2012 Goldwing First Look....

[PAVALKER]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/624/9265/Motorcycle-Article/2012-Honda-Gold-Wing-First-Look.aspx

Edit - Here is another link...    http://powersports.honda.com/2012/gold-wing/performance.aspx

[Mongo]

Love the color

[..]

$23,199 to $28,499 - for a frickin motorbike 

Don't like the silver paint on the fairing.

[alph]

$23,199 to $28,499 - for a frickin motorbike 

some people pay that for a harley, and still have to add stuff to it!!  i do agree with you on that price.  remember, our cycles were $16 grand brand new also, ten years ago!!

[B]

Love the color

Ditto   

[BonS]

Its a refreshing look. However, It keeps making me think of a scooter;  maybe sport bike meets scooter.

Maybe it just needs more chrome!

[scoot]

Reminds me of a tamed down Victory

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Reminds me of a tamed down Victory

Agree all it needs is a big ass Bozo head across the front 

[GOOSE]

all that it really needs are a little bald guy in his 60's with his little/BIG balding wife sitting behind him smiling.  all for the low-low price of 30k.  what a joke!!!

[NITRO]

It looks like a cross with the new VFR. More sporting looking than the previous wing, I like it.

I'm surprised they didn't put the dual clutch automatic tranny in it. Maybe next year!

[98 T]

Definitely has that same look going as the    VFR 1200 and the 250 bike they're making.  It's a little sportier look for a wing. I'd take one if you gave it to me, but  $28 large for a bike seems like so much in these times...

I'm still waiting for Honda to try more new designs and lead the way.

[hubcapsc]

all that it really needs are a little bald guy in his 60's with his little/BIG balding wife sitting behind him smiling.  all for the low-low price of 30k.  what a joke!!!

I wish all motorcycles didn't look alike, but I bet that joke will take our Valkyries, in a straight line and
in the curves...

-Mike

[Serk]

I feel really funny saying this, since I used to go out of my way to AVOID buying anything mechanical that was made in the USA, but the way things are right now, I deeply resent Honda shutting down the Ohio plant and making Goldwings in Japan now, and would avoid one on that basis alone...

(Of course, if they started making a REAL new Valkyrie in Japan, my resolve would likely break... )

[F6Dave]

What a coincidence that BMW just announced the U.S. prices for the K1600GT and GTL.  With 160 HP and much less weight, the new 6 cylinder BMW tourers will easily blow any Wing away.  Both new Beemers have as much or more high tech and luxury, and they're actually priced lower!

The Honda I remember growing up with would never have let this happen.  If anyone challenged their flagship bike they would have answered with a revolutionary machine that would be picured on the cover of every bike magazine.  This is the company that brought us the CB750, Goldwing, CBX, Interceptor, and of course the Valkyrie.  I hoped they'd have a real answer to BMW, but instead they give us an 11 year old bike with virtually the same running gear and a few new electronics and plastic parts.  How sad.

[BF]

It does look kinda Victory'ish.....sorta.  Think I'd rather have the Victory....it looks lilke the new wing and sounds like a Harley. 

However, I do like the little round Honda emblem on the side fairing panel.  Looks retro.   

[204]

Good looking set of wheels but will pay 40000+ in OZ LAND

[204]

I'll stick with my fat lady looks better

[Disco]

I'm very disappointed.  After a long production run and the much ballyhooed move to Japan, I was expecting an all-new touring benchmark.  I will reserve final judgment until I can see one in person, but at this point a plastic makeover just doesn't move my fence-sitting toward a new 'wing...

[solo1]

I agree with F6 Dave.  This is the same company that started things with "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" followed by all their innovative small models and then the CB750 Four, CBX, Gold Wing, ST1100, Valkyrie, and on.

Now they meet the challenge by slightly different Tupperware and paint and ask those prices. Oh yeah, what ever happened to the pink air bag?  Now that was innovative!

Look to other manufacturers for innovations now and hang on to your Valks, there won't be any more Valks.

[#2944]

BIG WHOPP DEE DO!  Waited for this?  What a disappointment..... Using paint to look like a Vision, geez!  nuf said.

[PAVALKER]

It comes in other color combos as well.....  but still doesn't do a thing for me.

I would much rather have one of the older GL1800s than this new one.  I don't like how they used the old style trunk with the new style bags.....   Yuck....

[ricoman]

Interesting, this past Sat. I asked the sales guy at the local Hoda store what he had seen/geard about the new Wing.
He was Sgt. Schultz, he "knows nussing".

I kinda like it-hope to get to be old enough to have one someday.
Wonder if the wife and I should start shopping for the matching outfits?

[hubcapsc]

Wonder if the wife and I should start shopping for the matching outfits?

Better be particular about who matches who 



-Mike

[BF]

Looks like somebody is running out of design ideas.  Ummmmmm.......

[RainMaker]

Reminds me of a tamed down Victory

Agree all it needs is a big ass Bozo head across the front 

I think this might be it.....

[fuzzy2bucks]

I'd buy it if the price was right..  Kinda snazzed up from previous straight laced wings.

[Mikey]

It's disappointing that it's the basically the same bike with new plastics...

[G-Man]

Reminds me of a tamed down Victory

Agree all it needs is a big ass Bozo head across the front 

I think this might be it.....

I like it....The clown is the dude that spends $28,000 on a motorcycle!!!!

[fiddle mike]

It's disappointing that it's the basically the same bike with new plastics...

The body work looks very close to last year's, to me.  I think the major change is an eye-fooling paint job that makes it appear a little sleeker.

[tybme]

Several threads going on about it on the goldwing site I frequent (gldwingfacts.com) and so far most don't care for it.
Some stated though the when the GL1500 was wrapping up and the GL1800 starting to come together that Honda just made some surface changes to the 1500 that at that time were not though of to highly. The thought there is look for 2013-2015 to have a new Goldwing model released.

[bigvalkriefan]

Reminds me of a tamed down Victory

Agree all it needs is a big ass Bozo head across the front 

I think this might be it.....

Whats up with the rear tire? It looks out of line with the front or am I seeing things again?

[fudgie]

Lucky for me that when i'm old enough for a wing they will have changed styles a dozen times.

You still got the old american icon, they never seem to change their style.

[The Breeze]

After working with / for a Japanese company for the last 10 years this does not surprise me.

Ask them and they will tell you why this is "much better design" than older Goldwing design even through it's still the same "turd" just in a different color. 

They go to great length to explain "why you no need 6 speed trans" or their R&D Dept says why new saddle bag design helps improve travel cause they arrived to US for 3 months (during peak Golf season) and "studied" American motorcyclist habbits.

For the past several years Honda has been and continues to arrive late to the party (customer demands) due to the fact that they must "study data" from current customer and then discuss results and then go back and review their spreadsheets to see if any changes since last data dump.

The best way to show what they miss current trends or customer demand is to show it in their Financial Balance Sheet / lost market share.

Personally, I think those boys at BMW are on target and just need to do a little more "American Packaging" or customizing for the style we ride / drive here in the US and they will be rewarded for their effort. 

[Redline +]

Lucky for me that when i'm old enough for a wing they will have changed styles a dozen times.

There is no age requirement...they'll sell them to anyone. 

Redline 

[98valk]

looks like design points from BMWs and Victories.  Honda has lost its way ever since Mr. Sōichirō Honda passed away.

[ricoman]

Lucky for me that when i'm old enough for a wing they will have changed styles a dozen times.

You still got the old american icon, they never seem to change their style.

Hey, antiquated works for many folks!

[ValkFlyer]

I'm thinking this is transitional, give them a little more time to react. Swapping out a big and winning platform can take some real shoving.  They didn't get where they are by reacting quickly and irrationally.  Now that others are challenging their flagship, and what has been the standard, I find it hard to believe they're sitting on their a-s, let alone for another year.  As far a pricing goes, as long as someones buying them for that price why should they sell them for less?

While I can't speak at the BMW, I've ridden Victories' Bozo bike and it has nothing on my 2000 Valk, nor on the Goldwing, to attempt to compare them is ridiculous.

[Kidd]

I wnat to see the EVO6    , where is it  ??

[BamaDrifter64]

It comes in other color combos as well.....  but still doesn't do a thing for me.

I would much rather have one of the older GL1800s than this new one.  I don't like how they used the old style trunk with the new style bags.....   Yuck....

Awwww...that's sweet...Honda is trying to make the new GW look like my Valk...you know they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery....

Dave

[Dubsvalk]

It ain't a Valk!
Dubs