2018 HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING TOUR DCT
FULL TEST
P86
N S O U T H E R N C O M F O R T
Honda chose Austin, Texas to show off its latest pride
and joy and had planned a 400-mile two-day ride with an
overnight stay, but forecasted freezing rain, snow and ice
cut our ride in half to just one day and 200 miles. Now,
I realize that 200 miles is nothing for most Gold Wing-
ers—heck, you often do that before breakfast—but I felt
this was still plenty enough road to give me a good feel
for what the new Gold Wing is all about. I spent the day
on the Gold Wing Tour DCT that is fitted with Honda's
unique seven-speed automatic dual clutch transmission
system; non-DCT Wings come with six-speed manual
transmissions.
Honda has five versions in its line of Gold Wing mod-
els: Gold Wing and Gold Wing DCT (both come without a
trunk, a shorter windscreen and other minor differences,
not to mention a smaller price tag), and Gold Wing Tour,
Gold Wing Tour DCT and Gold Wing Tour DCT Airbag.
(Above) For safety, most of the
important control buttons are located
on the left handlebar. Many of the
center controls are locked out once
you start rolling. (Below) Despite all
the changes, there is no mistaking
that the 2018 Gold Wing is still very
much a Gold Wing.
