Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has opened bookings for the all-new Honda’s 2018 Gold Wing, its flagship tourer which now gets all-round improvements.

The manufacturer says the 2018 Gold Wing gets radical improvements in every category – engineering, handling, technology, comfort and performance. It’s lighter, more powerful, more nimble and more engaging. It also features new technologies including a newly-developed horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine, 7-speed DCT and Honda’s original double wishbone front suspension.

After gaining huge popularity with its introduction in Africa Twin, Honda brings the DCT convenience in the Gold Wing. The third generation DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission) is the best DCT Honda has ever developed, and the first with seven speeds. Even better, this DCT offers a special low-speed “Walking” mode in addition to reverse. It’s a huge help when maneuvering into or out of parking spaces with a passenger on the back.

Elaborating on the new 2018 Gold Wing, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, senior vice-president (Sales and Marketing), Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, says: “The 2018 Gold Wing was first showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show in November 2017. The new-generation Gold Wing gets a 7-speed DCT, revolutionary suspension setup, Apple CarPlay, HSTC and a brand new engine, making it a true rider’s motorcycle. The best-ever Gold Wing with all these new features is a complete generation leap.”

Host of advances

The new Gold Wing’s die-cast aluminium twin beam frame is stiffer and lighter by 2kg, promising enriched handling and a smoother ride. A first for Honda globally is the Gold Wing’s new double wishbone front suspension which reduces friction in comparison to traditional telescopic setup. The tourer is now easier to maneuver and feels noticeably nimbler. Rear spring gets 4 settings of preload relative to load which can be checked on the swanky new 7 inch TFT screen.

The 2018 Gold Wing is powered by a completely reworked 1833cc engine. Still as a horizontally-opposed flat six, but now with four valves per cylinder instead of two. Peak power of 125bhp arrives at 5500rpm, with peak torque of 170Nm delivered at 4,500rpm.

The newly introduced Throttle By Wire (TBW) adds 4 rider modes to prevent loss of grip in the rear wheel (Tour, Sport, Econ and Rain). The rider modes manage HSTC (Honda Selectable Torque Control), suspension damping for heightened rider control. Additionally, brake force Idling Stop and Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) for an ultra-quiet start-up. The Gold Wing is equipped with ABS and Dual-Combined Braking System (D-CBS) as standard to optimally distribute braking force to the front and rear wheels. The inclusion of a new Hill Start Assist adds ease of use.

The 2018 Gold Wing comes at a starting price of Rs 26.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) in two variants – Gold Wing and Gold Wing Tour in the new glossy Candy Ardent Red colour. Bookings are only at Honda’s exclusive Wing World Sales & Service outlets in Delhi (C-126, Industrial Area Phase - I, Naraina) and Mumbai (H-Kantilal & Co. Compound, Sakinaka, Andheri-East).

Deliveries for the new Gold Wing will begin in 2018 on a first-come, first-serve basis.