. Raising the pegs would pinch me a bit (slightly over 6'), but would also raise the ugly spectre of scraping the chromed engine guards next. ("Oops! These don't fold upward like pegs do!")

(That's not me, by the way...homey wears a full-face helmet and armored leathers when pretending I'm a squid.)

Naw, I think I'll save my pesos up for the $2,500 Traxxion system...stiffens and raises the 'Wing up 1" by replacing front+rear suspension for us "more aggressive" riders. Next year...

 

[MCRIDER007]

Naw, I think I'll save my pesos up for the $2,500 Traxxion system...stiffens and raises the 'Wing up 1" by replacing front+rear suspension for us "more aggressive" riders. Next year...

You can suffer through a lot of bumps before next year. The Traxxion rear shock ($450) and fork spring kit ($125) will make a huge improvement in both handling and ride this year and if you later want to upgrade to the AK-20s, Traxxion will give you a $125 credit if you already have their fork springs.