written by Nico1949 on 22/05/2017
i'm 69 yr's old i have been riding for 53 yr's and have had about 15 bikes over the yr's, 3 goldwings 1 Harley ultra classic last August'16 i found this '09 VTX1300t with 3600 miles on it i still had a '99 Shadow 1100 but i bought this one and sold the shadow, I'm on the short side 5'5" so this one fit me great and the balance on this thing is great, my only complaint is the engine noise, other than that it's a great bike, i did not like the leather bags so i bought some Viking bags for it there ok, over all at my age it will do what ever i want, my touring days are over but i still love to ride just shorter trips 50-250 miles no 700 mile days anymore, happy riding
written by mikeparr on 13/04/2016
i have a 1300 and compaired to my other bikes I have owned by far not the best, its very noisy in the eng compartment not very smooth running and it needs a sixth gear for interstate travel backroads its fine but freeway no revs way to high oh and doint go to the vtx website and complain they will jump all over you
written by 280MacLeod on 13/09/2015
I bought my 2006 vtx it with 5900 kms on it.. Its comfortable ride and overall I like the bike there is a few things that bother me about it however . Number 1 the clearance is very low . Lower then I would like it to be although that appeals to some people, it has caused me to rub my frame on the ground while going into parking lots and areas where the pavement is not totally level,, Number 2 it has no tachometer.. which means I have no idea what my rpms are revving at, and im always searching for another gear when im already in 5th.. it seems to rev quite high at 120 km ph.,,, Number 3 the speedometer is way off ,,like 10 kms off with stock tires,, Meaning when I think I'm doing the limit, My buddies are passing me wondering why I'm going so slow,, I don't like not knowing my speed ,, even if it is error on the safer side..This is a known issue apparently and there are companies that sell a corrector for the speedo Kind of dumb not to make an accurate speedo in my opinion. Stock seat was rather uncomfortable after a bit of riding,so I have a mustang seat on mine. Lots of chrome on this bike it looks great however many of the chrome parts are plastic and scratch very very easily leaving the chrome looking ugly,, I think for not too much extra Honda could have made these pieces metal ..and my last peve is that everything is very very compact and hard to work on .. a valve tappet adjustment requires fingers like pipe cleaners and its not a job for people who anger easily.. Not technically difficult but you cant get at anything with out taking the top of the bike apart its a pain to work on normally easy stuff..As well like removing a wheel or a tire due to the absence of a center stand and the fenders on mine are almost covering the whole tire .. you need a lift to get the rear off and im pretty sure the front as well , and the chrome pipes are right in the way.. almost everything on this bike is hard to get at with the exception of the air filter .. with all that bugs me about this bike the positive points are enough that I can get past them.. ride is smooth and handling is great for a bike that size and weight it runs like a top and sounds awesome and its a real head turner.. I think its a keeper but ill hate when I have issues to repair..
written by DannoB on 16/10/2014
This July (20014), I bought a '06 VTX 1300s with 4,700 miles on it for $5,200. This was a great purchase--lots of bike for little money! This bike is very reliable and a joy to ride. After you've seen one Harley, you pretty much seen them all. Really, I don't even bother to check out Harleys' anymore.
written by tex72 on 09/08/2014
I have been riding bikes for 50 years when I learned to ride on a 1964 Honda S90. Have owned everything from Harlys to BMWs. Before purchasing my 06 vtx1300 I rode a ST1300. The ST was a good bike but had lots of up keep to keep it happy. At the dealer all it took was one ride on the VTX and I was hooked. Riding it is very relaxing, maybe it is the V twin throb, I don't know but I really enjoy riding and it is so much cheaper than a psychiatrist. Would recommend this trouble free bike to anybody.
written by KaleyKehoe441 on 04/06/2014
I purchased my 2009 Honda VTX 1300 C almost 2 years ago with 3K miles for about $7,000. The only issue was that the idle varied once warmed up. Spent $600 with a complete carb overhaul and assessment. Very small gravel like granules were discovered embedded next to one of the o rings around one carb intake rubber boot like part. New o rings fixed slight vacuum leak causing idle to go up and down after warmed engine. Replaced air filter with a K&N $70. Very nice candy apple red and plenty of chrome......though some is plastic... Not an issue since bike is super reliable and has a mean pro street cruiser look. Plenty of power for me... I am 6 ft and 230 lbs. Put 650 miles in 7 days in January 2014 and camped in 5 Texas state parks. This bike performed flawlessly ..however. My 2011 Kawasaki 900 LT was a little smoother ride with bigger tires I guess. My VTX starts easy, warms up quickly and ready to ride in less than a half minute! Handle bars could be repositioned about 3" further back for long ride comfort. Feet pegs on highway bar really improve leg comfort on long rides but cramp shifter a little. Windshield is good and has a substantial air updraft which is good on mainly warm Texas weather!!!...pants will ride up if lightweight, but try to wear denim which helps and has some protection. I carry 40 lbs. of camp gear with Wolfman waterproof duffle and ride is great. Bought large Viking saddlebags...good bags! Front tire shows no wear and back tire needs replacing in about another thousand miles. Looking at Michelin Commander 2 tires for longer wear. Got 47 mpg last 160 mile one day ride along coast. Red instrument panel at night is hard to see but am trying to get use to it. "Beak Away" Cruise control is nice but a little pricey over $100. Stock seat is wide and comfy and foot pegs take a lot of weight off my rear end on long rides but right inner thigh gets hot when extended on foot peg. That warmth feels good in winter but a little hot in summer. Good headlight for nighttime but had to adjust . It was way too high and Clymer manual instruction was wrong for screw adjustments. Turn one screw a certain number of turns and notice where beam goes. Figure it out from trial and error. I'm 66 years young and this Honda will very most likely be the last. Been riding on and off for 50 years and owned a 1950 pan head chopper HD, a '76KZ400 Kawasaki, 1981 BMW 100RT & 2011 Kawasaki 900 Classic LT cruiser. This VTX 1300 will most likely be my best and last bike. It really satisfies that desire for getting away and discovering new roads with "no worries, mate!"
written by DejaysVTX on 09/01/2014
With Cobra Slash cut exhaust, Highway bars and highway lights, trunk and faring with a 12" windshield people think its a Harley lol. I had a Harley Soft tail Springer and my VTX rides and sounds and looks better. The only problem I had with it was a Battery, and of course had to replace tires and normal maintenance. There is really nothing I don't like about the bike except I bought a black one and it is a pain to keep the swirl marks off of it. My last piece to put on it is the hard factory fiberglass saddle bags. other than that it is a good bike for the price.
written by on 22/04/2013
Got my 2007 vtx 1300c wuth a ridiculous amount of addons this bike blows any other including harleys away !!!!!!
written by on 15/11/2012
This is one of the best bikes I have owned! It took my fancy straight after I took it for a test drive at the Honda dealer 5 years ago! My bike was a demo model with custom pipes and had 120 km on the odo but because it is a demo I got a nice and tidy discount on the retail price. All things aside this bike is superb. I haven't touched anything - everything on the bike is stock. I asked the dealer to put on the original pipes because the custom pipes were making a decent racket! The bike is awesome to ride and I use it everyday to work and cruise around town. Except for the regular service I haven't touched anything on it! Actually on a few occasions I managed to shake of a number of wannabe Harley Bikies in the red light! Performance, handling and reliability is spot on! This is one hell of a cruiser! I have no plans to sale it but I have a nice little plan to put in some accessories!
Written on: 01/02/2013
I love to hear all these positive reviews I just purchased a 2007 1300c with 8,200 miles on it, black cherry with cobra pipes and back rest, tour master bags, cobra highway bars, memphis windshield. I am pysched can't wait for mspring to get here !!
written by Cobhead on 28/10/2012
Always been a Goldwing man had the 1000cc the 1100cc and 1500cc I did a lot of touring around the EU on them and never had a problem. I am now 66 and just fancied a change so my first thought was Harley but have always liked the build quality of Honda so I plumped for the VTX 1300,I just love it now I am used to only having 2 cylinders. A couple of dislikes one the indicator warning lights being on the tank and out of your field of vision I overcame this by fitting a warning beeper that only costs a couple of quid the other dislike is the lack of ground clearance but i suppose I will have to remember its a cruiser or keep replacing the the foot boards, but all in all I'm a very happy bunny.
written by on 29/09/2012
Having owned well over 30 bikes over the past 35 years it comes as no surprise that I do not keep any model for a long period of time usually no more than 10 months, guess I like to try different bikes, so when in 2010 I purchased the VTX 1300 I thought this would be just another phase, especially as my 2 previous bikes where the Yamaha R1 and a Buell firebolt, however almost 3 years on and I still love the VTX it may not be the fastest of bikes out there but to me it is all what biking is about, I still like to ride the occasional plastic wasp. but they never give me the same satisfaction that you get sitting in an armchair with a powerful V-twin motor cruising through the countryside. solid, reliable with comfort that will eat up the miles that real bikers do. dont knock it till you try one. Dislikes: 0
written by pargolf on 19/09/2011
Let me start off by saying that I love motorcycles. I have owned over 10 different motorcycles in the last 3 years. I'm always complaining about something which leads to another motorcycle purchase. Well, I must admit that this is the first time that I actually think that this motorcycle is a keeper. First off, it can cruise all day at 80 mph with much more power to give. The first time I lead my friends on a ride, they were commenting that I was going much too fast for them at 85 mph. I'm usually the slow one in the group who rarely breaks 70 mph. Well, because the VTX was so smooth and powerful, I just did not notice the speed. Also, with the low center of gravity, the wind didn't bother me as much as my other bikes. Second, I thought that it will be difficult to make a U-turn with it but figured out that it was easy as long as I turned the handlebars more than lean. This keeps the motorcycle upright and the bike not feeling heavy. Third, it warms up quickly with the carburetor so it is not a problem at all. I just switch it on, put on my helmet and gloves, and I'm set to go. Fourth, knock on wood, but this bike has no problems. It is easy to maintain yourself. Finally, it looks soooo good. I love all the aftermarket parts I can add on the bike. There is quite a following of this motorcycle on line which makes parts and accessories easy to find. This is definitely the motorcycle for those who want to find a motorcycle to own long term. You can't go wrong with the reliability of Honda. Enjoy!
written by on 01/06/2011
Just got off of the phone with customer service (6/01/11 @3:25p.m.)about assisting with the replacement of defective mirrors.....I have replaced the mirrors on my Honda VTX1300C twice. So there have been a total of three mirrors on the bike. It has been garaged since purchase (still looks new) and has approximately 2500 miles of use on the odometer. I have owned a Honda Civic recently and 2 ATV's (Foreman). Because of this recent communication with Honda, I will not recommend their products in the future and will not be purchasing anything from them. The Honda customer service agent did not seem willing to make things right with the consumer. He talked about getting an inspection from a Honda Dealer. I offer to mail the mirror and or pictures in a letter submitted to the corporate office in California. Poor customer service will get a company every time.........they lost at least one customer.
written by on 06/03/2011
I just bought my 2007 vtx 1300c about 3 weeks ago, it came with vance & hines big shots exhaust and a hypercharger. And it had only 4200 miles on it. I absolutely love my bike, no complaints at all. I get a lot of attention from other riders because they cant believe how good it sounds. I'm 5'9 220lbs, I was worried the power band because im coming from a sport bike, but it wasnt a issue at all. Comfortable cruising speed and still more than enough power to zoom pass 80 mile an hour traffic.
written by on 06/03/2011
What a great bike to ride. Very comfortable as I am a big lad and there is a lot of seat. Plenty of power although I prefer to go steady, more enjoyable and safer. I won't be changimg this beauty for a long time.
written by on 03/03/2011
I bought this bike in late 2010 with only 2300 miles on it and several add-ons/customizations. I have ridden it mostly as a commuter vehicle for about 3 months and I love it. The throttle is very responsive and the beast of an engine makes passing and lane changes comfortable and easy. This big bike also fits me and I am on the short side at 5'7" and 190 lbs.
Since my bike was pre-owned, it came with a windshield, saddle-bags, and a glovebox on the handlebars. I would recommend all of these additions if you buy the bike or it's new generation brothers. If you commute or take it on the highway like I do, you will be glad to have the storage and wind protection.
The only thing I have added since purchasing the bike is a magnetic tank bag, which I also recommend, especially if you need to access your phone or any other small devices. Great ride!
written by on 04/01/2011
Bought this bike in 2009 with 4000 miles on the clock. Easily the most comfortable cruiser I habe ridden. At 6'1" I find the seating position excellent and comfortable on long rides (500 miles in one day from Scotland to Portsmouth)
I took the bike to Europe in 2010 for a 2000 mile trip over 6 days and thoroughly enjpyed the experience. I was accompanied by 3 friends om a CBF1000, VFR800 and a Transalp700 and was not out of place in the slightest. The XTX1300 was excellent on corners and back roads and the balance and power delivery were fantastic. Handling and grip were superb even in the wet and the fairing kept me as comfortable as was possible in the conditions (Heavy rain).
The VTX was even superb when I took it into the Pyrenees with its steep narrow roads and hairpin bends. You can really manouver this leviathan of a bike and feel confident about it.
Overall - Fast, excellent handling, comfortable, head turning looks and the best bike I have ridden.
written by on 09/10/2010
Upgraging from a 04 VT750 Shadow, the upgrade in power still has not gone un-noticed in all speed ranges. Tire pressure, oil level and change is all the maintnence my motorcycle has required to date as was my late 750 shawdow. Overall great quality and performance from Honda, not just for the price range, but comparable to any other factory motorcycle. Only complaint on the engineering goes un-even ware of the front tire. Shows a slight in-balance to the left side. Considered maybe just a jump to conclusions for me. My uncle owns a 1300c model and he has replaced 3 front tires that all share the uneven ware pattern on the left side of tire. A local dealer has also replaced front tire by brand; Dunlop, Bridgestone, Avon, and michlen. Local dealer made a trade to the owner, hence why its at the dealer. However I believe the engineering in the front forks is slightly flawed just enough to cause uneven tire ware.
Should anybody have any insight on how to adjust or accomidate the problem that I'm experiencing, please comment my review.
written by on 22/09/2010
I bought the uranium green bike. Just turned 17,000 miles with absolutely no problems.I did upgrade to a mustang seat.It made the long rides much more comfortable.The green paint is a real head turner.YES, even my buddies who ride H.D.'s like the bike. Really like the way it corners, the weight distribution and low ctr. of gravity really make it handle well.What more can i say, IT'S A HONDA! BIG DAVE
written by on 24/06/2010
I have had my bike for three years, I love it. It does get a little uncomfortable, I have made trips from VA to IN a couple times and I needed a few days to recover. The hose clamps for the coolant needed tightened and the clunk from 1st to 2nd is there but I rarely notice it anymore, I guess I am used to it. It is perfect for riding to and from work, and cruising around. Before I go on another long trip, I am going to invest in a windshield, a more comfortable seat with backrest and it is a good idea to get custom bars that come back a bit farther. I put vance and hines big shots on my bike and it sounds and looks great. If I had to buy a new bike today, I probably would go with a yamaha vstar 1100 (my first bike was a yamaha vstar 600)just because of the comfort level. The honda vtx is easier to do minor maitenance on though. (oil/filter changes, spark plugs, etc)
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Mstiggy's Comment
Written on: 19/09/2015
Thanks for great review, I was wondering about any issues with access for maintenance and you've cleared that up. Cheers :)