As one of the most basic maintenance tasks required by a motorcycle, changing your motorcycle's oil is something that motorcyclists should be able to do themselves. Even though the various hoses and wires that surround a Honda VTX-series motorcycle can complicate the task, changing the engine oil supply and its filter is simple enough to be completed in less than half an hour.
Video
- Test drive of the Honda VTX 1800 motorcycle.
- Review and test drive of the Honda VTX 1800 motorcycle.
Honda VTX 1800
- a motorcycle for real men. The large dimensions match the powerful 1.8-liter engine that brazenly protrudes from the frame, capable of “shooting” a heavy motorcycle in a way that many have never dreamed of. And despite such power, the VTX1800 boasts an almost complete absence of parasitic vibrations, an abundance of chrome and the highest quality in everything, from the main components to all sorts of little things.
Everything about this impressive motorcycle is in proportion. The steel frame rests on a good suspension - the Honda VTX 1800 rests on a massive inverted fork at the front, and two classic shock absorbers are installed at the rear. The time-tested solution came in handy on this motorcycle; the cruiser looks organic, and not a single detail stands out from the overall style.
The large gas tank hints that the VTX 1800 is not averse to taking a long trip, and the elongated headlight gives the heavy appearance of the motorcycle a certain swiftness. Yes, this is a real motorcycle, boasting a powerful engine, a reliable transmission, a combined brake system and a chic appearance.
The engine for this impressive motorcycle was a liquid-cooled V-twin with three valves per cylinder and capable of producing 107 horsepower. The torque of the Honda VTX 1800 is even more impressive - it is 156 nm. Thus, this cruiser is slightly more powerful than one of its competitors, the Yamaha Stratoliner
, but is slightly inferior to it in torque. However, despite the gimbal drive taking up some of the power, the VTX 1800 is rightfully called a power cruiser.
Looking at this hefty motorcycle with a completely classic appearance, you would not expect that it is capable of truly monstrous acceleration. Its true nature as a wild beast is revealed only by its huge chrome-plated engine.
It is worth saying that the VTX 1800 is a really big motorcycle, and to control it, especially at near zero speed and in dense city traffic, physical strength is needed. A girl or just a short and not very strong motorcyclist may find this bike too tough - it is really heavy (dry weight - 320-330 kg, depending on the version), and maneuvers slowly, like a real mastodon.
In the city, the Honda VTX 1800 is simply cramped, but such macro cruisers are not created for narrow streets, but for highways. And then this motorcycle is able to show everything it is capable of! One turn of the knob, the growing drone of a generally quiet engine, and the motorcycle confidently accelerates even from a speed of 140-150 km/h. Much like the Honda VTX 1300
, the 1800 cc model differs from it in some details - an injector instead of a carburetor, a different exhaust, some little things.
The VTX 1800 can be called an improved and more powerful version of its 1300 cc brother. True, this similarity also has a minus - the VTX 1800 got the gas tank from the younger version of the motorcycle, and it holds 17 liters. This amount of fuel in the Honda VTX 1800 is enough for a shorter distance than its 1300 cc brother, despite the fact that the injector is more economical than the carburetor. In general, consumption on the highway when driving at 120 km/h will be 6.5-7 liters.
This chrome-plated monster is a pleasure to cruise around in. The typical chopper suspension handles the load well, and even with a passenger, both riders will be quite comfortable, especially if the motorcycle is equipped with tuning for long trips, such as a windshield, improved seats and panniers. But this motorcycle is already good, and in any version, of which there are several. However, all versions of the Honda VTX 1800 differ from each other only in body kit and, as a result, weight.
Such motorcycles are usually used by fans of choppers and cruisers who are already bored with the smaller cubic capacity. Well, the Honda VTX 1800 is really capable of giving a lot of adrenaline, but it is worth considering that this motorcycle is quite demanding on the skills of the motorcyclist and his physical abilities. Not everyone may be able to tame this beast, but a lot of interesting things await everyone who manages to cope with it.
Specifications
| Model | Honda VTX 1800 |
| Motorcycle type | cruiser |
| Year of issue | 2001-2008 |
| Frame | steel |
| engine's type | 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, V-shaped |
| Working volume | 1795 cc cm. |
| Bore/Stroke | 101 mm x 112 mm |
| Compression ratio | 9,0:1 |
| Cooling | Liquid |
| Number of valves per cylinder | SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder |
| Fuel supply system | electronic injection PGM-FI |
| Ignition type | digital |
| Maximum power | 107 hp at 5000 rpm (89 hp - at the wheel) |
| Maximum torque | 163 Nm at 3000 rpm (134.1 - at the wheel) |
| Transmission | 5-speed |
| type of drive | cardan |
| Front tire size | 130/70 R18 (C-version) |
| Rear tire size | 180/70 R16 (C-version) |
| Front brakes | 2 discs 298 mm, 3-piston calipers (combined) |
| Rear brakes | 1 disc 316 mm, 3-piston caliper (combined) |
| Front suspension | 45mm inverted fork, 130mm travel |
| Rear suspension | double shock absorber (preload adjustment), stroke - 100 mm |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h | 4.1 sec |
| Maximum speed | 201 km/h |
| Gas tank capacity | 15.5-20 l (depending on version) |
| Motorcycle weight (curb) | 343-361 kg (depending on the version: C - the lightest, N - the heaviest) |
Fuel consumption
The average official fuel consumption for the Honda VTX 1800 is 6.5 liters per 100 km. The actual consumption value, according to reviews from owners, is 7-8 liters.
Engine
The engine of the VTX 1800 is four-stroke and two-cylinder. This unit is V-shaped in shape. Its effective volume is 1795 cm³. The engine is liquid cooled and the fuel supply system is injection.
When reaching 3500 rpm, the engine produces 162.7 Nm of maximum torque. At 5000 rpm the engine produces 106 hp. maximum power. The maximum speed here is 189 km/h, and the motorcycle will accelerate to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.
Transmission
The VTX 1800 is driven by a reliable cardan. The gearbox consists of five stages. This transmission is perhaps optimally suited for this type of motorcycle. It copes well with the engine, the chassis of the bike, and its dimensions.
Dimensions and weight
The model weighs a lot - as much as 359 kg including fuel. The seat height here is average – 695 mm, and the wheelbase – 1715 mm. The bike is 1155 mm high, 990 mm wide, and 2630 mm long. Its gas tank has a volume of 20 liters, which is very decent. Average fuel consumption per 100 km of road is approximately 7 to 8 liters.
Chassis and brakes
The tubular frame is made of durable steel. The exterior of the VTX 1800 is truly majestic. It doesn't have the fussy bombast of many other cruisers. No, this is a real classic of the genre, a lot of chrome elements, neat and sophisticated outlines. The steering wheel, of course, has standard dimensions and shape, and the wheel rims are cast.
The pendulum suspension at the rear is equipped with two shock absorbers. Its stroke is 100 mm. The front suspension is represented by a telescopic fork, the dimensions of which are 45 mm. Its stroke is 130 mm. The rear brake is represented by a 316 mm disc and a two-piston caliper. At the front there are two discs, 296 mm each, assisted by three-piston calipers.
