900 Classic vs VTX1300 - Riding Comparison

[Johnny5]

Well, my friend who has a VTX1300 was over last night and I asked to check out his ride. We swapped bikes for a little while on a cruise around town. Here's my impressions and comparions. Both bikes are new from this summer.

The nitty-gritty: Power - The VTX kills the 900 in this section. That I already knew by how my friend pulls away from me at stop lights. It is 400cc more engine.

Odds n Ends: Controls - The VTX felt very spongy compared to the 900. The brakes and the shifter especially. Nothing felt precise to me.

Outside cockpit: Saddle up - The VTX felt very cramped. As I rode it I didnt like how I was almost hugging the gas tank. The bike has a very aggressive riding stance. The floorboards barely fit my feet and made me clumsy with the shifting. For a 1300, it feels more like riding a 650. My friend is a few inches shorter than me and probably doesnt notice it as much. He said that the 900 felt big and more open.

Overall - The VTX is a fun bike if you want to zip around town and through some twisties but long travel, no way, it's just too cramped and I'm not a fan of leaning forward to grab handlebars unless Im riding a sportbike. After riding it, I jumped back on my 900, stretched out my legs and relaxed all the way home.

Dont know why I wrote this but I like reading rider's comparisons and so well...maybe someone else will too.

[2WheelFun]

I looked at a 1300 before I bought my 1500 and I was not impressed by the engine noise. Mechanical lifters that need adjusting at intervals left me quickly looking at bikes with hydraulic lifters. I know it's all about likes and dis-likes that determines what we buy...but for the $$$...how can you go wrong buying a Vulcan?

[cow900]

My Dealer tried hard to push me on the Honda 1300, he said coming off sportbikes I would need/want the 1300 power over my 900. I would have really liked the extra power, but IMO the Honda doesn't look as good as my 900, and the seating position really was cramped. The dealer also tried to push me on the suzuki M50 (I think, It was a 800 cc bike) but I really wanted a "classic"looking bike. I think in the midsize cruiser market the 900 is the best Value, it has lots of chrome, rear disk, fat tire, and looks like a bike with a lot bigger engine. My decision was a no brainer, I would still take the 900 over the Honda 1300 anyday.....even know I am still on the quest for 10 more HP, and 10 more Ft LBS of torque!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[N3FOLN3FOL]

Originally Posted by cow900

My Dealer tried hard to push me on the Honda 1300, he said coming off sportbikes I would need/want the 1300 power over my 900. I would have really liked the extra power, but IMO the Honda doesn't look as good as my 900, and the seating position really was cramped. The dealer also tried to push me on the suzuki M50 (I think, It was a 800 cc bike) but I really wanted a "classic"looking bike. I think in the midsize cruiser market the 900 is the best Value, it has lots of chrome, rear disk, fat tire, and looks like a bike with a lot bigger engine. My decision was a no brainer, I would still take the 900 over the Honda 1300 anyday.....even know I am still on the quest for 10 more HP, and 10 more Ft LBS of torque!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I felt the same way. In fact, I had compared bikes from Honda to Suzuki to Yamaha and of course the Vulcan 900LT. It was a long process for me, but I think Vulcan owners can agree to this. It is the best overall ride so far.

[Johnny5]

My dealer tried pushing a C50T really hard even when the 900 was more money. Gee, I wonder what bike they are having trouble with selling. Not the 900.

V-Stars were out of my price range. I just dont care for VTX looks. The 900 by far wins in every catagory for me except for power. Eh, V2K in a couple years will do me just fine.

[Chuckster]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

I looked at a 1300 before I bought my 1500 and I was not impressed by the engine noise. Mechanical lifters that need adjusting at intervals left me quickly looking at bikes with hydraulic lifters. I know it's all about likes and dis-likes that determines what we buy...but for the $$$...how can you go wrong buying a Vulcan?

+1

Same here. Almost bought a 1300. Glad I didn't and got the Vulcan.

[RichLockyer]

Ditto the size comments.
I felt cramped on anything smaller than the 1800, RoadStar, or the Vulcan's.

Surprisingly, though I bought a 1600, I could easily live with a Vulcan 900... the ergos are that much better.

[Spok]

its always good to get a real impression on bikes. mags are unreliable.

thanks for taking the time to sum up your experience, i always do when i get to throw a leg over something new

[Stoneball Jones]

I own a VN900, and used to own a Roadstar 1600, so here's my comparo:
As far as ergonomics and casual riding, they are very similar. I had big deja vu when I first rode my Vulcan, the feel and fit is the same. I hafta do a little more gear shifting on the 900 around town. As far as power, I'm no hotrod with the throttle, but I don't feel much difference. IMHO, you don't buy cruisers for their horsepower anyway. That's what crotchrockets are for.
The fuel injection makes the startup procedure simpler, no choke to mess with on the Kaw, but I never had any trouble starting the Yam in cold weather, I just had to babysit it until it warmed up. I'm hoping that the FI means I can start it and walk away on a cold morning. I live in Alabama, and ride year round.
My 2000 Roadstar had a rep for poor battery/alternator system. Guys with added light bars said you would have to put it on the charger if you ran them much, evidently it couldnt keep up with the demand. I dont know, I didnt have a light bar, but I note that the Kaw is claimed to have a high output alternator for this reason. I did put a brighter bulb in the headlight(of the Yam) with no problems.
There's more plastic on the Vulcan, but I guess that's the norm in this price range. And I'm sure that the aftermarket suppliers are hard at work making replacement bling. I wonder how much chrome steel motor sidecovers will cost us? lol
Anyway, I think both bikes are fine, and I'm happy with my Vulcan.

[Johnny5]

I started my 900 on a 37 degree morning this past week. Fired right up. I love the FI!

[LordGT]

AS time passes, and more stuff comes out for the 900, I wonder how the performance will compare to the 1300 when people start adding pipes, air mods and the PC III.

We haven't really heard any hard comparisons of the 900 with the Stage 1 type performance mods going up against the slightly larger bikes.

Time will tell and it may be interesting to see how it turns out.

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by LordGT

AS time passes, and more stuff comes out for the 900, I wonder how the performance will compare to the 1300 when people start adding pipes, air mods and the PC III.

We haven't really heard any hard comparisons of the 900 with the Stage 1 type performance mods going up against the slightly larger bikes.

Time will tell and it may be interesting to see how it turns out.

A complete stage one on the 900 probably won't have anymore performance gains against a stage one 1300, now against a stock 1300 it'll be better I'm sure. It will be interesting to see how the new yami 1300 compares to the honda 1300.

[LordGT]

Originally Posted by woodchucks800

A complete stage one on the 900 probably won't have anymore performance gains against a stage one 1300, now against a stock 1300 it'll be better I'm sure. It will be interesting to see how the new yami 1300 compares to the honda 1300.

I agree, but a lot of people don't do Stage One mods. So I just wondered if the 900 with mods could hold it's own against some of the stock bigger bikes running around.

[RicOne]

This is helpful information. I plan to stepup to a nomad or 2000 in the spring. When it comes time I may have to reconsider because of all the 900 strong points and the money I would loose by trading it so fast.

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by LordGT

I agree, but a lot of people don't do Stage One mods. So I just wondered if the 900 with mods could hold it's own against some of the stock bigger bikes running around.

Well you've got a 900 in the garage ,how do you feel it compares to other bikes like the 1300's power wise?Then what about running in the twisties do you feel like the 900 could and would do better than your "V" or is it still to early to tell?