2022 Honda Gold Wing Features & Benefits

November 16, 2021

Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT
Gold Wing Tour DCT
Gold Wing Tour
Gold Wing DCT

The iconic Honda Gold Wing has helped pave the way for the modern touring category through its smooth power, deluxe features and overall performance. There has always been a subset of motorcyclists who covet a machine that meets their desire for long-distance tours in luxury, and for decades, the Gold Wing has fulfilled that wish. That's particularly true of the current platform, with large luggage capacity, rich audio equipment and a helpful navigation setup being just a few of the qualities that make it exceptional. Superior seat comfort (for both rider and passenger) and incomparable suspension performance facilitate multi-day journeys, but excellent handling means the Gold Wing also performs in more sporty situations.

DESIGN / STYLING

The Gold Wing's design emphasizes the bike's performance-minded origins, its sharp lines and exposed engine hinting at the machine's lithe handling. Through careful design, aerodynamic efficiency and heat management are also considered, the bike slipping through the air with impressive efficiency while offering ergonomics that are a staple to long days on the open road.

Top trunk on Gold Wing Tour versions is 48mm wider, 46mm taller and 34mm longer. With an added 11 liters of storage (61 liters vs. 50), the trunk can fit added luggage or two XXL helmets, even when those helmets are outfitted with headsets. 30 liter storage capacity each for left and right saddlebags.
30 liter storage capacity each for left and right saddlebags
60 liter storage capacity for rear luggage case on Gold Wing Tour versions (optional on Gold Wing version), enabling storage of two XXL helmets
Dampers on saddlebag and rear luggage-case lids, for smooth operation
Passenger backrest angle is 24.5º for a relaxed riding position that reduces pressure on the passenger's hips
Passenger backrest is 30 mm tall, and thickness of the backrest foam is 5 mm, for increased comfort on long rides
Premium suede-like seat cover on Gold Wing Tour and Gold Wing features enhanced feel and appearance
Gold Wing seat includes colored piping for color contrasts
Android Auto™ capability joins Apple CarPlay™ integration, enabling customers with Android 5.0 or later smartphones and the Android Auto app to seamlessly enjoy application services such as music, phone calls and messaging
Forty-five watt speakers for rich midrange audio (Gold Wing Tour includes two speakers at the front fairing and two at the trunk, while Gold Wing features two speakers at the front)
Automatic volume-adjustment level for quality experience in a wide range of riding conditions
Navigation software includes speed-limit information and four options for map color
XM radio antenna standard
Rear turn signals in all red for a clean, stylish look
Gold Wing Tour available in Metallic Black or Candy Ardent Red color options, and the Gold Wing offered in Deep Pearl Gray
High aerodynamic efficiency complements an impressive power-to-weight ratio to maximize fuel mileage
Compact, high-performance side-mount radiator allows space for narrow front cowl
Air-guiding ducts flow optimal amounts of air into the rider area, allowing a true motorcycling experience
Electric windscreen, in varying heights depending on version, gives rider control over airflow through stepless adjustment for height and angle
LED headlight incorporates distinctive “wing line”
LED turn signals with auto-canceling function are integrated into mirrors at the front, and into the all-red taillights at the rear
Two-piece seat is shaped to allow rider to easily move around in the saddle during spirited riding, and to let passenger tour in comfort
Airbag model's collision-judgment system arranged close to the center of gravity for optimal mass centralization

ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN

A liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine has a low center of gravity, minimal vibration and quiet running. Available with a 6-speed manual transmission or with Honda's highly advanced, 7-speed automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), the engine offers impressive performance and the magic-carpet-ride experience for which the Honda Gold Wing is known.

1,833cc liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine provides an enjoyable riding experience in a wide range of riding situations
SCM440H material for the crankshaft is strong, allowing a compact design
Unicam® valve train offers weight savings and maximum fuel efficiency while also contributing to the engine's compact dimensions
Four-valve head offers ideal combustion efficiency and fuel efficiency
Aluminum cylinder sleeves for low engine weight
Short engine configuration enables engine and seating area to be positioned forward in the chassis, affecting weight bias to promote sporty handling
Single, 50 mm throttle body for low weight
Low intake-manifold volume for direct flow of air to combustion chamber, enhancing throttle response
Sporty exhaust sound achieved through optimized pipe diameter on two of the six cylinders, and the absence of fiberglass in the muffler
Standout fuel economy enables fuel tank to be made small for optimal vehicle packaging and low weight
DCT features Walking Mode for creeping forward and backward (.75 mph in reverse direction, 1.1 mph in forward direction)
DCT models save weight through absence of reverse idle shaft, which is needed in conventional transmission
Minimal shift shock and noise on DCT models through use of fork-shaft dampers, master-arm damper, and DCT clutch-center damper
Assist and slipper clutch on manual-transmission models have light lever effort and low shift shock on downshifts
Cam damper on manual-transmission model minimizes shift noise and shift shock
Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) saves weight and minimizes noise at start-up

TECHNOLOGIES

The Gold Wing's cutting-edge electronics package is managed by a throttle-by-wire system that opens the door to multiple riding modes and electronic rider aids. Each of these systems is a tool for comfortably employing and taking advantage of the Gold Wing's improved performance.

Throttle-by-wire system provides basis for advanced electronics package
Four riding modes—Tour, Sport, Econ and Rain—help tailor the riding experience for specific riding conditions
On Tour versions, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system manages rear-wheel slip
Hill Start Assist makes it easier to start from a stop on an ascent
Optimized cruise-control function for relaxed cruising
Smart Key for keyless starts and bag access
Vehicle Viewfinder system simplifies locating motorcycle, for instance in larger parking lots
Tire Pressure Monitoring System provides real-time status of tire pressure, also indicating when tire pressure drops below a certain level
Apple CarPlay compatibility enables the rider to access Apple Music and Maps, make phone calls and send dictated messages using Siri
Android Auto integration enables customers with Android 5.0 or later smartphones and the Android Auto app to seamlessly enjoy application services such as music, phone calls and messaging.
7-inch full-color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display offers clear viewing of audio and navigation systems, as well as settings for individual rider-aid systems

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION

The Gold Wing platform's chassis is designed to strike a balance between stability and maneuverability, an objective that's met in part through a carefully engineered aluminum frame and unique double-wishbone front-suspension configuration, which work in unison with the bike's Pro-Link® rear-suspension system to provide unparalleled comfort on the highway, while also helping riders tackle tighter sections of road with confidence.

Robotically welded aluminum twin-spar frame
Optimized plate thicknesses in frame spars achieve ideal rigidity and flex characteristics
Single-sided swingarm with attachment on one side. This solution changes stress on swingarm pivot plate, giving engineers more freedom in their approach to frame rigidity, ultimately enhancing vehicle maneuverability
Lightweight design for frame and swingarm
Short seat rail positions rider and passenger forward, enabling optimal mass centralization
Twin 320 mm front-brake rotors, single 316 mm rear rotor, for excellent stopping power
Radially mounted six-piston dual front-brake calipers and single three-piston rear-brake caliper
Electronically controlled combined braking system with ABS uses single modulator for low weight
Tires specifically designed for Gold Wing, in sizes 200/55-R16 (rear) and 130/70-18 (front)
Double-wishbone front-suspension system minimizes friction and enhances agility, minimizing total shock transferred to the handlebars; the inertial mass of the components operated by the handlebars is reduced by 40 percent, for reduced steering effort
Bearings for all shaft bushings on front-suspension system minimize friction for both stroke and steering
Double-wishbone front-suspension system leads to compact vehicle package, as stroke trajectory allows a forward engine location
Pro-Link rear-suspension system delivers a comfortable ride
Convenient, electrically controlled suspension-damping adjustment uses stepping motor acting on a needle to control oil flow rate

ACCESSORIES

More than 50 Honda Accessories are offered for Gold Wing and Gold Wing Tour, enabling rider customization or to meet rider-specific needs.

INFO

The 2022 Honda Gold Wing Tour, Gold Wing Tour DCT and Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT are available in Ultra Blue Metallic, while the first two are also offered in Black Metallic. The non-Tour Gold Wing DCT is available in Matte Nightshade Blue. MSRP starts at $25,300.