Geepers - talk about narrow-minded? GW Folks that rival Harley crew

[DRam]

Before Mrs. Hardware decided to get her license and her own bike, we looked for something comfortable for us both for medium to long distance trips.

Of course, the 'Wing was on the list of bikes to go check out.

The local dealer only had two leftovers from the previous model year, both were white ( ), base models and they still wanted $29,000 (CAD)  for them!

As much as I like the GW for the niche it fills, and I think it does a great job in that role, the cockpit really needs a refresh.

Any GW riders I've met have been pretty hardcore distance riders.  Last year I did a three province ride with a group, some of whom were going coast-to-coast.  The coast-to-coasters had their bikes shipped to BC for the start, except for one guy.  73 years old, he rode from T.O, to BC on his GW (early 90's model IIRC) then did the run with the group to St. John's, Nfld, then turned around and rode home to T.O.  

He could be a little crotchety at times...but he friggin' earned it IMO.

Sounds like my uncle.  He got married (again) at 74 or 5, put his bride on the back of his GW and took a trip from Montana to California.  When the got back a friend mentioned he had to go to Arizona.  Since we have relatives there my uncle and his buddy fired up their Wings and went to Arizona.  Took his last ride a few months before he passed away at 78.  Riding kept him young til almost the day he passed.

He's my hero.  Well, one of them.  My father's right up there too.

[sagerat]

Thanks a lot, Orson, now I've got Steely Dan's singing "can't do it without the fez on" stuck in my head.  

[UFO]

God, I feel young reading that thread.

Oh, and...

collage


college

[Snowbird]

You can do 1000 miles on an FJR, probably hafta adjust the windscreen a coupla times....

That's what makes it the sport-tourer of the new millennium.

[Orson]

In my response, I borrowed a line from Orson - (thank you!)

I dunno from whom I will receive the angrier hate male...John Tesh fans or Honda fans  

[Rincewind]

That's my dad's favorite line: "When are you going to buy a Gold Wing?"   That's about the same line you will hear from the Harley guys, so yes there are fanatics in both camps.

My dad's been riding Wings for decades.  Back when I was a kid, I couldn't stay awake while riding with him.  A few miles and I'd be immediately asleep, zzz.  Even today when I ride his Gold Wing for myself, it tries to put me to sleep and I literally find myself yawning.  

Riding motorcycles is not supposed to be as comfortable as it is on a Gold Wing.  It's unnatural and borderline perverse the way it coddles the rider.  It's like saying that the Lincoln Town Car or a Zeppelin are the only fit ways to travel.  

[kevin_stevens]

I dunno from whom I will receive the angrier hate male...John Tesh fans or Honda fans  

Honda - there aren't any John Tesh fans.

KeS

[sammyseaman]

That's my dad's favorite line: "When are you going to buy a Gold Wing?"   That's about the same line you will hear from the Harley guys, so yes there are fanatics in both camps.

My dad's been riding Wings for decades.  Back when I was a kid, I couldn't stay awake while riding with him.  A few miles and I'd be immediately asleep, zzz.  Even today when I ride his Gold Wing for myself, it tries to put me to sleep and I literally find myself yawning.  

Riding motorcycles is not supposed to be as comfortable as it is on a Gold Wing.  It's unnatural and borderline perverse the way it coddles the rider.  It's like saying that the Lincoln Town Car or a Zeppelin are the only fit ways to travel.  

 

[Bounce]

Did anyone suggest an FJR?

i did... back in 2003 when i sold my 98se... after a 1984 1200 Aspy and a 1983 1100 Aspy.

i didn't so much as "suggest" an FJR as much as just buy and ride mine. i rode with them for about a year longer and got the big press to move on... after being on staff many of the years before, being Senior Master Tour Rider, etc.

i started getting a gut full when someone stood up in a meeting and ranted for 20 minutes about, "Them damned NEENjerz!" it took me a while to realize he meant ninja's and a little more to understand that meant ALL sport-oriented bikes (including the Connie or FJR or...). it was clear that there were Wings, Harleys, and sport bikes and 2 of the 3 were trouble.

[jfurf]

You definitely cannot tour on a naked bike. You will die instantly.  

[Rogue]

The older you get, the more things annoy you.  Neenjerz are one of them.  Whipper-snappers are the other.  

[Hardware]

Sounds like my uncle.  He got married (again) at 74 or 5, put his bride on the back of his GW and took a trip from Montana to California.  When the got back a friend mentioned he had to go to Arizona.  Since we have relatives there my uncle and his buddy fired up their Wings and went to Arizona.  Took his last ride a few months before he passed away at 78.  Riding kept him young til almost the day he passed.

He's my hero.  Well, one of them.  My father's right up there too.

Man, that's the way to enjoy old age!  

[scott19]

I with a group of goldwingers when I was 18.  Learned a lot from those guys.  Exceptional riders.

Want to add that the wing has become a useless motorcycle.  There is no reason to buy a Goldwing because the sport tourers have become so good.  Bike hasnt been upgraded in a long time too.
I cant see why anyone would plunk down so much money on a wing when the lighter faster alternatives are a bargain by comparison.

Yeah, like a Miata!  

[falconati]

Oh god...  

[gritsngravy]

You definitely cannot tour on a naked bike. You will die instantly.  
[/quote


I was shocked and horrified back in the day when my dad headed out on his naked cb 750!!!!! Oh the humanity.