One of Honda’s most famous models ever, the Gold Wing, has a well-renowned reputation for providing unparalleled levels of luxury and extravagance. Think Gold Wing, and images like we see in Honda brochures readily come to mind; Wings with contented riders and partners cruising along in grand style, winding their way through magnificent landscapes in perfect weather. Realistically though, even if the grand tourer is hugely adept at accomplishing those idyllic, world-shrinking rides, it can happily do a lot more than that. The Gold Wing has a much broader portfolio than the perceived focus most consider it to have. I feel well qualified to make such a bold claim after recently riding a 2020 version of the iconic machine for nearly 2000 miles, in very changeable weather, along a selection of wide-ranging routes. I even sampled it on a race track!
It’s a whopper!
Good as it is, the Honda’s capability does take some time to fully appreciate. For starters it’s an absolutely huge motorcycle. With some of its dimensions and stats seemingly more akin to those of a small car, at first glance any idea of it being manageable seems the stuff of folly. It’s a feeling reinforced when you get astride the
