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2005 Honda VTX 1300- review needed

1K views 10 replies 3 participants last post by  Skerr 
#1 ·
I have an opportunity to pick up this one-owner bike. The guy bought it new, a co-worker. He is 53. He doesn't want to ride while it is cold, and he doesn't want to ride at night anymore, so he is selling. It has sat for a little while, he said it is backfiring through the carbs, he dumped in some Lucas. It has 7000 miles. Never been wrecked, looks like new. Wants $3000. I am more of a sport touring kind of guy, but for $3000? What do ya'll think of this bike?
 
#3 ·
I have a 2006 vtx 1300r. Mine is somewhere between 16000 to 17000 miles on it and runs like a champ. Hauling the wife on the back I average 36 to 40 mpg.
they discontinued the vtx a little while back , what a shame. Price seems good on the bike unless it's going to cost a lot to get it fixed. These bikes in general are fairly solid as most Honda products are.
 
#4 ·
Thanks so much. Going to look at it Saturday. How does it handle? Acceleration? Weight? I haven't spent much time on a cruiser. I'll get some pics.
 
#5 ·
How does it handle? For a cruiser it handles nice but it won't handle like your sport bike or a sport tourer.
I switch back and forth from this cruiser to a heavy on/off roader and they differ.
You'll probably find that your sport bike points much faster and easier but that's the nature of the beast and normally just takes me a second to recondition myself to whichever bike I am riding but that is normal when switching between bike styles and the types of controls. My vtx has forward controls where my on/off road has the typical dirt bike style. That takes me a second or two to remember what I'm riding.
The weight doesn't bother me , i believe off the top of my head it's around 600 pounds , plus I almost always have the wife on the back to boot.
Acceleration is nothing to write home about hauling a passenger when compared to a 4cly crotch rocket but for a 1300 cruiser , I'd have to say it does as expected. It won't rock you back in the seat when you hit 5th and dump the throttle but that's not what it was meant for. It does have all the power I can use on the hi-way and with 2 up can toll along at 80mph with out over stressing the machine and can't really say I need more than that and I ride a lot of "mountains" in the hills of PA and have yet felt the need to get off and push.
If anything , I should slow my speeds down , but you know how that goes.
I have always been a "funny" kind of guy. I find more cruisers that I DON'T like than I do.
Largely based on how they handle.
The vtx was a natural.
The shifting is smooth and very forgiving , so forgiving in fact I believe it encourages sloppiness.
That's a good and bad thing all at the same time.
 
#6 ·
Thanks tj. The last cruiser I tested (Suzuki) was nice looking, well kept, but a dog for handling. It has been many years since I have ridden faithfully, my last street bike being a GS1100G. LOVED IT! I just expected more handling capabilities from whatever that model Suzuki I rode. I hope to get some handling, acceleration (not blinding, but dependable and confident), and comfort from this Honda. I have always liked Honda, but never owned one. I rode a friend's Honda ST1300, and I was blown away! But I liked the simple, classic lines of my old GS. We'll see. I can't believe my wife is saying she wants to look at it!!!!!!! I hope this is a great bike!
 
#7 ·
The old school GS1100 , no doubt you loved it. I still have my first road legal bike. I think alot of people that spend alot of time on a certain style of bike can have a hard time switching ........ or they think they'll have a hard time. But you can learn to love again :).I've met alot of vtx lovers but no haters. Maybe you won't end up liking the vtx , lifes too short to ride a bike you're not comfy with but then ... any bike the wife wants to look at is worth a peek no doubt.

 
#9 ·
Sure no problem. I'm about 6'1 and I wouldn't want a smaller bike. And hey for 3 grand , if you can't ...... maybe I could use a second one. :)
I actually seen a vtx trike and a vtx with a side car. Both were 1300's. I can't comment on how they ride though. But some people obviously thought they had the power for those set ups.
 
#11 ·
The VTX'S are awesome bikes, I have a VTX 1800F and love it. The popping through the carb is probably a really easy fix, most likely from bad gas.
Check out VTXOA.com Lots of good information there, much like this forum.:thumbsup:
Thanks for the link. I forgot about this thread! The OP called me on the Friday evening before I was to go see the bike, and he told me he changed his mind! He said he would give me first dibs in the event he was going to sell it again. So I am just waiting. He won't ride it at all this winter.
 
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