HONDA GOLD WING TOUR VS. BMW K 1600 GTL
COMPARISON TEST
P94
been released way back in 2012.
BMW arguably dropped all comers
with the GTL's sublimely smooth in-
line six-cylinder engine, debuting a
machine that shot straight to the top
of the touring tree and made the Gold
Wing look immediately dated.
The machine remained largely unchanged in
the proceeding five years, gaining Dynamic ESA
(electronic suspension) as a standard feature,
along with ABS Pro, Shift Assist Pro for up and
down clutchless gearshifts and Reverse Assist in
2016.
The GTL's bodywork also came in for a
tweaking, all aimed at producing a machine that
slips through the wind easier and with the rider
becoming less tired while doing so.
The Gold Wing, on the other hand, is all-
new for 2018. The number one grand tourer in
Honda's lineup since the 1970s saw very few
changes in the last 15 years, but this year, the
Wing came in for a thorough overhaul.
A new flat-six engine joins up to Honda's lat-
est generation of the seven-speed Dual Clutch
Transmission, one that first saw action on the
now defunct VFR1200 in 2010. The front suspen-
sion utilizes a double-wishbone system similar to
a Hossack design (actually, the BMW's Duolever
is also a take on the Hossack), and the rider
cockpit has been totally redesigned and has
features like Apple CarPlay capability, accessed
by a huge seven-inch TFT dash.
What these two bikes have in common is what
That jog wheel on
the BMW controls
most of the
dash's functions,
whereas the
Honda has
separate buttons
for everything.
(Right) The BMW's
more upright riding
stance would suit
riders coming off
higher barred bikes,
such as adventure
bikes, better than
the Gold Wing.
(Below) Those tie-
rod ends bounce
up and down,
showing you how
hard the suspension
is moving and how
little shock gets
transmitted
to the rider.
