Cycle World - 40 years of Goldwings

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http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/03/12/40-years-of-honda-gold-wing-touring-motorcycles-history/?cmpid=enews031915&spPodID=030&spMailingID=22318619&spUserID=NzM4NjMwOTg0NDcS1&spJobID=522015236&spReportId=NTIyMDE1MjM2S0

[jimmytee]

It's a funny thing he concludes by stating it would be hard to believe the GoldWing going for another 40 years as a model.Or actually he say "unlikely" to continue for another 40 years. That doesn't seem to hard to believe to me. I mean , what? Unless people give up on riding motorcycles over long distances or Honda disappears, it would be hard to imagine, for me, that the Gold Wing line won't go on indefinitely. I would be surprised not to see a major revamp in the near future.

[Serk]

or Honda disappears

Honda, the larger company isn't going anywhere...

Honda, the motorcycle manufacturer... I'm starting to wonder... It just doesn't seem like their heart is in it anymore.

[old2soon]

or Honda disappears

Honda, the larger company isn't going anywhere...

Honda, the motorcycle manufacturer... I'm starting to wonder... It just doesn't seem like their heart is in it anymore.

       Too many diverse models for investment versus profit mayhaps?  Not a financial guy-just a random thought.  RIDE SAFE.

[Stormchase]

I think it might be taken by another model. They might come out with one of the most technically advanced highway machines. just not a goldwing. Something edgier that might appeal to a larger audience. They will loose a big part of the demographic in the next 10 years. they will have to do something or the goldwing may have the same fate as Oldsmobile. I would say Honda has the better of chances to outlast every other manufacture out there.

[cookiedough]

I think it might be taken by another model. They might come out with one of the most technically advanced highway machines. just not a goldwing. Something edgier that might appeal to a larger audience. They will loose a big part of the demographic in the next 10 years. they will have to do something or the goldwing may have the same fate as Oldsmobile. I would say Honda has the better of chances to outlast every other manufacture out there.

Except Harley of course.  Obummer or whomever is in office will probably bail the so-called American mfg. out just like GM and Dodge.  100% sure NO way would Obummer bail out Honda or Toyota or Subaru or Hyundai or any other car mfg. if it weren't the Big 3. 

The Wing will be around 40 years from now, just as said, in a different format all together.  I think the demographics of the wing will be lost not in 10 years, but say in 20 years am sure.  Us in their 40's will more than likely be riding when age 60 and a Wing might be in order in my mid 50's by then almost 20 years later. 

I may be way off base, but is motorcyling statistically in the U.S. as popular and large as say in the 70's thru 90's in terms of new cycle purchases?  I don't think it is since disposable income is not around as much anymore. 

[Stormchase]

Yeah Harley will be around for ever. I think they already had their sell out to japan in the 70's or 80's. I dont know the details. but yeah 20 years is a better window. It will be interesting tho. I always wonder about the future lol.

[Mr Whiskey]

I would be surprised not to see a major revamp in the near future.

Go big or go home! 2000cc+ looooong overdue! I think they're doin' the same thing they did with the original Valk, using up the spare parts before the change up. That's why the new Valk & Bagger.

[old2soon]

Buddy of mine bought one in 76 put the Windjammer on it and some bags. The Windjammer colors looked WRONG on his red bike BUT it was his. And he messed up and let ME ride it!  Not too far from where we lived there was a 4 mile straight stretch that looked like it was put down with a ruler. Set of R R tracks at the 2 mile mark with a slight hump. On the first pass slightly extended the suspension. On the 2nd pass I had her notched back. Caught some air at the R R tracks and got her up over a buck twenty. By the time I made the 3d and 4th passes I had her howling at the highway. That smooth even freight train pull remains in my memory. After I told my buddy what I had done with his bike he never let me ride it again!  Hard to believe that was 39 years ago. My dealer in West Plains Mo. takes a lot of H/Ds in trade for G/Ws. RIDE SAFE.

[jimmytee]

I would be surprised not to see a major revamp in the near future.

Go big or go home! 2000cc+ looooong overdue! I think they're doin' the same thing they did with the original Valk, using up the spare parts before the change up. That's why the new Valk & Bagger.

I don't know that it needs to get larger in displacement. It would be interesting to see variable valve timing etc...  I don't know how feasible that is without making the engine wider though and wouldn't want that. Technology has advanced surely though in the years since the 1800 was designed.
As far as appealing to younger riders, ha, that is why I'm riding a F6B....

[Jess Tolbirt]

i went to trade my 2013 ultra in on a new 2015 ultra, the ultra classic is now 27 grand,,the ultra limited is over 30,,soooo, i told them thanks but no thanks,,guess I am going to have to hold onto this one for a while,,,

[Willow]

or Honda disappears

Honda, the larger company isn't going anywhere...

Honda, the motorcycle manufacturer... I'm starting to wonder... It just doesn't seem like their heart is in it anymore. 

You folks do realize you're talking about the most successful motorcycle manufacturer in the world? 

Americans have a bad tendency to assume that ours is the dominate market in the world.  There are most certainly more and larger markets outside our borders than there are inside.

[old2soon]

i went to trade my 2013 ultra in on a new 2015 ultra, the ultra classic is now 27 grand,,the ultra limited is over 30,,soooo, i told them thanks but no thanks,,guess I am going to have to hold onto this one for a while,,,

       Never thought I'd see the day of a 30 G+ M/C but I thought the same thing bout 5 buck a gallon gasoline!   When I go to my dealer-Honda-Kawasaki-Yamaha-and those Can Am things almost as big as a pick up-I get a case of sticker shock. When I go to the H/D dealer-same same-sticker shock. And here lately I stay the h ll away from car dealerships.   RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

i went to trade my 2013 ultra in on a new 2015 ultra, the ultra classic is now 27 grand,,the ultra limited is over 30,,soooo, i told them thanks but no thanks,,guess I am going to have to hold onto this one for a while,,,

       Never thought I'd see the day of a 30 G+ M/C but I thought the same thing bout 5 buck a gallon gasoline!   When I go to my dealer-Honda-Kawasaki-Yamaha-and those Can Am things almost as big as a pick up-I get a case of sticker shock. When I go to the H/D dealer-same same-sticker shock. And here lately I stay the h ll away from car dealerships.   RIDE SAFE.

If you think the CanAm Spyder is big you should see the Polaris Slingshot.

[kybigmac]

Honda just produced its 300 millionth motorcycle!

[Serk]

or Honda disappears

Honda, the larger company isn't going anywhere...

Honda, the motorcycle manufacturer... I'm starting to wonder... It just doesn't seem like their heart is in it anymore. 

You folks do realize you're talking about the most successful motorcycle manufacturer in the world? 

Americans have a bad tendency to assume that ours is the dominate market in the world.  There are most certainly more and larger markets outside our borders than there are inside.

Sorry, I should have been more specific, I thought it but didn't write it. I meant Honda doesn't seem to have their heart in the US motorcycle market any longer. The smaller bikes, the third world bikes that people depend on for daily transportation, they still have a large stake in that market (Although the cheap Chinese bikes are starting to give them some hard competition on the pricing front.)

In other words, they don't seem to care so much about making bikes people WANT. Making bikes people NEED, I don't think they'll ever leave that market.

But, there isn't a large market for 1800+CC $20,000+ bikes in the third world either...

[cookiedough]

like said, disposable income of 20K+ is not out there. 

Most people need a vehicle to drive, not a cycle on a daily commuter, especially in the northern states.

We just bought a nicely equipped base model 2014 hyundai sonata GLS.  Only thing I wanted it did not have as standard is a power drivers seat.  msrp was 22.5K, got for 17.7K out the door.  When a cycle like a new Wing or HD or Victory or Indian is well over that 18K+ in price,  no wonder why not many people buy them. 

I just cannot fathom spending over 15K on any cycle no matter what and believe the general public feel as such as well.   

If you look at most of Honda's lineup, it is that low to mid-range cc's they are catering to which is more affordable to buy for the average joe. 

When people start spending 25K on up past 30K for any vehicle or even now a cycle, that is when financial debt can come into play. 

I see deep discounts coming on the new Valk and F6B since am sure they sit in the showroom many months longer than the average 500-800cc cycle. 

Now if I won the lotto,  a new 2015 red/blacked out Wing would be in my garage ASAP. 

Not so sure the Chinese market is making enough improvement in their reliability to make a huge dent in the cycle market since most still are throw away Chinese scooters 250cc and less still.  2 people at work have a 50 and 150cc chinese scooter and both are junk don't run and in the shop monthly either electrical or mechanically something goes out.  That said,  I have a 2008 Kymco People S250cc liquid cooled scooter and is made in Taiwan now with near 12K miles on it runs fine.  Kymco is decent quality overall in most of their lineup and wouldn't hesitate to buy either their ATV or scooters if the price was right which it is well below Honda's pricing.  Kymco, in my opinion, is only one small notch below Honda quality and reliability.  Plus,  Kymco has dealers nationwide unlike Chinese scoots and parts readily available. 

[WNGD]

like said, disposable income of 20K+ is not out there. 

Most people need a vehicle to drive, not a cycle on a daily commuter, especially in the northern states.

We just bought a nicely equipped base model 2014 hyundai sonata GLS.  Only thing I wanted it did not have as standard is a power drivers seat.  msrp was 22.5K, got for 17.7K out the door.  When a cycle like a new Wing or HD or Victory or Indian is well over that 18K+ in price,  no wonder why not many people buy them. 

I just cannot fathom spending over 15K on any cycle no matter what and believe the general public feel as such as well.   

If you look at most of Honda's lineup, it is that low to mid-range cc's they are catering to which is more affordable to buy for the average joe. 

When people start spending 25K on up past 30K for any vehicle or even now a cycle, that is when financial debt can come into play. 

I see deep discounts coming on the new Valk and F6B since am sure they sit in the showroom many months longer than the average 500-800cc cycle. 

Now if I won the lotto,  a new 2015 red/blacked out Wing would be in my garage ASAP. 

Not so sure the Chinese market is making enough improvement in their reliability to make a huge dent in the cycle market since most still are throw away Chinese scooters 250cc and less still.  2 people at work have a 50 and 150cc chinese scooter and both are junk don't run and in the shop monthly either electrical or mechanically something goes out.  That said,  I have a 2008 Kymco People S250cc liquid cooled scooter and is made in Taiwan now with near 12K miles on it runs fine.  Kymco is decent quality overall in most of their lineup and wouldn't hesitate to buy either their ATV or scooters if the price was right which it is well below Honda's pricing.  Kymco, in my opinion, is only one small notch below Honda quality and reliability.  Plus,  Kymco has dealers nationwide unlike Chinese scoots and parts readily available. 

New Valk is already discounted to 12K everywhere, f6b are seeing dealing too but less as at leat they are selling a few.

The largest number of retirees is still moving through the system with money. The GW will be around and popular for years to come but the Glides and now the Indian Chieftain and Roadmaster are taking some away.

I'd need the Wings to offer a standard "stretch out" model to even consider them in about 15 years....

[jimmytee]

The small brand new dealer where I bought my F6B last summer has sold 6 since I bought mine.  He sells them as soon as he gets them. He had a couple of black Valkyries, but sold them too. I asked him if he was getting 15 model and he said he had one on order, but he didn't seem to concerned because he was still able to get the older models and is able to sell them at big discounts from Honda.