2025 Honda Gold Wing 50th Anniversary First Look

The 2025 Honda Gold Wing 50th Anniversary edition celebrates five decades of luxury touring with special colors, commemorative gifts, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It retains the powerful 1,833cc flat-six engine, advanced electronics, and a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT. The lineup includes a standard “bagger” model starting at $25,200 and a fully equipped Tour version up to $33,500.

2025 Honda Gold Wing 50th Anniversary First Look

The 2025 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing marks the 50th anniversary of this iconic model, which first debuted as an unfaired grand tourer in 1975. Though “Gold Wing” is now synonymous with luxury touring, the original GL1000 test in Cycle World mentioned the name only once in passing.

A Half-Century of Innovation

Honda’s relentless refinement of the Gold Wing has been deeply influenced by American riders, who customized their early models with fairings, luggage compartments, and cupholders. Recognizing these trends, Honda integrated such features into later iterations, shaping the Gold Wing into the benchmark of luxury touring motorcycles.

The original GL1000 was derived from a secret prototype, the M1, envisioned by Soichiro Irimajiri, a renowned Grand Prix engine designer. The M1 featured a flat-six engine, mirroring Irimajiri’s famous 250cc six-cylinder RC166 racing engine. However, Honda opted for a 999cc flat-four when launching the first Gold Wing. The six-cylinder format officially arrived in 1988 with the GL1500, which was later refined into the aluminum twin-spar-framed GL1800 in 2001.

The current GL1800, introduced in 2018, boasts a leaner design, reduced weight, and enhanced infotainment options. It features a Hossack-style double-wishbone front suspension, four-valve-per-cylinder SOHC heads, and a 1,833cc engine producing an impressive 100 lb.-ft. of torque at just 1,000 rpm.

Updates for 2025: 2025 Honda Gold Wing 50th Anniversary First Look

For its 50th anniversary, the Gold Wing receives one major upgrade: wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Transmission options remain a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT), which adapts shifting based on riding modes. The Gold Wing also retains electronic throttle control, four ride modes, electronic suspension adjustments, ABS, traction control, and cruise control.

The 2025 Gold Wing is available in two configurations: the Standard (trunkless “bagger” style) and the Tour, which offers additional premium features.

2025 Gold Wing Standard Features & Pricing

• Price: $25,200 (manual), $26,200 (DCT)
• Includes two commemorative gifts: a historical coffee-table book and a 1:12-scale model featuring both the 1975 and 2025 Gold Wings.

2025 Gold Wing Tour Features & Pricing

• Exclusive 50th Anniversary colors and graphics
• Price: Ranges up to $33,500, depending on configuration
• Additional Features: Rider airbag, suede-leather seat, upgraded audio, hill-start assist, and a manual foot-shifter for the DCT model. The passenger receives an individual audio tuning system.

Color Options: 2025 Honda Gold Wing 50th Anniversary First Look

• Bordeaux Red Metallic
• Eternal Gold

Technical Specifications

• Engine: 1,833cc liquid-cooled flat-six, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
• Transmission: 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT, shaft drive
• Power: 90 hp @ 5,420 rpm (2020 model)
• Torque: 102.5 lb.-ft. @ 1,370 rpm (2020 model)
• Frame: Aluminum twin-spar
• Front Suspension: Double wishbone, 4.3 in. travel
• Rear Suspension: Pro-Link single shock, 4.1 in. travel
• Brakes: Dual 320mm front discs, 316mm rear disc, ABS
• Wheels: Cast aluminum (18-inch front, 16-inch rear)
• Seat Height: 29.4 in.
• Fuel Capacity: 5.6 gal.
• Weight: 802–856 lbs (wet)

Availability

The 2025 Honda Gold Wing 50th Anniversary models are now available.