DPH gave me a VTX a couple times when I dropped the Wing off for the maintenance plan. Can't say I am a big fan either. Really missed having music in the air, lower fairings, my feet underneath me (felt like I was falling backwards), and the smooth ride. If they don't have a Wing or something else halfway nice to ride, then I will be cabbing it to the office and back to the dealership afterwards in the future.

 

The 1800 is a highway bike, its not a stoplight to stoplight racer.

1st gear is useless, the rev limiter kicks in so fast that most people start out in 2nd gear if they want to launch off the line.

Its way to heavy in the twisties.

The VTX tranny clunks and doesnt shift anywhere near as smooth as the GWs.

Pretty tough for you to give an accurate evaluation of a bike on just a ride home.

My Neo is the 2nd 1800 Ive owned, my wife has a 1300 VTX. Ive also had a Rune and my current 1800GW to compare it to.

The 1800 VTX will get up and go, but you have to be in the right gear at the right rpm, its nothing like the GW. At 30mph in 5th gear the GW and the Rune will accelerate right up to 100+ mph, the VTX will just buck and shake your fillings out.

Cant beat the GW on the open road, but I would rather be on teh VTX in town anyday. The GW is just to heavy and ackward for me in town. The VTX has a much lower seat height and handles better in traffic.

 

The vtx1800 is a nice bike but no wing for sure, of course it is half the price also!

I have had my sons vtx1800 while he was deported to Iraq 2 different time and have notice the same as stated above. Plus it just didnt fit me as I felt I was always leaning foreward.

When we rode together he could not keep up with me on the twisties due to ground clearance and going down the highway at 70+ and rolling on the throtle he would have to downshift to keep up with the wing!

just my personal observations, not looknig for bashing form the bashers!

 

Pretty tough for you to give an accurate evaluation of a bike on just a ride home.

All the evaluation that I need is that I didn't like it. I only listed some of the reasons why. Of the hundreds of different bikes I have ridden over the years - I usually form a pretty good opinion of them within the first 5 minutes. Some appeal, some don't. Some are great, some are not.

 

Got my X 1800 fer sale--not `cause I don`t like it, just down-sizing my "bike stable"--mainly use it around town and my main ride to work--like most of yall, I lean towards a Wing for long distance riding, but I do enjoy the X--riding at 70mph, I can crank it pretty quickly to over 100--put some custom pipes on `em and turn `em lose--they will run--all the HD`s I`ve had would never come close to the 1800---it is what it is--and I enjoy the mighty X:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

Ok we are comparing a $20 grand full dressed tourer to a stripped down $8 grand cruiser and the consensus is that we like the $20 Grand tourer better. Makes sense.

 

Had a VTX got a Goldwing. IMHO to be a $20 Grand Tourer the wing is not that comfortable. You would think that for the price that the wing would have a seat that would be very comfortable, but it don't. Height wise it seems like it was made for people 6 foot and over but riding position wise it is like it was made for people 5'8'' and under. If I bought a $50 grand car I would expect my moneys worth as would all of you. I guess I was just disapointed in the comfort of the wing. I love the power and smoothness of the wing. I am aware that I will probably get blasted but blast away, if we all had the same opinions it would be a boring world.

 

BamaSteele... NO flames here... I commend you... All too many think the wing is the bike to end all and quite frankly.. that bike is yet to be made. Personally I think your evaluation is spot on if not a bit on the positive side. Mine is the last wing I will own. Im ready to move on to new adventures. My present wing will be kept as a filler and commuter for the time being.

 

Motorcycle consumer News January 09 published performance specs.
I have no idea how accurate it is and I assume all bikes were stock :shrug:.

The bikes listed are a 2004 Wing tested in issue 10/04. The age of the VTX1800 was not published however test was in issue 5/01 (not many changes anyway).

In the 1/4 mile: VTX=12.12 sec.
Wing=12.71 sec.

Top Speeds: VTX=135 MPH
Wing=130 MPH

I assume the VTX tested had no Windshield.

The 09-10 Wings seem a little stronger than previous years .

My VTX1800N had a 1300 final drive was very smooth except during acceleration and would give any Wing a very bad time.

 

The wife and I loved the VTX and had some awsome trips on it. We thought we would trade up and at our age this would be the last bike we would need. We are planning a trip to Cal. next year. I guess I was just a little disapointed in the wing.

 

Two different animals. I really liked my VTX 1800. For 8K it's a lot of bike.

 

I have two vtx 1800'S one R and one C model, and they have a lot of miles on them, over 100,000, and I truly love them! But I have a GL1800 that is the perfect bike for me. I ride a lot of different bikes, Superhawk, Super Blackbird, CBR1000RR. So I can speak about Hondas, and I like them all, so if you have a criticism don't post it unless you have experience with them!

Later
Ben

 

The 1800 VTX is not an 8k cruiser. The spec3 models listed in the 16k range. As usual, Honda overproduced, so they are now down as low as 8-9k, depending on the model. Last time I was in Sunrise Honda in Searcy AR they still had a new 05 1800S sitting on the floor.

I have always liked Hondas flat engines. I loved the smoothness of the 4cyl Wings, I would like to see an improved version of the 1200 come back. Not all of us want or need a bigger GW. The 50mpg on the 1200 was sweet.

I like the 1800 VTX for the long wheelbase, weight, heavy forks, and 5.3gal gas tank. I can push it to nearly 200 miles a tank on the highway at 70mph.

My only complaints on the 1800GW are the seat height and weight of the bike. I love it on the highway, but once we get where we are going its a handful for me to ride around town and in stop and go traffic with the misses on the back.

 

I have two vtx 1800'S one R and one C model, and they have a lot of miles on them, over 100,000, and I truly love them! But I have a GL1800 that is the perfect bike for me. I ride a lot of different bikes, Superhawk, Super Blackbird, CBR1000RR. So I can speak about Hondas, and I like them all, so if you have a criticism don't post it unless you have experience with them!

Later
Ben

Okay, first off I was not cutting down the VTX. I was only stating my observations based on riding it around 200 miles. I also pointed out that I am spoiled by my wing. What I posted were simply what I experienced driving one on the highway and a few back roads along with some city driving, I too have ridden many bikes in my lifetime and enjoyed all of them including the VTX, but I realize this would not be a second bike for me. Of all the bikes I have driven lately, I would have to choose the BKing as a second bike, but it to has it's faults. It is a bit high for me and it feels top heavy at slow speeds. I did find it to be fairly nimble at the higher speeds and very throttle responsive. What I learned from my experience is that I guess my v-twin cruiser days are over, because they just don't thrill me like they used to.

 

V-twins have never thrilled me. They dont make great power, get great mileage, or run smooth.

The V4 750 Magna is an awesome bike. I had a V65 Sabre and a KZ900 in my earlier days. I like those bikes much better than any V-twin Ive ever been on.

 

While I don't own a VTX1800, I have ridden my friend's X and liked it. Not well enough to own one, but I did like it. Unlike a couple of posts, I found it to be a powerhouse and a torque monster. At 50 mph I could crack the throttle and it would leap forward and I'd be at 90 in a heartbeat. Once I figured out just how to ride the thing in the twisties, I found that it did just fine. It was a fairly slow turner, but if you did it right, there were not issues. Never drug anything, but then it wasn't my bike to drag hard parts with.

What I didn't like about it was the exhaust note, heavy throttle and clutch. Later found out that the clutch fluid hadn't been changed since new (2004) so the clutch wasn't operating properly. Also, it was a heavy thing trying to make turns in in-town riding.

The GL1800, OTOH, is heavier, but not by that much. The VTX1800N (the model my friend has) weighs in just a hair over 800 pounds, so it's not that much lighter than the Wing. However, the "heavier" Gold Wing, I have found, feels much lighter and is much quicker handling than the X. I think it's a better in-town bike, as well. Maybe it's because I've been riding the things for the last 20 years and have gotten used to them, but I sure don't find the Gold Wing to be the ponderous beast in town that some say it is.

As far as comfort goes, yes, the stock seat is junk, and a great number of Wing owners have aftermarket seats on their Wings. So the seat height/comfort issue can be easily addressed. Yup, it costs some $$$$, but what is your comfort worth, especially if you have the bike for traveling long distances? Can't put much of a price tag on that.

I bought a 2010 Nomad in January and thought I'd like it, but I didn't. Nothing wrong with the bike, but it just didn't speak to me the way my Gold Wing does. I rode it for 2000 miles before getting rid of it and getting my '05 Wing back. I like V-twin cruisers, but not enough to own one, I guess.l