Ok, first off, I'm not even 40 yet so I'm a little leery of even considering one but....
I just came back from a 3-day weekend trip around California on a borrowed 2012 Goldwing. While I've driven a few in the past, only at a few mile paces around the block, and never extended ride like on a 1200 mile weekender. I handed the bike and keys back to the owner last night, it's been 25 hours now and still cannot get the bike out of my mind.
Right now, there are 3 three things preventing me from going out and getting one right now.....cost, $28K for the version with ABS, holy-crap!!!!! space.....I would need to make the ultra-painful and difficult decision to sell one of my two current bikes, Connie-14 or BMW GSA, to make room in the garage for the behemoth. Time.....I do not get enough time off per year to really enjoy a luxo-tourer like a Goldwing.
Anyways, this one goes out to current or former Goldwing owners, what are your thoughts on the old mighty Goldwing, especially if you have experience with a bike like the Connie.
I traded in a 2002 GL1800 for the 2011 Concours. In a nutshell, if you ride 2 up the GL1800 is the way to go. It has the best passenger accommodations of any MC out there. If you ride solo the C14 is a good option. The GL1800 is extremely well optioned, the linked brakes and ABS are light years ahead of Kawi's attempt. The GL1800 is bullet proof and can be ridden extremely aggressively. A good rider on a GL1800 will embarrass an average rider on a C14 in the twisties but will lose in a drag race. The GL1800 is heavier than the C14 but like the C14 seems to drop the weight once it starts rolling. Comparatively, the GL1800 has a lower center of gravity and excellent tip-over protection. It doesn't need canyon cages or tip over blocks.
So why did I trade it in??? The GL1800 is heavy, long and a lot of bike to drag around for a solo rider. I bought this to tour with my wife. She rides her own now and I don't need the it anymore. At 10 years old some of the switches started to fail. Replacing or repairing switches can be expensive. The GL1800 holds it value. I traded an 11 year old GL with 56K miles straight up for the 2011 zero miles (new) Concours. I paid $15.500 in 2002. I don't see the Concours holding it value.
Both bikes need suspension upgrades out of the box. In my opinion both bikes are under sprung and under damped.
The GL1800 had some early problems and recalls but Honda handled them well and covered them under warranty. I think the later models are pretty well sorted out now.
I bought mine when I was 42.