Honda VTX1800R VTX1800S reviews

I've had my VTX now for 2 weeks. Had a Hond Magna 700c before. So right from the start you have to be aware of the power. On my way home from the dealer, I stop at a stop sign. Went thru 1st, 2nd, and into 3rd gear. In 3rd gear i gave it some gas as i had with the manga. OMG !! Scared the sh#% right out of me. The front end raised up and almost ripped my arms out of there socket. The ride is a little harder than the Mangna. But still in the comfort rang. The styling. Well everyone stops to look and ask about it. You must plan for the time loss. lol. Handling was something that i was worried about. Going to such a big bike. To my surprise, this handls better. I cheacked all the reviews for it before i bought it. Damn if i could find anything bad. That made me even more interested. Could this be for real?? Well let me tell you it is. The only problem that I have with it is gas mileage. About the same as my Magna with racing carbs. Oh 1 more problim. I can't get this damn smile off my face. And its been 2 weeks and over 500 miles. When a Harley man comes over and say's nice bike, But it's not a Harley. I say " exactly" Show less

Great bike and looking forward to driveing more as weather permits. Has a good clean pickup and drives with ease on faster roads. Sounds a bit loud as far as a Honda but if you like the feel of power this bike has it. I like the style and color orange was my choice but because of this buying bags and things to cover the bike I am holding back. Do not want to lose the looks of a great bike. However sence I want to travel I will have to add them to carry gear in. Will report back as I ride more. Show less

Hey all, purchased my Black Retro on the 29th of December 2001. Now have over 1,000 miles on it. I worked it in a reasonable fashion while breaking it in and changed the oil/filter at 700 miles. Gradual and steady climbs to high rpms before smooth shifting. I did this style of break in with my 1997 Shadow spirit and when I sold it to my buddy at 24,000 miles, it used no oil and ran great. Anyway, the VTX showed minor wear (fine metal shavings in oil)when I changed the oil. the bike comfortably carries my girlfriend and I and performs surprisingly well in corners. A rider can still take corners pretty fast unless there are dips in the bottom of the curve and the suspension works well to help keep the frame up. the engine pulls smooth and hard and passing is not a problem. Keeping within legal speeds is. The VTX will hit 119 or maybe more but the roll-on power begins fading at around 95-100 mph. Still pulls, just less of an instant rush. My gas mileage is poor mostly because of my riding style and need for speed but even on trips, I'm only hitting about 30-32 mpg. Not much of a problem because of the 5.2 gal tank. Maybe the mpg will increase as I continue the break in. Should also mention the bike handles very very well at all speeds and turns well due to the large tires and low center of gravity. All in all, a beautiful bike. I always thought the Valkryie was built to test a large frame for a future large-scale V-Twin....this bike feels like the dream has become reality. Show less

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So I guess stying is a personal thang. But for me, the Retro styling is very nice. Or put a different way - it looks damn good to me. Driving it is loads of fun. I just can't fight off the temptation to accelerate like a bat out of - well you know. Now on the quality and reliability aspect - it is a honda. For all yall Harley guys. I like Harleys a lot. And I guess you might describe this retro as a H-D wannabe. You are probably right on that - the inline V-Twin and all. However, for the price tag and all things considered, I think the Retro was a good choice for me, but I guess I will have to forget about getting those H-D tatoos. Show less

Thought I was going to purchase an Indian Chief before I viewed the Retro. High quality design, incredible power and smooth ride. I have to chuckle when the individuals with the image problem roll up next to me. Have made some modifications and anticipate manufacturers are and will be developing aftermarket products for this beautiful machine. Show less

I've had my Beast for about 4 weeks now. From day one without even riding it my wife and I loved the styling. The Retro resolved my concerns re: "telephone pole" exhaust and racing style front end. Excellent job by Honda listening to the customer. Awesome power- almost to a fault. First and second gear slow speed handling takes some practice to keep it smooth. At speed, the thing's a dream. You hear the thumping going on under you but really don't feel it. The windshield and light bar were delivered within 3 days of ordering. Simply AWESOME overall! Show less