Honda Gold Wing F6C Valkyrie. (Picture from: http://www.moto-ontheroad.it/) |
The Honda Gold Wing F6C Valkyrie is another clever bit of work by Honda by taking an existing engine and chassis and making a new bike that keeps all of the most expensive elements untouched. Some says that the F6C Valkyrie is the naked version of Gold Wing F6B. The F6C joins the fully-dressed Gold Wing and the F6B (for Bagger) which was launched a year ago; all sharing the same 1,832 cc GL1800 six-cylinder motor.
Honda claims the F6C ‘injects a jolt of adrenaline into the power cruiser arena’ and the styling of the bike in this stripped-back way certainly backs up the hyperbole. The company says the new F6C will provide ‘a bridge between the new Honda CTX1300 (launched two weeks before) and the Gold Wing F6B and the GL1800’.
However, with a 341 kg kerbweight, the 113 bhp and 123 ft-lbs of torque are not going to translate into Ducati Diavel or Yamaha VMax-worrying performance, although it will make for a torquey ride.
Right side view of Honda Gold Wing F6C Valkyrie. (Picture from: http://www.magmotardes.com/) |
The F6C has a new 19-inch front wheel, fitted with Dunlop Sportmax 130/60 R19 front tyre combined with a 17-inch rear wheel and 180/55 R17 tyre. The bike also now sports side-mounted radiators, hidden within the side cowling instead of front-mounted as on the GL1800.
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