[SKCM2006]

I am looking at purchasing an 1800cc, if the owner responds to my emails/posts. I live just outside Harrisburg, PA and I want to get back into riding.

My thoughts are that I want to do some highway riding (about 60%) and some back road driving (30%) and a little in town riding (10%).

My friend has a Harley (I am not a Harley Fan) with an 88 cubic inch engine but modified it to kick out 95 hp. I want a bike that is smooth on the road, can take long trips but also short ones.. and can keep up with his bike or surpass it.

In the event that deal falls through a local dealer is selling an '07 1300cc in the same price range.

Is there that much difference between the two or should I stick with the 1800cc quest?

Thanks!

Russ

Any recommendations, suggestions or banter would be GREATLY apprecaited.

 

[Guest]

The only way to to be sure is to ride both. The 1800 is more powerful but, feels top heavy. The 1300 is as powerful as the HD and feels much more nimble that the 1800.
I personally like the 1300 for my wife and I. Plenty of power and speed and lots of accessories to choose from. Of course the 1800 has the same qualities.

 

[Poser]

The 1300 is as powerful as the HD and feels much more nimble that the 1800.

Sorry, but the 1300 will not be as powerful as an upgraded HD with 95 HP. The VTX 1300 is running around 56 HP stock.

 

[SKCM2006]

STANC,

How many HP is the 1800?

I am pretty excited, The wife just gave me the green light to pick up a bike of my liking... I do have a spending limit... but she is starting to warm up to the idea.

 

[Guest]

I've ridden both and given your riding usage ....

60% Highway
30% Back roads
10% In town


I'm guess you will be happy 60% of the time, satisfied 30% of the time and somewhat satisfied 10% of the time.

The 1800 is top/front heavy and not so fun around town.

Now yesterday I was on a roadtrip of 130 miles, almost 99% interstate at speeds of 75 - 80 mph, riding two-up and loaded with some gear on a pack the bike did exceptionally well. This is on a VTX 1300 R.

Of course I didnt buy mine to beat or keep up with some neighbor who has an HD. I guess I was just never one for playing the " keep up with the Joneses " folks. Maybe that's why the Joneses have less money and more debt than me? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Guest]

I'm not certain of the HP on either bike but I know the 1300 will go a lot faster than you want to ride and will reach that speed very quickly.
Please ride both bikes before making up your mind. They are both great and will feel different to each person.
I am looking for a Valkyrie but, if I can't find one that suits me, I will be going back to a 1300R. No question about it!

 

[KW7DSP]

No Comment

I have been in this discussion before and I have nothing to say. Some who have less then 80 to 100 horsepower take offense.

Oh Yes, I ride an VTX 1800C

 

[BigRedFlamin-X]

I had a 1300C and loved it. It was a great machine. Then I test-drove the 1800. As good as the 1300 is, the 1800 is just that much better. More power, more refined, better ride. As far as being top-heavy, I only notice it picking it up off the side stand. After that the extra weight is a non-issue. I am not a big guy ... 5'9", 170 lbs, but I have no problem handling the 1800 in any kind of riding, be it highway, city, or parking lots.

Of course, as has been mentioned, there's really only one way to tell what's best for you, and that's to ride them both yourself if you can. If you can't, I'd have to recommend going for the 1800 if it's at all possible. However, if this deal does fall through and money is an issue, I can tell you that you won't be unhappy with the 1300. It's no light-weight, and it ain't no slouch either.

 

[72chevman]

Spend the extra for the 1800. Since you already mentioned HP ratings, we can assume that you will want to modify either bike if you get it. The injected 1800 takes any intake and exhaust change with ease. You normally must mess with the jetting each time you change the 1300. Even though teh 1800 is heavier, it stops better due to dual front rotors. The hydraulic clutch is nicer too. Check out this site for performance, mpg, braking stats. Change the 1 to a 2 and a 3 for page 1 page 2 and page 3



http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/JAN06Pindx1.pdf

 

[crux88]

the 1800 isn't top heavy and it's not hard to handle. If you are inclined to ride an 1800, you will be happy and will never regret not having the horsepower of the 18.

 

[jtpsooner]

I had a 1300C and sold it for a new roadstar. I am on a VTX board because it is the best board around. I felt the 1300 was a little doggy when on the highway you twisted the throttle to pass. I didn't go with the 1800 because I didn;t like the fit and finish of some of the parts like the pegs, and I didn;t like the sound even with aftermarket pipes.

On top of that Yamaha has a speedstar division, so I can upgrade my engine without having to go to someone other than the manufacturer.

Both have endless accessories to choose from so that was a wash.

One of my MC brothers has an 1800N and he loves it. There is no doubt it is an awesome machine. I always had a problem with the responses I would get when asking about more horsepower, most on the 1300 board would tell you to get a crotch rocket if you wanted to go fast, so I went with a 1700 and started modifying it instead.

I think that with an 1800 you get the best of both worlds, Honda reliability and power, more power if you want it. You don;t get that with the 1300.

 

[machinit]

The 1800's are Fuel Injected were as the 1300's are carbuerated.......big difference right there. Once you feel the sheer torque and power of the 1800 you probably won't settle for the 1300. At least I did'nt and don't regret it at all. 8)

 

[Evi|grin]

If you prefer lighter weight, cable clutch, single pin crank sound and a carb then the 1300 is perfect. They do sound really nice with good pipes.

If you like a more Nascar like sound at higher rpms, better brakes, tons of torque and EFI then the 1800 is very hard to beat and several new models have a huge savings right now.

As stated above if i was looking for a 1300cc cruiser, my personal opinion is the new Vstar1300 has more potential in many areas but is more expensive. Yamaha did a very nice job for a new release blending old school and modern designs.

 

[MORETORQUE]

If you are going to do highway mostly probably the 1800 for sure,I have a 1300 and it is great around town cruising but for highway with a passenger I find it to small and underpowered.

I think it is a better looking bike than the 1800 but not a good open cruiser unless you are small and not riding with someone on back.

I bought a Valk for open road riding and it has alot of qualities a V twin just cannot match for roading so my 1300 R and Valk is a great town,highway combo and if I could ony have one it would be the Valk no V twin can match this thing as a do it all machine!

 

[Guest]

This past weekend the wife and I took the 1300 for a nice getaway. A 225 mile run out to 'nowhere'.

Two up, human weight = 350 lb, plus cargo.

The 1300 did extremely well on the interstates, had no problem keeping up with traffic and in many places traffic had trouble keeping up with us.

Fuel injection is a plus, until! :shock:

Until you are 160 miles from home, the bike dies, and it will not restart due to an FI problem. Can a carb stop you? Yeah it could, though I have never been stranded by a carb I did have an FI failure on another bike and it took a truck to get me home.

It is funny I have only owned on bike with FI, and it wasn't a Honda but it is the only one to leave me stranded.

Does the 1800 have better brakes? I should frikking hope so! It would be stupid for an 1800 to not have better brakes than a 1300. You really can't use that as a selling point.

Ride BOTH of them. Put them through some lower speed maneuvering. Push them around in and out of parking spaces on a parking lot. You will see that the 1800 is a little top heavy, as did I.

The final straw for me in choosing the 1300 was how well it did on the highway, two-up....and fuel economy. If you get a 1300 and ride with the 1800's you never have to worry about running out of gas, they will need to refuel before you do!

1300 tank capacity is 4.76 gallons, I average about 45 MPG with a best of about 50+ MPG. The 50 MPG run was 99.99% interstate speeds. Of course my drivetrain is stock, no pipes, no air box mods.

 

[Largejake]

The 1300 will do every thing you listed except the keep up or surpass your buddy thing. Sounds like that part is important to you so I would go with the 1800. It should be able to handle the surpass part. When I rode an 1800 I didn't find it bad at slow speed. My 1300 seems a little more nimble but I like most people am a little prejudiced toward the bike I ride. Good luck I don't think you can't go wrong with either bike.

 

[SKCM2006]

Surpassing my buddy isn't inportant... just keeping up at his speed (80's) is ... and since I will be a lone rider (195lbs 6 feet tall) I am gathering that it will not be an issue unless I want to race him - Whis is out of the question for me.

What is important is the ride and how she will handle on the highway.. basically can she hold her own.... Gary wrote that he went on a 225 miler, the max run I will be taking is 350 to Upstate NY.. In my 'younger' days... i rode my V30 (500cc) Magna from Florida to Virginia in one day with stopping two times for gas... Now that was a rough ride.... I am 'guessin' that with 3 x the CCs I should NEVER EVER have a ride like that again...

I am looking at the two bikes an 1800cc and a 1300cc - both posted here on this site.... I have heard back from the 1300cc (sweet ride) owner and I am still waiting on the 1800cc (another sweet ride).

Keep the input coming... I do appreciate it and the time you are taking to respond!

Thanks!

Russ
Retired Navy - 1983 through 2006

 

[Guest]

Rocket III.
If your going to be rideing over 100mph very much, then get the bigger CC motor, if not the 1300 is just fine, and will do anything the 18 will do.
But if you want fast go with the Rocket III. Thats what I would do before buying the 1800.

 

[moooboy]

Advertized Horse power is 106.The 1800 isnt top heavy,atleast to me and i havent been on a bike in 15 years until i bought my 1800S a month ago.Its suprisingly well balanced and once you start rolling,the weight and size disapeers,even in slow stop and go traffic.When i decided on the 1800 the 1300 wasnt even considered,I didnt want to look back after the purchase and say "Da,wish i would have gone with the 1800"no one in their right mind that bought an 1800 would say,"geez wally wish i would have bought the 1300,this bike is too powerful for me"DOH

 

[MacGuy]

I was seriously considering a 1300 before I bought my 1800, I went with the 1800 because of the fuel injection, and I am sure glad I did. I love being able to modify my pipes and airbox without worrying about jets, and on those colder mornings she fires right up. Like what was said before the 1300 is no light weight either, and I have a lot of respect for that bike, but for me the 1800 was the way to go.