Table of Content
1. Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
![Honda Gold Wing](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0762/7194/3984/files/1.-honda-gold-wing.jpg?v=1700562362)
![Harley Davidson Road Glide](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0762/7194/3984/files/1.-harley-davidson-road-glide.jpg?v=1700562362)
Introduced in 1974, the Honda Gold Wing is one of the oldest touring motorcycles with a shaft drive and six-cylinder engine. It has been upgraded several times since its introduction and now comes with a modern and sporty look. Meanwhile, the Harley Davidson Road Glide was introduced in 1999 with a classic style and was designed for longer rides.
When it comes to cruising on open roads and highways, comfort matters the most. Factory-made touring bikes come with stock windshields, saddlebags, and ride-assist features to make long-distance rides more comfortable. A 2023 Honda Gold Wing costs $4,170 more than a 2022 Harley Road Glide, but it comes with more standard features, including an ABS, seven-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission (DCT), reverse gear, electronically adjustable windscreen, four riding modes, navigation, torque control, and idling stop. The Honda Gold Wing touring also comes with a large trunk and a comfortable passenger seat with a backrest.
The Harley Davidson Road Glide is also a popular, classic touring bike with a large shark-nose fairing, hard saddlebags, and an infotainment system. It comes with an optional ABS, standard cruise control, and electronically linked braking. This article is a detailed comparison between the Honda Gold Wing and the Harley Davidson Road Glide.
2. Detailed Specs Comparison: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
2023 Honda Gold Wing | 2022 Harley Davidson Road Glide | |
---|---|---|
Identification | ||
Honda | Maker | Harley Davidson |
Gold Wing | Model | Road Glide |
2023 | Year Model | 2022 |
Touring Bike | Motorcycle Type | Touring Bike |
GL1800B | Model Code/ID | FLTRX |
$25,600 | Base Price | $21,430 |
Engine and Performance | ||
1,833 cc | Displacement | 1,753 cc (107 cu in) |
Horizontally Opposed, Six-Cylinder, Four-stroke Engine | Engine Design and Type | Milwaukee-Eight® 107 V-Twin |
Liquid-Cooled | Cooling System | Air-Cooled |
Six | No. of Cylinders | Two |
Four | Valves Per Cylinder | Four |
124.67 hp at 5,500 rpm | Horsepower | 93 hp at 5,020 rpm |
170 Nm at 4,500 rpm | Torque | 150.5 Nm at 3,250 rpm |
2.87 in | Stroke | 4.37 in |
2.87 in | Bore | 3.94 in |
Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), 50 mm Throttle Body | Fuel Injection System | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) |
10.5:1 | Compression Ratio | 10:1 |
Seven-Speed Automatic DCT with Reverse and Walking Mode | Transmission | Six-Speed |
Shaft | Final Drive | Belt |
Multiplate Wet Clutch | Clutch | Mechanically Actuated, 10 Plate Wet with Assist & Slipper Clutch |
42 mpg | Fuel Economy | 43 mpg |
Dual Separate Mufflers | Muffler | Dual Tapered Mufflers |
Double-Wall Exhaust Pipes | Exhaust | Two-Into-One-Into-Two Chrome Exhaust |
Die-Cast, Twin-Spar Aluminum Chassis | Frame | Mild Steel Tubular |
Electric with Integrated Starter Generator System (ISG) | Starter | Electric |
Yes | Fairing | Yes |
Full-Coverage Fairings | Fairing Style | Frame-Mounted, Shark-Nose Fairing |
Electronically Adjustable Fairing | Windshield | Small, Fairing-Mounted |
Braking | ||
Nissin, Radially-Mounted calipers, Dual 320 mm Discs | Front | Dual 300 mm Discs, Four Piston Caliper |
Nissin, Single 316 mm Disc | Rear | Single 300 mm Disc, Four Piston Caliper |
Standard, Electronically Controlled Combined ABS | ABS | Optional |
Yes | Electronic Linked Braking | Yes |
Suspension | ||
Double Wishbone | Front | 49 mm Dual Bending Valve |
Pro Arm Single-Side Swingarm with Pro-Link Single Shock | Rear | Low, Hand-Adjustable |
4.3 in | Front Wheel Travel | 4.6 in |
4.1 in | Rear Wheel Travel | 2.1 in |
Tires and Wheels | ||
Dunlop® Sportsman | Tires | Dunlop® Harley-Davidson Series |
Cast Aluminum | Wheels | Enforcer II Cast Aluminum |
Dimensions and Weight | ||
4.3 in | Trail | 6.8 in |
30.5° | Rake | 26° |
5.5 gal | Fuel Tank Capacity | 6 gal |
5.1 in | Ground Clearance | 5.5 in |
35.6 in | Width | 38.6 in |
52.8 in | Height | 51.6 in |
97.6 in | Length | 95.7 in |
29.3 in | Seat Height | 25.9 in |
66.9 in | Wheelbase | 64 in |
804 lbs (364.7 kg) | Wet Weight | 855 lbs (387.82 kg) |
2.12 cu ft | Luggage Capacity (Saddlebags) | 2.3 cu ft |
3. Design: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
3.1 Design: Honda Gold Wing
The Honda Gold Wing is one of the most comfortable long-distance motorcycles with a modern, compact, and sportier look. It is a fully-faired sport tourer with an aggressively-styled front end. The side mirrors and front turn signals are fitted to the nose fairing. The Honda Gold Wing is a wide motorbike with a low center of gravity which makes handling easier. The Honda Gold Wing also has a wide rear end with large saddlebags attached, a tail/stop light, and rear turn signals. Besides saddlebags, it also comes with a standard large trunk that can carry 2.15 cu ft of luggage, big enough to store your helmet. The touring models also come with a standard and comfortable passenger backrest. The Honda Gold Wing has a seven-inch TFT LCD screen, 55 watts speakers, and analog and digital gauges. The infotainment system is compatible with Android and Apple CarPlay. Also, the rider can view vehicle settings on the display screen.
3.2 Design: Harley Davidson Road Glide
The Harley Davidson Road Glide has a modern-looking front and an overall classic look. It comes with a shark-nose fairing, a small windscreen, and stylish dual headlamps. The Harley Road Glide is also fitted with a Boom!™ Box 4.3 infotainment system with dual speakers, display screen, and four analog gauges. It is fitted with mid-mounted, swept-back handlebars with chrome side mirrors. The Harley Road Glide comes with a single-piece saddle capable of two-up riding. There is a dip in the rider’s seat resulting in a low seat height of 25.9 in and lumbar support for the rider. The Harley Road Glide is fitted with a chopped front fender and a full-sized rear fender with a small tail/stop light, a license plate bracket, and rear turn signals. It comes with stock crash bars, floorboards, and hard saddlebags. The Harley Road Glide has a blacked-out frame and chrome front forks, cylinder heads, air filter, gearbox cover, handlebars, crash bars, and dual tapered mufflers on both sides.
4. Engine and Performance: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
4.1 Engine and Performance: Honda Gold Wing
The Honda Gold Wing is available in four trims: the Gold Wing Automatic DCT, Gold Wing Tour, Gold Wing Tour Automatic DCT, and Gold Wing Tour Airbag Automatic DCT. All Honda Gold Wing models are powered by a 1,833 cc liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed, six-cylinder engine capable of horsepower of 124.67 hp at 5,500 rpm and a torque of 170 Nm at 4,500 rpm. The six-cylinder engine is capable of smooth torque delivery and high-power output.
The 2023 Honda Goldwing engine is 13 lbs lighter than the previous models’ engines due to its lightweight Unicam® cylinder design. It has a seven-speed automatic DCT transmission with reverse and walking functions that connects to the rear wheel via a shaft drive. However, if you are looking for a motorcycle with a manual transmission, the Honda Gold Wing Tour has a six-speed manual transmission with reverse gear. The automatic DCT transmission and multi-plate, slipper clutch ensure smooth gear shifts and ensure a comfortable cruising experience on open roads.
Despite being a heavier, more advanced motorbike, the Honda Gold Wing has a fuel efficiency of 42 mpg due to its programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) and 50 mm throttle body. The fuel efficiency can be enhanced by using the Eco-ride mode setting. The Honda Gold Wing also comes with a standard ABS, cruise control, four ride modes, a tire pressure monitoring system, throttle by wire, Honda selectable torque control (HSTC), and hill start assist. The Hill Start Assist feature prevents the Honda Gold Wing from rolling backward on an inclined surface, allowing the rider to start the motorbike and accelerate without applying the brakes. Despite being built with several ride-assist features and being a heavyweight bike, the Honda Gold Wing is easier to handle due to its low center of gravity and balanced weight distribution.
4.2 Engine and Performance: Harley Davidson Road Glide
The Harley Road Glide is fitted with a 1,753 cc air-cooled, Milwaukee-Eight engine capable of producing a horsepower of 93 hp at 5,020 rpm and a torque of 150.5 Nm at 3,250 rpm. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheel via a belt drive. The Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin engine has smooth power output and torque delivery while producing a soul-satisfying noise from the exhaust. However, being a heavyweight bike, the Harley Road Glide has a slow throttle response. The mechanically actuated slipper and assist clutch provide easy clutch operation and smooth gear shifts.
The Harley Road Glide is fitted with dual front discs and a single rear disc brake, along with a reflex-linked Brembo braking system and an optional ABS to ensure reliable braking. It also comes with a standard cruise control feature to ensure a better cruising experience.
The Harley Road Glide is also available in two trims: the Harley Road Glide Special and the Harley Road Glide Limited. The Harley Road Glide Special and the Harley Road Glide Limited are powered by a more powerful 114 cu in Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine. However, the Harley Road Glide Limited also comes with a large trunk for extra storage and a comfortable passenger seat for comfortable, long-distance two-up riding.
5. Suspensions: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
Suspension plays a crucial role in a motorcycle’s overall performance and comfort level, especially on long-distance rides. The Honda Gold Wing does not come with a traditional front fork. Instead, it has a double-wishbone suspension that ensures a comfortable ride and reduces unwanted nose dives when brakes are applied. As most of the Honda Gold Wing’s weight is distributed towards the front end, the double-wishbone front suspension is the best choice for long-distance rides.
The Harley Road Glide also comes with a high-performance, double-bending valve to ensure comfortable rides on smooth and bumpy roads. The benefit of a double-bending valve is that it can be easily adjusted or upgraded to ensure better-touring performance. Meanwhile, the Honda Gold Wing’s double-wishbone suspension cannot be manually adjusted for better performance.
6. Comfort and Ergonomics: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
6.1 Comfort and Ergonomics: Honda Gold Wing
![Comfort and Ergonomics: Honda Gold Wing](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0762/7194/3984/files/6.1-comfort-and-ergonomics-honda-gold-wing.jpg?v=1700562363)
The Honda Gold Wing is one of the most comfortable and fun touring motorcycles for long-distance rides. It comes with mid-mounted foot controls and handlebars are within comfortable reach of the rider, ensuring an upright riding position. Due to being a sport tourer, the Honda Gold Wing has slightly sportier ergonomics.
The Honda Gold Wing is fitted with comfortable rider and passenger seats, with the Honda Gold Wing Tour variants also including a passenger backrest and armrests. The Honda Goldwing windscreen can be electronically adjusted for better wind protection.
6.2 Comfort and Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Road Glide
![Comfort and Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Road Glide](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0762/7194/3984/files/6.2-comfort-and-ergonomics-harley-davidson-road-glide.jpg?v=1700562363)
When it comes to riding position and ergonomics, the Harley Davidson Road Glide offers better comfort across long distances. It has mid-mounted, swept-back handlebars within comfortable reach of the rider, ensuring a relaxed riding position. The forward-mounted floorboards provide adequate legroom and allow the rider to comfortably rest their feet. The Harley Road Glide is comfortable for taller and shorter riders. However, the Harley Road Glide can be transformed into an ideal touring bike by fitting it with a larger windscreen and adding luggage racks, sissy bars, and backrests.
7. Technology and Features: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
2023 Honda Gold Wing | 2022 Harley Davidson Road Glide | |
---|---|---|
Technology and Features | ||
Standard | ABS | Optional |
✓ | Electronic Linked Braking (ELB) | ✓ |
✓ | Throttle By Wire | ✕ |
✓ | Hill Start Assist | ✕ |
Standard | Cruise Control | Standard |
✓ | Heated Seats | ✕ |
✓ | Heated Grips | ✕ |
Four Riding Modes (Econ, Tour, Rain, and Sport) | Riding Modes | ✕ |
Fairing-Mounted | Gauges | Handlebar and Fairing-Mounted |
✓ | Speedometer | ✓ |
✓ | Clock | ✓ |
✓ | Tachometer | ✓ |
✓ | Fuel Gauge | ✓ |
✓ | Low Fuel Warning | ✓ |
✓ | Odometer | ✓ |
✓ | Gear Indicator | ✓ |
✓ | Passenger Seat | ✓ |
Infotainment | ||
✓ | Display Screen | ✓ |
✓ | Speakers | ✓ |
✓ | Bluetooth | ✓ |
✓ | USB Connection | ✓ |
✓ | Navigation | ✓ |
8. Pros and Cons: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
8.1 Pros and Cons: Honda Gold Wing
Honda Gold Wing Pros | Honda Gold Wing Cons |
---|---|
Comfortable | Sportier ergonomics |
Ideal touring bike | Mid-mounted foot controls |
Includes ABS and cruise control | Cannot reverse sometimes |
Powerful and torquey engine | Difficult to perform maintenance |
Stock saddlebags, windscreen, and trunk | Starter issues |
Seven-speed automatic DCT transmission with reverse and walking mode | Charging issues |
Four riding modes (Econ, Rain, Sport, and tour) | Heated grips not working |
Low center of gravity | Sticky handlebar switches |
Equipped with modern ride-assist features | |
Good handling | |
Seven inches TFT screen | |
Throttle by wire | |
Hill start assist | |
Electronically adjusted windscreen | |
Heated seats and grips | |
Lightweight |
8.2 Pros and Cons: Harley Davidson Road Glide
Harley Davidson Road Glide Pros | Harley Davidson Road Glide Cons |
---|---|
Comfortable ergonomics | Heavyweight |
Relaxed riding position | Difficult to handle at low speeds |
Comfortable for taller and smaller riders | Inadequate torque and horsepower |
Forward-mounted floorboards | ABS is optional |
Stock shark-nose fairing | Smaller windshield |
Cruise control and reflex linked Brembo brakes are standard | Difficult to maneuver while riding through traffic |
Stock infotainment system | Not beginner-friendly |
Low seat height |
9. Colors and Cost: Honda Gold Wing Vs. Harley Davidson Road Glide
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0762/7194/3984/files/9.-colors-and-cost-honda-gold-wing.jpg?v=1700562362)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0762/7194/3984/files/9.-colors-and-cost-harley-davidson-road-glide.jpg?v=1700562362)
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
10.1 Which is More Comfortable: the Honda Gold Wing or the Harley Davidson Road Glide?
The Honda Gold Wing is a comfortable touring bike with its slightly sportier ergonomics and its mid-mounted foot controls and handlebar position ensuring an upright riding position. Meanwhile, the Harley Road Glide has a more comfortable seat suited for long-distance two-up riding. The Harley Road Glide’s low seat height of 25.9 inches, swept-back handlebars, and forward-mounted floorboards ensure a relaxed riding position and provide adequate legroom. It is ideal for both taller and shorter riders. However, due to being heavier than the Honda Gold Wing, it is difficult to handle at low speeds and is not beginner-friendly.
10.2 Which has better handling: the Honda Gold Wing or the Harley Davidson Road Glide?
The Honda Gold Wing handles better than the Harley Road Glide due to being lightweight and having a low center of gravity. Meanwhile, the Harley Road Glide is a heavyweight motorbike that is difficult to handle, especially at lower speeds and while riding through traffic.
10.3 What are the Key Differences between the Honda Gold Wing and the Harley Davidson Road Glide?
Key Differences: the Honda Gold Wing and the Harley Davidson Road Glide | |
---|---|
Honda Gold Wing | Harley Davidson Road Glide |
1,833 cc engine | 1,753 cc engine |
Six-cylinder engine | Two-cylinder, V-Twin engine |
More powerful and torquier | Less powerful and torquier |
Programmed Fuel Injection | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection |
Seven-speed automatic DCT transmission with reverse and walking mode | Six-speed transmission |
Shaft drive | Belt drive |
Modern and sportier look | Classic look with chrome finish |
ABS is standard | ABS is optional |
Equipped with several modern features | Equipped with fewer features |
Double wishbone front suspension | Dual bending valve |
Wet weight of 804 lbs | Wet weight of 855 lbs |
Seat height of 29.3 inches | Seat height of 25.9 inches |
Fuel tank capacity of 5.5 gal | Fuel tank capacity of 6 gal |
11. Which is Better: the Honda Gold Wing or the Harley Davidson Road Glide?
The Honda Gold Wing and the Harley Davidson Road Glide are popular touring bikes best suited for comfortable, long-distance rides. Both motorcycles come with a stock infotainment system for a fun touring experience. The Honda Gold Wing has a modern and sportier look with technologically advanced features, making it fun and easy to ride. It is more powerful, maneuverable, and accelerates fast due to being fitted with a powerful six-cylinder engine. The Honda Gold Wing also handles better than the Harley Road Glide due to its low center of gravity. Meanwhile, the Harley Road Glide has more comfortable ergonomics and a classic look. Also, it is popular among custom builders due to being easily customizable. The saddlebags, shark-nose fairing, and crash bars can be removed for a stripped-down cruiser experience. The Honda Gold Wing is an expensive motorbike, but due to being built with several latest ride-assist and enhancement features, it offers better safety than the Harley Road Glide.
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