It is not clear if you want to take the VTX1300 off road. If that is a goal, do NOT buy one. It will not do well off road. The R model you mention does NOT have spokes. It is the S model that has spokes. The R model had cast wheels and the same big fenders of the S model. The C model has cast wheels and small fenders. I recommend the R model. Spokes can be a pain to keep clean and you have to run tubes unless you seal the rim. The C model has a harder time finding some parts like handlebar risers.
Tell me about life with a VTX-1300....
<Edit> I rambled too much, nobody seemed to understand what I was trying to ask...that's on me.
No, I would not buy a VTX 1300 to take off-road....?
Anyway, thanks for the input, apologies for the rambling, I have the information I was looking for.
No, I would not buy a VTX 1300 to take off-road....?
Anyway, thanks for the input, apologies for the rambling, I have the information I was looking for.
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My bad. Possibly didn't explain that well enough. I'll be keeping the street/trail (the TW200) for the dirt/gravel/trail riding and the 2nd bike will be road only, still used for trips, camping, etc...It is not clear if you want to take the VTX1300 off road. If that is a goal, do NOT buy one. It will not do well off road.
Thanks for the clarification on the models...I had read somewhere that the R stood for Retro...so I made the assumption that must be the model with the spoked wheels.
The one I was referring to is a 2004, large fenders, spoked wheels..so it would be the S. Thanks!
I'm just looking around Facebook marketplace and seeing what's out there currently. And since it's below freezing and riding season won't be for many months, I'd imagine that the amount of bikes posted for sale is pretty low...as most people selling would be waiting until spring now.
I'm going to butt in here and throw some things out at you: Fuel injection, hydraulic clutch, dual front discs, linked brakes front & rear, more power than you'll ever need, all this adds up to an 1800 cc beast. When I was looking at a VTX nearly 12 years ago, I had narrowed my choices to 2, a 1300 R, and a 1800 C. I have never regretted purchasing the 18 over the 13. For either, do not let mileage numbers scare you. Low miles may mean it has had a lot of maintenance neglected, in other words a garage queen. These are all good for a quarter of a million miles if regularly maintained. Ride-On tire balancer-sealer is worthwhile insurance against flats.
So...a Goldwing. Sorry..I had to.I'm going to butt in here and throw some things out at you: Fuel injection, hydraulic clutch, dual front discs, linked brakes front & rear.
I wasn't really looking at anything bigger than a 1300...but I totally see your point. One issue would be that displacement (around here) is one of the biggest factors in the price of insurance.
It would likely be at least a $100 difference.
For example, my 1999 TW200 is $170/year. That's the bare minimum coverage to be legal to drive down the street. No fire, no theft, no collision. Adding fire and theft would bring it to around $300/yr.
My 2 Vulcan 900's were pretty close to $500 each...bare minimum plus fire and theft. No collision.
Lots of new riders go out and take their (equivalent of the MSF) course, then find out that they can't even find an insurance company that will insure a new riders, at any price.
It ain't fun.....
Pricing around here is silly too. Canada so everything's automatically 30% more expensive.
I can't find an 1800 on Marketplace, but I'd assume that it would be out of my budget. It wouldn't be if I was to sell my TW, but I'm going to keep it.
And I hadn't even seen an 1800 while browsing. Even searching FB marketplace for a VTX 1800 brings up nothing but 1300's.
We have a fairly short riding season, so it's not a real bike-dense area unless you're willing to drive 12+ hours.
But yes...totally get your points.
And I, yours. Touche'.So...a Goldwing. Sorry..I had to.
I wasn't really looking at anything bigger than a 1300...but I totally see your point. One issue would be that displacement (around here) is one of the biggest factors in the price of insurance.
It would likely be at least a $100 difference.
For example, my 1999 TW200 is $170/year. That's the bare minimum coverage to be legal to drive down the street. No fire, no theft, no collision. Adding fire and theft would bring it to around $300/yr.
My 2 Vulcan 900's were pretty close to $500 each...bare minimum plus fire and theft. No collision.
Lots of new riders go out and take their (equivalent of the MSF) course, then find out that they can't even find an insurance company that will insure a new riders, at any price.
It ain't fun.....
Pricing around here is silly too. Canada so everything's automatically 30% more expensive.
I can't find an 1800 on Marketplace, but I'd assume that it would be out of my budget. It wouldn't be if I was to sell my TW, but I'm going to keep it.
And I hadn't even seen an 1800 while browsing. Even searching FB marketplace for a VTX 1800 brings up nothing but 1300's.
We have a fairly short riding season, so it's not a real bike-dense area unless you're willing to drive 12+ hours.
But yes...totally get your points.
What's going on ?
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Something to consider is parts. The last model year for the VTX1300 was 2009. Parts are getting harder to find and will probably continue to get harder to find.
Bought my 1300 brand new in 2007...A buddy at work had an 1800 for sale, and as soon as he started it up I decided against that bike...Had aftermarket pipes on it and sounded like a 50 year old farm tractor...Bought the 1300 brand new and have zero regrets...Currently at 52,000 miles and under it's third (and last) major makeover session...One weak link on the 1300 is the steering head bearings...They're ball-bearing with plastic retainers...The balls wear the races down which creates slop in the steering, which translates to decel wobble...I changed mine out for tapered roller bearings at about 17,000 miles and haven't had any issues...
Aftermarket parts can be difficult to find, depending on what you're looking for...These have been out of production over a decade, and aftermarket parts companies don't usually keep producing parts for dead models very long with the exception of Harley Davidson...OEM parts are still available....
Rear wheel removal on a stock VTX can be done within 20 minutes if you have all the correct tools beforehand...Driveshaft u-joint, not sure...Haven't heard of one needing replaced yet....
Aftermarket parts can be difficult to find, depending on what you're looking for...These have been out of production over a decade, and aftermarket parts companies don't usually keep producing parts for dead models very long with the exception of Harley Davidson...OEM parts are still available....
Rear wheel removal on a stock VTX can be done within 20 minutes if you have all the correct tools beforehand...Driveshaft u-joint, not sure...Haven't heard of one needing replaced yet....
I have an 05 1300R and hubby has an 08 1800S. I'm only 4'11" and am ever so comfy on my 1300.. can't even get the 1800 off the kickstand. Hubby loves his 1800 but it took him a few months to get comfortable on it... it's just soooo heavy. He had a Harley Dyna before and prior to that a Shadow 1100 Ace Tourer and prior to that a Goldwing Aspencade. He now loves the 1800, but when he rides my 1300 he always comments on what an easy bike it is to ride. I love mine but... I have a carb (since it's an'05) and it's a cold blooded beast to start for sure. Hubby's 08 is fuel injected and I'm jealous of him not having to patiently sit and wait before he can hit the road without stalling! I have never regretted my 05 VTX1300R - great low center of gravity compared to the Shadow 1100 Ace Tourer. Good luck whatever your choice. (And yes, don't take it off road.. it's not pretty!)
Unfortunately, I can’t understand your explanation. It seems like you want to take the VTX1300 off-road, then just buy the new one. And I think I must be clear about your doubt that the S model has spokes, not the R one you mentioned. On the other hand, the C model has small fenders. But in your case, I recommended you choose the R Retro model.
I'm new
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