Honda?s all-new Gold Wing Tour and the BMW K 1600 GTL are the fastest and arguably most refined luxury-touring bikes on the road. Both have 6-cylinder engines, aluminum frames, dual-wishbone front ends and single-sided swingarms, but their performance and personalities couldn?t be more different. Photos by Kevin Wing.
My, how the luxury touring landscape has changed.
Since our last comparison test of these two high-performance, 6-cylinder luxos in 2012 (the year the BMW was introduced and the Honda was mildly updated), the ranks of V-twin full dressers like Harley-Davidson Ultras and the Kawasaki Voyager have swelled to include the Indian Roadmaster and Yamaha Star Venture. At the rate they?re selling, Americans clearly want traditional V-twin touring bikes. Is there still a place at the table for big six guns like the BMW K 1600 GTL and Honda Gold Wing" Read our Luxo Touring Comparo: Harley vs. Indian vs. Yamaha.
The new Gold Wing Tour has lost 85 pounds and looks and feels more compact overall, yet has gained some bottom-end power, ride quality and electronic sophistication, and hasn?t lost much in the way of comfort.
Mark’s Gear

Helmet: Nolan N87

Jacket: Tourmaster Transition Series 5

Pants: Rev’It

Boots: TCX Airtech Evo Gore-Tex
Honda must certainly think so, otherwise it would not have so thoroughly revamped the Gold Wing for 2018, knocking off 85 pounds, broadening the bike?s powerband and giving it a full suite of modern engine, suspens...