VTX1800 Valve-train issues?

[Phadreus]

Hi all,

I was recently at one of my local motorcycle dealerships looking at new bikes. As I was eyeballing a VTX1800F, one of the sales drones came up and asked me why I was looking at the VTX. I told him of my long history with Honda's and how they have been perfectly reliable, performed great and never have failed me in over 33 years of me riding them. So; I'm a Honda guy and I'm looking for a cruiser...so, the VTX1800 looks like a good option for me.

OK, so for the issue, the sales drone said the VTX1800's have allot of valve-train issues and aren't good bikes. He couldn't give me any real details on the issue other than he wouldn't buy one because of that.

Has anyone heard anything about the 1800 having any valve-train issue? Is this guy full of it, or is there genuinely a problem?

[smkeatr]

Without some serious explanation, it sounds like a typical drone to me. He's been riding for about a year, rides a large sport bike and most likely stunts on the street. He's been employed there less than 4 months and needs to look on a sheet in his pocket when you ask what any bike on the showroom costs. It's hard to find a decent sales guy to even shoot the breeze with around here too. That's why I do my own homework on the forums and read in great detail before I buy a bike. The sales guy probably has a bonus for selling Shadow's this month....

I always ask the punk sales guys what they ride, every time it's a big sport bike and they'll have their stories about how many times they've wrecked on the street being stupid and dangerous.

Now you got me going. I've spent a lot of time in dealerships in the past couple of months and it's just getting on my nerves a little. If I only had one bike, it would be a VTX1800F spec 3. Several of my co-workers ride a VTX1800 and I've heard of ZERO problems with them. Typical Honda quality.

[Phadreus]

Now that's good to hear and a 1800F Spec III is exactly what I'm looking at. This particular drone was really pushing the Suzuki M109R and described it as "hands down the superior bike to the VTX1800". I didn't really agree after looking into all the specs on the two bikes. I found his story about the faulty Valve-train a little hard to believe knowing Honda's pursuit of reliability and high quality. I figured he get's some sorta award, like a pen or something if he sells the one M109R on their floor.

[Red Rider]

The sales guy is full of chit. I owned a VTX1800 and it was rock solid. There aren't any valve train issues with the bike. The mere fact that he's pushing a Suzuki shows he doesn't know squat...

[snakearmspatrol]

got a 03 vtx 18 c. no problems re valve train
so far. tho i know the dealers and wrenches
say how honda prefers 8 thousand mile checks
on setting the valves. so maybe there is some
apprehension. but i have about 17 thousand
on mine and run it around san francisco bay
area few times a week as only vehicle i have
working. it never fails on variation of riding
phases. the last mechanic and the dealerships
i spoke with were concerned about the eight
thousand mile check ups. but one guy said
it's really a twenty plus or forty thousand mile
concern. seems more of a caution type lookout.
in case, sort of thing. probly at twenty thousand
i'll have mine looked at for possible adjustments.
anyway, even with alot of mods, still a monster!

[Hoppy]

I ride a 2005 VTX 1800C. It is my second VTX 1800C. I bought my first one in January 2002 and put 16,000 TROUBLE FREE miles on it in less than a year before I traded it for a Valkyrie Interstate (ANOTHER GREAT Honda) so my wife, who has a very bad back, would be able to ride in more comfort. She never got on the Interstateso I rode it for 16,000 miles (my magic number ) and got a Yamaha road Star...BIG mistake!
To make a long story short I went back to another VTX and I'm very happy I did so. The only cruiser that comes close to the VTX is the Valkyrie IMHO.
I've been riding since 1963 and since August of 1964 I have had at least one bike in my garage at all times so I'm not new to motorcycling.
Just my $.02

Hoppy

[Phadreus]

Good information, thanks and happy riding Hoppy!

[smkeatr]

I used to bike sit a co-workers Valkyrie and put some miles on it for him, keeping the battery charged for him, and that bike was something else. Talk about "adequate" power. Anyone who has ridden one knows what I'm talking about.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by smkeatr I used to bike sit a co-workers Valkyrie and put some miles on it for him, keeping the battery charged for him, and that bike was something else. Talk about "adequate" power. Anyone who has ridden one knows what I'm talking about.

There aren't too many things I would change about my VTX, except adding accessories and a more comfortable seat with a backrest (bad back) but I sure do miss my Valkyries, especially the Interstate. The flat six engine is sooo smooth and roll-ons in top gear are nothing for it. I would really like to get another one and have it for my longer rides, 300 miles and up, and then I would set my VTX up for the shorter rides. I'd get rid of the big saddlebags and big windshield, etc and go for more of a "sporty" look, and I don't mean "Sportster". Now all I need to do is inherit a bunch of money or get a job that pays more....of course neither of those things are going to happen anytime soon so I guess I'm stuck being a one bike motorcyclist.

Hoppy

[smkeatr]

It's kind of funny but when I had his Valk, I had only owned sport bikes for street bikes. I took my wife for a decent ride on the Valk and after about 150 miles, I had had enough. Although the bike is smooth as butter to ride, the issue was me. He had highway pegs and such but I was used to riding a sport bike and having the ability to move my weight around some on longer rides and I surely was not used to just sitting in the saddle with all my weight on my butt. To this day, I still find sport bikes more comfy for me but currently we have a couple of Shadows in the garage. I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to keep the same bike for several years anymore. I enjoy the variety of riding different types of bikes and have found myself putting many more miles on a little cruiser right now and have renewed my joy of riding. Funny thing is, my wife has encouraged me to pick up another sport bike in addition to our Shadows. I'd like to sell one and keep one for her. Decisions, decisions.....

[jtsteve]

I know this is late but did you get the vtx1800?
I drove mine,2002 1800c, with nothing but maintenance for just over 120,000 miles before it was tottaled in a wreck. BTW, I just do an compression check aginst the factory spec. 95 psi, then if it is low by more than 10% only do I adjust the valves, whitch I adjusted 2 times, at approx. 55,000 miles respectivly.

[Grover130]

That salesman is an idiot.

[lanbrown]

Originally Posted by Grover130 That salesman is an idiot.

Most are.

[DUX]

I have close to 17,000 miles on my 2003 VTX 1800R.

I haven't kept up with the later models, but there were a few issues typical to the bike.

1) The plastic headlight would squeak and rattle at the tab that held the front piece on. Easily fixed with some double-sided tape. Sometimes the wiring harness inside would rub and rattle too...again fixed easily.

2) As for valves. Mine did make some noise, especially at idle, as it was breaking in. Sometimes sounded like some marbles in the engine. I trusted the dealer I bought it from. He said it was common and would go away. In a few thousand miles, it did.

3) Early editions tended to lose water pumps...luckily mine went just before the extended warranty ran out.

Use Honda VTX Owners for more info than you can possibly sort through.

Honda is a top quality manufacturer IMO, but don't assume they are bullet proof. Machines break and stuff happens. Where it counts is customer support, and Honda sucks at that (again, you can read my RC-51 mess posted on this site if really interested.)

Check out the other website and let me know if I can offer any other info.