The Honda Fury was the first production chopper from a major motorcycle manufacturer and the first chopper to have an anti-lock braking system. It has been sold internationally, though in some markets Honda dropped the Fury name and offered the bike by its model ID, VT1300CX.
Honda VT1300 at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Model ID | VT1300CX |
| Type | factory chopper |
| First | production chopper from a major maker |
| Anti-lock brakes | first on a chopper |
| Concept origin | Jesse James and West Coast Choppers |
| Design | Honda R&D Americas with the Asaka R&C Center |
| Rake | 32 degrees, as on the VTX |
| Front wheel | 21 inch, narrow |
| Powertrain | updated VTX1300 engine and brakes |
| Related VT1300 models | Stateline, Sabre and Interstate |
| Fuel system | fuel injection replacing the VTX1300 carburettor |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Fury.
History of the Honda VT1300
A chopper for the masses
The original concept for the Fury was conceived by Jesse James and his team at West Coast Choppers. Although the final form of that concept is lost, the production bike’s distinctive frame, bodywork and front and rear suspension were designed by stylists from Honda R&D Americas working with engineers from Honda’s Asaka R&D Center in Japan. Honda’s goal was to lift the chopper from a niche market item to the quality, quantity and affordability of a mass-produced product.
Chopper style
Archetypal chopper styling comes from the Fury’s spidery, long-wheelbase frame and faux-hardtail rear end. Its geometry raised the steering head, stretched the fork tubes and gave a radical, longer and more raked-out appearance, all while using the same 32-degree rake angle as its VTX predecessors; preliminary specifications listed 38 degrees before being corrected. Its narrow 21-inch front wheel and very low seat height are found on cruisers as well as choppers: the 750 cc Honda Shadow, updated in 2007 as the Spirit C2, had the same front wheel dimensions and an even lower seat.
VT1300 family
The Fury used an updated version of the VTX1300 powertrain and brakes, replacing the VTX1300’s 38 mm CV carburettor with fuel injection. The same VT1300 platform carried the Stateline, Sabre and Interstate models, sold in different markets and trims as part of Honda’s big cruiser range.
Design and features
- Factory chopper: mass-produced styling once reserved for custom builders.
- Anti-lock brakes: the first chopper to offer them.
- Stretched geometry: long fork tubes and a low seat with a 32-degree rake.
- VTX1300 power: an updated engine with fuel injection.
Honda VT1300 versions
- Fury / VT1300CX: the chopper.
- VT1300CS / Sabre: the cruiser version of the platform.
- VT1300CR / Stateline: the traditional cruiser.
- VT1300CT / Interstate: the touring version with luggage.
The VT1300 family replaced the Honda VTX in the big cruiser class and sits beside the Shadow. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda Fury, English Wikipedia: concept, design, geometry, powertrain
