I just went through the same debate. All the other bikes I have owned were Hondas. I had several Gold Wings and Shadow 1100s.

I rode both the 1800 and 1300 VTX before I rode any of the Harleys. I felt the Fat Boy fit me better and was more comfortable.

 

'06 VTX was the competing bike when I purchased my '06 FLSTCI. Both bikes are gorgeous pieces of iron. Going on a long test ride is what sold me on the HD. For a heavy V-Twin cruiser, Harley-Davidson has the balancing act down. Though both the FLSTCI and VTX weigh about the same, the HD feels light and nimble compared to the VTX. I'm 5'11' and still felt like the VTX wanted to spread my legs apart to fit around that big gas tank and keep my feet flat on the boards. The FLSTCI was a perfect fit with no changes required in seat height, bars, or riding position. Low speed cornering on the VTX was well, not fun! Way to much weight up top to feel comfortable in a corner at low speed, which requires alot more feet down when they should be on the boards.
Maintenance wise, the VTX wins hands down. That being said, if you don't plan on doing any of your own maintenance and just want to rack up the miles on the bike, the VTX would probably be a better choice. If however, you don't mind tinkering with your scoot every 2500-5000 miles, the HD should deliver plenty of miles if maintained and cared for properly. I personally believe that alot of the pre-mature failures of HD motorcycles are do to the poor quality of maintenance/service performed at the HD dealers. You don't have to look far for stories about dry primary's, dry transmitions, untorqued fastners, and improper adjustments incountered from HD dealer service. You would think, for the cost of their service, you would get the bike back spit shined with the odometer turned back rather than having the holes not filled with oil and fastners falling off the bike.
Sorry for my rant, but I don't think the HD motorcycle is at fault for early failures.

 

I apprieciate the "no bashing, no flaming", but you kinda flamed anyone in the forum who happens to have other responsibilities and can't ride 20,000 miles a year...

 

The law suit you have all been referring to stems from the Honda Aero 1100 from the late 90's. A friend of mine has a 99 Aero 1100 with a single pin crank, and it does have a somewhat similar "Harley" vibration but will never have the true harley sound. A very nice bike and tours quite well, and is very similar to Deluxe of today. He absolutely loves the bike and it may be another bike of consideration and very reasonably priced! He picked his up a couple years ago with only a few thousand miles on it for less than $4000. It has a long wheelbase and rides beautifully, as I have ridden it and can attest to. Food for thought.

 

I have a 2002 VTX 1800 R in the garage with 18000 miles on it (we bought it last year with 9000) My hubby rides that one and loves it. If your looking for power it is all there in a great looking bike. We have had absolutely no problems with it. Hubby scrapes floor boards almost religiously on tight turns and says it is definately a bit more to handle in the turns. Regardless he had the opportunity to buy a Harley and choose to keep his VTX....He loves the power that the harleys just didn't have stock (he rode a stock Road King) and was not willing to put that much in for the upgrades to get somewhat close.

Now on my side I love my Harley, but I'm in cruise mode. I have yet to have a time where I thought I just had to have more power then what I have. When I was looking at bikes I considered all kinds including the VTX 1300 (the 1800 is just too big a machine physically for me) but I find them top heavy and not as well balanced.

Buy the one that you gets your juices flowing otherwise you'll regret it.

 

these are the opinions I was looking for..thanks guys...

nine11c2, I think you are misunderstanding the reasoning of my exclusion....if all I wanted was an opinion on a bike, there are probably a thousand wanna-be's down here that bought a Big Dog or an Eddie Trotta or something similar as their first bike. or, because they had room in their check book and thought it would make them cool they bought a Harley. They would tell me the VTX was a POS, and that only their choice was good.I wanted answers from people who racked up miles on a single bike because I will be doing that. Responsibilities? well, I am a single dad with a 9 yr old daughter in the middle of a career change after 28 years with hobbies like shooting competitively, fishing, hunting, golf, and of course, riding the bike. I have strapped the golf bag on the bike to go to the golf course. I have strapped a shooting bag and gone to a match. I have fired up the bike and went for a ride instead of sitting on my *** flipping channels.......I know all about time constraints...I just don't make excuses.......and I am not pointing you out. I don't know you or how much you ride, I am just saying I understand what you were saying, but I think you misread the intention....My typical work day starts around 0630 and ends around 2200 with breaks in between for my daughter. I am using the bike as a stress reliever, or my personal psychotherapist. I talk to her and she says nothing...just lets me ramble...oops, looks like I just did that. Sorry guys...

I have ridden friends' VTXs, and I did like the N model the best, but when I sit and handle a Fat Boy it just keeps calling me. I have ridden the Yamaha also, and while it is a nice bike, I keeppeeking out of the corner of my eye at the FB.....I know...I already know my answer, but I was just looking for Devils Advocate here.

On the VTXOA forum, they bash the Harleys....I don't stand for that crap. I had a great connection at a local Honda dealer, and when I went in looking at the VTX, the salesman asked what I ride, and when I said a Harley he actually said to me, "Well, now you can get a real bike." I gave him an earful, called over my buddy, who was the General Manager, told him what transpired, and he fired him on the spot. He doesn't believe in bashing. I respect that.

I know other HD models are good, like the RK and all of its variations, but only interested in the FB. After 2 or 3 years and it is paid off I might look at a RK or a RG to go with the FB, butlooking to keep it simple for now.

I will shut up now, and again thanks for the help.

Frank
p.s. don't forget nine11c2, I am thankful for your reply....I am not saying any of the above at you, just explaining

 

I'll do it. Buy the American Legend.... buy the bike that has a soul and history. Honda makes a great product, rather your talking ATV's, cars, boat motors and so on. Yeah they make a good bike too, but when it comes to MC, HD is HD and it is all about the feel and the real thing. Jap is Jap. Not the same. OK, ther I did it. Remember this is a HD forum. Buy the HD.

 

totally true,it was actually the 98 honda aero which i used to own.The sound w/ V&H longshots was as close to the HD sound as it gets.I ended up trading for an 02 fatboy.To me the fatboy was better all around in comfort and power.My .02.

 

Interesting.. I thought it was the Yamaha engines, rather than the Honda's.. but I'd be willing to bet both have had to deal with H-D before on single pin vtwin engines. I've heard the big VTX's and the big Yammies, and I found the yamaha's to be closer to the harley vtwin characteristics.. It's all about the front and rear piston detonation rhythm with the 45 degree angle and the single pin. Victory also comes very very close but their engine I think is a 50 degree and is a chain driven overhead cam verses pushrods.. They sound spectacular, to me anyway.

The statement about the issues with service not being performed correctly I also believe is accurate... I'm still convinced my neck was not properly adjusted.. still has the 40mph slight wobble in the front end. I'm going to do it myself soon when I can get the bike on the rack (been actually sure enough riding it lately.. yay!)

I'll also share that I had a poorly assembled or defective or pinched shifter linkage seal when I bought mine.. Itty bitty part but a day's warranty work to completely tear down the primary to fix it by the dealer svc tech. Other than that, never a problem except cold natured idling stinks.. issue goes away once it's warm. Probably just the idle mix.. I gotta remember to do some learning in the svc book about these carbs. But I really do need to get those RPM's lowered somehow.. It's just winding way too high at the typical 60 to 70 mph range for the amount of power the engine has.. It could just be putt putting along if geared better. Will be a front belt pulley swap (34T Andrews) or a 6-speed of somekind.. Baker DD6 or OD6 maybe. DD6 is similar to the H-D 6 (I think) with the front compensator sprocket in the primary providing the overdrive, although I like the concept of the direct drive 6th gear.. I digress.

See.. one thing about Harley people.. well this one anyway.. I pontificate about all the stuff I'd like to do to the bike way toooooo much. hehe

 

Great discussion...

I went with an 04 Fat Boy after buying a '95 Honda ACE, 1100CC, V-Twin, with a single-pin crank. I settled for the ACE in '95 instead of a FatBoy. The X thought the HD was too much. Well, I settled on a divorce agreement too...and then bought the Fat Boy as a divorce present to myself.... and admittedly, sometimes I wouldn't mind having a Yamaha Roadstar for the ugly, daily interstate commute/road conditions that I wouldn't want to subject my Fat Boy.

The ACE had a lot of similarities to the FatBoy in overall length, size and some styling cues. It is a good bike and had no problem keeping up with the softails. When I began riding my FatBoy, I could immediately feel the differences between the bikes. The Fat Boy felt more powerful, solid, more stable in the front end...it commands more respect from a rider...there is a 'visceral' side to a Harley that captures me as a rider...and that's what I want from a motorcycle... I want to shake, rattle and roll....

You know, we shouldn't bash the imports. Look at what they're trying to 'copy'...the Harley Davidson look, feel, history, market-share. Emulation is the greatest compliment... but...Ain't nothin like the real thing...

Now if we can just get the EPA off the MCs back, we'll always have a 'real' motorcycle to drive. Unfortunately, I hear HD will not be able to make the V-Twin motor as we know it too much longer and remain in compliance with emission/noise standards...hence the 'Revolution' motor/V-Rod. Don't get me wrong...I like the V-Rod...but it's not a Twin-cam softtail...maybe I'll buy another '04 Fat Boy for spare parts...

AlbertG