I checked'm out cuz I like Yamahas. It rode OK but, sat too high and felt top heavy. Otherwise it ain't all that bad lookin'. The HOnda's a better deal.

 

I sat on a buddy's 2006 Stratoliner 1900 and it felt like a sportster compared to my VTX 1800! Balanced great with a low center of gravity. I could not believe how light it felt. I told him
to get on mine as it was leaned over. He was red-faced and grunting when he got mine level! lol I have about 6 ponies more than his. He just gave $8600 with 4900 miles on it. Had hard bags and all decked out.

 

I bought an 08 Stratoliner Midnight in June. Just passed 2000 miles this week. I had an 05 1800 Neo for a year.

Now you need to understand I'm riding the Strat now, having sold my 1800 two years ago. The Strat is not as top heavy as the X. You sit a little higher on the Strat - not an issue, just different. It's lighter off the kickstand, easier to maneuver at low speed and the gears have longer legs than any of my previous bikes.

The 1800 has eye popping accelleration. The Strat really hauls azz when you roll the throttle on the freeway. I never could get used to the dual pin crank sound. The Strat with Roadhouse Slipons sounds nice. The stock pipes are ok too.

The stock amenities are pretty nice - too many to list. It does not have a hinged gas cap and nothing aftermarket. The fuel guage seems accurate. I like having the built in tach. The headlight is bright and really lights up the road.

I added risers, lowers, highway bars and pegs, luggage rack, saddlebag guards. I'm getting 44 mpg mixed highway and city to work every day.

All in all, the 1800 is a sweet bike. I do like the Strat better though.

It's harder to work on than the 1800. Those Yamaha engineers were very busy. You seriously need a mx manual.

So far I haven't noticed much difference in temp, being air cooled. It has a small oil cooler up front. The belt drive has been problem free.

If you can get used to the Madonna turn signals, it's well worth looking at.

 

Sounds like you already bought in to Honda, so be it-enjoy your new bike.
10K for a new '07 wasn't a bad price, might be able to do a little better in some areas. Consider the fact the Stratoliner comes with bags, bag supports and a windshield that most 1800's aren't priced with and things get closer. You didn't say what model the stratoliner was...that makes a difference too.
I got an '06 Stratoliner S, a very good friend of mine just bought a 1800R new '08... 2 COMPLETELY different bikes, but flip a coin..they're both great! We enjoy ours- hope you do the same!

 

I was thinking about buying another bike earlier this year to go along with my vtx1300, I went and test rode a vtx1800c and 1800N along with the Yamaha Raider. I ended up flying down to Atlanta and driving back on a 2006 Roadliner :thumbup: The Roadliner/Stratoliner is not neer as top heavy as the vtx1800, it does sit slightly higher but it is much more balanced using a lighter aluminum frame. Yamaha did a great job, there is so many little things that make a big differance. I bought the 2006 Roadliner S model with quick release lockable hardbags, sissybar and windshield.

When you twist the throttle you better hang on, it's a torque monster and smooth as silk with the belt drive. I was mainly looking for a bike for 2-up riding and glade I went with the Liner, there is so much room 2-up it's kind of funny, somethimes I forget my wife is on back. Some of the "little things" are as simple as the stainless steel allen head bolts that are used on the mastercylinder tops, no phillips head to strip. The seat is removable with a key, you put the key in the sidecover and turn it and it unlocks the seat. It has a self diagnotic system which allow you to check the codes in case something happens, you can even check the engine temp if you want. The handle bars are 1 1/4" bars and are wired internally for the clean look. It has 2 headlight bulbs, one low and one high beam which are very bright and really light up the road.

There's not alot of of aftermarket things out yet, the first year was 2006 but it dont need alot. I can't wait till fall so I can tear it apart in the garage :yikes: :lol:

Some of my plans include risers, Progressive suspension front and rear, rear floorboards, PR big air kit, new exhaust and a Fairing. There is a guy on the liner board that makes really nice fairings.

 

I sat on a buddy's 2006 Stratoliner 1900 and it felt like a sportster compared to my VTX 1800! Balanced great with a low center of gravity. I could not believe how light it felt. I told him
to get on mine as it was leaned over. He was red-faced and grunting when he got mine level! lol I have about 6 ponies more than his. He just gave $8600 with 4900 miles on it. Had hard bags and all decked out.

I bought an 08 Stratoliner Midnight in June. Just passed 2000 miles this week. I had an 05 1800 Neo for a year.

Now you need to understand I'm riding the Strat now, having sold my 1800 two years ago. The Strat is not as top heavy as the X. You sit a little higher on the Strat - not an issue, just different. It's lighter off the kickstand, easier to maneuver at low speed and the gears have longer legs than any of my previous bikes.

It's funny but on this forum from time to time the old 1300 vs 1800 pizzing matches come up.

I own both a 1300R and an 1800N

One of my 'knocks' on the 1800 is its poor balance, and how heavier it was " off the side stand ".

Even the GOLD WING is lighter off the side stand that the VTX 1800 is.

The above two posts highlight what I have observed and commented on about the 1800.

Center of Gravity and Balance are important in the design of a bike and its overall performance.

When I read reviews such as yours, I have to wonder if one of the things that brought the VTX 1800 to its end in production was the higher center of gravity and overall balance issues???

In any case I have been on a few non-Honda big bikes and was able to experience their feel.

IU'm gonna have to give some of those other bikes another look .... even though at this point I have a new Gold Wing in my sites!!




.

 

Having ridden both the VTX1800 and the Strat/Raider, I haven't noticed any great weight and/or balance issues between the two bikes. No doubt the VTX 1800 is a heavy bike but I don't think it is all that top heavy and the handling is great for a large cruiser. The major difference between these two behemoths is air cooled vs liquid cooled. I'll take the liquid cooled any day and with it Honda reliability. The dealership I work at sells both brands and as all you VTX owners can attest to, there have been no recalls of any consequence with any the VTX's. I wish I could say the same for Yamaha. I do like some of the Yamaha features, however, such as the belt drive and lighter frame. Each to his own and good luck with your Roadliner. They sure sound good with a set of quality pipes. Myself, I'd be partial to the Raider since I like the styling better but I still like my VTX 1800N best of all. As long as you're happy with what you ride, that's the important thing. Happy trails.:thumbup:

 

I haven't seen any comments here that I disagree with...let me add this though: neither one of these bikes are a "joy" to try to hustle around a set of tight twisties.
For me the Strat cuts corners really well, and you can readily(as much as 800# or so of bike) change lines IN the corner. Thats great unless you really need it to stick to that initial line...The 1800 holds it's line in a corner better, and that's great unless you need to change lines in a corner.
One thing is unarguable- the Strat has WAYYYY more room for the back passenger! If you're buying a bike to get her(ahem) "chest" presssed into your back- don't even think about the Strat!

 

Thanx for the opinions. The Strat I was looking at was a new '07 "S" for $9999 at Park Cycle Canton, OH. Dark met grey, beautiful bike cept the rear turn signals (barf). I really like the low ctr gravity + QD backrest + bags. Just couldn't get myself to go backwards from a water cooled, shaft drive Volusia to an air cooled, belt drive. Plus, the 1800T I bought was $750 cheaper and you just can't argue Honda'a reliability.

 

I was going to buy a Roadliner--- the one thing that changed my mind was a chat with the service manager. The maintanence on the Yama is off the chart compared to the VTX. At the time I owned a Harley and the prescribed routine was more than the HD. There are a lot of moving parts on the Strat/Roadliner series. The Harley wasn't that bad @ $60 an hour, but the Honda/Yama is $90 and hour. 5,000 service was $279.00

 

There is a little more up keep, but if you do you own maintenance it is no more expensive than any other bike........my local dealer sells both Honda and Yamaha, its the same price, $60 hour. Best thing to do is buy a service manual and have at it.

 

Having owed/own both the VTX1800 & Stratoliner S.

Maintaince on the Yamaha is more difficult than the others, but not hard by any means. The Yamaha feels much more refined and balanced than the VTX 1800, plus it has a tach, gas gauge, hardbags, backrest, windscreen, lots more chrome...

The down side with the Yamaha, unless you get a deal, the MSRP of the Stratoliner S is over the top, almost 17K - you might as well by the HD Road king...

As for power both are great, I will say the stock Stratoliner has a nice deep exhaust tone, not loud, but a pleasing sound. I'm getting much more MPG with the Strato than the VTX ever got, even though it’s a slightly larger engine. I am sure many people here may think the air (oil) cooled engine could be a concern, but it’s not, runs wonderful and the heat it puts off isn’t much more than the VTX. As for ride and handling, the Strato has a big edge, I will say the linked brakes on the VTX are superior, and Yamaha at this price should have had ABS. The X has ton of aftermarket goodies, where Yamaha is very limited.

It's easy to see why the VTX1800 was discontinued, I wonder how long the Strato/Roadliner will be around?

 

They just released the specs on pics on the new Strat not long ago. Fairing with speakers ready for your ipod :thumbup: Still to high, $17,490 MSRP pretty much the same bike as my 2006, I bought mine for $8000 with quick detach windshield, hard bags, sissybar (all keyed alike) and a 3 piece Mustang seat.

 

Whatta PRICE on that bike!

But since I can't buy one anyway........... I like it.