Fulfilled my resolution, but buggered if I get it

**jafar** · 16th January 2010, 15:07

Originally Posted by 98tls

New years eve on the piss with some bike people,conversation gets to bikes (no shit) and i get some flak from a Honda guy that rides (for lack of a better word) a VTX1800,all good but a skinful of piss and the non-stop "when ya going to sell that old heap of shit,your to old for even that old thing,step into the real world blah blah blah"

(hes a mate,gets gobby when drinking) i finally accept the offer of a ride on this thing,choose the Waimate gorge for the revelation and away i went,

....well finally,big handful down the straight leading into the good bits ,ended up yelling at the top of my voice "cmooonnnnnn moooove" thinking "f@%k me do i need to get off and push" we finally approached the easy lefthander,over oveeerrrrr

get the f#&k over combined with the realisation that all that noise wasnt from the wind it was simply the fact that this was over and the noise was mother earth protesting about the pathetic attempts at starting a fire happening above

Long story short what an earth are these things about,i can understand Trumpets big banger ie zero to hero in zip and some clearance no doubt but this thing,1800 cc of shite to be honest.When i gave it back to the bloke the kindest thing i could think to say was "the VT?750 you traded in on this must have been without doubt the worst motorcycle ever built".

Your problem was most likely that you just don't know how to ride a big cruiser like the VTX 1.8 ... You don't rev them like you would a TL thou for a start, the engine is designed to be a (comparitively) low reving machine. It produces maximum TORQUE at around 2000 revs & tops out with the rev limiter coming on @ 5800rpm. There is no need to run it up anywhere near that high, there is fuck all in the higher rev range that you want. Next time you take the VTX out for a run try short shifting it to keep in in the torque range !
Cornering on the VTX is done by countersteering, pushing the bar to lean it over will get the desired results every time. Don't think it will corner like a TL, they will corner well but the way of doing it is different.
If your riding is flat out & playing with the sports crowd then this isn't the bike for you, if however your riding is near the speed limits & you often carry a pillion & or luggage for a weekend away then it is a good option, as are most cruisers.
The VTX 1800 is a SWEET bike to ride once you get your head around a few things.
1/ it is a power cruiser not a sports bike
2/ it is a torque machine not a rev machine
3/ it is ment to travel @ fairly sane speeds
4/ it is very pillion friendly
5/ it is a heavy bike but a very well balanced one

**Headbanger** · 16th January 2010, 20:24

Originally Posted by vifferman

Do you not know the term?

It refers to a (usually unfaired) bike, with a fairly upright seating position courtesy of handlebars that are neither high nor a stretch to reach, and footpegs that are postioned under the rider and which don't involve LegOrigami(TM).
Examples would be the CB1300, GSX1400, 'retro' Triumph models, etc.

Sounds like every Harley I have owned, and most I have ridden.

**Headbanger** · 16th January 2010, 20:27

Originally Posted by pritch

It's a common expression, although perhaps the bikes are less common now.
If it isn't a sprotbike, a tourer, sports tourer, motard, adventure bike, a cruiser, or some other specialised type of machine, it's probably a standard bike.

Like mine.

I need to know what a Speed Triple is, I'm feeling kind of lost, need a defined niche to fit into.

......so I know who to wave to.......

**scumdog** · 16th January 2010, 20:48

Originally Posted by pritch

It's a common expression, although perhaps the bikes are less common now.
If it isn't a sprotbike, a tourer, sports tourer, motard, adventure bike, a cruiser, or some other specialised type of machine, it's probably a standard bike.

Like mine.

I'm confused - when out riding my bike doesn't have me doubled over like a whippet shagging a hockey-ball like a sports bike is meant to - but then again it doesn't wreck my spine like crusiers are meant to.

So have I got a Standard Bike (tm)??