The Honda GL1800 Gold Wing

Book excerpt: Evolution or revolution ... this was the dilemma Honda faced in creating the new fifth generation Gold Wing. Consumers were happy with the near-perfect GL1500 Gold Wing, but sales were declining and owners ageing.In 1996 Honda's designers and engineers decided the only way forward for the Gold Wing was a revolutionary approach. Given a brief by management to incorporate more 'Fun Factor' and make a large luxury touring motorcycle perform like a sports orientated machine, their target market was the younger rider.The GL1800 Gold Wing launched as a 2001 model and was updated in 2006 with the world's first and only motorcycle airbag system. Surviving a production return to Japan it had a second face-lift for 2012 and from that, two other variants emerged, a 'Bagger' and 'Power Cruiser', the F6B and Valkyrie/F6C.The GL1800 was destined to become the longest running Gold Wing series, but over its 17 years of production Honda faced stiff competition.Peter Rakestrow examines the GL1800's history from 1996 to the end of production in 2017, looking at model improvements through the years of this legendary marque, creating a point of reference for owners, buyers and restorers alike.