Possible Goldwing purchase

[cfloyd]

I am considering trading in my 2000 Standard on a 2002 Goldwing that has 7,900 miles on it.  Very well taken care of with ABS and a lot of extras.  I would like opinions on making the switch to a Goldwing.  My wide does not ride so I will be the only one enjoying the ride.

[BigAl]

Sell your Valk, you will get more money from it.

Goldwings are fine , if you like that sort of thing.

But I have a hard time liking them becuase of all the plastic.

The Valk is a Hot Rod.

The Goldwing is a mile eater.

Your choice.

But I would stay with what brought you this far.

[gwise]

If you can afford to keep the Valk, keep it. I sold my Valk years ago to buy a Wing. I ended up missing it, so last year, I found a Tourer and bought it. I have both an  1800 Wing and the Tourer. I love both bikes. My wife rides with me, so together we ride the Wing. I made the Tourer a solo bike. I feel like I will never get rid of the Valk as long as I ride.  Just my opinion!!!
  Good luck and ride safe,
     Gregg

[Willow]

Did you ask this same question on a Goldwing forum?  I'm just not sure how objective you expect the answers to be.

How many miles have you put on your 2000 Valkyrie?  How long have you had it? How much ice cream do you eat? 

These are all important questions, but what's most important do you want to sell your Valk and buy a Goldwing?  If so, then do it.

[bscrive]

Just make sure that the frame welds are not cracked, they had a problem with that from 2000 - 2003.  If the weld(s) have cracks then the engine has to be removed to get it fixed.  I believe it is done under a recall but you could be out of a bike for a while.

[T.P.]

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/1800%20Service%20Bulletins/1800SB17.pdf

Frame recall info

[..]

I thought about buying a 1800 Wing but all that plastic behind the rider put me off. Insted I bought a ST1300. Great bike for a solo rider.

Bags are bigger on the 1300

Air filter change on a Wing takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours. All the palstic behind the handle bars has to come off. There are eletrical connections to undo.

ST1300 takes about 20 minutes to change the air filter. Valve check is a PITB.

If you can keep the Valk and get another bike do it. I miss my Valk.

[BF]

Goldwings have no soul.....but......"if you like that sort of thing."

[SDS]

I put about 50,000 miles on an '02 GL1800.  It was like having an 800 lb sportbike.  Loved that thing.  It would ride all day long (1256 miles was my longest single day) but also tear it up in the twisties. 

I love my Valkyrie too.  It's like having a street rod.  It doesn't feel as nimble to me as my GL1800 but has a more unrefined romance to it.  The Wing was like a silky shifting sporty jack of all trades for me whereas the Valk is more raw and visceral.

The obvious answer is get both.  Unfortunately that isn't always an option.  I don't know which one I'd pick if I had to choose.  Two different machines with two very very different and distinct personalities.

SDS

[Ghost Rider 2]

I have a GL1500 wing an a Valk.  I figure the perfect combination. 

[ValkFlyer]

Goldwings have no soul.....but......"if you like that sort of thing."

Blasphemy!!!    BF's got it right....That a rediculeous question    The Valk is a one of a kind! 

[PAVALKER]

Did you ask this same question on a Goldwing forum?  I'm just not sure how objective you expect the answers to be.

How many miles have you put on your 2000 Valkyrie?  How long have you had it? How much ice cream do you eat? 

These are all important questions, but what's most important do you want to sell your Valk and buy a Goldwing?  If so, then do it.

Are you suggesting that I might eat more ice cream if I were to get a Goldwing??  Oh my.....   

[Ken Tarver]

i have both a wing and valk.....i like them both, for different reasons. the air filter change the 1st time is a time eater, after that it goes quick (not 25 electrical connections to disconnect) 2 big connectors, 1 small and radio antenna wire, just don't forget to connect all before putting body back together. i am on my 2nd 1800 wing and have done all my own service on both, like the valk, it is a big help to have the shop manual....and you can go darkside on it if you lean that way...i have a 205-60-16 on mine...next time will go 195-60 though.

Ken

[Big IV]

Did you ask this same question on a Goldwing forum?  I'm just not sure how objective you expect the answers to be.

How many miles have you put on your 2000 Valkyrie?  How long have you had it? How much ice cream do you eat? 

These are all important questions, but what's most important do you want to sell your Valk and buy a Goldwing?  If so, then do it.

why be objective?

[thomas]

I had a 1999 IS and traded it for a 2002 Goldwing. I really like the Valkyrie,and it is a great bike, and rode it for 3 years and have no regets buying the IS, but the wing is more my type of bike.  I found a cracked  in the frame. Under the passenger floor boards . This is not where the origial cracks were located on the frame . on the class action law suit aginist Honda . Honda agreed to fix.  The crack looked like a small penicil mark on each side of the frame under the passemger floor board. .  Honda  replaced the frame free of charge for me.  Go to the GL 1800 Board  and do a serch on cracked frames.
                                                           thomas

[Walküre]

I've had a lot of Wings, but the biggest was the 1200. I like the rides, but do prefer the Valkyrie, at this stage of my life. They each have their place - the Wing is a well-built Cadillac, while the Valk is a Mustang convertible. Well, the standard or tourer, anyway - the I/S strikes me as a...well....Wing! But, as has been mentioned, it's all personal preference. When I retire, I might be ready for another Wing, we'll just have to wait and see. I plan on spending months on the road, a year, and I think the Wing is going to be a little more adept at that. But, it's also 8 years from now, and by then I may be so glued to the Valk, that I won't even consider it...

Good luck, with whatever choice you make. But I agree, I wouldn't trade in a Valk - I know here, at least, you take a serious beating.

R

[bscrive]

Man, must be nice to be able to afford two bikes.  Although, I have a hard time trying to find the time to ride my valk let alone two bikes. 

[BIG--T]

Man, must be nice to be able to afford two bikes.  Although, I have a hard time trying to find the time to ride my valk let alone two bikes.  

I with you on that! I do own two and it is hard riding both and one will be somewhat neglected and not good to let one sit, so I'll be selling one. This past month I've had to by 2 batteries which ain't cheap and neither is a tire, as well as small parts- not counting accessoreies!

Yep I'm waiting for spring fever and then I'll list her.
'

[DarkMeister]

What bscrive said - exactly. Mix in the fact of short riding season, 5-6 honeydoo lists...and one bike is enough. I, too, envy the guys with stables of bikes, but...

However, x-dude, I have a nagging theory about best times to sell a bike. I really think it's the opposite - winter! Something to do with buyers longing for spring. A way to crack the cabin fever. Psychology or something. Sort of like shopping for golf clubs in the dead of winter. I've also noticed a weird trend with prices on some bikes I eyeballed, with prices lower at the height of riding season. Maybe because most people are already set and riding? Dunno...

[solo1]

I had a 1991 Gold Wing 1500.  i bought it to persuade my wife to ride, it didn't work.

I had my Valk for 13 years, had to sell it, too heavy for me.

As said on this board, the GW is a Cadillac, made for touring, the Valk is a raw, leave it all hang out, Mustang or '32 Duece hot rod.

The GW is a nice looking bike, the Valk is a "Holy Crap' what's that" kind of a bike.

Give it some thought. What do you want a bike to do for you.   I'm sure that you knew what kind of answer you'd get on this board.

If you like ice cream runs, regimented comradeship, uniforms, and stuffed toys, a GW is for you.
If you like casual and straightforward comradeship, with no regimentation, go Valk.

If your a loner, it's a tossup.

[LandElephant]

Sorry guys, if you thing the goldwing has no soul, then it's the rider.  I've had both.  I beaten the snot out of both. The decision is what do you want, not what is better.

Here's an option, get the wing and ride with the Valk riders.  They aren't as condencending, stuck up, old men with depends stuck up their arse.  If you go to the Goldwing page they will all tell you to buy the wing.

Here's the difference.  You are going from a Valk standard barebones (depending on add ons) to a rolling Barcalounger with some nuts. Yes it has all the plastic.  Yes it's considered an old man's bike.  But, you will be able to find parts and still have the same dependablility.  Maybe more.  And depending on how aggressive you are you can cut the twisties with the best of them.  But, you can eat up highway miles also.

You can ask the "Wild Bunch" (Al).  I'll ride 1,000 miles round trip on a weekend and spend a whole day cutting up the twisties with them.  It's the rider that does that.

If you have the choice, keep'm both.  But if you buy the wing take the VIN number down to a Honda dealer and have them see if the recall has been done on the wing.  I believe there should be a small letter I on the right side of the frame showing that it has been completed.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[BIG--T]

What bscrive said - exactly. Mix in the fact of short riding season, 5-6 honeydoo lists...and one bike is enough. I, too, envy the guys with stables of bikes, but...

However, x-dude, I have a nagging theory about best times to sell a bike. I really think it's the opposite - winter! Something to do with buyers longing for spring. A way to crack the cabin fever. Psychology or something. Sort of like shopping for golf clubs in the dead of winter. I've also noticed a weird trend with prices on some bikes I eyeballed, with prices lower at the height of riding season. Maybe because most people are already set and riding? Dunno...

I see you're in Canada which might make a difference. Here I buy in the winter and sell beginning of spring. It works for me!

[KW]

I read somwhere - but couldn't find it today - that there was ONLY one (1) frame reported that had actually 'cracked' on the Wing . . . I've heard that from more than a few Wing riders as well. Don't know anything about it personally.

I agree with most of the above. You're talking apples and hotdogs. Different machines. I like both, but can't imagine selling the Valk.   

[ValkFlyer]

Sorry guys, if you thing the goldwing has no soul, then it's the rider. .


Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Don't apologize Charlie....everyones entitled to an opinion...even if it's wrong.  

Bob Steen

[tybme]

Personally I sold my wing (1500) to buy a valk (I/S)

If I could I would have both.

[RainMaker]

I also sold my GoldWing to buy my Valk.  But mine was an '81 GW I/S and it has more in common with the Valk I/S than it does with the current GoldWings.  Not too much plastic - looked like a motorcycle, etc. 

My wife says I can have 2 when I can ride 2 at the same time.

[The Anvil]

I've ridden the current wing. I won't say it has "no soul" but it was a bit vanilla. Like an Accord that leans.

But I also think the soul of a machine is imparted largely by it's rider. "Character" is more endemic of the machine itself. Goldwings have little to none.

[BIG--T]

I read somwhere - but couldn't find it today - that there was ONLY one (1) frame reported that had actually 'cracked' on the Wing . . . I've heard that from more than a few Wing riders as well. Don't know anything about it personally.

I agree with most of the above. You're talking apples and hotdogs. Different machines. I like both, but can't imagine selling the Valk.   

Many months ago I went on the GL1800 board and there was a lot of talk about cracks in the frame and posted pics. I believe it was 2002-2004.

[LandElephant]

Before you all get the wrong impression, I like the Valk.  I've owned a Valk I/S, and rode the snot out of it.  But keep in mind this, without the Goldwing you wouldn't have the Valk.  The Goldwing in 1975 was the Valk of 1997.

The wing first came out to be competition to the KZ 900.  No plastic just 2 wheels, a bench seat, and 1000 cc's of engine. It was the inovation of it's time. So if you state it has no soul, that's your fault.  No character, well I think it's longevity more than makes up for whatever character it needs.  The wing has a long history.

Ride and buy what you want.  On the wing board they would tell you to buy the wing.  Obviously the Valk board going to tell you to keep the Valk. Both good motorcycles.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[TheValk]

Thanks for that guys- down here there are some new Wings for sale at big discounts to list price- I'm thinking about one with a trade-in on my '99 Interstate 120thou k's.

I guess they are some of the ones built before the shift by Honda to Japan, and getting cleared before the 2011 model comes Down Under- so maybe I'd  be buying a pretty old bike anyway!.

Decent trade-in,  pay half down now, balance 2 years hmmmm- new bike, new warantee etc.
Something to think about but I can't keep both!

[LandElephant]

There is no 2011 model.  The 2010 was the last built in the USA in 2009 before the closed the line down and moved it to Japan.  The 2012 is the first model coming off the line in Japan.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[tybme]

There is no 2011 model.  The 2010 was the last built in the USA in 2009 before the closed the line down and moved it to Japan.  The 2012 is the first model coming off the line in Japan.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Beat me to it.
Yep the 1800 jumps from 2010 to 2012. The 2012 has some really neat features (good friend has one) but personally I hate buying the first production year of a bike/car.

[HayHauler]

I drove next to a black 2012 in traffic yesterday....  I REALLY don't like what they have done to the back of the bike.  The yellow blinker housing and bags look waaay too much like the Vision to me. 
If I were to buy one, it would definitely be a 2010 model.

Hay 
Jimmyt