[New VTX owner]

I just wanted to thank all of you for the topics you discuss. I quit riding full time back in the early 90's because I was busy raising a family. My wife bought me a 2008 VTX 1800N1 for Fathers Day this year with 37K miles on it. When I test drove it the brakes felt kind of puny on it but as I had not ridden in years I was not certain of how they were to feel. Then I got on here and quickly found out they needed repaired. Your discussions probably saved my life or someone else. The bike I bought was very well maintained but they used evidently cheap parts. My VTX had the brakes and tires changed on it 1000 miles before I bought it. I have put 3000 miles on it of my own. So needless to say the brakes got progressively worse. That's when I found the thread warning of using cheap Chinese pads. It convinced me that EBC was the way to go. My bike now has EBC Sintered pads and it is a totally different ride. Thank you and God Bless for the information.

 

[PaXman11]

I just wanted to thank all of you for the topics you discuss. I quit riding full time back in the early 90's because I was busy raising a family. My wife bought me a 2008 VTX 1800N1for Fathers Day this year with 37K miles on it. When I test drove it the brakes felt kind of puny on it but as I had not ridden in years I was not certain of how they were to feel. Then I got on here and quickly found out they needed repaired. Your discussions probably saved my life or someone else. The bike I bought was very well maintained but they used evidently cheap parts. My VTX had the brakes and tires changed on it 1000 miles before I bought it. I have put 3000 miles on it of my own. So needless to say the brakes got progressively worse. That's when I found the thread warning of using cheap Chinese pads. It convinced me that EBC was the way to go. My bike now has EBC Sintered pads and it is a totally different ride. Thank you and God Bless for the information.

EBC is -NOT- the way to go! The consensus is that the Honda OEM brakes are the best all around for wear, least noisy, rotor wear, or whatever. CHEAP is not the way to go. Wish you had asked before buying the EBC. There are certain things that the OEM is the best. Don't scrimp. Welcome to the addiction from central Pa. high atop the Alleghenies.

 

[New VTX owner]

From what I gathered from posts on here are that the EBC pads are amongst the best available for daily riding or sport riding. They are far better then the ones that were on it. I literally had to pump and almost stand on the back brakes and squeeze the front brakes to the point I thought I was going to blow the master cylinder. Now with the EBC all I have to do is use the back brake pedal. What is it about the EBC pads that are bad. I don't want to ruin anything on my bike nor have anymore stopping issues.

 

[PaXman11]

From what I gathered from posts on here are that the EBC pads are amongst the best available for daily riding or sport riding. They are far better then the ones that were on it. I literally had to pump and almost stand on the back brakes and squeeze the front brakes to the point I thought I was going to blow the master cylinder. Now with the EBC all I have to do is use the back brake pedal. What is it about the EBC pads that are bad. I don't want to ruin anything on my bike nor have anymore stopping issues.

Too hard, hard wear on the rotors. I'd make sure those brakes were properly bled. There is a correct way to do it. They are a linked brake system, and hitting the back brake activates the center piston on the front.

 

[New VTX owner]

I understand now. I did notice the pads are cleaning up the damage to the rotors the ones that were on it had done. There were multiple shallow grooves around all the rotors. The EBC pads have taken most of that out already. I thought it was odd how quickly they did that. The rotors are almost back to a clean flat surface but I don't want to ruin them either. On a positive note though. I wish I would have started riding again earlier then I did. These VTX 1800's are awesome. On these hot days my buddies are leaving their Harley's parked with fear of overheating. My bike just takes it in stride. I love this thing.

 

[Vinish]

You can measure the thickness of the various brake discs with a micrometer and compare the results to the specs in the service manual.

 

[New VTX owner]

Too hard, hard wear on the rotors. I'd make sure those brakes were properly bled. There is a correct way to do it. They are a linked brake system, and hitting the back brake activates the center piston on the front.

PaXman11, I knew I had seen somewhere that talked about EBC brake pads. This is from the factory manual. I don't doubt what you said but you had me extremely concerned about what I had done.

Excerpt from service manual:

Engine oil	The manual recommends SAE 10W-40 JASO T 903 standard MA, Pro Honda GN4 or HP4 (without molybdenum additives) 4-stroke oil or equivalent. Don’t over-torque the bolt (spec is 30 Nm/22 lb-ft for the oil drain bolt per the manual) — use a torque wrench if you don’t have experience with how much torque is enough.
Oil filter	Needs to be changed every time you change the oil. Either get a stock oil filter (part 15410-MCJ-505) or the HF204RC. Torque for the oil filter is 26 Nm / 20 lb-ft.
Engine coolant	Use Pro Honda coolant (ethylene glycol pre-mix) which is a 50/50 mix.
Spark Plugs	NGK IFR5L11 should be used per the manual. Make sure it’s gapped correctly to 1.0-1.1mm (get a gapping tool) and torqued correctly. Manual says to tighten it 3/4 turn after it seats, loosen it again, then tighten it 1/8 turn after it seats.
Air filter	Part number is 17213-MCH-000, or the K&N alternative HA-1802.
Brake pads	Choose OEM, or EBC for more bite and lower fade. You need two sets for the front and one for the rear. Front: OEM 06455-MAT-E22, EBC FA261HH (2 sets) Rear: OEM 06435-MCH-006, EBC FA261HH (Same, but 1 set)
Shaft drive oil	Use Pro Honda Shaft Drive Oil to change your shaft drive oil.

 

[68valiant]

Welcome to the group from Idaho!

Glad to hear/see another 1800N on here. They are after all the best of the models...

Ride Safe

 

[New VTX owner]

Welcome to the group from Idaho!

Glad to hear/see another 1800N on here. They are after all the best of the models...

Ride Safe

Thank You, and I agree. It would appear you are a Mopar Man too.

 

[68valiant]

Thank You, and I agree. It would appear you are a Mopar Man too.

Yeah, that is one of my many afflictions... I have owned my 68 Valiant since I was 18, prior to that it was my mom's car. She got it for her high school graduation in 1968. So, it has been in the family for its entire life. Granted, it was a slant six car originally. It now has a 318 and an 8-3/4 rear end. It doesn't see the road nearly as much as it used to since I got into motorcycles. I seem to prefer the bikes over the muscle car...

Ride Safe

 

[IndyX]

Common questions thread.
It's on 1300 forum but most applies to both motors.
Compatible car oil filters etc.

 

[New VTX owner]

Yeah, that is one of my many afflictions... I have owned my 68 Valiant since I was 18, prior to that it was my mom's car. She got it for her high school graduation in 1968. So, it has been in the family for its entire life. Granted, it was a slant six car originally. It now has a 318 and an 8-3/4 rear end. It doesn't see the road nearly as much as it used to since I got into motorcycles. I seem to prefer the bikes over the muscle car...

Ride Safe

If you look real close at my avatar picture you will see what was once a 318. Now is a 396 making almost 500 Hp. Mopars are good affliction to have. That makes us appreciate the beauty in those N's. The reason it is a 396 is to face the guys claiming to have 383 chevy's. My math is exactly 396, theirs come out to about 377.

 

[PaXman11]

While I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Chebbie guy, I appreciate Mopars too. I had a 70 Sport Fury III in nice shape as a winter unit once. I like watching Mark Worman's "Graveyard Cars" show about resto Mopar muscle cars.

 

[New VTX owner]

While I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Chebbie guy, I appreciate Mopars too. I had a 70 Sport Fury III in nice shape as a winter unit once. I like watching Mark Worman's "Graveyard Cars" show about resto Mopar muscle cars.

It appears we all that share the love for the VTX's have a love for class. Graveyard Cars is my favorite show.

 

[68valiant]

If you look real close at my avatar picture you will see what was once a 318. Now is a 396 making almost 500 Hp. Mopars are good affliction to have. That makes us appreciate the beauty in those N's. The reason it is a 396 is to face the guys claiming to have 383 chevy's. My math is exactly 396, theirs come out to about 377.

Yikes! That is a monster! My poor old car would twist in two if I had an engine like that in it... I currently own 4 MOPARs and one lone Toyota (the Mrs. 4Runner). Most recently, I rebuilt a 1980 D50. Another one of those "Dodge" vehicles that aren't super common anymore. The other 2 are just the daily drivers from the early 2000s.

Agreed, I think that most of us that appreciate the classic lines of the VTX all appreciate the classic cars as well. As the old saying goes, they just don't build them like the used to.

Ride Safe

 

[LEGO]

Agreed, I think that most of us that appreciate the classic lines of the VTX all appreciate the classic cars as well. As the old saying goes, they just don't build them like the used to.

Ride Safe

I don't know, I appreciate my 2015 Cadillac SRX more than the old Fury III that ended up in the junkyard

 

[New VTX owner]

I don't know, I appreciate my 2015 Cadillac SRX more than the old Fury III that ended up in the junkyard

I might agree with you about the caddilac. If it were to last as long as the old Fury did.