VTX 1800

[schwartzkm]

Any X VTX1800 riders out there? My friend purchased one and loves it on the highway but feels it lacks in the twisties. Does the rocket handle well in the twisties? How is it compared to your old VTX1800?

btw, He feels there is no way a bike as big as the rocket can handle well.

[ This message was edited by: schwartzkm on 2006-04-25 16:43 ]

[Ugarte]

On 2006-04-25 16:42, schwartzkm wrote:

btw, He feels there is no way a bike as big as the rocket can handle well.

He is wrong.

[vampyrexxx]

im going to add to this post. a few weeks ago i went test riding and i saw the new boulavard m109 it was pretty darn hot. has anyone test ridden this thing? it puts out more torque than the vtx and is cheaper buyt a couple grand. i was thinking about getting that other than a rocket . what do you guys think?

[biker1059]

I have a VTX 1300C. It handles better than the 1800 because it is lighter. The Rocket on the other hand is obviously a heavier bike but can corner faster and handle better than the 1300. Just takes a little bit more effort to initiate the turns because of the fat rear tire. I know this sound like a contradicion but you quickly get used to turning the beast and it becomes effortless. The only handling advantage the VTX has is at slow speeds and who wants to turn slow. Hope this helps its just my two cents.

And to vampyrexxx, get the Rocket, way more power and looks better.

[ This message was edited by: biker1059 on 2006-04-25 18:18 ]

[Toystoretom]

My next door neighbor has a VTX 1800, its a nice bike. I can leave him for dead on the straights and the twisties.

I've never ridden a VTX... I have no idea if it vibrates, if its comfortable, if it has power from an idle to redline, if it will cruise at 90 with so much power left over you can get out of almost any jam on the superslab. For those Jap crusiers to be a real alternative to me they would have to be priced at about $10 to $12 grand new. It would just bug me too much to be riding around on a "also ran" cruiser.

Tomo

[vonbonds]

On 2006-04-25 17:51, vampyrexxx wrote:
im going to add to this post. a few weeks ago i went test riding and i saw the new boulavard m109 it was pretty darn hot. has anyone test ridden this thing? it puts out more torque than the vtx and is cheaper buyt a couple grand. i was thinking about getting that other than a rocket . what do you guys think?

Since this is the Rocket forum on a Triumph board I say go get that Suzuki...you couldn't make a better choice. It will eat Rockets for breakfast. I encourage you to race every Rocket to come across :-D :-D

[tbsrider2000]

I have several friends who have VTX 1800s and they are great bikes. If someone offered to give me one, I wouldn't turn it down.. Seriously, they have plenty of power and torque and they are really good looking bikes.

How does a VTX 1800 compare to a Rocket? It doesn't. It's not even fair to compare them. You just need to go take one for a test ride. The Rocket doesn't really ride like a typical "cruiser". It handles more like a giant sport bike. It will stick corners hard and accelerate out of them like nothing else. Sport bikes will out handle the Rocket, but a skilled pilot can keep them in sight.

All of the open class sport bikes, even Triumph's 955i, will out run a Rocket, but few other cruiser types are even in the same league.

[RidinSunshine]

On 2006-04-25 16:42, schwartzkm wrote:
Any X VTX1800 riders out there? My friend purchased one and loves it on the highway but feels it lacks in the twisties. Does the rocket handle well in the twisties? How is it compared to your old VTX1800?

btw, He feels there is no way a bike as big as the rocket can handle well.

Before I bought my Rocket, I was looking at the VTX 1300 and 1800. I would talk to most everyone with a VTX to find out about handling and stuff. They pretty much all said the 1300 was great. But the 1800 wasn't all that great with handling. Some had upgraded to the 1800 and then went back to the 1300. But I really like the retro look of them. I did get to sit on one. But never rode one.

How does the Rocket handle? Awsome! It has a great center of gravity with a 37 lb crank shaft. Lets put it this way: I have only been riding for a little over a year and half and when people see me (5' 5" female) riding it they are just amazed. They say I make it look so easy and like I have been riding for years. My first bike was the VStar 100 Custom. It was a good bike for me, but I kept wanting more. After I had it for 8 months I traded in for the Rocket III. No looking back! It handles even better than that 500 lb bike.

And as far as attention getter?! Get the Rocket III!

Best to test ride both! I was liking the Victory bikes too. Our dealer has both Triumph and Victory. So my honey and I took out one of each. All it took was two sitting on each to make sure but That Rocket III, oh my gosh! Just had to have it. So if you guys test ride be prepared to take the Rocket home with you! I did! Absolutly no regrets! And Triumph is advertising 4.9% interest right now, if that matters.

Test ride, test ride, test ride.... :razz:

[ This message was edited by: RidinSunshine on 2006-04-26 07:41 ]

[Crackerjim]

My brother has the VTX 1800. Good bike but drives like a truck compared to the rocket. I hadn't ridden it for a while and after I got the rocket, we switched bikes for a few minutes. Although I didn't say anything to him, I was shocked. I had considered getting the vtx when I got back into cruisers, glad I didn't.

Jim

[Royal-R3]

SchwartzKM;

Several of the guys I ride regularly with ride the Honda VTX, along with a dozen of different bikes. The only rider that could keep the pace in either straight aways or twisties was the Speed Triple. The Triple was more nimble in the twisties - but that's what that bike was designed for. I popped his eyes out when I blew by him in some turns, and the shear power suck him in like a vacum. When the Rocket engine whines... it has a sound like a turbin engine winding up - getting ready to unleash the beast inside.
I test rode the Rocket for 7.3 miles.. and that was it..
Get a Rocket - blow the doors off your friend one time and he will be paying homage to you from there on out.