Honda officially announced the return of its iconic Gold Wing for 2025, celebrating 50 years since the model first redefined motorcycle touring in 1975. Fifty years of touring excellence: Honda Gold Wing marks a milestone. Over the decades, the Gold Wing has undergone significant evolution, yet it continues to stay true to its original mission —delivering a comfortable and enjoyable long-distance ride. For the 2025 edition, that vision continues with the addition of wireless Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration. Most of the updates, however, focus on styling, with special colours and commemorative badging to mark this golden anniversary.
Honda Gold Wing Marks a Milestone
For model-year 2025, most Gold Wing versions also come with two free commemorative gifts: a coffee-table book covering the model’s rich history, and a tabletop 3D 1:12 scale tabletop model, with a 1975 bike on one side and a 2025 motorcycle on the other.
- Original 1975 model widely credited with inventing the touring category
- For 2025, Gold Wing platform receives commemorative styling cues
- Each purchase comes with a tribute coffee-table book and tabletop model
Honda Gold Wing History
Designed with the simple but audacious objective to be the best motorcycle ever built, the original, 1975 Gold Wing was embraced as a touring machine by customers, many of whom outfitted their GLs with aftermarket luggage and front fairings. This inspired the future direction for the GL1000 Gold Wing.
For the 1980 model year, Honda’s all-new follow-up model—the GL1100 Gold Wing—established what would become a regular practice with milestone Gold Wings, as the model grew significantly. In addition to its larger engine, the motorcycle had a longer wheelbase, more room for the rider and passenger, and increased fuel capacity (though it was actually lighter). Taking a lead from Honda customers, Honda also added a touring-specific Interstate version that came with a radio, though a naked version was also still offered. The Interstate came with a factory-installed fairing and luggage, as well as other touring-focused features.
Honda 1982 Aspencade
Capitalising on the successful reception of the Gold Wing Interstate, Honda in 1982 added an Aspencade version (named after a popular New Mexico motorcycle rally), which introduced the concept of luxury touring, with a larger seat, additional storage, a CB radio (previously only available as an accessory), and a special paint scheme.
The 1984 Gold Wing was once again larger, its engine growing by 97cc and offering more power and torque. The GL1200’s swingarm and wheelbase were longer as well, and improved handling and comfort were made possible via a stiffer frame, repositioned engine and smaller wheels.
For 1988, the Gold Wing underwent what at the time was the most comprehensive model development in Honda’s history, its new engine growing two cylinders and achieving power and smoothness for which it would become renowned. The GL1500’s chassis was new as well, redefining the limits for handling and comfort on a touring motorcycle. Also of note were the increased fuel capacity, improved brakes, and seamless fairing. Production was in the USA, from Honda’s Ohio plant.
The sensational 2001 GL1800 brought fuel injection, an aluminium twin-spar frame, and optional ABS braking, and its 20 patents were a hint at the extensive technological innovations. Developed under Masanori Aoki, this next-generation GL featured an engine that was 312cc larger than that of its predecessor, but it also had an added fun factor, attaining sport-like acceleration and handling. In 2006, Honda introduced a Gold Wing model with navigation and the world’s first motorcycle airbag, and in 2009, XM Satellite radio was added.
The evolution of Honda’s most storied touring model continued in 2018, with the introduction of an all-new Gold Wing. Built on the same pillars of reliability and easy-to-use performance that had driven the platform to the forefront of the touring category year after year, this new version took each of the prerequisites for a good touring machine and improved in every way possible. Lighter, more compact, and more technologically advanced, this was a fun-to-ride Gold Wing that could just as willingly tackle city streets as it could take riders beyond the next horizon.
For the 2025 model year, Honda marks an important milestone in the Gold Wing platform’s history, as the legendary touring machine celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2025 Gold Wing
It wouldn’t be a proper birthday party without the attendance of the Gold Wing’s “bagger”-style versions, which follow the tradition of past trunkless models like the Valkyrie and F6B. Available with either a manual gearbox or Honda’s advanced dual-clutch transmission, the standard Gold Wing is offered for 2025 in a Matte Black Metallic colour, and to commemorate the platform’s half-century milestone, it comes with several styling treatments, including bold Gold Wing logos across the saddlebags and side fairings. In addition, there’s a special 50th Anniversary badge situated in front of the seat, and the meter’s “opening ceremony” now displays “Since 1975” when the bike is turned on. As before, the standard Gold Wing has a shorter windscreen than the Tour versions, and for 2025, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can now be accessed wirelessly.
- Colour: Matte Black Metallic
- MSRP
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing: $25,200
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing DCT: $26,200
2025 Gold Wing Tour
Honda’s flagship touring machine celebrates its Golden Anniversary with three new colours for 2025. The Bourdeaux Red Metallic and Eternal Gold options both have subtle Gold Wing logos incorporated into the saddlebags, as well as the 50th Anniversary badge in front of the seat. (The Light Silver Metallic option is not considered a 50th Anniversary edition, and it is not badged as such.) The Gold Wing is the first and still the only motorcycle offered in an airbag version, featuring technology that operates via an acceleration sensor and main control unit (the Airbag version is available only in Bordeaux Red Metallic).
Honda Gold Wing Colours:
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour: Bourdeaux Red Metallic; Eternal Gold
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour DCT: Bourdeaux Red Metallic; Eternal Gold
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT: Bourdeaux Red Metallic
- Gold Wing Tour: Light Silver Metallic
- Gold Wing Tour DCT: Light Silver Metallic
Retail Pricing:
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour: $29,200
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour DCT: $30,200
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT: $33,500
- Gold Wing Tour: $28,700
- Gold Wing Tour DCT: $29,700
Visit your local Honda Powersports Dealership for more information!
