2012 Gold Wing - Speculation, Rumor and Hearsay

[Rincewind]

With the closing of the Marysville, Ohio, Gold Wing plant in 2009, many riders were anticipating a new Gold Wing for 2011 chock-full of new innovations and originating from the Japanese Honda plant.

A few months ago, the local dealer here told my dad (a long-time Wing rider) that no, there will not be any 2011 Gold Wings and that he'd have to keep riding is 2007 for now.  Many people were thinking that this lag was to give Honda time to fine-tune a new market-leader.  After all, BMW has its new 6-cylinder 1600 powerplant in the wings to go into a K1200 Lite-Truck replacement.  Surely Honda is spending some good R&D money to stay competitive in the full dresser market.

Fast forward to Rider magazine of this month.  They have an editorial in the beginning that breaks it down.  Honda's America plant produced enough Gold Wings in 2009 to carry over their anticipated demand for 2-years, 2010 and 2011.   After shut-down, Honda reclaimed all of the tooling, parts, and equipment and relocated them to their Japanese plant.  This may mean that for 2012 Honda will start producing essentially the same bike in Japan as they were making in the US!  They did speculate on a Dual-Clutch set-up and some other feature changes, but essentially the article prepared us for a 2012 Gold Wing that could still be the same GL1800 that has been made since 2001!

[sammyseaman]

Rumor? Dual-clutch, airbags and some sort of stability control. Also it'll weigh well over 900#'s

[Rincewind]

Rumor? Dual-clutch, airbags and some sort of stability control. Also it'll weigh well over 900#'s

C'mon, that's way too sporty for a Gold Wing!  

[sammyseaman]

I'm not sure they'd wanna do much to change/update the Wing. It's a niche market and they've pretty much owned it for 30 years or so. Also if they got too fancy-shmancy the price would be insane.... even for a Honda.

[atadaskew]

All I felt my Wing 18 needed was an electrically adjustable windshield and better quality suspension.

[tomek]

You owned GoldWing ?

I`d rather drive Dodge Omni.

[1KPerDay]

1. 5-10 degrees more lean angle
2. actual quality suspension with useful travel. Lose the silly anti-dive.
3... TV? Air conditioning? Cupholders?  

[schmii]

Ice Cream Maker.

[atadaskew]

You owned GoldWing ?

I`d rather drive Dodge Omni.

Goldwing good.  Dodge Omni bad.

[Giaka]

3... Cupholders?  

 

[atadaskew]

2. actual quality suspension with useful travel. Lose the silly anti-dive.

That was the most surprising part for me.  My old 1200 Wing had better suspension than the 1800 and much better than the awful stuff on my Valk Interstate.
It would have been understandable if it was a budget bike, but the Wing is their flagship.

[ANZAC]

  to Honda for closing the US plant.  The flip side is the new bike won't be made in China.

[chornbe]

  to Honda for closing the US plant.  

A Japanese company, headquartered in Japan, during a world-economic mess in the making, decides to contract and shrink back its tentacles a little bit, and I'm sure reduced a metric buttload of costs.

And that's bad?

GM and Ford divest themselves of some of their offshore entanglements and people cheer.

[JReazor]

You owned GoldWing ?

I`d rather drive Dodge Omni.

Make is a GLH and I'd almost agree with you. I think it's only about twice the weight of a Wing.

[atadaskew]

  to Honda for closing the US plant.  The flip side is the new bike won't be made in China.

I'm wondering if one reason they closed the plant is that the workers lost their quality mojo.
I know four doods with late model Wings who had numerous QC issues.  Things that earlier in the production run weren't there.
Maybe this made the decision easier?

[kendenton]

Make is a GLH and I'd almost agree with you. I think it's only about twice the weight of a Wing.

Or better yet, a GLHS.  

[atadaskew]

Or better yet, a GLHS.  

Sounds awfully close to the Suzuki GLaHdiuS

[ANZAC]

I'm wondering if one reason they closed the plant is that the workers lost their quality mojo.
I know four doods with late model Wings who had numerous QC issues.  Things that earlier in the production run weren't there.
Maybe this made the decision easier?

That's a hard one to say for sure but we lost jobs here in the US.  I believe that we can make things better here in America - now if we can get the CEO's to stop sourcing everthing overseas  

[Oilhed]

I'm still waiting for the Gold Wing "Lite", same thing just less chrome bits and no trunk.

[1KPerDay]

The topcase is the best part. You can lose the sidebags if you like. I guess the goldwing lite is the ST13. It's still 700 pounds though.

[Baz]

Fast forward to Rider magazine of this month.  They have an editorial in the beginning that breaks it down.  Honda's America plant produced enough Gold Wings in 2009 to carry over their anticipated demand for 2-years, 2010 and 2011.   After shut-down, Honda reclaimed all of the tooling, parts, and equipment and relocated them to their Japanese plant.  This may mean that for 2012 Honda will start producing essentially the same bike in Japan as they were making in the US!  They did speculate on a Dual-Clutch set-up and some other feature changes, but essentially the article prepared us for a 2012 Gold Wing that could still be the same GL1800 that has been made since 2001!

Like everyone else, I would imagine that Honda is suffering from inventory problems due to the economic slowdown. There was no 2009 B-King here for instance due to showroom floors full of 2008's.

[JoBu]

All I felt my Wing 18 needed was an electrically adjustable windshield and better quality suspension.

Couldn't agree more.  Although I got lucky and that nasty ratcheting mechanism was broken on mine when I bought it and it makes adjusting the windshield so much easier.  

And I actually have 2 cupholders on mine... but the Princess loves it.  

Cheers,

Joe  

[Scratch33]

What Honda really needs to do with the Gold Wing is make a few ergo changes, to accomodate all the long-legged riders who buy BMW's because they can't fit comfortably on a GL1800.  A two-piece, adjustable seat; adjustable trunk like the KLT has; and some minor sculpture work on the fairing would do it.  They also need to make the side cases large enough to hold a FF helmet (as the GL1500's could).

[JoBu]

What Honda really needs to do with the Gold Wing is make a few ergo changes, to accomodate all the long-legged riders who buy BMW's because they can't fit comfortably on a GL1800.  A two-piece, adjustable seat; adjustable trunk like the KLT has; and some minor sculpture work on the fairing would do it.  They also need to make the side cases large enough to hold a FF helmet (as the GL1500's could).

2 very good points.  I'm only 5'10" and it fits me like a glove, but if I were say, over 6'2", I think I would run into issues with it.  And yes, I can pack more in my FJR with the stock bags and a Givi V46.  One other point...I wish they would get away from the plastic-chrome trim.  It has such a cheap feel to it.  I do think that the Wing does carry touches of chrome on it quite well...but let's just have the aftermarket companies address that.  For my own personal taste, less is more, but I think I'm in the minority as far as Wing owners are concerned.  

Cheers,

Joe

[Oilhed]

...and a removeable trunk.  I don't doubt the trunk is the most useful accessory but sometimes, when you are running around solo, that big armchair isn't needed.

[chornbe]

The trunk assembly is more involved than just a trunk. It's basically the whole rear of the bike. Changing that would require re-engineering the entire back of the bike and, sales would indicate, it's not a desired change at this time.

[skater69]

I had an '04 Wing. Put 34K miles on it.  IMO.....the bike was perfect except for 3 things it needed:

1-a 6th gear.  In 5th at 85, I thought it revved a bit too high with such a low redline
2-as mentioned, more leg space. I'm also 5'10"......perfect fit for me. If I was 6'2".....would thinkg it would have been cramped.
3-power electric windshield.....(assuming this has not already been done)

That's it.  Everything else about it was perfect.

[atadaskew]

I had an '04 Wing. Put 34K miles on it.  IMO.....the bike was perfect except for 3 things it needed:

1-a 6th gear.  In 5th at 85, I thought it revved a bit too high with such a low redline
2-as mentioned, more leg space. I'm also 5'10"......perfect fit for me. If I was 6'2".....would thinkg it would have been cramped.
3-power electric windshield.....(assuming this has not already been done)

That's it.  Everything else about it was perfect.

You were happy with the quality of the suspension?

[Ken]

I'm OK with the Wing's suspension when I'm riding solo - 175 pound rider - on decent roads. But add a passenger and full bags and, even cranked up to 25, it can be pretty harsh. I have an '09, it won't be going away, so I will probably do the Traxxion upgrade in the near future. I've ridden one with the full monty Traxxion setup and it handles like a whole different bike.

[st2sam]

...and a removeable trunk.  I don't doubt the trunk is the most useful accessory but sometimes, when you are running around solo, that big armchair isn't needed.

+1   and that might help it loose a few pounds....
 But as Chris said, "lets not hold our breath"....

[Attack Pug]

Mine is an 01 and has had the shock replaced about 4 years ago. It has NEVER wallowed or done anything weird it just handles great
and I ride it hard in the twisties

[atadaskew]

Mine is an 01 and has had the shock replaced about 4 years ago. It has NEVER wallowed or done anything weird it just handles great
and I ride it hard in the twisties

Mine was an 01 too (metallic orange).  It never wallowed, butt it always rode harshly on less than smooth roads.  A disappointment given that it was the flagship bike.
It did handle great.  And stopped great.

[JoBu]

It never wallowed, but it always rode harshly on less than smooth roads.  A disappointment given that it was the flagship bike.

I have an '06 and I agree completely.  Even what would be considered a small break/ridge in the pavement sends a sharp jolt up through the bike.  Everyone of of my other bikes, without exception, has a smoother ride than my Wing.  If I end up keeping the bike, I'll upgrade the suspension.

Cheers,

Joe

PS.  So...any rumors for the 2013 Goldwing???