Which VTX for a wny rider ???

[fullstrutter]

:lol: Hi all, I live south of Buffalo and am considering buying a VTX. I'm not sure which way to go. My last bike was a Honda V65 magna 19 yrs ago. Now I want to get back into riding and the only two bikes I like are the VTX 1300 retro or the Vtx 1800 Retro or N style. Does anyone have comments on either bike? Is the 1800 to much meat. Fuel injection is a plus and I hear th 06 1300 will have fuel injection. I need help in deciding. Thanks, Dave :D

[bowsrus]

Dave,

I am planning on buying a 1300 for a first bike since the early 80s.

I have gotten tons of advice from people on this board and the 1300 Riders board.

The general consensous seem to be that the 1800 is a little top heavy and doesn't sound as good as the single pin cam of the 1300.

Other than that I would say it is strictly up to yoou and how they feel when your sitting on them.

By the way, where are you planning on purchasing?

With the current tax situation and the higher prices in this area I'm looking elswhere. Perhaps out of state.

Hope to see you this summer.

Bill

[MikeC]

I looked at a 1300 once...liked it but I really wanted an 1800C

then Honda had the fire sale on the 1800 in August

I bought a new 03 1800C Black for $7200...a deal too hard to pass up

a big thanks go out to Hal and Wilbur for saveing me enough money to customise her the way I wanted and still saved cash over the local dealers price

[fcm142]

It is really up to you and what you want. With that said I purchased a 2004 1300 c in June of 2003, ran it the rest of the year. Never was satisfied with the low end go. Sold it and bought a 2003 1800 c and have never been happier. Also I had just started riding again the year before after about 12yrs off and started with a 800. So I guess my 2 cents would be either one is great and if you decide on the 1300 you will enjoy it and if you wish to, in a couple of years you can move up.

[fullstrutter]

Thanks Guys. The info is a help. I wish I could get out there and hear a 1300 vs an 1800...the place I was told to buy is in Chattanooga Tn..Southern Honda is the name I think. I will let you know when I find out for sure..Thanks...Dave

[MikeC]

Why go to Tenn. when you could buy from Hal in Shadyside Ohio...he would most likely match any offer that beats his advertised price.

if the Harley sound is what you like then go 1300. The 1800 has a very different sound.

The 1300 is a little lighter but feels much lighter than the 1800 on the road...I wanted a big heavy and seldom seen cruzer 8) and fuel injection on the 1800 is a big plus.

But cruising range has to go to the 1300...much better fuel mileage

whatever you decide should be based on your needs and wants

just remember when you get it to order some master cyl. covers...we still need 3 sales to get them made :oops:

[T-Bone]

Fullstrutter, both bikes are great. As Mike C said they both have very different sound. The 1300 has a dual pin crank which gives it more of a potato-potato sound and the 1800 has more of a V-8 sound with its single pin crank. The 1800 has FI and the 1300 has Carbs. The 1800 is heavier and probably more top heavy too although I can't say for sure as I have never ridden a 1300. I know it is taller. The power on an 1800 is unbelievable!! :lol: :lol: :lol: And to tell you the truth it feels very nimble at speed. Under 5 mph is when I notice some trickyness to the handling but one soon gets used to it and after awhile it is nothing. I hope this helps. Good luck on your hunt. Later, TB.

http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/503/299150_miles_002-thumb.jpg

[vtx13rider]

I purchased a 1300 Retro new in 2003. I hadn't ridden in about 15 yrs., and this seemed to be the best way to acclimate to riding again. I could not be happier with handling, performance and comfort :lol: . The only reason I would move up to an 1800 is for the F/I.

[hilf]

Honda just makes great products. What a dilemna, choosing between these two models! The X's are as good as anything manufactured in the motorcycle world in my not-so-humble opinion. You have to sit on one, check out the feel, test drive if you can. I considered the 1300 and 1800, finally decided on the big one but it was a purely individual decision based on what I could afford and what I thought I could handle. Truly, the 1800 is great on the road, doesn't like very slow maneuvering but practice will help you improve. Either model has plenty of power. This is not a beginners ride, but the learning curve is no different than if you were riding a 250 cc. I have a female friend who rides a new Goldwing and thinks nothing of knocking off 600 miles at a time. They weigh around 900+ lbs. The X is around 800 with a few added accesories and rides a little lower. I have an '83 Goldwing that stretches my short legs but presents no other problem. When I bought that one I thought that it was huge. Now, the X moves you to the next plateau. So, its what you think you can confidentally handle, all other factors having been considered. At any rate, I would recommend a Motorcycle Safety riding course if you haven't ridden in a while to refresh and update your skills. The AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) as well as the GWRRA (Gold wing Road Riders Association) are a good source for futher information on rider education. Welcome to the X world.

[BillF]

:lol: Hi all, I live south of Buffalo and am considering buying a VTX. I'm not sure which way to go. My last bike was a Honda V65 magna 19 yrs ago. Now I want to get back into riding and the only two bikes I like are the VTX 1300 retro or the Vtx 1800 Retro or N style. Does anyone have comments on either bike? Is the 1800 to much meat. Fuel injection is a plus and I hear th 06 1300 will have fuel injection. I need help in deciding. Thanks, Dave :D

Lotsa great advice here...& I'm gonna throw in my 2 cents:

If the loping, Harley-like sound at idle is what is most important to you, buy the 1300 and then do exhaust mod or go w/ aftermarket pipes.

If this is your first bike, get the 1300. There's lots to learn about safe street riding without having the additional first time challenges of such a large bike as the 1800.

If you've owned street bikes over 350cc and want a big bike, go with the 1800. It may seem a little heavy at first, but except for parking situations, once you get used to it on the road, it handles like a dream.
Bill

[JB40hz]

What Mike C said. I rode both bike bikes when looking and liked both, but couldn't beat the offer on the 03c, I was gonna wait a couple years to move to a bigger bike, but the offer Honda had pushed me over the edge...glad I jumped 8) JB

[richw56]

Fullstrutter --

I was in a situation very similar to yours.
Like you, my prior bike was a V65 Magna (purchased in 1983 when they first came out, and kept it for about 15 years).
I HAVE ridden both the 1300 and the 1800.
A friend of mine let me take his 1800R for a ride. It was very impressive, but I didn't particularly care for the way it handled at very low speeds. Seemed like a lot of work. (Although, in all fairness, a lot of it might have just been me -- I'd ridden very little in the prior couple of years, and I'm no fullback, at 5'9" and 155 lbs.).
I preferred the look of the 1300C, and it felt like a comfortable fit for me when I sat on one at the dealership, so I went with a black 2004 1300C in October of 2003. For me, it was a good decision -- I like the look, feel, and handling of the 1300C a little more than the 1800R.
That said, I should add that I did not have access to a 'fire sale' 1800, or an 1800N (which I like the looks of) at the time my purchase decision was made, so neither of those things had a chance to play a part in my decision.
But don't worry about it too much -- I'll bet that whatever you go with, you're gonna love it.

-- Rich