greenwald
New member
I am surprised that in reading all of this thread so many people laud the touring qualities of Harley's pricey "Glide" line, while so few have mentioned what I personally would consider the ultimate in cross country touring work: the Honda Goldwing. Unmatched build quality and proven reliability, plenty of dealer support, excellent weather protection, an ultra smooth six cylinder engine that also happens to be whisper quiet, low center of gravity for improved handling, every gadget you can imagine,( including an air bag on their top model), and passenger comfort that women on the back of Harleys can only dream of, that is a Goldwing.
All that being said, I must in all honesty say that the top of the line Harleys (probably $30,000 plus) seem to be designed for two people. If the original poster is still debating what to buy I would suggest he decide first if he wants to have company on those long tours. The choice of bike then narrows dramatically. Most BMWs (and it appears to be about 95% from the many pictures I see) are ridden by a single person. The rear seat is simply a platform for extra gear. This applies to airheads, oil, hex, cam, K, all of them. One person on front, then the back seat filled with camping gear, chair, tools, maybe a barbecue bucket, etc. Not much room for company back there. So it would seem that most BMW owners prefer to leave the wife at home. Of course for that I could probably load up a Honda 350 for a cross country trip and have just as much fun.
As the owner of a 2012 Gold Wing, you were "preaching to the choir" when I read your post. Ultimate comfort for two-up, tons of storage, great weather shielding, massive dealer network and ultra-reliable. It's everything you stated and then some.
But I think the OP was debating between the German brand and a V-twin, which is why Wings did not get a nod in this debate. There is really nothing in the BMW stable that can compare to the Wing, so no need for a 'contest.'
Ride what pleases you and meets your needs - brand doesn't matter.