News and stories from the world of Powersports business.
Honda Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Iconic Gold Wing
Honda confirmed today that its renowned Gold Wing—the model that kickstarted the touring movement following its 1975 debut—returns for 2025 with several styling touches to honor its 50th anniversary. The Gold Wing platform has evolved considerably in the half-century since its introduction, but it has always remained true to the vision of making long-distance motorcycle riding comfortable and enjoyable. For the 2025 model year, that mission is furthered through the addition of wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, but most of the updates are centered on aesthetics, with distinctive colors and badges intended to mark the special occasion.
For model-year 2025, most Gold Wing versions also come with two free commemorative gifts: a coffee-table book covering the model’s rich history, and a tabletop 3D 1:12 scale tabletop model, with a 1975 bike on one side and a 2025 motorcycle on the other.
Honda also has plans to mark the Gold Wing’s fifth decade with a special display and activities during the upcoming Daytona Bike Week. More details will be released in the coming days.
“Honda has introduced many important powersports models over the years, but the Gold Wing is and always will be special, because of how it kickstarted the touring movement and inspired its own dedicated subculture,” said Colin Miller, Manager of Public Relations at American Honda. “The Gold Wing has long demonstrated Honda’s engineering prowess, but it’s important to note that its development has often been customer-led. For these reasons and many others, the 50th anniversary of the Gold Wing platform is a significant milestone in Honda’s history, and we’re happy to mark the occasion with stunning touches to the 2025 model.”
2025 Gold Wing
It wouldn’t be a proper birthday party without the attendance of the Gold Wing’s “bagger”-style versions, which follow the tradition of past trunkless models like the Valkyrie and F6B. Available with either a manual gearbox or Honda’s advanced dual-clutch transmission, the standard Gold Wing is offered for 2025 in a Matte Black Metallic color, and to commemorate the platform’s half-century milestone, it comes with several styling treatments, including bold Gold Wing logos across the saddlebags and side fairings. In addition, there’s a special 50th Anniversary badge situated in front of the seat, and the meter’s “opening ceremony” now displays “Since 1975” when the bike is turned on. As before, the standard Gold Wing has a shorter windscreen than the Tour versions, and for 2025, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can now be accessed wirelessly.
- Color: Matte Black Metallic
- MSRP
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing: $25,200
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing DCT: $26,200
- Available: March
- Info
2025 Gold Wing Tour
Honda’s flagship touring machine celebrates its Golden Anniversary with three new colors for 2025. The Bourdeaux Red Metallic and Eternal Gold options both have subtle Gold Wing logos incorporated into the saddlebags, as well as the 50th Anniversary badge in front of the seat. (The Light Silver Metallic option is not considered a 50th Anniversary edition, and it is not badged as such.) The Gold Wing is the first and still the only motorcycle offered in an airbag version, featuring technology that operates via an acceleration sensor and main control unit (the Airbag version is available only in Bourdeaux Red Metallic).
- Colors
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour: Bourdeaux Red Metallic; Eternal Gold
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour DCT: Bourdeaux Red Metallic; Eternal Gold
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT: Bourdeaux Red Metallic
- Gold Wing Tour: Light Silver Metallic
- Gold Wing Tour DCT: Light Silver Metallic
- MSRP
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour: $29,200
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour DCT: $30,200
- 50th Anniversary Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT: $33,500
- Gold Wing Tour: $28,700
- Gold Wing Tour DCT: $29,700
- Available: March
- Info
NPDA Reveals Dates, Location for 2025 Dealer Connect
The National Powersports Dealer Association today announced that the 2025 NPDA Dealer Connect education and networking conference will be held Sept. 21-23 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio.
After a successful debut event in 2024, Dealer Connect returns to Columbus and its easy accessibility for NPDA Membership. As a first-time host of the event, the Hilton Columbus Downtown will wow attendees with their guest experience. The Hilton will offer ease-of-use and the benefits of having educational seminar rooms and the networking space adjacent to each other on the same floor, with plenty of room for growth in 2025.
“Dealer Connect in 2025 is already taking major steps forward, ” said Dave McMahon, Executive Director of the NPDA. “We’re excited to return to Columbus and are looking forward to showing off the new location at the Hilton Columbus Downtown. Yes, it’s ‘About the Stay, ’ but it’s also about the countless number of profit-building educational opportunities and the incredible amount of networking time that our Dealer and Partner Members will experience as we move the industry forward as Your Partner in Growth.”
In fact, support from our Partners in Year 2 of Dealer Connect is off to a great start, with the following NPDA Partners already committing as either an Exhibitor or Sponsor:
- The Stanek-Haack Group at Morgan Stanley
- Brightline Dealer Advisors
- Apiar Commercial Risk Management
- AppOne
- CBIZ
- EDPS (Electronic Data Payment Systems)
- Line\5
- National Powersport Auctions (NPA)
- Octane Powersports Marketing
- Performance Brokerage Services
- Rollick
- ZiiDMS
Learn more and register to attend 2025 Dealer Connect at www.npda.org/connect.
For more information, contact McMahon at 612-226-8904 or [email protected].
New XDiavel V4: The Sport Cruiser Imagined by Ducati
he latest episode of the Ducati World Première 2025 features the new XDiavel V4, the Sport Cruiser crafted in Borgo Panigale. This unique bike now combines the performance of the MotoGP-derived V4 engine with a relaxed riding position, complemented by the sensual beauty that defines all Ducatis. It presents an even more muscular, sophisticated, and high-performance reinterpretation of the concepts introduced by the original XDiavel 1260 in this category.
A bike for those who want something different from everything else and love to stand out. From enthusiasts seeking a bike with great style to admirers of cruiser charm who are equally captivated by the Dragster performance that has always defined the XDiavel.
Its lines are muscular and elegant. The low and relaxed riding position still offers the rider great control. Its personality magnetizes attention. The XDiavel V4 is a bike capable of gliding at low speed on city streets with the same natural feeling with which it dances between the curves on hills.
The XDiavel V4’s 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine offers benchmark performance for its category. With 168 hp and 93 ft-lb of torque, it combines linearity at low revs with vigorous torque throughout the entire delivery range. The counter-rotating crankshaft, along with one of the lightest weights in the category (505 lb without fuel), provides the XDiavel V4 with handling that sets a benchmark in the segment.
Unmistakable line
The XDiavel V4 is a motorcycle of contrasts, and it shows at first glance. The low, sleek, sport cruiser lines, enhanced by the light that plays on the soft surfaces, create an exhilarating contrast with the power and technology conveyed by its mechanical components. Inspired by supercars, bold shapes showcase an extraordinary aesthetic and technical nature, highlighted by the proudly visible four-exit exhaust. At the rider’s request, the XDiavel V4 can transform into a cruiser for enjoying the sunset along a coastal road or a dragster poised to sprint at the green light.
The muscular fuel tank draws attention with its new iridescent Black Lava and Burning Red colors, specially created for the XDiavel V4, producing fluid and elegant reflections when hit with light. The signature front and rear light clusters, along with the full-LED direction indicators integrated into the side panels, unmistakably define the look of the XDiavel V4. The front DRL*, with its double C profile, catches the eye in a striking contrast with the internal texture of the headlight. Along with the rear tail light, positioned beneath the rear seat, it welcomes the rider with the Welcome Effect when the instrument panel is activated, highlighting the sophistication and attention to detail of the XDiavel.
The single-sided aluminum swingarm allows you to admire the deep but visually very light rear wheel, on which the imposing 240/45 tire is fitted. The five star-shaped spokes of the rims, with machined surfaces, reinforce the reference to American muscle cars.
The rider can enjoy the comfort of a low seat (30.3 inches from the ground) and a handlebar that is set back and lowered compared to the XDiavel 1260. This design gives full control of the bike in every situation. Comfort is substantially improved, thanks to the rear suspension that features an increased travel of 25 mm in comparison to the XDiavel 1260, and, most importantly, a wide, well-profiled, and thicker seat. The passenger also benefits from a more spacious seat (+30% in width, +50% in length) that is more comfortable (+25 mm thick), along with a rear grab handle provided as standard.
Enthusiasts who prefer a riding position that allows them to exploit the dynamic qualities of the XDiavel V4 even more can move the footpegs to a more rearward position thanks to the special kit offered by the Ducati catalogue. And if equipped with the accessory tail fairing, the XDiavel V4 can also become a feisty single-seater.
MotoGP-derived V4 engine
The XDiavel features the 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine, a technical solution that improves performance, dynamics, and riding pleasure. This is also attributed to the advanced technology of the counter-rotating crankshaft, which, similar to the Ducati MotoGP bike, diminishes the gyroscopic effect, boosting agility. The engine serves as a central component of the bike’s design, further accentuated by the glossy black finish, which is distinctive among Ducati V4 engines.
Powerful with 168 hp and rich in torque across all speeds (peaking at 93 ft-lb at 7,500 rpm), the V4 Granturismo, which is derived from the Desmosedici Stradale of the Panigale V4 and Streetfighter V4, is both fluid and consistent, remaining usable even at low speeds. It features low running costs, with major maintenance scheduled at an impressive interval of 37,000 miles, and is efficient regarding fuel consumption and emissions due to its extended deactivation system. This feature turns off the rear cylinder bank not just when the vehicle is stationary but also when riding at low revs under light engine load conditions.
The firing order of the Twin Pulse, along with the specialized exhaust system engineered with a focus on “sound quality,” unmistakably defines the sound of the V4 Granturismo in the XDiavel V4. The extended deactivation system for the rear cylinders enables the engine to function as either a twin-cylinder or a four-cylinder, ensuring an imperceptible transition due to its gradual nature. This mechanism creates a variation in the tone of the exhaust note when switching between modes. A deeper sound, with lower frequencies, characterizes the V4 Granturismo when only the two front cylinders are active, whereas the frequencies rise when all four cylinders are in operation.
Chassis
The exhilarating performance of the V4 Granturismo engine combines with unexpected nimbleness and dynamics for a bike of this type, which translates into riding pleasure and safety in every situation. The XDiavel V4 has a wet weight of 505 lb (229 kg), for a savings of 13 lb (-6 kg) compared to the XDiavel 1260 S, thanks to the lightness of the V4 Granturismo. All this is combined with the refinement of the components. The bike is equipped with an inverted fork with 50 mm stanchions and a shock absorber with a cantilever layout, both fully adjustable.
The result is a bike capable of delivering breathtaking acceleration and deceleration with ease and safety. The 168-horsepower V4 Granturismo, combined with the 240/45 rear tire and specialized gear ratios, enables acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, with truly impressive thrust.
The braking system ensures record-breaking performance with 330 mm discs and Brembo Stylema® calipers, with peak deceleration values of 11.5 m/s2.
Electronics
Thanks to a complete and effective electronics package, the XDiavel V4’s performance can be fully and safely utilized. The XDiavel V4 features three Power Modes and four Riding Modes: Sport, Touring, Urban, and Wet. These modes enable the rider to adjust the engine delivery and the intervention of the riding assistance systems—Ducati Traction Control in the Cornering version, Ducati Wheelie Control, and ABS Cornering—to fit the situation and their current preferences.
Cruise Control makes highway trips more relaxing, while Ducati Quick Shift up/down, modeled after the new Panigale V4’s system, reduces the effort of using the gearbox and enhances effectiveness in sport riding. Lastly, Launch Control ensures rapid starts, allowing you to fully exploit the XDiavel V4’s acceleration capabilities.
The rider can control all the electronic systems using the backlit controls on the handlebars and the new 6.9” TFT color dashboard with an 8:3 aspect ratio, first seen on the Panigale V4. This dashboard also provides Bluetooth connectivity to pair a smartphone for calls, text messages, and music, or to use the Turn-by-turn navigation system (available as an accessory) through the Ducati Link App. The protective glass features Optical Bonding technology to ensure optimal readability on a black background, even during the day.
Accessories
Enthusiasts who want to enhance the touring capabilities of their XDiavel V4 will find many options in the Ducati Performance catalogue. They start with the semi-rigid 12.6 US-gallon (48 L) panniers, for which the bike is already predisposed, panniers equipped with covers painted in the body color. These must be mounted with the passenger backrest, with additional headlights and integrated side handles, thus allowing comfortable travel even as a couple. Comfort can be further improved by adopting the accessory plexiglass, offered in the more protective Touring version or in the more aggressive Sport version.
Taller riders can improve the ergonomics of the XDiavel V4 by choosing the Comfort seat, which is characterized by a greater foam thickness (.6 in / +15 mm) and a different shape of the rear area. In addition to being more comfortable for larger builds, the Comfort seat is embellished with a more premium covering. Furthermore, for those who want to accentuate the low ride image of the XDiavel, the accessories catalogue also offers a 0.6 in (5 mm) lowered seat.
The homologated exhaust silencer, which features a cover and four titanium end caps, amplifies the sportier side of the XDiavel V4. Additionally, a single-seat tail fairing can replace the passenger seat. Additionally, components machined from solid materials, carbon parts, and forged rims, along with brake calipers available in red or black, can be added to personalize the new XDiavel V4 even further.
Colors and availability
For the first time, the XDiavel V4 is available in two metallic colors: Burning Red and Black Lava, both of which enhance its uniqueness. The XDiavel is being offered in red for the first time, although this red differs from the iconic Ducati Red and vibrant Racing Red. Meanwhile, Black Lava adds warm tones to the classic glossy black typical of the cruiser world, reflecting the distinct, complex, and sophisticated personality of the XDiavel V4.
The XDiavel V4 will be available at North American dealerships in the summer of 2025. Pricing for the XDiavel V4 starts at $28,995 in the United States.
XDiavel V4
Colors
- Burning Red, $28,995 (US)
- Black Lava, $29,295 (US)
Main standard features
- V4 Granturismo engine, 1,158 cc
- 168 hp (124 kW) at 10,750 rpm, 93 lb ft (126 Nm, 12.8 kgm) @ 7,500 rpm
- Valve clearance check every 37,000 miles (60,000 km)
- Aluminum monocoque frame
- 5.3 US Gal (20 L) steel tank
- Full LED headlight with double C DRL and “Welcome Effect” at key-on
- Full LED rear light cluster under the tailpiece with “Welcome Effect” at key-on
- “Coming Home” functionality
- 50 mm fully adjustable fork
- Fully adjustable monoshock
- Single-sided swingarm in aluminum
- Braking system with double 330 mm disc and Brembo Stylema® monobloc calipers at the front
- 240/45 Diablo Rosso III rear tire
- Chain final drive
- Cast aluminum rims with machined spokes
- 6.9” TFT dashboard and 8:3 aspect ratio with Bluetooth integration, Ducati Link App
- Optional integrated Turn-by-turn navigation system
- 3 Power Modes, 4 Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet)
- Customizable riding position with two positions of the rider footpegs
- Passenger grab handle supplied
- Latest-generation electronics package with 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU): ABS Cornering; Ducati Traction Control (DTC); Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC); Ducati Power Launch (DPL); Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS), Cruise Control.
(*) wherever homologated
