For 50 years, the Honda Gold Wing has redefined luxury motorcycle touring. As it celebrates its golden anniversary in 2025, this icon isn’t just resting on its legacy—it’s pushing boundaries with cutting-edge tech. From seamless connectivity to upgraded suspension, here are the 10 innovations that prove the 2025 Gold Wing is still the apex predator of the open road.
Tech Advances on Honda Gold Wing
1. 7-Inch TFT Display
The Gold Wing’s vibrant 7-inch TFT screen is the brain of your ride, displaying everything from speed and fuel levels to heated seat settings and suspension adjustments. But here’s the twist: it’s not a touchscreen. Instead, you’ll navigate menus using Honda’s left-handlebar switchgear and a center console dial.
While this might feel old-school compared to BMW’s touchscreen-heavy K 1600 GTL, riders praise the layout for reducing distractions. “It’s like muscle memory once you get used to it,” a Cycle World tester noted. Plus, 50th Anniversary models flash a nostalgic “Since 1975” message at startup—a subtle nod to its heritage.
2. Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Gone are the days of fumbling with USB cables mid-ride. The 2025 Gold Wing now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims, letting you mirror your smartphone’s navigation, music, and messaging apps onto its 7-inch display.
Riders can blast their favorite playlists via Spotify, get real-time traffic updates from Waze, or take calls hands-free using voice commands.
Honda nixed the built-in GPS, betting riders prefer their phones constantly updated maps. While this decision streamlines costs and keeps tech current, your navigation relies entirely on your phone and data plan.
Early testers rave about the wireless setup’s reliability, though some gripe about navigating CarPlay’s touch-centric menus using physical buttons. One reviewer joked, “Sometimes left is right, and up is down.”
Read: Why Fans Are Furious on the 2025 Honda Gold Wing
3. Full LED Lighting
Every bulb on the 2025 Gold Wing is now LED, from the multi-lens headlights (shaped like “wing lines”) to the integrated turn signals. Benefits? Longer lifespan, less power drain, and a modern look. The taillight’s all-red LEDs and auto-canceling signals add a touch of sophistication, while optional fog lights boost visibility in dicey weather.
Owners of older Wings often upgraded to aftermarket LEDs, but Honda’s stock system now holds its own. Just don’t expect lumen specs—the focus is on style and reliability over raw brightness.
4. Honda Smart Key
Imagine starting your bike, unlocking saddlebags, and triggering a “find me” light show—all without pulling out a key. The Smart Key system makes it possible to use proximity sensors to handle ignition and storage access. It’s a game-changer for riders buried under gear or struggling in dim parking lots.
But no tech is perfect. Owners mention occasional glitches, like the ignition refusing to unlock. There’s also a physical backup key for emergencies because even Honda knows electronics can be fickle.
5. Adaptive Ride Modes
Throttle-by-Wire tech lets the Gold Wing shift personalities on the fly. Choose from four modes:
- Tour: Smooth power delivery for long hauls.
- Sport: Aggressive throttle and held gears (DCT models).
- Rain: Soft response + max traction control.
- Econ: Fuel-sipping shifts for budget-minded miles.
Each mode tweaks throttle response, traction control, suspension damping (on Tour trims), and even braking bias. While Sport mode feels almost too sharp for an 800+ lb tourer, it’s a blast on twisty backroads.
6. Honda Selectable Torque Control
Honda’s traction control (HSTC) is standard on all 2025 models. It monitors wheel speeds 100 times per second, cutting torque if it senses rear wheel spin. Whether you’re dodging rain-slicked highways or gravel-strewn backroads, HSTC keeps you upright without dulling the ride. One rider said, “It’s like having a guardian angel who loves horsepower.”
7. Electronic Preload Suspension
Tour models get a party trick: electronic preload adjustment. With four presets (solo, solo + luggage, two-up, or two-up + luggage), the system tweaks the rear shock’s preload in seconds. No more manual knob-cranking while your passenger side-eyes you.
It’s not fully adaptive—you still pick the preset—but riders call it a “game-changer” for maintaining ride height and comfort. Aftermarket brands like Traxxion swear by its ease, but a semi-active suspension would’ve been chef’s-kiss perfect.
8. Double-Wishbone Front Suspension
The Gold Wing’s double-wishbone front end (borrowed from F1 cars) remains its wildest engineering feat. By separating steering from suspension forces, it slashes brake dive by 30% and serves up buttery-smooth bumps absorption. This means handlebar stability so eerie, you’ll swear the road got repaved.
It also lets Honda push the engine forward, improving weight distribution. The result? A 850 lb bike that corners like it’s on rails. “It’s magic,” gushed a Rider Magazine editor.
9. Integrated Airbag
Exclusive to the Tour Airbag DCT trim, Honda’s airbag deploys in severe frontal collisions, cushioning your launch toward the handlebars. It’s niche (only works in head-ons) and adds $1,000+, but 15 years of real-world data prove it’s saved lives. As one owner joked, “Hopefully, I’ll never need it, but it’s nice to know it’s there.”
10. Reverse Gear & Walking Mode
Ever tried pushing an 856 lb motorcycle uphill? The Gold Wing’s reverse gear (electric on manuals, engine-powered on DCTs) is a literal lifesaver. DCT models add Walking Mode, letting you creep forward or backward at 1 mph using handlebar buttons. Perfect for tight garages or stubborn parking spots. “I use it more than I’d admit,” laughed a Rider.
The Verdict: Legacy Meets Tomorrow
The 2025 Gold Wing isn’t just a tribute—it’s a tech powerhouse. Sure, the lack of a touchscreen and adaptive cruise control might irk some, but Honda’s focus on seamless integration over gimmicks pays off.
