Honda Gold Wing Dyno Review: Unlocking Hidden Performance

Honda Gold Wing Dyno / Handheld Review

In 2024, Honda initiated a recall of three motorcycle models, including the GL1800 Gold Wing, covering model years 2018 to 2020, due to a critical issue with the fuel pump impeller. This component, integral to the motorcycle's fuel delivery system, was found to be defective, potentially leading to reduced engine performance and responsiveness. This defect could explain why riders, including us during our Honda Gold Wing dyno / handheld review, noticed the bike felt underpowered and underwhelming.

So, we did the World's First OBD Flash on the 2018-2024 Gold Wing GL1800 with BT Moto's at home flash kit and discovered some fascinating tweaks. These adjustments can significantly boost performance, making a noticeable difference in the bike's responsiveness and power output. There’s a lot more to share about what we found. 

2018 Honda Gold Wing GL1800 Stock Tuning Review

Exploring the various riding modes on the 2018 Honda Gold Wing GL1800 revealed distinct differences. In Tour mode, we noticed slightly more power than in Eco and Rain modes, while Sport mode delivered the highest power due to its transmission control module (TCM) holding gears longer and offering a more direct throttle response. Many riders, however, find the throttle in Sport mode quite jerky; during our test ride, aggressive throttling confirmed this—it was indeed very jerky, with the normal gear shifting feeling overly aggressive.

So, we hit the road in Sport mode to test out just how jarring it could get. True to the complaints, it was super jerky, with gear shifts that felt too harsh for comfort, though the power was undeniably impressive. Wanting to harness the power of Sport with the smoother transmission and shifting of Tour mode led us to experiment with an OBD flash. We aimed to test these adjustments on a Dyno to quantitatively assess any improvements in performance. The goal was to achieve a blend of power and finesse that riders are looking for.

We pushed the Honda Gold Wing Tour GL1800 to its limits in Sport mode and encountered the top speed limiter at a very definite 105 mph. It's like hitting a wall—you know there's potential beyond it, and that's exactly where we want to go with our testing and tuning.

Despite this, the Gold Wing still pulls impressively fast for a touring bike. The stock acceleration from 20 to 100 mph is pretty decent. 

However, at BT Moto, our goal is always to squeeze every bit of performance out of the machine. And with our advanced flashing techniques, we aimed to bypass these factory-set limitations and unlock a new level of speed and smoothness, really maximizing what this powerhouse can do on the open road.

Honda Gold Wing GL1800 Dyno Testing Results

With the 2018 Honda Gold Wing GL1800 strapped to the dyno, we kicked off with a standard stock test to get the baseline numbers. Once we dialed in some tweaks, the changes were pretty dramatic. We managed to squeeze out an extra 15 wheel horsepower peak-to-peak. Alongside that, we spiced things up by adding some timing, cranking up the RPMs for a beefier power band, smoothing out the throttle response, and toning down a bunch of issues that riders often gripe about—like that annoying jerkiness.

Furthermore, we successfully eliminated the 105 mph speed limiter, unlocking the potential for speeds exceeding 125 mph where we found the bike was out of HP and aerodynamics. The dyno chart results were striking, revealing substantial gains across the spectrum. An important feature of the BT Moto Flash is that it allows the throttle to open fully, regardless of the selected riding mode, ensuring maximum performance at all times. 

And since it was essential to validate these enhancements under real-world conditions, we took the newly optimized Gold Wing to the road.

Honda Gold Wing GL1800 BT Moto Tuning Results

After the BT Moto Flash, we took the Honda Gold Wing GL1800 for a 40-mile spin in Tour mode to test the waters. It quickly became our new go-to setting. With all the peak horsepower and peak torque we unlocked, Tour mode now feels a lot like Sport used to, minus—you guessed it—the jerkiness. The throttle was noticeably smoother than the stock version, and even Sport mode didn't throw as many fits as before. It still had a bit of a jerk to it, but it was more of a single smooth punch rather than the continuous shudder we were used to.

In Sport mode, where taking off had previously been a teeth-rattler, we noticed a significant improvement. The bike was still spirited but not nearly as rough. The transmission flowed smoother, and even the downshifts had just a hint of clunk—nothing like the jarring thuds from before.

By the way, Sport mode packs a bigger punch thanks to the aggressive factory-set transmission tuning, which we don't touch. We cranked the RPMs higher to expand the power band. But here’s the kicker: to really tap into that additional 500 RPM and get the mid-range boost, you need to switch the bike to manual mode—auto just won't cut it.

With the higher RPMs, the bike not only feels stronger in the mid-range but also sounds more aggressive. Riding it, you can really feel—and hear—the difference. The mid-range punch is notably stronger compared to the stock, and there’s a stark contrast at the top end too.

Additionally, we put the Honda Gold Wing GL1800 through its paces with a BT Moto flash 20-100 mph test to see if the upgrades really kicked in. Rolling in Tour mode, the results were pretty loud and clear: the BT Moto Flashed Gold Wing clocked in almost 2 seconds faster than with stock tuning.

And the cherry on top? We completely ditched that speed limiter. When we switched over to manual and cranked it up in Sport mode, the bike smoothly broke past 100 mph, hit 110 mph, and soared all the way up to almost 125 mph. Customers have reported 128 mph where the bike is out of aerodynamics and power from our testing. A light rider down hill may see more.

The Key Takeaways

In a nutshell, if you're a Gold Wing owner, you've been missing out on some serious smoothness and mid-range oomph that this upgrade can bring. Let's face it, the bike could definitely use a bit more pep. Between the sluggish top speed limiter and a throttle map that feels a bit numb, giving your reliable Gold Wing a performance boost can really transform the ride. With enhanced throttle response in each mode and ditching that annoying top speed limiter, you're in for a much more enjoyable ride.

Best part? You get all these perks without losing out on fuel economy, messing with emissions, or sacrificing the bike’s solid reliability. 

So, if you have any questions related to Gold Wings or Flashing, please feel free to contact our expert at BT Moto. We'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.