The Honda VTX series is a line of V-twin Honda cruiser motorcycles inspired by the Zodia concept shown at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. The VTX1800 was launched in 2001 as a 2002 model, and VTX stands for V-Twin Extreme.
Honda VTX at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Series | VTX, V-Twin Extreme |
| Concept | Zodia, Tokyo Motor Show 1995 |
| VTX1800 | launched 2001 as a 2002 model |
| Claim | largest production V-twin in the world at launch |
| Superseded | 2004, by the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 |
| VTX1300 | 2003 model year |
| Later line | VT1300C from the 2010 model year |
| Engine layout | 52-degree V-twin |
| Valves | two intake, one larger exhaust |
| Ignition | two spark plugs per cylinder, 3-D maps |
| Final drive | shaft |
| VTX1800 output | 159 Nm at 3,000 rpm, 75 kW at 5,000 rpm |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the VTX series.
History of the Honda VTX
Amends for underperforming twins
Honda set out to produce a cruiser with the biggest displacement ever and designed a big bike with a muscular body, long and low to the ground with significant rake and trail. Honda claimed the 1800 produced 159 Nm of torque at only 3,000 rpm and 75 kW at 5,000 rpm, making it one of the most powerful production V-twins of its time. It was the largest-displacement production V-twin in the world at launch, though that distinction was short-lived: the VTX1800 was superseded in 2004 by the 2.0-litre Kawasaki Vulcan 2000. Even so, the VTX1800 still recorded better 0–60 mph and quarter-mile times.
Shared engineering
Besides the 52-degree layout, the 1800 and 1300 powertrains shared a radiator with cooling fan, cylinder heads with two intake valves and a single larger exhaust valve, rocker arms with screw-and-locknut adjusters, an electronic control unit with 3-D ignition maps for each cylinder, two spark plugs per cylinder, a dry sump with the oil tank inside the gearbox case, and shaft final drive.
Brakes and later line
On the VTX1800 Honda updated its linked braking, so that instead of separate hand and foot brakes the hand lever operated two-thirds of the front pistons while the foot pedal operated the other third at the front and all of the rear through a proportioning valve. The induction system was Honda’s programmed fuel injection. The VTX1300 line was introduced for 2003 and evolved into the VT1300C line from the 2010 model year.
Design and features
- Big V-twin: 1,800 cc, the largest production V-twin when launched.
- Three-valve heads: two intakes and one larger exhaust valve per cylinder.
- Linked brakes: a proportioning valve splitting front and rear effort.
- Shaft drive: shared across the 1800 and 1300 lines.
Honda VTX versions
- VTX1800 (2002): the original big cruiser.
- VTX1300 (2003): the smaller line.
- VTX1800 N, F and T: the trim variants of the 1800.
- VTX1300 C, R, S and T: the trim variants of the 1300.
- VT1300C (2010): the successor line.
The VTX is Honda’s big-cruiser line beside the Shadow, and was replaced by the VT1300. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda VTX Series, English Wikipedia: models, engine, brakes, output, successor
