I don't really know why I feel the need to come clean about this, but I have to admit to the fact that I absolutely love completely over the top and outlandish machines such as the new Honda F6C. Don't get me wrong, I'm generally not a cruiser fan and I have never owned one, but there is just something about riding such an impressive looking bike with a massive engine that floats my boat. 'Serious' bikers may sneer. But come on, it's a flat-six engine with a simply stupid amount of torque, what's not to like?
Show it a corner and ... actually it's pretty good
The F6C takes off from where the Rune left off. Well kind of. Although the Rune was never officially imported into Europe, it did find its way over here through parallel importers. So rather than the new Valkyrie, I like to think of the F6C as the new Rune. So what have we got? Well basically the F6C is a stripped back Gold Wing with a new, lower, subframe. The engine is identical bar a bit of aural tuning in the exhaust system and so is the frame and swingarm. Which came as a bit of a surprise to me as I've never noticed the Gold Wing has a single sided swingarm before as it is always hidden behind a stack of panniers.
Honda claims the F6C is a performance cruiser, so we are talking a Rocket III and VMAX rival targeted at riders who simply want the biggest and most impressive motor in a great looking roadster. With its flat six engine making 123lb ft of torque and the kind of styling that screams 'look at me', on first impressions you have to say Honda has hit the mark. Although I reckon the black bike is a little too subdued, give me the cool metallic red paint option every time. But looks are only a small part of the whole F6C experience, this is a bike that is all about how it makes you feel. And on this score the Honda is a two-wheeled dose of steroids...
Vaguely retro style and sheer size stand out
That's a whole lot of bike!
Make no mistake, the F6C is a bloody big bike. Tipping the scales at a massive 341kg it may be 80kg less than the Gold Wing, but that doesn't mean it is any less imposing. When you sit on it you can't help but feel like you have shrunk as everything about the F6C is massive - the bars, tank, engine - hell, even the seat has roughly the same area as a football pitch! The net result of this size is that when you fire up the flat-six engine, you feel ready to take on the world and flatten anything that gets in your way.
Once rolling the F6C experience just keeps on getting better. Yes, it's a massive bike, but Honda has done such a great job when it comes to weight distribution that on the go the F6C doesn't feel like a barge. Ignore the limited ground clearance and you can actually hustle this bike through the bends. It doesn't flick on its side like smaller machines, it more rolls into turns with total stability and, short of Godzilla getting in the way, I can't see how anything on this earth could upset it mid-corner. For chilled out cruising it's an absolute joy, especially as the engine is so impressive.
Bike this big needs good brakes; F6C has 'em!
Honda hasn't altered the Gold Wing motor for the cruiser so you still get all of that simply wonderful flat-six power and torque. Stacked full of soul and spirit, you can't help but smile when you open the throttle and roar forward on a wave of smooth torque while the exhaust drones a refined note. The 'Wing's engine has to be experienced to be believed as it really is a stunning powerplant, easily capable of pulling top gear from as low as 20mph and almost turbine-like in its grunt. And. pleasingly for a bike of this style, Honda has actually armed it with brakes that work. You don't need to use a combination of both brakes to stop, despite not being linked (they are ABS equipped) the F6C's front stoppers are more than adequate on their own when it comes to halting this behemoth's forward progress.
It's a love/hate thing...
You'll have noticed I'm a fan of this kind of bike. Others, however, won't be. The F6C is only going to appeal to a certain type of rider and those that don't get, or like, this style of bike will view it as a ridiculous piece of over the top bling. I don't have a problem with that, each to their own. If like me, however, you appreciate what the F6C stands for you will absolutely love this bike. The lack of reverse gear and cruise control is a touch annoying, but to be honest I'd rather have the weight saving and associated handling benefits. The F6C is a real 'dream garage' machine, a bike to aspire to owning and if I ever win the lottery I'd be proud to have one parked next to my Ferrari, Porsche, YZF-R7, ride on lawn mower, hot tub full of Playboy bunnies...
2014 HONDA GOLDWING F6C
Engine: 1,832cc, flat-6
Power: 115@5,500rpm
Torque: 123lb ft@4,000rpm
Top speed: 120mph (est)
Weight: 341kg (wet)
MPG: 41 (claimed)
Price: £17,999