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Honda VTX1300 Experience (Former Harley Owner)

27K views 70 replies 31 participants last post by  george248  
#1 ·
Recently sold my 03 Harley FXD, great bike (except for the oil leak and the fogged up speedo and having to spend an additional $600 to make it run properly) but I got an offer I just couldn't refuse. Started looking around for a replacement, probably another Harley. Just for the hell of it I stopped down at the local Harley dealer who also happens to sell Hondas. I love Harley's but decided to check out the metrics with an open mind. Dealer just got in a Honda VTX1300C. Looked great, felt great, took it for a test ride. Holy crap! It had more power stock than my Stage 1 big twin, more torque, single crank pin, and handled just as good (actually more stable at highway speeds than my Harley FXD). Water cooled (no overheating worries), shaft drive, very comfortable, low maintenance ($15 and 15 minutes vs. $60 and 2 hours for an oil change), runs on regular gas, made in Ohio, $8600 out the door including tax and title. Hmmmmmm. $5000 less than the cheapest big twin Harley?

How can I possibly get over "It's not a Harley?" Well, I did and I love this bike. Before dissing the metrics take one of these out for a spin. Honda really paid attention this time around. It's a great alternative to mortgaging your house for an authentic V-Twin experience. As far as the old re-sale argument, yeah Harley's will always be worth more down the road but if your buying a bike for its potential resale value, your buying it for the wrong reason. Ride safe.
 
#3 ·
Thealien said:
Joe, Enjoy your bike and ride safe. Sounds to me like you are looking for acceptance or aproval? If you are happy that is all that matters. Let me see that Honda VTX tatoo when you get one LOL!
Not looking for either, just wanted to convey my experience and to show there are alternatives.

(No tatoos I do have a VTX pin coming though ;) .
 
#9 ·
hey Joe, Congrats on the new bike. !! I was just sitting here thinking about some of the replys you have gotten. ... ... .... I for one hope you really enjoy your new scooter, I have a 04 fltri (Road Glide) and 2 Honda Valkyries (1- 2000 standard and 1-1999 interstate ) I find the that the honda's are a super bike and maintance free !!! I wish my road glide was ... talking about poping, running rough, vibrating every nut and bolt loose. Anyhow I knew it when I bought it. The bikes are just 2 different machines. The Harley rides and handles better The Hondas perform better and cost so much less. The bad thing is I really enjoy riding so I dont give a crap what anyone thinks or makes comments about my bikes . I have about 11K each in my valks and about 26 k in 1 not 2 Harleys So if anyone wants to blast me Let Them Go Buy A metric and ride it for 1,2,3,4 years and then come back and give me HELL !!!! If ya havent tried it dont knock it Slo Ps when you change oil go with some brand of syn. It will smooth out the shifting. all hondas have straight cut gears in the tranny.. Good luck and ride safe and HAVE FUN
 
#10 ·
Joe,

Enjoy your VTX. I just sold mine tonight, but I enjoyed it while I had it. It had great performance and handling. The 2 best things I did while I had it, were to put on a Mustang seat, and a Roadhouse 2 into 1 pipe. Both made noticable improvements. I had a '98 Heritage before the VTX, and have an '04 Road King now. The Honda was nice, but not exactly what I wanted.

Highmiles
 
#11 ·
Wannabe??

A wannabe?? I sold my Harley by choice. How can you be a wannabe when you're an alreadyhad? Man, what a bunch of morons, no wonder Harley outsells every other brand when they have customers like some of you. How many of you loud mouths out there have been riding over 35 years? I'll bet most of you just got your training wheels taken off your Jap bikes before you bought your Harley. You guys must be trying to justify having paid so much for being part of a bunch of yuppies who have been sucked in by all the hype. Those with more money (or larger loans) than brains and have become part of a herd mentality that has taken over the once unique pride of owning a Harley.

I fell into the same trap and talked sh*t like you guys about "jap crap" but I finally saw the light. Everytime I went into the Harley dealer to buy an accessory for my Harley it said "Made in China". My forks, shocks, carb, wheels and who knows what else were all foreign made so the "Made in America" crap doesn't cut it anymore either. My VTX is made in Ohio by American workers with foreign made parts just like a Harley. Today there are more Harley's than Honda's and Willie G. is laughing all the way to the bank with your money. Harley was once the working man's bike, American made, an underdog, but now has become a caricature of itself, overpriced and just a piece of expensive jewelry drowning in a sea of sameness. I'd rather ride than brag about how much money I dumped into my bike. Sayonara
 
#12 ·
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#14 ·
crash1292 said:
come on breeliz,you hold em, ill kick em :D
LOL!!

Old Joe comes in. Doesn't introduce himself. First thread he starts insinuating that we and/or our bikes are fucked up. Starts getting into it with a member and saying some not so nice things. If he keeps that up there is no doubt that he will meet the Grim Reaper soon!! Seen that before!

:D :D :D
 
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#15 ·
Golly, fellas, lighten up. All I did was a post an opinion about a metric bike in a metric forum. You guys are the ones that got personal. I'm just defending myself. Hey moderator, check these responses out:

From CHUD- "35 years and you're still dumb as a fucking stump."

From crash1292 - "hey joe, dont f*cking care"

From crash1292 -"come on breeliz,you hold em, ill kick em"

What are you all doing in the metric forum anyway? When I owned my Harley I could care less about other bikes and other opinions. You guys need to spend more time riding and less time in front of the keyboard.

"Ignorance is bliss"

breeliz said:
LOL!!

Old Joe comes in. Doesn't introduce himself. First thread he starts insinuating that we and/or our bikes are fucked up. Starts getting into it with a member and saying some not so nice things. If he keeps that up there is no doubt that he will meet the Grim Reaper soon!! Seen that before!

:D :D :D
 
#16 ·
Joe said:
Golly, fellas, lighten up. All I did was a post an opinion about a metric bike in a metric forum. You guys are the ones that got personal. I'm just defending myself. Hey moderator, check these responses out:

From CHUD- "35 years and you're still dumb as a fucking stump."

From crash1292 - "hey joe, dont f*cking care"

From crash1292 -"come on breeliz,you hold em, ill kick em"

What are you all doing in the metric forum anyway? When I owned my Harley I could care less about other bikes and other opinions. You guys need to spend more time riding and less time in front of the keyboard.

"Ignorance is bliss"
Joe...

You're too new to defend yourself. Surrender. We will let ya know when you can start defending yourself!!

LOL!!
:p :p :p
 
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#17 ·
Well, Im happy for you Joe....seriously!

But, after riding metric bikes for 10 years (yes, even a vtx 1300 & 1800), I have to say buying my first Harley this year was too prolonged. I had pondered about buying a bike that costs twice as much with half the power/technology for years, but after I did it, I have absolutely ZERO/ZILCH/NADA regrets.

My Night Train may be slower, heavier, harder to work on, etc, etc bike in the world.... but its the best motorcycle Ive owned and ridden in my life.

I will say the metric bikes have the sportbikes market covered though.... :D
 
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#18 · (Edited)
I thought I would stick my 2 cents into the discussion. I love bikes, doesn't matter who makes them, I love to ride and can't do it enough. I think ownership of a motorcycle is like being a baseball or football fan. Me, I am a Jet fan, go to all the games and sometimes wear a jets cap to keep the sun out of my eyes. Others put on jerseys, paint their faces and get totally crazy and agressive towards fans from the visiting team............this doesn't make them bad people, it is just the way they look a things. I believe the same holds true for motorcycle ownership, some people like to just get on and ride while others get more involved.
 
#19 ·
Thanks for the civil reply. Kind of rare on this forum.

I think everyone should own a Harley in their lifetime. I felt the same way as you do when I first got mine. Some will be completely happy, others will begin to question what makes it worth the money and maintenance. If you want to belong to an exclusive club there is no alternative. Nothing sounds like a modified Harley and once you upgrade to Stage 1 or better it will perform quite well also.

I happen to think the VTX1300C (I'm not crazy about the Retro) is a nice alternative to a Harley for a lot less money without being a blatant copy like some other metrics. I have a feeling that the next generation Harley's will end up being a lot like them anyway (water cooled to meet tolerances for emissions).


GotKrome? said:
Well, Im happy for you Joe....seriously!

But, after riding metric bikes for 10 years (yes, even a vtx 1300 & 1800), I have to say buying my first Harley this year was too prolonged. I had pondered about buying a bike that costs twice as much with half the power/technology for years, but after I did it, I have absolutely ZERO/ZILCH/NADA regrets.

My Night Train may be slower, heavier, harder to work on, etc, etc bike in the world.... but its the best motorcycle Ive owned and ridden in my life.

I will say the metric bikes have the sportbikes market covered though.... :D
 
#20 ·
look up vtx owners site Sparkman

Had one of those mine was a vtx 1800c so your 1300 wont impress Now I have the best motorcycle in the world Harley Davidson and nothing else comes close.
Im not from the U.S of A or Japan so I feel I can say my opinion is fairly balanced Ive had a V max Hyabusa and Vulcan.
Boy did I upset the vtx boys when I had the gall to go Harley.
Anyway point is all opinions yours mine and anyone else is just that an opinion nothing more. So ride it safe take care and when you get pi**ed off you can always get another Harley. (Oh yes you will !!!) Dont you just love these forums. :)
 
#21 ·
You see Joe, you're supposed to say stuff like "wow, I sure wish I had a Harley but all I could afford was this VTX1300. It's OK for now and maybe someday I'll be able to get a Harley". Then everyone would have given you a big group hug and said all that cliche stuff like "it's not what you ride, so long as you like it and you keep your knees in the breese". But you had to go and give a positive review of your Jap bike, didn't you? And to REALLY piss the gang off, you had the nerve to say you SOLD your Harley. What are you, some kind of space alien communist? You probably don't hug your momma either. Well we don't need your kind around here, what with your customer satisfaction and all. You sir, can ride by your danged self. Harumph!

Chilly :p
 
#22 ·
Guilt Ridden

Damn you Chilly I feel so guilty after reading your post. I must sell my Harley its the only decent thing to do.
Im gonna get another VTX I promise, honest. I will tell everyone that my Harley was just a complex thing and now I have moved on to a real mans bike I love japanese metal I do I do.
Next time I watch Pearl Harbour I will even cheer at the Zero's (Yea Right!)
 
#23 ·
sparkman said:
Damn you Chilly I feel so guilty after reading your post. I must sell my Harley its the only decent thing to do.
Im gonna get another VTX I promise, honest. I will tell everyone that my Harley was just a complex thing and now I have moved on to a real mans bike I love japanese metal I do I do.
Next time I watch Pearl Harbour I will even cheer at the Zero's (Yea Right!)
Glad I could help, sparkman. Be sure to post a review so we can line up to kick you in the nuts. :D

Chilly
 
#25 ·
VTX for sale

I have an 02 VTX 1800C with 6500 miles I will sell you for $7500. I live in Northern VA, it has extended warranty until 9/08. Never dropped, ilusion blue, HK 2-1 Accelerator exhaust, K&N air filter, windvest, hondaline back rest, Techlustion TFI fuel controller. Dyno'd at 93.8 HP and 104.8 ft-lbs torque.

Send an e-mail to bird_man1800@yahoo.com or PM me through this forum if you are interested.
 
#26 ·
ToeCutter66 said:
I have an 02 VTX 1800C with 6500 miles I will sell you for $7500. I live in Northern VA, it has extended warranty until 9/08. Never dropped, ilusion blue, HK 2-1 Accelerator exhaust, K&N air filter, windvest, hondaline back rest, Techlustion TFI fuel controller. Dyno'd at 93.8 HP and 104.8 ft-lbs torque.

Send an e-mail to bird_man1800@yahoo.com or PM me through this forum if you are interested.
How bout $3,750?

:D :D :D
 
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