LittleBigDaddy
02-24-2008, 04:37 PM
...and on the 7th day, God created......
I've already done multiple reviews of my 'new' VTX 1800, but heck...every time I get on it, I wanna do another one. As I said in my intro, I just moved up from a VLX (600 cc's) to the VTX. What a jump, believe me.
Now keep in mind, I've beeen a VLX rider for almost 3 years now. It's really the only bike I know well, save for brief experiences on a V-Star Silverado, a Vulcan 1500 and a Honda Magna.
.....oooh.....I still get dreamy eyed when I think about that Magna.....
But I digress. Anyway, the VTX was a "present" from a freind that knew I was interested in an upgrade. And what an upgade it was. Since the VLX was my only real bike, I was very much aware of its capabilities and limitations. In retrospect, it was a near-perfect bike to learn on. Just big enough to keep up with the rest of the boys (or girls, depending upon who I was riding with), good styling, and 4 tall gears.
...speaking of which, a 4-speed tranny doesn't sound like much, but it's actually very versatile once you learn how to use it.
Now the VLX was a great back-roads bike. A scream thru the twisties cause I could muscle it thru just about anything. It allowed for mistakes because of its weight (little more than 400 lbs dry weight, I think). I have not, by the way gotten rid of my first X. I'm instead keeping it in stasis until I can convince my fiancee to ride with me.
......but then I finally tested a VTX.
My first experience with a C-model is actually heralded on YouTube. If you look up "Wayne + VTX" you'll find a brief clip of this short black dude coming off of his virgin ride on one of these beasts. The video says it all.....and I'm the short black dude in question.
When I first tried this bike I had already made up my mind that I wanted to trade up to a power cruiser. I was torn between the VTX, the V-Star Warrior and the V-Star V-Max.
Granted, I never gave the Warrior or the V-Max a fair shot cause I never rode them......maybe one day, y'know.
But this review ain't about them.
So let's talke VTX 1800.
Wow.
Compared to the VTX, popping the clutch in 2nd on the VLX is like going from a Sunday stroll to a brisk walk. Pop the clutch in 2nd gear on the VTX and hold on. Your butt presses into the seat and as you move up in "I'm gonna get in trouble" digits on the speedometer, your smile increases appropriately. This grin factor increases as you go through the gears, and is only minorly eclipsed by the rev-limiter, which lets you know very harshly that it's time to go move to the next one.
You get used to it though.
After 4 weeks of ownership, I find that I will normally utilize 2nd through 4th gear most.....primarily to keep myself from speeding excessively. 5th gear is a "let's speed" gear. Period.
Ergonomically, the VTX is amazingly similar to the VLX, and as a smaller rider (5'4" and 150 lbs on a good day), I don't notice the weight difference (somewhere around the neighborhood of 900 lbs). It's extremely well balanced. As others have said though, you definitely notice it in slow manuvers.
Ever see a Porsche driver that keeps it under the speed limit? I'm finding that all that power means that you can flex your muscles in brief "need to do" spurts instead of keeping yourself in cop radar. I'm still maw-mawing it because I'm still getting used to it. The gas mileage is (not surprisingly) similar to the VLX because those bursts of speed will cost you dearly. As far as things that would have been nice additions, I'd include a tach. I'm going to have to figure out where to put the highway pegs that came with it too. You're sort of limited on options at my height; and it looks like I'll either have to remove them or get creative.
Very fast. Fast enough to get you in trouble. Fast enough to surprise a lot of sport bikes. Not something you see every day. Big enough to keep up with just about anything on the road. Fun, eye catching and comfy too.
I don't see myself needing another upgrade anytime soon.....
I've already done multiple reviews of my 'new' VTX 1800, but heck...every time I get on it, I wanna do another one. As I said in my intro, I just moved up from a VLX (600 cc's) to the VTX. What a jump, believe me.
Now keep in mind, I've beeen a VLX rider for almost 3 years now. It's really the only bike I know well, save for brief experiences on a V-Star Silverado, a Vulcan 1500 and a Honda Magna.
.....oooh.....I still get dreamy eyed when I think about that Magna.....
But I digress. Anyway, the VTX was a "present" from a freind that knew I was interested in an upgrade. And what an upgade it was. Since the VLX was my only real bike, I was very much aware of its capabilities and limitations. In retrospect, it was a near-perfect bike to learn on. Just big enough to keep up with the rest of the boys (or girls, depending upon who I was riding with), good styling, and 4 tall gears.
...speaking of which, a 4-speed tranny doesn't sound like much, but it's actually very versatile once you learn how to use it.
Now the VLX was a great back-roads bike. A scream thru the twisties cause I could muscle it thru just about anything. It allowed for mistakes because of its weight (little more than 400 lbs dry weight, I think). I have not, by the way gotten rid of my first X. I'm instead keeping it in stasis until I can convince my fiancee to ride with me.
......but then I finally tested a VTX.
My first experience with a C-model is actually heralded on YouTube. If you look up "Wayne + VTX" you'll find a brief clip of this short black dude coming off of his virgin ride on one of these beasts. The video says it all.....and I'm the short black dude in question.
When I first tried this bike I had already made up my mind that I wanted to trade up to a power cruiser. I was torn between the VTX, the V-Star Warrior and the V-Star V-Max.
Granted, I never gave the Warrior or the V-Max a fair shot cause I never rode them......maybe one day, y'know.
But this review ain't about them.
So let's talke VTX 1800.
Wow.
Compared to the VTX, popping the clutch in 2nd on the VLX is like going from a Sunday stroll to a brisk walk. Pop the clutch in 2nd gear on the VTX and hold on. Your butt presses into the seat and as you move up in "I'm gonna get in trouble" digits on the speedometer, your smile increases appropriately. This grin factor increases as you go through the gears, and is only minorly eclipsed by the rev-limiter, which lets you know very harshly that it's time to go move to the next one.
You get used to it though.
After 4 weeks of ownership, I find that I will normally utilize 2nd through 4th gear most.....primarily to keep myself from speeding excessively. 5th gear is a "let's speed" gear. Period.
Ergonomically, the VTX is amazingly similar to the VLX, and as a smaller rider (5'4" and 150 lbs on a good day), I don't notice the weight difference (somewhere around the neighborhood of 900 lbs). It's extremely well balanced. As others have said though, you definitely notice it in slow manuvers.
Ever see a Porsche driver that keeps it under the speed limit? I'm finding that all that power means that you can flex your muscles in brief "need to do" spurts instead of keeping yourself in cop radar. I'm still maw-mawing it because I'm still getting used to it. The gas mileage is (not surprisingly) similar to the VLX because those bursts of speed will cost you dearly. As far as things that would have been nice additions, I'd include a tach. I'm going to have to figure out where to put the highway pegs that came with it too. You're sort of limited on options at my height; and it looks like I'll either have to remove them or get creative.
Very fast. Fast enough to get you in trouble. Fast enough to surprise a lot of sport bikes. Not something you see every day. Big enough to keep up with just about anything on the road. Fun, eye catching and comfy too.
I don't see myself needing another upgrade anytime soon.....