Honda Gold Wing GL1800 (6th gen, 2018+) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the 2018+ Honda Gold Wing of all trims (GL, DCT, Tour etc.). The Gold Wing is also known as the GL1800. The 2018+ model is also known as the 6th gen informally, or sometimes just as the “‘Wing” by its legions of fans.
The Honda Gold Wing is a series of touring motorcycles manufactured by Honda since 1975, though obviously a few things have changed since then — but it has always been a boxer engine-powered shaft-driven motorcycle with large engine displacement. The previous generation 5th gen Gold Wing ran from 2001 to 2017 without fundamental changes to the engine and drivetrain.
The Honda Gold Wing remains a full-featured bagger or tourer (depending on your configuration) with a horizontally-opposed 1833 cc six-cylinder engine and a shaft drive. It comes with luggage, and a dizzying array of features and options.
While the engine in the 6th-gen Gold Wing may seem at first blush similar to the previous gen, its 1833 cc displacement engine has a different bore and stroke from the previous (73 x 73 mm vs , 74 x 71) and has a host of other internal changes that make it a unique generation of engine.
The 2018+ 6th gen Gold Wing comes in a variety of trim levels, including GL, GL DCT, GL Tour, GL Tour DCT, and GL Tour DCT A/B. These all have the same basic maintenance schedule.
Originally published Nov 28, 2020, but updated considerably since.
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Honda Gold Wing Service Intervals
Despite the change in the engine vs the 5th then, the 6th gen Gold Wing has the same quite wide service intervals — though not as wide as the previous gen for valve clearance checks.
The Gold Wing 6th gen has 8000 mile / 12800 km or year-long service intervals between oil changes.
Change the spark plugs at 16000 miles / 25600 km, and check the valve clearances at 24000 miles / 38400 km.
There are a couple of differences between maintenance of clutch and DCT models. On DCT models, you have to periodically replace the clutch oil filter. There are a couple of other minor things you should check on each version of the bike too.
The Gold Wing has a shaft drive, so while there’s no chain maintenance, you do have to replace the shaft drive fluid.
What you need to service your 2018+ Honda Gold Wing (6th gen)
So, you’re going to service your own premium touring motorcycle are you? Well, you’re awesome!
While many owners (not all) of the latest Gold Wing will take their bike to the mechanic for the hard stuff like valve service, here are the basic consumables you need to keep your Gold Wing in great condition.
| Part | 2018+ Honda Gold Wing 6th Gen spec |
|---|---|
| Engine Oil | The manual suggests Pro Honda GN4 or another API classification SG or higher SAE10W-30 JASO T 903 standard MA motorcycle oil. |
| Oil filter | Honda uses the same oil filter as many Honda motorcycles, part 15410-MFJ-D01. You can use it or a Hiflofiltro HF204RC, a high-quality replacement. |
| Spark plug | The standard spark plug is an NGK CR6HSB-9, gapped to 0.8-0.9 mm. |
| Coolant | Honda recommends Pro Honda coolant, a 50% premix solution. |
| Air filter | The OEM part number for the air filter is 17210-MKC-A00. You could go aftermarket, but OEM is what most owners recommend to guarantee longevity. |
| Final gear oil (for shaft drive) | Honda requires Hypoid gear oil SAE 80, e.g. Pro Honda Shaft Drive Oil. |
| Clutch oil filter (DCT models) | Use part 15412-MGS-D21 to replace the clutch oil filter. |
| Brake and clutch fluid | You can use many types, but Honda DOT 4 is the one recommended. |
2018+ Honda Gold Wing 6th gen Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the 2018+ Gold Wing 6th gen.
Maintenance Legend:
- I: Inspect (clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace, if necessary)
- C: Clean
- R: Replace
Notes:
- There’s no specific break-in period for the Honda Gold Wing GL1800.
- At higher odometer readings, repeat at the frequency interval established here.
- The maintenance schedule is re-ordered slightly, with common items at the top.
- The manual recommends you get steering head bearings and wheels/tyres replaced by a mechanic. Other stuff (yes, even the valve service!) can be done by a competent home mechanic with the right tools.
| x 1000 mi | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x 1000 km | 6.4 | 12.8 | 19.2 | 25.6 | 32 | 38.4 | Notes |
| Engine Oil (Pro Honda GN4) | R | R | R | Replace every 1 year | |||
| Engine Oil Filter (HF204RC) | R | R | |||||
| Air Cleaner | R | Check / replace more often if riding in dust / rain | |||||
| Spark Plug (CR6HSB-9) | R | ||||||
| Valve Clearance | I | ||||||
| Fuel Line | I | I | I | ||||
| Throttle Operation | I | I | I | ||||
| Clutch Oil Filter (DCT models) part 15412-MGS-D21 | R | R | |||||
| Engine Idle Speed | I | I | I | ||||
| Radiator Coolant (Honda Coolant) | I | I | I | Replace every 3 years | |||
| Cooling System | I | I | I | ||||
| Final Drive Oil | Replace every 3 years | ||||||
| Brake Fluid (Honda DOT 4) | I | I | I | I | I | I | Replace every 2 years |
| Brake Pads Wear | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Brake System | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Light Switch | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Lock Operation (DCT models) | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Headlight Aim | I | I | I | ||||
| Clutch System (GL1800/B) | I | I | I | ||||
| Clutch Fluid (Non-DCT) (Honda DOT 4) | I | I | I | I | I | I | Replace every 2 years |
| Reverse Operation (Non-DCT) | I | I | I | ||||
| Side Stand | I | I | I | ||||
| Suspension | I | I | I | ||||
| Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners | I | I | I | ||||
| Wheels/Tires | I | I | I | ||||
| Steering Head Bearings | I | I | I | ||||
| Crankcase Breather | C | C | C | C | C | C | |
| Secondary Air Supply System | I | ||||||
| Evaporative Emission Control System | I |
Honda Gold Wing — Trim levels
In the original manual they use trim levels to specify which maintenance items are needed for which versions.
You’ll see some terms for trim levels for the Honda Goldwing in the manual, here’s what they mean:
- GL1800B — Base model, 6-speed
- GL1800BD: Base DCT model (US only, according to the manual)
- GL800 — Tour 6 speed model
- GL1800D — Tour DCT model
- GL1800DA — Tour DCT air bag model
Basically, B means base, D means DCT, A means Airbag.
The main difference is that
- Reverse: On the DCT model, the reverse power for the bike is provided by the engine. On the six-speed model, power comes from the starter motor.
- Clutch oil filter: This is for the DCT model only.
Tyre size and tyre pressure for the 6th gen Honda Gold Wing
The 2018+ Honda Gold Wing 6th gen has the following tyres and tyre sizes standard:
| Tyre | Size | Tyre pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 130/70R18M/C 63H | 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.50 bar) |
| Rear | 200/55R16M/C 77H | 41 psi (280 kPa, 2.80 bar) |
The stock 6th gen ships with Bridgestone G853/852 touring tyres or Dunlop D423 touring tyres.
About the 2018+ Honda Gold Wing GL1800 6th gen
The Gold Wing is a Honda motorcycle series that has dominated the touring bike world for decades. It’s a fantastic bike for sitting on and riding a very long distance… and maybe even falling asleep on (if you’re the passenger).
Like all its predecessors, the 6th gen Honda Gold Wing is a full-featured touring bike with an ultra-smooth horizontally opposed engine and a shaft drive.
But the 2018+ Gold Wing is a bit of a change for the classic tourer’s brand.
Rather than replacing the regular “Gold Wing”, the new Honda Gold Wing for 2018 replaces the Honda Gold Wing F6B conceptually, not so much the previous 5th Generation Gold Wing (which was the full-fat tourer with every option). This can be seen as a a rebranding exercise. The Gold Wing used to be massive, but the F6B was smaller — the new Wing is smaller in the same vein.
To get the full-sized tourer complete with rear back rest, you need to spring for the Gold Wing Tour option. And still, the luggage is a little smaller — anathema to many a ‘Wing owner.
The 6th gen Honda Gold Wing comes in lots of varieties. Here they are in a nutshell:
| Model | Base | Base DCT | Tour | Tour DCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen size | Short | Short | Tall | Tall |
| Transmission | 6-speed | 7-speed DCT | 6-speed | 7-speed DCT |
| Reverse mode | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Top box / rear rest | Optional | Optional | Yes | Yes |
| Heated seat | Yes | Yes | ||
| Rear speakers | None | None | 2 | 2 |
| Electronically adjustable suspension | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Airbag | No | No | No | Option |
The differences between models do mean some maintenance items are different. Most notably, on the DCT models there’s no clutch fluid to change, and a different transmission fluid change procedure.
In terms of engine, the 2018 Honda Gold Wing’s engine is also all new. The 1833 cc displacement looks similar numerically to 1832, but the new engine has a different bore and stroke — now it’s a square 73 x 73 mm in every cylinder, with a 1mm smaller bore and 2mm longer stroke.
The 2018+ 6th gen Gold Wing has a four-valve-per-cylinder six-cylinder engine, though it’s still a Unicam design. Honda lightened the crankshaft, making it out of high-strength SCM440H steel alloy, to make the engine slightly more revvy.
Honda made a host of changes to make the 6th gen’s flat-six engine lighter and smaller, including using a cam design from Honda’s CRF450R, which also let Honda remove the valve lifter support structure. Honda also relocated the crankshaft position sensor to let the engine become shorter. Overall, they reduced the weight by 6.2 kg (13.7 lb).
Honda also changed the intake and exhaust, reducing the throttle body size and throttle bodies from two to one (a change from much earlier days of the ‘Wing when there used to be one carburettor per cylinder!).
Honda also made some interesting changes to the front suspension, introducing twin forked arm suspension, which they call “Double Wishbone”. There are two arms that pivot from the frame and carry the front end. Suspension is via a single shock absorber, just like on the rear suspension.
Why did Honda change to a double wishbone / single shock setup? For similar reasons to why BMW has used comparable systems for years: it works better for high-speed compression, so bumps are more easily absorbed, and because it helps remove dive as the geometry of the bike changes during compression.
On the Honda Gold Wing, Honda set up the suspension for zero dive — during suspension travel, the wheel travels straight up and down (vertically with respect to the ground surface).
Another benefit of the Honda suspension design is easier steering. Many people who jump on a heavy ‘Wing are surprised at how easy they are to pilot at low or high speeds. Because the single shock design has much more centralised mass, it has much less inertia, which makes for much lighter and more precise steering.
Honda’s new Gold Wing also has a 6-speed transmission (up from 5), and for the first time, optional DCT (which actually has 7 gears).
Manual for the 2018+ Honda Gold Wing 6th Gen
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the 2020 Honda Gold Wing.
Note that there is no scheduled “break-in” maintenance at the 600 mi / 1000 km mark.
You can download the manual from Honda’s website here.
