A pronounced market shift is taking place within the realm of big
bikes. Recently, the big-bike touring segment has recorded a
significant upward trend in sales led by a fashionably new style of
motorcycle—a cross between a cruiser bike and touring machine. By
expanding buyer options, these machines have lifted the
large-displacement touring segment back to pre-recession sales
levels and have reinvigorated the riding population. With the
introduction of the new Gold Wing F6B, Honda now adds an entirely
new option to that mix to reshuffle industry standards once again—in
keeping with long-standing company tradition.
Now Honda offers big-bike enthusiasts a newly elevated level of
all-around performance with a large-displacement machine that takes
advantages from the GL1800 Gold Wing and mixes in unique touches.
The F6B also delivers a bold look and impressive levels of
performance, qualities that make it the perfect choice for leisurely
short rides, backroad forays, day trips or weekend journeys and
more—it's primed and ready to take on whatever opportunities arise.
This is a new breed of machine that slots into a comfortable niche
as part power cruiser, part long-haul tourer and 100-percent Honda
innovation. The F6B offers a whole new take on what a bike in this
category can deliver—a much higher level of performance,
sophistication, smoothness, visual impact, fit, finish and
reliability. In short, it delivers big-time performance with a heavy
dose of attitude; it's ready for anything, any time, whenever the
mood strikes.
Better yet, the F6B can be had in standard trim or as a deluxe model
that includes a passenger backrest, centerstand, self-canceling
turn-signals and heated grips. And a wealth of Honda Genuine
Accessories are available to make further customization of the F6B a
cinch; just the ticket for personalizing your ride.
Subhead: Origin of the species
Taking a historical perspective, we can see that the Gold Wing F6B
is really a natural extension of the original Gold Wing concept, one
that benefits from equal measures of innovation and refinement in
its basic DNA. Back in 1972, race bike-engineering giant Soichiro
Irimajiri headed up design of the exquisitely sophisticated and
ultra-high-performance prototype M1 motorcycle, specifically to
explore the outer limits of the Grand Touring concept. The final
result was truly a breakthrough machine, one that set new standards
of design and performance thanks to its liquid-cooled horizontally
opposed six-cylinder engine with shaft drive—key features that
appear in today's F6B.
In production form that M1 prototype
became the original GL1000 Gold Wing, introduced in 1975. This was a
machine that was much, much more than just a new motorcycle—it was
well and truly a revolution on two wheels. Powered by an incredibly
sophisticated 999cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder
engine—this in a time when 750s were considered big bikes and
all-out Superbikes displaced 900cc—that first Gold Wing set
standards for all-around performance that surpassed every other bike
in that era. As a result, consumers and journalists alike were
initially at a loss as what to make of this open-class machine with
world-class power and cross-country capabilities. But later that
year the GL1000 earned the top-rank position in a Cycle comparison
of touring bikes and riders quickly embraced this amazing machine.
The legend of the Gold Wing was now off to a fast start, ultimately
leading to the Gold Wing F6B we see today.
Subhead: GL1800 Gold Wing roots
The path to the Gold Wing F6B winds through more than three decades
and through many progressive iterations as the Gold Wing advanced in
function and reputation to firmly establish itself as the leader in
a class of one. (See the Gold Wing Timeline for more details.) In
2001 the apex GL1800 Gold Wing appeared, designed by Masanori Aoki,
a sportbike guy who was determined to give the 1800cc Gold Wing a
pronounced sport feeling and superior handling traits while also
enhancing its touring capability. The goal was to add more fun
factor to the machine by providing the kind of acceleration, engine
feel and handling people normally associate with sporting machines.
The 1832cc engine was designed to have tons of power, a lot more
character in terms of an exciting power hit and a more free-revving
design, for more of a high-performance feel. The chassis
incorporated an aluminum frame, one that very much paralleled the
design of those used in sport bikes, because aluminum is easier to
manipulate in tuning the chassis for rigidity and light weight, with
specific strength and rigidity qualities readily applied to the
frame where they are most needed. All this and more was achieved,
creating features and benefits that live on in the Gold Wing today.
The Gold Wing F6B incorporates all of these basic engine and chassis
advantages found in the GL1800, plus a number of benefits all its
own. Weighing in a full 62 pounds lighter than the full-dress Gold
Wing, the F6B delivers a new level of nimbleness and maneuverability
for superior handling and agile manners. The stout twin-spar
aluminum frame remains remarkably advanced and sophisticated for
bikes in this class, and it features a beefy 45mm fork with a
cartridge damper plus a sophisticated anti-dive system to yield 4.8
inches of plush yet well-controlled travel. In back there's a
single-sided Pro-Arm swingarm setup, and the rear Pro-Link
single-shock suspension system has a new shock with valving
specifically tuned to the F6B. A dial-type remote adjuster offers
easy access for quick adjustments to rear shock spring preload. Dual
full-floating 296mm rotors and three-piston calipers up front plus
the rear 316mm disc deliver stellar braking power and terrific feel;
Honda's Combined Braking System links the front and rear brakes.
The 1832cc liquid-cooled six-cylinder engine is literally in a class
of its own, having firmly established a well-deserved reputation for
exhilarating acceleration, super-strong roll-on power, smooth
operation and utmost reliability. The unique, horizontally opposed
six-cylinder layout also contributes to an exceptionally low center
of gravity to foster improved handling. The Programmed Fuel
Injection (PGM-FI) system carries over from the Gold Wing, and this
system too is a model of refined performance under just about every
street-riding situation imaginable via its two 40mm throttle bodies
and six high-pressure fuel injectors. Likewise, the five-speed
gearbox, clutch and shaft final drive have all been thoroughly
proven over more than a decade and millions of miles of real-world
GL1800 use.
In terms of styling and looks, however, the Gold Wing F6B definitely
goes its own way. This is a bike that demands attention thanks to
lines that are clean, long and low, plus a blacked-out treatment for
the wheels, engine and frame. The absence of a rear trunk, plus the
shorty windscreen and gunfighter-style seat add greatly to the
unique look of the F6B, as do the sleek lower cowl and stylish tail
section that now incorporates passenger grabrails.
That all-new seat not only gives the F6B a unique look, it also
gives the rider and passenger a different, more open feel from the
saddle along with plenty of comfort. A premium-quality audio system
comes standard on the F6B, and it offers direct MP3/iPod
connectivity. The lockable and waterproof large-capacity saddlebags
provide over 150 liters of storage providing flexibility for
whatever the day's ride calls for, and a large, centrally located
glovebox is both handy and easy to use for storage of smaller items.
The end result is a muscle-bound machine with aggressive looks,
premium performance and premium quality, one that is different from
and superior to any bagger on the market thanks to an obviously
elevated level of performance, sophistication, fit, finish and
reliability. Its terrific versatility allows it to fulfill a wide
variety of riding pursuits from short hops to long rides. In truth,
the Gold Wing F6B reaches back to the original roots and spirit of
the GL1000—the "King of Motorcycles" with a high-performance engine,
unmatched sophistication and premium-bike status.
Source: Honda
