F6B or Full Wing...?

[opas ride]

This is where I don't want to find myself in a couple years. I'm already thinking this will be my final bike... and I really don't want to be ditching a two or three year old F6B and taking the depreciation hit I'm seeing others take right now... and then finding myself shopping for a full wing. I don't particularly need the latest model... design wise... to be happy. So I'm not going to hold out for the next generation Gold Wing (since nothing changed for 2017).

Now it does leave me wondering when is the best time to deal. The current Honda incentives expire on December 31st... does that mean that the end of December is the best time to buy? I know that dealers often want to close their year with last minute sales to get their numbers up (I got a couple great deals on new cars this way). Or does that mean that larger incentives may happen after the first of the year? Especially on what is now last years bike.

I'm not in any hurry, and the weather for riding is only getting colder now, so this should be a great time to deal.
We'll see.

If you don't have a trade and can arrange financing or have the cash ready this time of year, if you live in winter climates, is a great time to buy a bike..Most dealers don't want inventory just sitting over the winter on the sales floor and are generally willing to accept any decent deal....If you buy a 2017 Goldwing now, just don't get at yourself if Honda offers a new generation model that is rumored to be coming as an 2018 model sometime early next year......Good luck

[JMartin]

If you don't have a trade and can arrange financing or have the cash ready this time of year, if you live in winter climates, is a great time to buy a bike..Most dealers don't want inventory just sitting over the winter on the sales floor and are generally willing to accept any decent deal....If you buy a 2017 Goldwing now, just don't get at yourself if Honda offers a new generation model that is rumored to be coming as an 2018 model sometime early next year......Good luck

I can be an all cash deal, or I can do some financing... I'm in a good position. I don't mind carrying a little on finance if it makes the deal go more in my favor. Sometimes they will drop the price even more if they know they're going to make some money over time on the financing as well. You don't always get the best deal just because you can pay full cash. Besides, under the current personal situation that I'm in, I might want to keep some of that cash on hand in case I need it for other expenses. But if I go that route, I'll put enough skin into the game that I can negotiate the best finance rate on the balance... hopefully.

I'll part with my current 2003 ST1100P once I get the new bike, but I'm sure I'll do better on the open market next spring... and that can wait. I doubt seriously that they would give me much for it on trade. It's just another option.

It would take some pretty incredible features on a 2018 (or whenever this imaginary next-gen Wing gets released), to make me wait, or cause me to have remorse.

I think. (Says he, who only caught this fever back in September ).

[DTOM]

Alright guys... thank you so much for your input and opinions. At the moment, I'm leaning heavily toward the F6B again. White, of course... which pretty much forces me to the 2016. PilotGuy, your pictures are awesome... I just love that White/Black look. White over Black has been a trademark look for me most of my life and with several vehicles. Even my current ride is an ex-Pasadena Police bike.

For the stock F6b however, these items are a must:

Touring Rack
The stock rear rack is pitiful. Plus I already bought a TourMaster Tail Bag, where my Tent and several other items will reside, so I'll need a larger rack to handle this bag. The bike I rented had this rack on it. I like the design and looks of it over the other tubular type racks available.

Saddlebag Liners
Already bought these too. Have one of them packed with goodies already (Tool Kit, Tire Kit, Stove, Propane, Tarp, First Aid Kit, Hammock, and other necessities). The other will be for clothing and the likes. I want to be able to pull into a hotel/motel and just grab the one bag and go.

Madstad Windscreen
Although I don't really care for the bracketry hanging off it... it does work very well. This was also on the bike I spent a day on. Very effective. I may look at, and try, others that are more sleek and look better... I just don't want to go through 5 or 6 windshields just to settle on one.

Lighting
Filling in the factory lighting location seems a requirement for me. Something in LED's would be my preference. I also like the idea of the Badge accent lights, but don't know if I like the "brighter than the headlights" look or the "white/yellow" turn signal functionality. And if I do end up with White... then switching out to the clear turn signal lenses with switchback LED's is likely also. (I tried to link to some, but the URL gets squashed by the forum software... apparently they have to be supporting vendors).

Other than those specific items, I'm sure I would consider the F6B a perfect bike. Especially if it already has Cruise Control. I want Cruise more to keep my speeds under control than I am worried about hand fatigue or anything like that. Most of my street bikes have had some form of throttle lock, but I've never experienced a true electronic cruise control on a bike. I love the torque and thrust that the 1800cc Flat Six puts out, but I'm afraid it will constantly creep up on me over distance, and I've kept my driving record clean since giving up my 1978 Black TransAm back in my teen years.

Just thinkin' out loud.

Jim


[Holy Smokes... just got off the scale this morning... 215.8... less than a pound to go!!! Wooohoooooo!!!]

Sounds like you should go with the white/black...I love the look too. I was looking at that color at one of the dealerships here, but they weren't interested in competing with the deals I found online. Silver/black it was!

[JMartin]

Sounds like you should go with the white/black...I love the look too. I was looking at that color at one of the dealerships here, but they weren't interested in competing with the deals I found online. Silver/black it was!

Alright, you're going to make me break out the mock up (my daughter - the fashion plate - was teasing me about this picture I made it several weeks ago).

I already wear the Nolan N104 helmet (I LOVE this helmet... most comfortable I've ever owned).
I also have the Cortech VRX Air Jacket (chose the White/Black/Red because I was riding my Red PC800 at the time of purchase).
and I have the Cortech HDX3 Gloves (comfortable... for summer gloves anyway).

So I took some Manufacturers Images from their websites, in many different color options and overlaid them above the White F6B in approximate scale.
I believe I finally decided on this:

Attachment 24767
I'm almost always in Black Denim Jeans and have some nice black Speed and Strength Boots to finish the ensemble' (so to speak).

I decided I'd have a simple Red Reflective Stripe added to each rim, just to tie things together. (Sloppy image edit job, but again... it was just a mock up).

Does it give me that Super-Hero look?

Jim


[I'm putting waaaaay to much thought into this ]

[jm21ddd15]

Test ride the two bikes. However, all the dealers around here, Wi, have already moved the cycles to their warehouse, and the showrooms are full of snowmobiles and ATVs. You may have to take a southern vacation to get test rides, as you are from Mi. So, what's more fun than a vacation to test ride cycles! My thoughts are, if you truly ride solo, 95% of the time, the 6 will do perfect!

[JMartin]

Test ride the two bikes. However, all the dealers around here, Wi, have already moved the cycles to their warehouse, and the showrooms are full of snowmobiles and ATVs. You may have to take a southern vacation to get test rides, as you are from Mi. So, what's more fun than a vacation to test ride cycles! My thoughts are, if you truly ride solo, 95% of the time, the 6 will do perfect!

Well... actually, I'm here in California... about 40 miles south of the "Bay Area." I have never seen a snow-mobile in any dealership in the bay area. ATV's, yes, but snow-mobiles.... uh, no. You've got to head to altitude (Tahoe, Reno, Mammoth, Etc...) to find snow-mobiles in this state.

As for the test ride, I did get a chance back in September to spend the day on a 2013 F6B and had an absolute blast. My review and thread about the trip is here if anyone is interested. It was this trip that gave me the fever and made me decide to lose 40 pounds before jumping in and buying one. It was also this self inflicted "delay of instant gratification" time that has caused my eyes (and mind) to wander toward the possibility of a Full Wing. My friends here on the forum (such as yourself) are helping me get my head back on straight.

Jim

[pilotguy299]

Alright, you're going to make me break out the mock up (my daughter - the fashion plate - was teasing me about this picture I made it several weeks ago).

I already wear the Nolan N104 helmet (I LOVE this helmet... most comfortable I've ever owned).
I also have the Cortech VRX Air Jacket (chose the White/Black/Red because I was riding my Red PC800 at the time of purchase).
and I have the Cortech HDX3 Gloves (comfortable... for summer gloves anyway).

So I took some Manufacturers Images from their websites, in many different color options and overlaid them above the White F6B in approximate scale.
I believe I finally decided on this:

Attachment 24767
I'm almost always in Black Denim Jeans and have some nice black Speed and Strength Boots to finish the ensemble' (so to speak).

I decided I'd have a simple Red Reflective Stripe added to each rim, just to tie things together. (Sloppy image edit job, but again... it was just a mock up).

Does it give me that Super-Hero look?

Jim


[I'm putting waaaaay to much thought into this ]

Dude, you are freakishly tall and gots no legs! lol

[JMartin]

Dude, you are freakishly tall and gots no legs! lol

hmmmm.... I'm standing on the Left foot peg... and wearing white pants?
Yeah, that's it.

[DTOM]

Alright, you're going to make me break out the mock up (my daughter - the fashion plate - was teasing me about this picture I made it several weeks ago).

I already wear the Nolan N104 helmet (I LOVE this helmet... most comfortable I've ever owned).
I also have the Cortech VRX Air Jacket (chose the White/Black/Red because I was riding my Red PC800 at the time of purchase).
and I have the Cortech HDX3 Gloves (comfortable... for summer gloves anyway).

So I took some Manufacturers Images from their websites, in many different color options and overlaid them above the White F6B in approximate scale.
I believe I finally decided on this:

Attachment 24767
I'm almost always in Black Denim Jeans and have some nice black Speed and Strength Boots to finish the ensemble' (so to speak).

I decided I'd have a simple Red Reflective Stripe added to each rim, just to tie things together. (Sloppy image edit job, but again... it was just a mock up).

Does it give me that Super-Hero look? .

[I'm putting waaaaay to much thought into this ]

Lol...yeah probably too much thought. These bikes (or any bikes for that matter) are fun to look at, but I don't think I've ever thought about the color of my bike while I'm riding. No matter what color you decide on...you will love it mostly because of how awesome the ride is. Go get her!

[motozeke]

Congrats on the weight loss, Jim! I'm betting the way you feel now is better than any motorcycle upgrade you can imagine. You can't buy physical fitness, you have to earn it!