Post by Steve on Sept 29, 2010 18:22:44 GMT 10
I thought I would share with you my recent encounter with Honda's new release the VT1300C.
I had to put Pams VT400C into Honda for a service and to find out what was causing an Oil weep at the Water Pump and the Sales Manager Kev at Toowoomba Honda said I'll give you the VT for the night as as a loaner , I nearly fell over and the thoughts going through my head were massive, like, ...have'nt ridden road bikes for 35 years... largest bike I have ever riden is the Dawg..., .... that thing is huge..., its raining. You get the idea.
I then started to look at the lines, the slight bend in the forward down tubes, the swept back bars, the clean lines flowing from the front to the rear, the sissy bar , thought maybe Pam would like to go for a ride . So after I signed my life away for for the overnight use and the sales assistant telling me that if I flip it, its a $1000 excess, I donned my jacket, gloves and Helmet and checked out the storms rolling in from the West, pushed the monster out of the Show Room and eased it down the ramp, thinking dont slip now you idiot, look confident.
Turning on the Ignition I looked at the Christmas Tree of light blinking at me and waited till the 'puter did its bit and jammed the starter button (generic controls - same as Shadow) letting the motor ease down to a steadly low rumble I thought "gee that sounds nice" threw my leg over the sissy bar and settled into the seat, stood the bike up slipped the side stand back and eased into the Traffic. Boy is this bike big, the front wheel is so far away I cant see it and I'm 6'2".
The response from the bike was sure and even, but if I gave the throttle a little too much it was swift and sure and really told you that this is a hiway bike and it wanted the hiway. Peeling my way through Toowoomba's peak hour traffic I was supprised how steady and easy the bike was to control, allowing plenty of buffer zones I continued north out of town and headed up the mountain in the pouring rain (might be a song there ) sitting on 60 behind traffic the 80 zone appeared and a gap in my Buffer Zone appeared and I slipped past several cars and into the clear. It then dawned on me that it haed pulled very smoothly from 60 in top going up hill and I'm now doing 105 I was gleefully amazed. Hope the weather clears in the morning. Finally an un-eventfull trip, except 0-140 in very little time from the traffic lights in a 70 zone, say me pull into my drive, still raining, 2 in the arvo and no where to go.
Did I say that this bike was long? Had to move my Tool box and spare CT110 tyres to fit it in where Pams bike normally goes. showing Pam the bike I pointed out the sissy bar and pillion seat (ours are pillionless) and talked her into going for a ride in the morning, go for it.
The Ride
Finished the Postie run, rushed home and cleaned all the road grime and muddy water spots off the bike. Polished it up real nice and it was sparkling. Got together all Pams gear, matched up the Scarlas and thought back to an article on pillion riding and who does what and why by some one who had donne it and lived. Pam and I talked about what had to be done and kitted and spured we mounted up and just headed in the direction where the less traffic was traveling which was good as about 20k's up the hiway is a great little Cafe at Hampton, highly recommended.
The Bike accelrates well and has more power than I could ever hope to use. Not having a clew on how to adjust the single rear shock preload with out pulling off panels I just hope'd that hings were good and they were. The little bumps and filled in pot holes were taken in its stride and Pam just sat glued to the little seat. she said tha it was comfortable but I think that on a longer run that would change. My 6'2" frame fitted well into the bike but I think that 2 inch ext to the pegs would be great. At 90kph the VT could not be slowed by anything except the ABS brakes, at 120 it didnt climp up the hills it just stepped over them but the wind blast was too much for me and back to 100 it was.
If I had a preference I would prefer the bike that is released in the states, the Interstate/Stateline these are fitted standard with boards, bags and screen. My preference would be just a screen with the bags.
When we arrive in Hampton we parked (Queen Mary Style- lots of little pushes in the right direction) Pam and I talked about the little run, she said that the exhaust sounded plesent but not too loud, that she could feel the throbing of the motor when I appled power and that the suspension was not too bad at all. As this was Pams first ride as a Pillion I think she was great, she just planted herself and went with the bike, a uphill sweeper at 110 was a dream and convinced her that this was bike that could take you anywhere albeit alone on the bike but with a fellow traveler.
The ride back home was as uneventfull and after dropping Pam home I went into town to pick up her 400 and return the beast. I explored the town/city riding thinking it would be difficult but I was wrong, for its size the VT1300 behaved itself very well and corned at lights great (with some care) and was no more difficult than my shadow. If I was to upgrade I would look very closly at this bike, with some add ons, I would have a VT1300C Stateliner if I was to up grade no questions asked.
The storey on the US release bikes should be still on
MotorcycleCruiser.com
Any question please ask I ve ramble on enough ;D
Dawg