Today’s version

Honda’s new-for-2018 Gold Wing is a very different beast from its predecessor, as our Old v New feature on page 60 explains. But if we ran the same experiment today, the results would likely be pretty similar. From a distance most riders still think of the latest Wing as a daunting, divisive machine, expecting it to be cumbersome, unwieldy, ponderous and pointless. But give it a chance and the reality from the saddle is a well-developed, well-balanced machine that drives, stops, steers and handles much like a ‘proper’ motorbike should.

One thing would be different today though: the expert. “Mr Gold Wing” Barry Walton retired earlier this year after working at Colin Appleyard for more than four decades. The event was marked by a gathering of Gold Wing owners from across the country.