Most people buy a Honda Gold Wing for long, quiet miles on the highway. Few would ever think of taking one off a dirt jump. Yet three friends decided to find out what these big touring bikes could really do.
The crew behind @goonzquad bought three cheap used Gold Wings, then put them through a string of challenges. As they explain, the winner would get a $5,000 hunting gear shopping spree.
Three Cheap Honda Gold Wings, Three Different Stories
Each rider believed he had the best bike. Alex picked a 1997 Gold Wing 1500 with about 35,000 miles and a clean paint job. Meanwhile, another rider chose an 1800 with 140,000 miles and a Tail of the Dragon sticker, which he says cost about $3,200. The prices they mention for the bikes run from $2,800 to $3,200.
The third bike came from a seller who says it had been in his family for 24 years. Before handing it over, he took it for a spin and lifted the front wheel, which stunned the buyers. That one is a base model with no spoiler.
Then the crew learned a lesson every new rider learns. They say they spent more on riding gear than a new motorcycle might cost.
Slow Races, Cones And A Hill Climb
The first test had nothing to do with speed. Instead, the riders had to cross a finish line as slowly as possible without putting a foot down. Alex struggled because his carbureted bike kept trying to stall.
Next came a cone course with tight zigzags and a small turnaround box. They set the turnaround box at about 18 feet and the zigzag gap at 10 feet, and they compare that with tighter police academy standards. Most of the riders knocked over several cones, so the crew added time for every cone and every foot down.
After that, they took their first highway ride together, which they say is what these straight-up cruisers were made for. Then they headed to a farm for a hill climb on their steepest hill. The fastest run took 6.61 seconds. Along the way, the riders noticed how heavy the Gold Wings feel, and one said his steering felt strange on the highway.
Flying A Honda Gold Wing Off A Motocross Jump
Then things got wild. On an asphalt strip at their shop, they tried wheelies, and two of them dragged their exhaust tips on the ground.
After that, they took the bikes to a motocross track. They ran timed laps in full dirt-bike gear, and Alex set the best time at 43.76 seconds. Finally, they lined up for a tabletop jump.
“Goldwings were built to fly,” one of them jokes before the jump. Alex then cleared the whole tabletop and landed on his front tire, which tied the scoring.
Why Their Gold Wing Challenge Worked
The video is a stunt, but it still offers a few useful points for anyone eyeing a used touring bike:
- Big touring bikes are heavy, so low-speed balance takes practice. Start in an empty lot.
- A long-term, single-owner bike often comes with a clear history. Ask about its past.
- Budget for gear. A helmet, gloves, jacket and boots can add up fast.
- Leave jumps and stunts to private land and closed courses, never public roads.
Where Things Stand
With the score tied, the crew settled it with a hot wing eating contest. “Literally, a chicken wing determined this $5,000 hunting trip,” one rider says. All three bikes survived, though at least one lost a piece of its chrome.
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