Honda Gold Wing vs Yamaha Fjr1300
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Gold Wing vs Yamaha Fjr1300. Honda Gold Wing: 126 hp @ 5,500 rpm (2018+ GL1800) hp, 383 kg (curb weight, 2018+ GL1800 with DCT and airbag; base manual approx. 365 kg) weight, top speed 180–200 km/h (electronically influenced; est. ~190 km/h for GL1800), Motoryk rating 8.5/10. Yamaha Fjr1300: 146 hp @ 8,000 rpm hp, 289 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 250 km/h (electronically limited), Motoryk rating 8.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Honda Gold Wing
Yamaha Fjr1300
Horsepower (hp)
126 hp
146 hp
Torque (Nm)
170 Nm
138 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
180 km/h
250 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
383 kg
289 kg
Type
Touring
Touring
Horsepower
126 hp @ 5,500 rpm (2018+ GL1800)
146 hp @ 8,000 rpm
Torque
170 Nm @ 4,500 rpm (2018+ GL1800)
138 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
Top Speed
180–200 km/h (electronically influenced; est. ~190 km/h for GL1800)
250 km/h (electronically limited)
Weight
383 kg (curb weight, 2018+ GL1800 with DCT and airbag; base manual approx. 365 kg)
289 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.0–7.0 L/100km (approximately 14–17 km/L, based on 2018+ GL1800 real-world average)
6.0–7.0 L/100km (typical real-world average)
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
Honda Gold Wing
8.5/10
"The gold standard in touring bikes, if you can handle the weight."
Pros
+Bulletproof Honda reliability record
+Unmatched long-haul comfort
+DCT transmission genuinely clever
Cons
−Punishing weight in slow traffic
−Expensive tire replacements
−Common tip-over fairing damage
Yamaha Fjr1300
8.8/10
"The benchmark sports tourer that absolutely nothing has made obsolete."
Pros
+Engine pulls endlessly, everywhere
+Shaft drive, zero chain fuss
+AE electronic suspension is superb
Cons
−Shaft splines need regular greasing
−Stock seat brutalises after 200 miles
−Heavy at slow urban speeds
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
