[Winyah510]

I found this forum while trying to dig up info on the VTX1300 and decided to sign up to ask some real owners about these scoots. I'm currently riding a Kaw VN750 Vulcan (no boo's please!) that I'm looking to replace with a larger bike. The VTX 1300 seems to fit me better than anything else out there but I do have one big concern before jumping feet first on a payment book. In my past experience with the Hondas and Kaws that I have owned, the ones with only one front disc brake had less than satisfactory stopping power. How good (or bad) are the brakes on this bike? I'm not expecting it to stop like a crotch-rocket(no stoppies here!), but then again, I don't wont to have to grab a full fist full of the front brake to stop it like you do on some H-D's either. Your opinions would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Winyah510

 

[Betty Boop]

I have no problems stopping on a dime...front and rear together of course are the best stopping power, and in a jam I use both....normal stopping, bad habit..use just the rear mostly..every now and then I'll reach up for the front...although to me the front will stop you much faster than the rear...I just prefer the rear unless I need to stop quick..had a yamaha vstar before...same brake set up...and it does stop better than it did..you should have no problems at all..others will chime in too...BTW...welcome !! Betty Boop

 

[razorbak57]

Welcome to the forum Winyah510. I use the front brake more then the rear. Not sure why I do, but just do. I have no problem stopping at all. I have a 06 1300C and love it. First bike that I have ever owned, just wish I bought one a few years ago. Don't think you would regret buying one of these myself, but if you do buy one the monthly payment will be the cheap part, all the mods is what will cost ya!

 

[cronicdrummer]

had a car turn in front of me last friday and locked up the rear and slid a little sidways. came to a stop well befor damage could heppen. I think the stopping power of the front single disc is a little short of greatness, but it does the trick, gearing down and applying bolth breaks in an emergency is how I do it. But as for general stopping power, nothing to complain about, but I could ask for more from the front. just my 2 bits.!

 

[sailor]

Brakes are great

The brakes on the VTX 1300 R are great. I try to use the front and the rear whenever I come to a stop. I use the rear only when I want to slow just a bit. You will have no trouble stopping with the brakes on this bike. Overall, the bike in fantastic. It is a great bike!:choppersm

 

[jdt3]

Ditto on all above the brakes do what there supposed to do very well

 

[turbo]

I too am a new member of the forum, and a relatively new owner of a 06 1300s. while looking for a bike the 1300s just caught my eye and never left, looked at other bikes but went back to the original bike I loved the look of. totally happy with the brakes, power, suspension, and most of all its very comfortable to ride.

 

[Steve]

riding solo brakes are fine. 2up is a bit of a struggle if you have to stop in a hurry but downshifting helps.

 

[Shutterbug]

I fixed the braking problem by simply replacing the stock rubber lines with stainless steel braided cables. I can now stop using only the rear brake!

 

[vtxwes]

Being and X yammie owner (virago/vstar) with the two upfront discs.... I'm not finding any diff any the stop'n up front when I bear down on front brakes. These X brakes grab! But I can't come up with any real tech comparison between models, when it come to the differnt models. I'd like to see to see a comparison somewhere on stopping distance when having to bow-up. I do know, i've had to do so on my R... & I was super "OK" with my results.

 

[Nitro Goose]

Welcome to the forum Winyah. My last bike was a Vulcan 750 as well. I also had some concern about going back to a single front disc brake when looking at buying a VTX. To be honest, I've not noticed any lack of stopping power on my X. The front disc is massive. My X can stop very quickly if I need it to. Never noticed any brake fade either.

Albeit the VTX is a chunk heavier than the 750. I use a combination of the back and front brakes to stop, and it responds like a charm every time.

Cheers :cheers:

 

[psuedohippy]

I could be happier with a little more braking power. It is above agerage though but I think an extra disk would help. The 1800 has dual disks and stops a bit better and isnt much heavier. For me im short and like the 1300. The brakes are good and adequate but dont really impress me much. The 1300 is a great all around bike that is above adequate at everything and spectacular at not much at all. There are bullet points on all sorts of other bikes in the 1300 class that make them impress, but at the same time they also have some poor attributes, overall the X is good at everything. Just my opinion though.

 

[ddugan]

Overall the brakes work great on my bike..no problems, and have had a few people pull out in front, so yes I have tested them...also traveling in the mountains of north GA, using the back break more than the front found to be more useful in getting through the turns...front break I found to be a no-no on the turns...only comment I have is that when I apply the front brake on a straight stop, the suspension seems a bit mushy...no problems stopping, just too much of a dip in the front forks.

 

[Seawolf]

Hi Winyah510, we too just came from a VN750. Just got our VTX a little over a month ago and just sold our Vulcan a week and a half ago so the stopping power of that bike is still very fresh in my mind. In my opinion the front brakes on the 750 are better and certainly alot more sensitive than on our X. I always had to remind myself to be careful or there was a big risk of locking up that wheel. It wasn't hard to do. In town I would ONLY use one, maybe two fingers on the front brake lever to be safe. On the highway I would grab it with all fingers. The one thing that I could never get used to on that bike was the nose dive. I never did get around to adding the aftermarket fork springs to stop that.
Now all this being said our VTX's front brake certainly is no slouch. As mentained by someone else the brake system is large. I ride two up 99% of the time and have had NO problems or complants. You just have to remember these are two different bikes with different mannerisms. I have no doubt that if you go with an X you will not be disappointed. After having our 750 for a number of years and doing ALOT of mods to it I really thought that I would miss it but have never looked back or regretted our VTX.
Good luck with whatever you decide and ride safe.

 

[ibified]

Welcome aboard. As for the brakes, I'll chime in too and say that I have found the brakes on the X to be pretty good. Not great my any means - I'll never confuse the braking with my Ducati, but for a cruiser, they're, in my opinion, significantly above average.

One thing to remember with the X vs the VN is that tha X weighs more. You're stopping more mass, so of course it will take more brake to stop the bike. Most of the time on mine, im stopping the bike with the rear brake and slightly modulationg the front brake just for a little extra help. I've made panic stops ont he X before and have to say that I was pleasently surprised at how fast they pulled the bike down to a stop.

Whoever commented on stainless lines, +1 on that. That's usually the first mod I make on a motorcycle, and they make a HUGE difference in your brake effectiveness as well as feel.

 

[ddugan]

Welcome aboard. As for the brakes, I'll chime in too and say that I have found the brakes on the X to be pretty good. Not great my any means - I'll never confuse the braking with my Ducati, but for a cruiser, they're, in my opinion, significantly above average.

One thing to remember with the X vs the VN is that tha X weighs more. You're stopping more mass, so of course it will take more brake to stop the bike. Most of the time on mine, im stopping the bike with the rear brake and slightly modulationg the front brake just for a little extra help. I've made panic stops ont he X before and have to say that I was pleasently surprised at how fast they pulled the bike down to a stop.

Whoever commented on stainless lines, +1 on that. That's usually the first mod I make on a motorcycle, and they make a HUGE difference in your brake effectiveness as well as feel.

Sorry for the bump here, but how easy are the stainless lines to install replacing the factory lines? what should I look for in buying these?

 

[JdubsVTXXX]

Well ya see, there is actually a very technical and scientific reason that honda chose to go with the single disc brake. They realized a two disc set up would have proven to be more efficient of course. However, honda stated in recent press release that the purpose for a single disc is because they didn't want to completely hide that badass stock 19 inch rim! ..on the C anyways. Haha


**possible fabrication to actual Honda statements and claims**

 

[talldragoon]

riding an 06 1300S - no prob with the braking at all - and I tend to use the front for most braking - the book says about 70 percent of braking effectiveness is with the front brake - emergency stops straight ahead with both brakes are smooth and quick enough. And, welcome aboard - good group of very helpful folks here.

 

[WantaVTX2]

According the the MSF course I took, you should always use the front and rear brake together. The front brake provides about 85% of total stopping power. Emergency braking is taught by applying both brakes as well as clutch and downshifting to 1st at the same time. This prepares you to take off quickly if needed.

To improve performance, upgrade the brake pads and convert to stainless brake lines. These take out the slack and slick hesitation when applying the brakes using the stock lines. These really do make a difference. ALL racers use the stainless lines.....

As far as applying brakes in a turn, I would never do it. In the MSF, they teach you to brake BEFORE the turn. Applying the front during a turn may cause you to lowside. If in an emergency and need to apply the brakes in a turn you should actually straighten out the wheel and then apply the brakes. This may not always be doable depending on who is in the other lane. This is why we all should always wear our leathers.

Have fun, ride safe and always ride to your own ability.

 

[DaddyDon]

welcome aboard! ive had quite afew panic stops and gotta say very impressed with the stopping power. 1300s