HONDA The Power of Dreams

The 1988 Gold Wing (GL1500) was well-received as a luxury tourer that offered the ultimate in joy to the rider and passenger thanks to its numerous luxury features.

In 1993, five years since its launch, the development team was instructed to develop a new Gold Wing.

The team began by researching customer usability and requirements in the U.S., the Gold Wing’s main market. They collected feedback from customers by riding across the U.S. on a GL1500. This field study took two years to complete.

Based on the data collected, the team determined their vision of the new Gold Wing. Their goal was to create the world’s best luxury tourer that offered riders sporty maneuverability while providing passengers with “first-class” comfort.

The newly developed engine was a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, horizontally opposed, 6-cylinder OHC engine similar to the GL1500, but with displacement increased to 1832 cc. Both maximum power and torque were significantly improved to provide an even more comfortable, powerful ride. For the emission gas purification system, HECS3 (Honda Evolutional Catalyzing System 3) was adopted to achieve the world’s highest level of environmental performance.

Its aluminum twin-tube frame contributed to handling as nimble as a road sports model despite the bike’s large size. The engine was part of the frame in a multi-box section design, achieving a weight reduction of 11 kg compared to the GL1500’s frame.

By thoroughly reducing weight of various components, the GL1800’s dry weight was successfully reduced to 386 kg, 1 kg less than the GL1500 launched in 1999, despite the larger engine.

The aerodynamic exterior, designed to enhance rider and passenger comfort, was both first-class yet muscular, with styling worthy of a flagship model.

The passenger seat was 50 mm longer and 70 mm wider compared the previous model, providing an upgraded “first-class” feel.