Who would have thought that a motorcycle with a 1.3-liter engine might be low-capacity. Nevertheless, in the family of two choppers, the Honda VTX 1300 is considered the youngest model. Compared with the 1.8-liter prototype, it is lighter, cheaper, and, of course, calmer on the road. At the time, the VTX 1800 surprised motorists. It was a perfectly balanced motorcycle with an excellent engine, which in its temperament went beyond the class. Therefore, when the 1.3-liter version appeared, many were skeptical and called it “stripped down.” Let's find out how remarkable this motorcycle is and why it cannot get out of the shadow of an older model.
Appearance
Motorcycles are very similar in appearance. If you go into details, we can note the difference in the configuration of the wings and the fact that American motorcycle construction trends of the 50s influenced the exterior. The older model has more dragster outlines, and the younger one has classic chopper shapes. But overall, the difference is negligible. And to inexperienced motorcyclists, it may not be noticeable at all. Probably, just so that the cars could be distinguished from each other, the designers saved the Honda VTX 1300 from a huge muffler, which stood out in the 1.8-liter version.
Devices
Here, too, everything recalls the origin of the model. The panel located on the gas tank corresponds to all the canons. The backlight works well. And in the dark, all devices are well read. The lack of a tachometer is obviously due to the style. However, he has not disturbed anyone yet.
But the main miscalculation is the lack of a fuel gauge. Although the model is designed for long trips on suburban highways. The good news is that the carburetor power system allows you to manually switch to the reserve. A large light bulb indicates the motor overheating. True, to bring the motorcycle to such a state you need to try hard. The impressive radiator fins of the cooling system do their job perfectly.
It’s quite difficult to look at the speedometer to find out the speed. To do this, you need to show true flexibility, agility and courage. The main thing is not to forget to follow the road at this moment.
Finish and weight
As for the chopper, the finish is rather poor. Some shiny elements are made of plastic instead of metal. But on the other hand, a motorcycle weighs more than 300 kilograms. And excess iron is clearly inappropriate for him. Such an impressive weight reminds itself during parking. Rolling a motorcycle by hand on a level ground is hard. And if after a rash parking you need to drive backwards and downhill, it is probably better to wait until the neighboring vehicles are removed and you can leave without rolling over. In general, the motorcycle is heavy. And in the case of illiterate parking, it can bring serious problems.
On the road
The maneuverability of the Honda VTX 1300 at low speed does not please at all, again because of the weight. Turning it into traffic jams is not a pleasant experience. And given the fact that it is immodest in width, driving around a clogged city in time turns out almost like a car. A serious problem in this regard is the horned steering wheel. We must try not to tear down the rearview mirrors.
However, arranging high-speed races in the city stream is a non-royal affair. In the city, the device involves an imposing measured ride. At the same time, as befits a real chopper, on the highway he perfectly keeps a straight line. He rushes forward very confidently. And, it seems that no one will knock him off course. A solid appearance allows you to enjoy respect on the road. On this motorcycle you don’t have to “ask” to be missed. Drivers themselves drive off to the side.
Technical specifications Honda VTX 1300
This is where the main difference between the Honda VTX 1300 and the older brother lies. Having borrowed all the external distinguishing features of the family, the bike lost the main thing. Having removed 500 cubic centimeters from the engine, the designers turned the device with a bright distinctive character into a motorcycle without personality, which was, is and will be a great many.
It seems that for a chopper 75 horsepower is quite enough. But if you recall the “senior” VTX, which left black marks on the pavement after a sharp start, accelerated to 100 km / h in 3.8 seconds and literally “flew out” of hands, then everything falls into place. Starting at a traffic light in the mirrors you can see not the points, but large cars. And some of them even manage to ride flush with the bike. When overtaking, the confidence that was with the older model disappeared.
The lack of 30 Nm is also very noticeable. Basically, there is enough traction, but when a passenger sits behind or the road goes into a long climb, the dynamics are not the same as we would like. Starting in second gear is difficult: the motor twitches. And as a result, it stalls. There is also no elastic transmission on which one could ride all the way, so you constantly have to work with the box.
Everything is relative
In principle, all of the above is valid only if you compare the bike with its prototype. After all, if you do not take into account the version of the Honda VTX, the 1300 motorcycle looks very decent on the market. In its price and volume category, it is one of the best in dynamics. It can accelerate to 200 km / h. This is a space indicator for choppers. Of course, a true biker will not accelerate the car to such speeds, because it will be extremely difficult to stay in the saddle.
The brakes
For some reason, removing 20 horsepower, the designers decided to eliminate the brakes. The combined system was replaced by a separate one. And in front they removed one disc. All this negatively affected the braking distance. With such characteristics it is difficult to stop abruptly if necessary. You need to literally hit the rear brake pedal and squeeze the front lever with all your fingers. By the way, that same pedal is located outside the zone of comfortable foot placement. So you need to start stopping a weighty motorcycle prematurely. Of course, you can get used to all of this.
Management Features
Compliance with the canons of style negatively affects management. However, compared with other choppers, the device is quite good to control. In a bend, when a weighty motorcycle bends over, it goes like on rails, which brings the biker great pleasure. Riding along winding country roads would be a complete ecstasy, if not one nuance - even at a modest turn there is a risk of being caught on the bandwagon. And on the high lying police officers, the bike completely clings to the bottom. The element of choppers - long straight distances. Therefore, in principle, the fact that it clings to corners can be forgiven by Japanese designers. Well, the low bottom, apparently due to design features.
Suspension
Thanks to the massive tubular steel frame, the motorcycle has a long classic fit. The large front fork has a stroke of 130 mm and a good response. The rear chrome shock absorbers got a 41 mm stroke. They include an internal valve system that increases ride comfort. Nevertheless, the landing remains harsh.
The suspension allows, without slowing down, to overcome shallow pits. The main thing is not to get carried away and make sure that after the small ones the large ones do not appear. After all, then a soft front fork can easily give a breakdown. But the rear suspension is much more difficult to make it work for the entire course. In general, a good detail, as for a chopper.
Honda VTX 1300: reviews
As expected, the bike received conflicting reviews from the owners. Let's start with the design. Stylish and elegant bike is able to attract attention. He owes this to deep wings, a wide steering wheel and a massive clutch basket lid. By and large, tuning the Honda VTX 1300 is not needed at all. It can only harm the classic image of a motorcycle.
Now a little about landing. So, it is quite low, which allows, firstly, to drive undersized people, and secondly, to confidently control the bike with your feet. But the "broad shoulders" of a motorcycle can become a real problem for those who want to outwit the city traffic. The seats are large but not very comfortable. Therefore, after long trips, many complain of fatigue. Mirrors are also made not very well and sometimes the review is clearly not enough.
It's time to discuss opinions about the power plant. The engine, according to owners, fully lives up to expectations. For its volume, it accelerates the bike well and steadily holds speed. The checkpoint operates quite clearly, without jerking. Of course, when compared with the older model, this motorcycle has a rather weak disposition. But the one who buys it should understand this initially. After all, the device is designed for less dynamic and more economical driving.
Due to the long base, and rather rigid frame, the manner of riding a bike is very specific, but this is a matter of habit. And large wheels help the suspension to deal with small irregularities. For the level of lighting, the motorcycle clearly gets the highest rating - the headlights clearly focus the beam and shine well. Although the brakes are inferior to the elder brother, they are quite normal in comparison with other “classmates”.
Among the obvious miscalculations of the Japanese company, the owners note a dashboard located on the gas tank, with its uncomfortable small speedometer. Well, the fact of the lack of a low fuel level sensor in the tank is completely indignant. Users assure: the motorcycle has one disease, which is easier to put up with than to fight - at a speed of 40-50 km / h it beats the wheel. But since the speed is not very "running", they usually turn a blind eye.
For those who decide to go on a long journey, it is worthwhile to purchase some accessories for the Honda VTX 1300. We are talking about the windshield and arches behind. You need to be prepared for the fact that such useful improvements can negatively affect the elegance of the bike. According to reviews, the motorcycle is quite reliable in operation. Among the breakdowns is anything. As a rule, nothing critical. In any case, you can purchase spare parts. Honda offers a fairly high-quality product, so you can trust the bike. It is recommended to prepare the car prematurely for the season, so as not to spend precious warm days in the garage. By changing consumable parts (Honda), checking all fluids, you can be sure that the season will pass without unpleasant surprises.
Conclusion
Today we met with the Honda VTX 1300 motorcycle. Fuel consumption (about 7 liters), interesting design, good driving qualities are the main advantages of the model. Picky bikers will say that she is inferior to her older brother. But this is understandable. After all, initially the motorcycle was positioned as a lite version with all the ensuing consequences. Nevertheless, in comparison with competitors, it looks more than worthy. The price of such an “iron horse” in the secondary market has long been at a high level and ranges from 300 to 400 thousand rubles, depending on the condition and year of manufacture.