I have ridden the sled 6 days in a row. I’m racking miles quickly. This means I need to really keep an eye on the mileage as it will accumulate rapidly and require more frequent oil changes.
Rode to work 6 days straight
First ride of the year 2025!
I took the Goldwing Bagger to work this morning. In the past I would go for a ride the first day of the year. The last few years I haven’t been able to carry on that tradition due to participating in an annual Lowrider event held at Sacramento California. It’s an all day event so there’s not a chance for me to ride when I get home, unload the CaDually.
It was a very nice ride home. I have all the gear to ride in most weather conditions I will encounter in during my short 110 mile daily commute.
One of my favorite views coming home. Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees located around the shop. I had to blow off the leaves daily for about a month. As nice as the leaves look on the ground it acts as a slippery surface when moist or wet. The sled doesn’t have any issues, it’s when I plant my foot down.
Winter Solstice
The days have definitely gotten shorter. When I leave for work it’s completely dark. When I get home from work it’s the same.
I’m still trying to gage if I am riding drier on the Goldwing Bagger or the 5th Generation Goldwing tourer model. Even though I’ve ridden in the rain on the Goldwing Bagger I don’t think I have hit the extreme storm levels I experienced on the 2015 Goldwing.
Both bikes have the Klokwerks flared windshield. In the baggers case the windshield is adjustable to varying heights.
Winter riding
It doesn’t matter what the weather is I’ll be out riding. The one thing that is not so fun is washing the bike afterwards.
It seems the front of the engine area takes a lot of road grime from the front wheel. This is also why you can purchase a front fender extension kit. I’ll be looking into the Show Chrome product, I haven’t seen anyone else that offers the same kit.
After a bit more research I discovered there are rear fender side fillers too. I am aware of these for the Harley Davidson baggers but never heard of them made for a Goldwing.
Side by side baggers
I have to say these are a couple bad ass baggers. A 2002 Harley Davidson Softail Fatboy and a 2022 Honda Goldwing DCT.
If you know anything about old school Harley baggers and 6 generation Goldwing’s you would know these two sleds are so different in every way imaginable.
The only way you can ever know the difference and enjoy it, you need to own it. Reading about someone’s opinion online is not going to cut it.
I sometimes reads these guys on the forums responding to a post and they offer an opinion based on no experience. Yes, there are a few that do own several sleds but these guys are like me and just sort of lurk and be entertained.
The lighter material seat cover really stands out in this photo even though it’s not a focus point.
New sled in the stable
Marking this day (November 9, 2024). I purchased a 2022 GL1800 Goldwing Bagger. I supposed the official name would be 2022 GL1800BD DCT Non Touring.
I can’t believe the low miles it has and the condition it’s in. This will be the ultimate commuter sled.
I purchased at a NorCal motorcycle reseller located in Sacramento California.
My first ride on a DCT motorcycle was a short 60 mile run.
Fall is coming
When I leave for work it is still dark outside. It seems like summer came and went in a blink of an eye. We had stretches of super hot 100+ days but now that seems so long ago.
I don’t wear only a T-shirt on my ride home from work. I’m wearing the same upper body gear I left home with.
Wing Prep for the week
I washed up the sled in preparation for the workweek commute.
During the normal wash I check for anything that at be damaged. As luck would have it I found a nail dead center of the rear tire. I get so many flats throughout the year it’s not funny.
I’ll pop out the rear wheel when I have a chance and take it to the local tire shop for a plug and patch. Life of a ridah’.
Hot weather riding
During transition from the cooler weather to flat out hot I will tend to to not wear full gear that I would normally wear during the winter months.
For about 2 weeks I rode home wearing just a short sleeve shirt. This was under very hot conditions with the sun blasting me every mile I rode.
My arms are the only exposed skin parts minus a small section on my face that is not covered by the helmet.
You can see the intense redness after another hot 100+ temperature ride. My arm looks like it is swollen and very red in color.
My wifey and I purchased long sleeve shirts.
Motorcycle table lift
Picked up another hardware piece needed to secure a sled down. The adjustable base platform stabilizes the bike from the middle. This is used with the front straps.
The base jack is also used when the rear tire needs to be removed. At some point I will do a cutout on the rear side of the platform for a “drop down” access section.
I’ll be removing the cafe bike and loading up the Goldwing. The ignition crankshaft position center seems to be getting wonky and needs a new part installed.