When you think of a purpose-built touring motorcycle, BMW and Harley-Davidson and others have some iconic models, but no other bike has set the standard like the Honda Gold Wing. Now, in 2025, we are getting fiftieth anniversary models that celebrate five decades of comfort, technical excellence and reliability from Big Red’s big bike.
The original GL1000 that hit showrooms in 1975 was a liquid-cooled four-cylinder muscle bike that you could upgrade with a luggage package from Vetter. Over time, that luggage package became a factory option, and then it became standard kit on some models, while other machines were available without the fairing and bags. While the so-called “Standard” GL models went out of production in the mid-1980s with the GL1200 series, Honda has since built the Valkyrie and F6b and other models as a lower-trim, lighter-weight version of the Gold Wing—but the big-bore, fully-equipped machine is the one that most people recognize and respect.
The current Gold Wing is the sixth generation of this tourer, with major upgrades in 2018 and a steady stream of smaller changes ever since. A liquid-cooled flat six engine is standard now, with 1833cc capacity, with shaft drive and your choice of a standard six-speed gearbox or twist-and-go DCT transmission.
For 2025, there is no big mechanical update; Honda adds wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but there’s no new horsepower upgrade, no next-generation safety system, no suspension trickery. Not even new speakers. But there is special livery and badging available this year, and some buyers will get a coffee table book commemorating the bike’s run as well as a 3D 1:12 scale model of the bike, with a 1975 model on one side and a 2025 model on the other.
And if you happen to be at Daytona Bike Week, Honda also will have a special display about the machine there, and special activities marking its anniversary. Given that that’s a pretty low-key way to celebrate a milestone for one of their most important models, and that Daytona isn’t even three weeks away at this point, you’d think we’d see a bit more hype on this, but stay tuned, we’re told…
For 2025, Honda will sell the standard Gold Wing in Canada with your choice of six-speed or DCT gearbox. To celebrate its birthday, we get  “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.” Seems a bit underwhelming and low-budget, but some people will be impressed, no doubt. Available colours are different than the US market; we get Mat Ballistic Black Metallic in the base model, with $28,999 MSRP for the standard model, or $30,199 for the DCT model, plus taxes and fees.
Then we get the Gold Wing Tour. This comes in Bourdeaux Red Metallic or Eternal Gold as 50th anniversary colors and carrying that same badging as mentioned above, as well as a Digital Silver Metallic version that for some reason is not considered a 50th anniversary edition, and therefore carries no special badging.
2025 Gold Wing Tour
Honda’s flagship touring machine celebrates its Golden Anniversary with three new colors 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 Digital 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 Eternal Gold).
The Gold Wing Tour sells for $33,499 MSRP plus taxes and fees in its 50th anniversary trim; the DCT version of this bike jumps to $34,699, or you can save a few bucks by going with the non-anniversary model of the Gold Wing Tour DCT for $34,399. Or, get the airbag DCT version for $37,299. See more details at Honda’s Canadian website here.
