2012 Honda Gold Wing Tour: Day 1

The Honda Gold Wing is a veritable icon among touring motorcycles, offering an unrivaled blend of two-up luxury conveyance and a level of sporting prowess unheard of from a 900-pound bike. More than 640,000 have been sold since its introduction way back in 1975.

The latest generation debuted in 2001, boasting an aluminum-framed chassis and stout and smooth six-cylinder engine that made it king of the long roads. Now, a year after moving production from Marysville, Ohio, to Kumamoto, Japan, Honda has delivered a revitalized Gold Wing for the 2012 model year.

While not an all-new machine, it has several notable comfort and convenience upgrades, including an improved audio system with surround sound, more comfortable seating, a faster GPS system and additional luggage capacity.

Our FNG, Tom Roderick, recently got to sample the ’12 Wing, but his quickie day ride didn’t give enough seat time to truly test the bike’s touring capabilities. Lucky for me, Honda invited us to take a multi-day jaunt from Virginia to Tennessee to fully sample the updated Gold Wing over some of America’s best roads.

One of the Goldie’s best features has always been its ability to transport two riders in comfort, and we’ll put that reputation to the test with the help of an expert pillion – my wife, Carolyn.

So, blogging live from Lorton, Virginia, here we go!

By Kevin Duke