There are some terms that have infiltrated the modern motorcycle language that I wish never had. One is electronic rider aids, which always sounds to me like a terrible affliction you might get from a dirty plug socket, and another is the term bagger.
It's a big old beast this bagger look Gold Wing
I know Americans use bagger to describe stripped back tourers that come without huge screens and top boxes, but does anyone else feel it could be applied to something George Michael might get caught doing in a public toilet in Beverly Hills?
Anyway. The F6B is a fairly standard bagger. Honda has taken its excellent Gold Wing, removed the top box, chopped the screen and created a lighter and more custom styled cruiser aimed at younger riders. Amazingly enough, by junking the top box alone Honda saved 20kg, once the reverse gear and a few other bits and bobs were added to the scrap pile, it managed to get the F6B to weigh in at 385kg, which is 28kg less than a Gold Wing. Can you spot the difference when you ride it? If I'm 100 per cent honest, not really...
Peg to road interfaces never far away
The F6B is far more of a styling exercise than a new model and it doesn't feel that different to a Gold Wing. When you sit on it the riding position is very much 'wing and you are surrounded by the usual bamboozling array of buttons. To be honest I was a bit disappointed to find the stereo system is pretty old-school and requires you to plug in your iPhone rather than connect via Bluetooth like the CTX1300. Also, the lack of cruise control was a let down.
It may be stripped back, but the F6B is still a hell of an expensive bike aimed at tourers and cruise control and a modern sound system are pretty essential items. That said, the stereo is a decent bit of kit and happily pumps out your music so that all around can appreciate it. Above 60mph it starts to get disrupted by the wind noise as the tiny screen is pretty ineffective, but below this figure it is extremely clear with a good sound quality.
Better when upright on straight roads...
Hit the open highway and the F6B is typically 'wing comfortable. The seating position is relaxed, the bars nicely spaced and the flat-six engine hardly stressed at all. If you want to cover gentle miles at a steady pace the F6B is more than happy, however up the speed and the lack of a proper screen is a bit annoying. I'm not sure why Honda even bothered with the cut-down item as it makes next to no difference to the airflow, but I guess that's the bagger style. And speaking of bags, the panniers are nice and spacious with a secure feeling locking system, which isn't much of a surprise as they appear identical to the Gold Wing units. Accessing them is a little annoying as you have to unlock them via a key hole in the tail of the bike. Quite a few modern tourers have central locking; why hasn't Honda thought of fitting this to the F6B?
Bagger or not, some carrying space retained
The F6B is a strange bike. I understand that Honda want it to appeal to a different market, but the alterations it has made to the excellent Gold Wing to create this bagger have made the F6B a more compromised bike. If I were covering any distance I'd want to fit a taller screen and possibly more luggage capacity, in which case you might as well buy a Gold Wing! Then there is the price tag. How many younger riders can afford a 'wing? Very few, which is why they are generally owned by more mature riders. In this context, how are they meant to afford an F6B at £19,999?
I don't want to sound too negative about the F6B as it is a really good bike and if you like the style and want a Gold Wing with a modern look then it's a superb choice. But while baggers may have their place on American highways, I'm not 100 per cent sure this translates to the road networks outside the USA or riding tastes of non-Stateside riders.
2014 HONDA GOLD WING F6B
Engine: 1,832cc flat-6
Power (hp): 115@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 125@4,000rpm
Top speed: 120mph (est)
Weight: 385kg (wet)
MPG: 42 (claimed)
Price: £19,999