Rider Review: 2002 Honda VTX1300S

Submitted by: Ampeg

Me:

New owner of my first bike. A black Honda VTX1300S. Today is my 3rd day riding the bike and I'll try to post the best review I can.

Why I bought this bike: Well, of course, I really liked the aesthetics, but the main reason for the decision was a conglomeration of many factors. Honda's reputation for reliability. The reviews the bike had been getting. (More power, better handling than even larger bikes). The ergonomics work well for me (5'11 / 220).

The first ride:

I was a bit nervous due to the weight of the bike and the 60+ hp. Especially since the only bike I've ridden in over 15 years was the Honda Rebel 250 at the MSF course. Anyway, literally after 5 minutes on this bike, I felt comfortable and confident. The bike feels much lighter than it actually is. The motor transfers just the right amount of vibration to the rider without it being intrusive. (Single crank pin, but with counterbalances).

The breakdown:

Clutch/Transmission:

The clutch grab was excellent. (I stalled the bike only once.) The clutch is easy to pull and the bike shifts pretty smoothly. The shifting is a bit loud, but that doesn't bother me.

Handling:

The weight of the bike came slightly into play during the first few turns I made. (I took them a little wide.) However, It didn't take very long before I was leaning the bike enough to scrape the floorboards. The bike has a pretty wide turning radius at slow speeds, but not enough that it will be a problem.

Brakes:

Probably the best thing about the bike(Front and rear disk) Not a single time during any stops did I skid or overshoot my intended stopping distance. The brakes just felt natural and stopped the bike as if it were half of it's actual weight. This bike will stop on a dime without coming close to locking up the brakes.

Power:

Well, I only got the bike up to 50mph since I am essentially a beginner. I also didn't hit the throttle too hard since the bike is still in the break in period. The few times I did, though, the bike felt like it had more power than I will ever need.

Summary:

I thought I would be in a bit over my head with this as a first bike, but that's not the case at all. This is an easy motorcycle to ride and is large enough where I will never need to go bigger. Keep in mind, I respect the bike's power and I am riding it during times of the day when traffic is at it's lightest. I have been practicing in parking lots, also. If you can take it easy, respect the bike and ride safe, this is a fantastic bike, even for a beginner!

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