Driving report: Honda VTX 1300 S

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Driving report: Honda VTX 1300 S

Born in the USA

The brand new VTX 1300 S, of which MOTORRAD was able to test the first European copy exclusively, was developed in the USA.

In the land of unlimited possibilities and limited speeds, sport cruisers like the large VTX are still in vogue, but also expensive. Which is why Honda provides the 1800 with an inexpensive 1300. And that also fits Europe, where Honda Intruder & Co. has so far had nothing to oppose. For the smaller displacement, the bore shrank by 11.5 and the stroke by 7.7 millimeters. Other differences: instead of injection, a 38 series constant pressure carburetor, instead of an upside-down fork, a conventional one, and the CBS combi brake system also stayed on the shelf. The guys from Marysville / Ohio certainly didn’t want to save on optics. The »little ?? VTX fits perfectly into the picture of the classic giant Huber.
And drives like a mixture of a VT 1100 and a large VTX. With the wide, cranked handlebars, you can easily manage 320 kilograms. Everything is smooth and precise, as is typical for Honda, but the engine is anything but characterless. Every stroke of the piston continues as a vibration in the exhaust system and creeps through the soles of the driver’s feet. The V2 has enough power to accelerate the thick ship to a measured 176 km / h. A speed that is not at all funny behind the wide handlebars. On the other hand, it is all the more pleasant when everything is in fifth gear from 70 km / h? which is not designed as overdrive? can be done.
D.The rest is cruiser standard: the struts a bit hard, the fork pretty soft, the front disc brake with a lot of manual power. The running boards touch down early, otherwise the VTX stays true to the line, except in undulating, long curves. She prefers to be driven on idyllic country roads between 80 and 100 km / h. Then it permeates the driver with everything that makes cruising worth cruising. That’s why she was born in the USA. And should soon find a good home with us.

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