I started out a long time ago on Yamaha's, and pooh-poohed Honda's for years. Then I bought a VTX 1800 Tourer and, holy crap. Easily one of the very best heavy cruisers anybody ever made, any brand. Outstanding ride, handling, and power.
I just bought my 08’ VTX 1800F in January. First bike ever! I thought I was dumb making this my first motorcycle. I would have been dumb for NOT making this my first motorcycle!
I bought my VTX1800F2 new off the shelf in 2010. Found it at a dealership online. It was still in the crate. Some street sweeper pipes a cobra fuel injection controller and a custom skull air cleaner and it's crazy fast. I LOVE THIS BIKE!
I passed my licence 2 years ago,got myself an 2019 sv650x,loved her but went to my local dealer on a off chance,and their she was,sitting in a corner,a 2002 vtx1800r,I sat on her,I started her and I didn't even test ride her,I traded my bike for her with no hesistation right their and then and all I can say is she is everything for me,I found out she came from California and now I owe her in the south of UK and yes she turns heads over here.👍
My friend has one. Rode it for the first time yesterday and it is a rocket ship lol very smooth, shifts great and I love the wide seat. I’m gonna buy one asap
I've had an 1800 since 2004. Toured with it, ran it through the twisties. How they enginerred a bike that can do both so well is beyond me. My only wishes in that time was for an even larger fuel tank, which came on later models when they relocated the fuel pump, and a sixth gear. You alsso forgoet to mention that sometimes, when you wear a full face helmet, it is hard to get off over the big smile when you are at the end of the ride with a VTX 1800.
Totally agree with you. I'm own a 1800 F model 2008. Fuel tank capacity: 18.5 liters. I can ride on full tank until the yellow lamp switch on, approximately 135-150 miles. And i think, that better if you have 22-23 liters into your tank. Six gear for smooth highway riding will be more useful and pleasantly, for more economical fuel consumption, and as a result, an increase in the mileage distance on one tank. In all other respects, perhaps this is the best motorcycle among big twin cruisers
I've owned a 2003 VTX 1800 since 2004. Bought it brand new in allusion blue since it was left over from 2003 because of the color(everybody wanted black back then). Great machine from day1. Smoked a few doubting Harley owners(some while riding 2 up). Bought a Bonneville lately but still own the VTX 'cause I'll never sell it.
Long time VTX1800C owner. 114hp, 120lbs of torque. Freedom Performance 2-1 pipes are the way to go. Everything else is just noise. PC V with basically any performance air intake and you're turning your VTX into hyper beast mode.
They are not made any more, but did you ever hear the pipes Jardine made for this bike? I was at a group get together with many pipes,and as soon as I heard them my mind was made up. Mine still sound great, but some chrome started flaking off heat shields, of course 20 years old and all.
I just switched from a GSXR1000 to an 02 VTX1800c and I was worried about not having enough power, man am I impressed. And my wife loves being on the back of it the bike doesn’t even notice her.
So excited. Bought a 02 but won't pick it up till after winter. Chicago to wyoming trip. I'm gonna trailer it, but do a bunch of riding the way back. Can't wait.
i totally thought there was gunna be a lot of negative, but your commentary is hilarious, i fell in love with my vtx 1800 on the 1st ride, for all the reasons you listed, you should definitely turn some of your commentary like the prescription part into an actual commercial 😂😂😂😂😂 it would be great
@@himonwillard5088 I rode Pittsburgh to Nashville plus an hour on each side round trip. It was my Midwest Gas Station Tour. At 80mph I was stopping every 100 miles for gas. Towards the end of the trip I backed down to 65-70 and was getting 115 miles per tank.
i tell you what i have a 1100 i love and i also won a 2023 goldwing dct. and i bought a 2005 vtx 1800 a week ago beats any damn harley i have ever owne and i have only owned harleys since 1970 was a custom bike builder in calif for many years. i worked for harley and to be very honest they are pure ass junk over priced just for the name.well after buying the 1st 1800 i bought another one for 3600 also low miles. i figure if one ever goes bad i have a backup. lolthe wing is great for long trips. but the 1800 is pure ass BAD just ordered a set of bags for the one. i live in washington state. up by canada middle of the state. winter is coming so have to get ready but if yuou have no experiance on something with this much touque then start with a 1100 or a 1300 then go to the 1800 it will kill you. be careful ride it like you stole it
All I hear is great 👍🏼 things about the VTX 1800 & VTX 1300. I would’ve definitely bought the VTX 1800 if they still made them. I am happy with my Fury though, I can’t complain since I put the black Cobra Speedster Swept exhaust & black Cobra PowerFlo . But maybe 🤔 someday I’ll find a VTX 1800 for sale near me, because everyone says nothing but good things.
I own a silver 2002 VTX-1800C. 9,500 original miles, Mad fast, had it upward of 140 mph and still some throttle left. One warning though. These guys eat through front tires. Not sure why. About 5k miles per tire.
You should be a salesman. I'm buying one. Power and Reliability!!?? And you are 90% sure you don't want to poop out of your pancreas? I'm a solid 50% so I'm in.
For reliability, performance, comfort, styling, etc. etc. etc. you can't be a Honda, but there's something about the sound of the VTX that is lacking. I don't know what it is, but I suspect it's whatever aftermarket pipe people are using.
Most aftermarket pipes I see (including mine) are suspiciously missing baffles. I agree from behind they sound like an old John Deere Tractor, but from the pilot's seat it sounds great.
Been riding ever since I was 17 years old. Father bought me an od '72 Kawasaki S2 350 2-stroke triple and I was hooked. I've owned about a dozen bikes over the years. I had actually stoped riding about 6 years ago, but decided to get back into it during the plague of 2020. Bought an '08 VTX1300C and love it! Then, I read about the 1800s and found a nice, clean one for sale up in Madison, WI last year. I just HAD to have it! hopped on a Greyhound bus for the 4-hour trip there from northwest Indiana. Stayed overnight, visited the dealership in the morning. 2006 VTX1800F2. Love at first sight. Rode it home that day. Still have the 1300, but that 1800 is something else.
Bought a 2003 VTX 1800R after a demo ride on a new one. Instantly hooked. Bought a red one. Put 99k miles on it. Rode all over USA and half of Canada. It never let me down. Need another one.
Bought 1800c in feb. 2002 first model year. Still have it 13,785 miles on it. My back is shit (degenerative disk bullshit) so I cant ride much anymore. 20 miles here or there. I WILL NEVER SELL IT I FUCKING REFUSE TO!!!!!
As soon as you started trashing the mirrors.... I thought you were crazy. I realized you were in love with the bike and I totally understand. I personally want a Rune model with the six cylinder and the only complaint I have with Honda is how long until you make a six speed transmission ???? Always puzzled me how they didn't understand how much difference it really makes. Just my opinion though.
All my life I only owned Sport bikes! I stopped riding 20 yrs ago and the need for another bike has been eating at me!! I've read so much about the Honda VTX 1800C! I located one and fell in love!
I love my F model, I neglected it for a couple years but got it running again recently. I got a bit of adrenaline going after the first ride in so long and bam, in love with it again. I have a supercharger for it in a cooler that I may tinker with installing this winter.
I feel horribly sick watching this, because I feel like this might go the way of Honda S2000. I pray that I can still buy one in the next year or so, while they are still available on the market. The VTX1800 has been one of my dream bikes forever.
Have to say, at the beginning, my lightening fast mind thought you were actually whining about the mirrors. Then I got it. Kudos on your dry humor! The one about drivers on your left or right at a stop tasting your prop wash made me lol! I bought a retro as soon as they came out in 2002, still have it and going strong in 2023. Only problem ever was the coil grounds. I’ll never not ride it.
As long as the gas tank is stock and has the 1800 badge and there is no salvage title. If it runs great, I would get it. $3500 for 7000 miles is pretty good.
I have a 2002 vtx 1800 retro i bought new and have added a switchblade windscreen 2up with lowers, hardbags from viking, 1.5 inch cobra highway bars with footrests and more, i smile every time i take my girl for a spin, better than a Harley or anything else IMHO.
I've got a 1800R. Fully loaded. Black and a lot of chrome. It gets complemented every time I take it out. And they are correct- man,that's a good looking bike - yes sir, for a Honda. They always reply. Honda? Looks like a Harley.
I didn’t own both but I had the same issue vtx 1800 2005 vs a HD road king 2003 similar price. I was lucky to be able to test drive both and the road king was nice. I thought why bother testing the vtx next week when I could get this one now but I was patient. The vtx impressed me so much that it wasn’t even a competition and I was surprised. It is like a sportster and a cruiser had a baby.
That is definitely a possibility. I just bought a victory 2012 Hammer and I’m sure I’m gonna be looking at the same issues. But in the end, there’s always a way to get parts whether it be eBay or a good mechanic that has an in. 1800 is a great bike.
Paid $4k for my 2006 1800N with just shy of 21k miles almost two years ago. Love it. Enjoyed your videos before and after I bought my VTX, but man, please work on the audio. The wind noise is awful.
Rode dirt bikes growing up but never got a bike. Five years ago I went to visit my father in Florida and he and my step mom rode. She had a Vtx 1300 and my dad had the 1800. We went for a ride and I hopped on the 1300. I had the operational aspect down but it was my first time riding a legit motorcycle. Got the hang of it pretty quick and we did a lot of riding that day. Next day I hopped on the 1800. Man what a difference. Once I rode that I couldn’t go back to the 1300. Couple years later my stepmom sold the 1300 And took my fathers 1800. Dad picked up a rune. When I rode THAT, it was hard to go back to the 1800. lol. Anyhow, my father passed about a year or so ago and I finally made the decision to get my ML and a bike. Taking the MSF class in a couple weeks and have a 2005 VTX 1800 F1 that I’ll be picking up couple days after the class. Wish I did this years ago but I guess better late than never. Lol.
That’s awesome man! That class is invaluable for sure, and I’m glad you got an 1800 that’s awesome. I’m sorry to hear about your Dad, that’s cool you got to ride with them though. Ride safe brother thanks for watching.
@@tgmotorider.narratinglifeo3480 thanks man. Getting this bike is for me but also for him and to keep a nice memory alive. Ride safe as well and live life!!
Nice putt vid. I hava '02 bought new for (9.2k). Now has 140+ miles. Still looks and runs perfect. Baron Beach bars, corbin seat and FCs make it an all day rider. RHShorty pipe rules. Doubledarksiding tires make it handle the superslab like a locomotive ! Yes. Its a great moto.
@@DM-pl8mz I hope Honda comes out with something bigger than a 1300k cruiser in a few years. I’ve got 37k on mine…100k more and I’ll be ready for a new or slightly used one.
@@DM-pl8mz I bought a 02 1800c when they came out, paid $12,500, I still ride it 22 years later, only about 30k miles. Are you saying yours has 140,000 miles?
Love it! My 02 is my therapy. Another thing you have to get used of is not caring which direction to turn when you come to a fork in the road. It doesn’t matter.
Stock seat is not bad, i’ve been on it for hours and hours and I have not had any problems. suspension is not as good as my Vulcan nomad but it’s not terrible either. The brakes quite honestly could be better in my opinion. For having two rotors in the front and three pistons they are not as grabby as my triumph 1600, which only has two pistons on each rotor in the front. But the overall package is amazing when you hit the throttle. It’s delivery overcomes the smaller things in my opinion. I hope it helps, for what you pay for one of these it over delivers.
Do you want a VTX 1800? I have a 2003, I'm the only owner, located in central North Carolina. Bike was well maintained with regular oil changes every 5000 miles. Extras include Memphis Shades Shield, Leatherlyke Saddle Bags, Trunk, Ultimate-X Seat refoamed by Mean City Cycles and more. $2995 obo. My RU-vid Channel has some videos of my riding it. I took it out last weekend for 50 mile ride and I had more fun than this guy did in this video. ;-)
Nice bike. I rode a new 06 VTX1300C for a few years all across the Southwest, but it was secondary to me because at the same time, I also owned an 06 ZZR1200 that would launch me into outer space at the twist of a wrist. All in all, looking back, the VTX line is one of the best if not the best out there. Reliability, power, speed, and good looks. And a full face helmet kept my jaw from popping off when I hit the pavement chin first coming off a Suze Katana 750 at 63 mph. A guy stopped his sedan dead still in front of me on Interstate 20 with no space to get around him. I wound up with irritating road rash and a sprained ankle. Some kind of miracle I guess. Cheers!
Like you, I've ridden over 10 bikes during the past few decades. And the two bikes that had the most unique personality are the Honda VTX 1800 and the Honda Valkyrie. Held on to the VTX because it's fuel injected. Thanks for sharing.
Don't forget about the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000cc v-twin. That thing is a rolling torque monster that falls into about the same price bracket as the Honda VTX 1800.
