Have to say goodbye to the best Forum ever!!

[K/W Motoman]

Well men I had to say goodbye to the F6B. I have had many bikes but couldn’t fall in love with this one.
Reasons:
1. Too frigg’n heavy. Pushing it around or in seat manuvering was way to hard. Sure wish it had reverse!
2. My precious bikes all had powered windshields and I really miss being able to lower and rise when I wanted to.
3. Finally the infamous “DRONE”. Spent an hour on the freeway and my head almost exploded. Please make it stop. It really is a issue and has to be addressed and not by earplugs.

As far as to what will replace the Wing. Who knows.

Great bike with some issues. Most have been addressed in this years model but I don’t know about the drone.

M.

[STRaider]

Don't know of any drone unless the pipes were replaced, but whatever. Good luck.

[Joflewbyu2]

That sounds odd. I have many bikes and find the F6BD very easy to walk around without a passenger and I am only 5’11” and 175 lbs. No drone with the excellent factory exhaust which is silent when cruising. The Honda factory accessory Tall Windscreen with Vent is great. No buffeting at highway speeds and Vent opening allows cooling and wind dispersion up and over actually improving the pocket.

Can’t help you with leg strength but wonder what droning exhaust you had and what windshield.

Well men I had to say goodbye to the F6B. I have had many bikes but couldn’t fall in love with this one.
Reasons:
1. Too frigg’n heavy. Pushing it around or in seat manuvering was way to hard. Sure wish it had reverse!
2. My precious bikes all had powered windshields and I really miss being able to lower and rise when I wanted to.
3. Finally the infamous “DRONE”. Spent an hour on the freeway and my head almost exploded. Please make it stop. It really is a issue and has to be addressed and not by earplugs.

As far as to what will replace the Wing. Who knows.

Great bike with some issues. Most have been addressed in this years model but I don’t know about the drone.

M.

[Verismo]

If you've never experienced a legitimate drone, it is an unbelievable nuisance. I test rode a 2013 that had one. I bought a 2016 that doesn't. A constant resonant frequency is headache inducing water torture. Like amplified unceasing tinnitus, except in the case of the B, instead of a high resonant frequency, it's low enough to fill your whole head. I don't know if it's endemic to the earlier models or if it's bike specific. But if mine had it and I couldn't fix it by changing the exhaust, then I would be selling it, too. As to it being too heavy, I guess I can understand. It's a full figured bike. But to me she handles SO easily. Love the low center of gravity and horizontally opposed engine. And Ergomot makes an electric wind screen setup for a pretty penny. So does Windbender. I'm thinking of adding the Ergomot to my Mad5tad so I can run a lower screen all the time.

Anyway, bikes are usually about enjoyment rather than practicality in our fortunate country, so if you're not maximally satisfied, then ALL THE BEST in whatever bike you find. When you decide, you should put in 1,000 miles or so and come back and talk about pros and cons. It's always good to hear about differentiation. Take care!!!

Jason

[Kokomo Kevin]

Not sure what year he had but my 13 is silky quiet with factory exhaust, Now my 98 Valk with Viking Exhaust might sound a little like a Porsche on steroids!

[wjduke]

I've mentioned this long ago, but I do experience drone on my 15 with my Shoie full face helmet only. It's the RF1200. Only between speeds of say 45-65 or so. Slower, nothing, faster nothing. I live with it because I love the bike and am not about to spend hundreds looking for another helmet. I try to wear my Bell Pit Boss as much as possible. It's just something with my head shape and that helmet.

[STRaider]

If you've never experienced a legitimate drone, it is an unbelievable nuisance. I test rode a 2013 that had one. I bought a 2016 that doesn't. A constant resonant frequency is headache inducing water torture. Like amplified unceasing tinnitus, except in the case of the B, instead of a high resonant frequency, it's low enough to fill your whole head. I don't know if it's endemic to the earlier models or if it's bike specific. But if mine had it and I couldn't fix it by changing the exhaust, then I would be selling it, too. As to it being too heavy, I guess I can understand. It's a full figured bike. But to me she handles SO easily. Love the low center of gravity and horizontally opposed engine. And Ergomot makes an electric wind screen setup for a pretty penny. So does Windbender. I'm thinking of adding the Ergomot to my Mad5tad so I can run a lower screen all the time.

Anyway, bikes are usually about enjoyment rather than practicality in our fortunate country, so if you're not maximally satisfied, then ALL THE BEST in whatever bike you find. When you decide, you should put in 1,000 miles or so and come back and talk about pros and cons. It's always good to hear about differentiation. Take care!!!

Jason

I have a 2013. I experienced serious, unimaginable, and unbearable drone when I put some Rush 4" pipes on. I had them on 30 minutes and took them off and sold them. My 2013 with the stock exhaust doesn't have any drone. I just put a Ma&%$t shield on, and all I can hear is road noise now. I wear a full face helmet most of the time, though. I wish the bike had a little rumble or something when I wear a half or 3/4 helmet. I don't like the road noise and clanking noises I hear on the road, so I listen to music via bluetooth in my helmet, but I don't have any drone issues.

[soupbean]

K/W Motoman.., two bikes I would seriously consider if I had to replace my “B” would be the Africa Twin or Crosstourer 1200 X. But they aren’t offered with cruise..., maybe a new FJR..

[2015F6B]

If you've never experienced a legitimate drone, it is an unbelievable nuisance. I test rode a 2013 that had one. I bought a 2016 that doesn't. A constant resonant frequency is headache inducing water torture. Like amplified unceasing tinnitus, except in the case of the B, instead of a high resonant frequency, it's low enough to fill your whole head.

My 2015 drone was even worse than you describe. I was ready to sell the bike after the first 4K miles. I removed the stock black exhaust and installed a chrome set of mufflers from a 2014 that I had the opportunity to purchase (heat shield and tips included for $200 total). Wha-Lah . . . drone completely gone! ! ! I still have the bike now with 40K miles and it's the best bike I've ever owned - but you're correct, the drone with the stock exhaust was horrible. I know that many members on this forum haven't experienced what we're talking about but believe me it really exists on some bikes.

[Kokomo Kevin]

As a former employee in a GM Assembly plant, I wonder if there was not some kind of defect in some of these. I cant imagine Honda changing much in the exhaust design over the run on these bikes.
Does anyone know of these complaints on the Gold wing forums? Not suggesting drone was not there, but really wondering what differences were in the stock systems, year to year.