The Honda Fury - Yet Another VTX
>> Saturday, January 17, 2009
I knew it all along, this new Honda Fury that everyone's been raving about is just another VTX. They took their VTX 1300 engine (1312cc, 52°) and slapped it on a different chassis.
And now metric fanatics are saying this is going to erode away at Harley's market.
Yeah, right, as if the VTX ever eroded away at Harley's market.
Ok, it looks like a nice bike. I'm not sure I like the radiator on a raked out bike. But, I'm sure Honda will sell these things. But they'll only sell them to people who already love the VTX. They're not going to sell them to Harley riders.
Either you're a Honda rider, or a Harley rider, or a Yamaha rider. Brand loyalty is pretty fierce in the cruiser world. This bike isn't going to take any more sales away from Harley than Harley has taken away from Honda.
The problem with Honda, which Dale Franks identified, is that they don't invest themselves into the cruiser-riding community. Harley is always doing stuff with its customer base, reaching out to them, and even riding with them, mainly because what Harley sells is a lifestyle, not so much a motorcycle.
Whereas Honda is throwing motorcycles at people who are wanting to buy a lifestyle.
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28 comments:
Longtime VTX rider here (5 years), and I am here to tell you that Honda is completely clueless and unresponsive to the markets wanderings. HD, Yamaha, Kawasaki and even Suzuki are quick to respond to customers demands and desires. Meanwhile Honda is ignoring the desperate calls for a V-Twin Tourer, and not just a windshield and bags, and a Dual Purpose in the likes of the Africa Twin, Transalp or forbid, a market leading new model. Wake up Honda! We have money even in these hard times, but we won't by a chopper.
Totally agree with the article... Honda folks ride Hondas, Harley folks ride Harleys, and so on and so on... I like the look of the VTX and back in the day when you could buy a Honda for half the price of a Hog it may have "eroded" the market share of HD... These days, when a Honda is as pricey as a Harley or even pricier, you really have to consider the "value for dollar" component. With Harley's re-worked mechanicals, the claim that "HD isn't as dependable" as a metric bike just doesn't hold true... And this from a 25 year Goldwing rider. =)
I think the Fury is a really clean looking bike,cant see a lot of wires and cables.
I agree that the VTX line has gotten stagnent,but having said that ,they are very good motorcycles.
I will enjoy seeing the Fury on the road,but I will continue to ride ny Harley.
Hi, I put over 75K on my 1988 Magna. I loved the bike, and when I finally updated I went with a Vulcan Mean Streak. I love Harleys too, but I know what I want and can afford. Metrics have come a long way, and like someone else said...Honda doesn't get it, doesn't try to, and sometimes doesn't seem to care. VTX 1800, while a monster misses the mark and sounds horrible. The VTX 1300 hits the mark, but don't look too close!
This is what I hear from loyal riders!
Honda discontinued Magna's, stopped production of a true Valkyrie and just seems to not strive for it's customers. Sure they set trends....but then everyone else surpasses them. I don't get it?
No one want's drive shafts anymore...does Honda listen?
Everyone wants are real touring model. does Honda listen?
But...I do like the Fury. It's cool. Don't like the exhust, but the bike is cool. I still love my Meanie and dream of a Street Glide!
Now the Honda fan can be an OCC-style poseur, too! Just what the world needs
Personally I would rather buy a motorcycle than a "lifestyle". What the f--- good is a lifestyle? It does'nt get to from point A to point B. I agree there is a very small market for choppers, but some people still like that style,ei the "Raider". The mistake Honda made is putting the weak 1300 VYX engine in it. When I think of a chopper I think powerful in a straight line. They should have used the VTX 1800 it would blow the ass off most choppers out there, and not cost a fortune
What portion of the Harley market are you refering to,that Honda is trying to capture? Harley does'nt make a chopper. They also don't make any dirt bikes, ST's,Duo-Sports or Sportbikes. At least Honda does'nt put the same engine in everyone of their models.(V-Rod excluded)
At least Honda does'nt put the same enging in everyone of their models (V-Rod Exc). It's slow, underpowered and has rolex pricing with timex technology. I wonder what Harley market Honda is trying to capture ? Harley does'nt have a chopper. I guess Warren Buffet know's what the need, and that;s a stimulus bailout.
The Fury is better is better than anything Harley ever tried to build. This Honda is fuel injected with shaft drive. Its just damn close to being maitenence free. You hit the starter it goes. If you end oup working on it its probably with wax. Harleys are better than they used to be. They still cant touch a Honda. Harley is an attitude. I dont care how much it costs or how junky it is I ride a Harley cause Im BAD. Well go ahead push your Harley. Ill give the Lady a ride on my Honda. Oh, and they put a single crank pin in the VTX so it vibrates too!
does anyone realize the WCC NOT OCC helped design this one?
I don't care for the Fury, but I do love my VTX 1300R; it's twice the bike of a Fatboy and half the price.
While my friends who ride Harley's contimue to support HD with costly repairs, all I have to do is change the oil each Spring.
Ride On !!!
You failed to make any attempt to review the bike. Or you would have mentioned that they reworked the 1300 for EFI or that the suspension is totally new for any shaft drive bike not to mention the rake. Anyone can see that the Fury is not a cruiser. The only thing the Fury has in common with a VTX is they make a VTX with a 1300 CC motor. And that motor is built proof, maintained 1300s commonly have 80000 miles plus with no rebuilds or upper work. A claim HD has yet to make. What has Harley Davidson done but use the same motors and change some colors in there cruiser class “oh “make new commercials. Let’s get real, HD can’t even put made in America on their bikes anymore where the VTX line from 02 to 09 can. Nor can HD touch the reliability of a Honda. Will the Fury put a dent in HD sales, I highly doubt it. HD does a way better job of marketing and Hondas bread and butter are in off road and sport bikes. The Fury offers a raked custom look with reliability on a production scale that has a price many can afford and no other manufacture has done that. HD should be glad that Honda put its effort in a bike like this because if they ever did get serious about their cruiser class HD would have something to worry about.
Its one thing to review a bike it’s another to just say it’s a not HD so there for it sucks.
HD is an overpriced iron lung. However you need to get the t-shirts and the required wallet with a chain and the German war helmet.
I'm an HD rider and these bikes are inferior to the metric cruisers in just about ever category.
Image and sound? well thats nothing without performance. HD still has serious quality issues. Per the NY times article, HD is about done for financially. No local banks here in Kansas City will finance HD products because they lose their value faster than the metric bike. I have had 4 HD's and every one of them were junk out of the showroom floor. Rode the VTX 1300 C the other day, and it is head and shoulders above the HD products!! rode the Fury also, again Head and shoulders above HD.. Sorry guys,, get off of HD's nuts because unfortunately they are a T-Shirt factory that just happens to sell motorcycles too...
KB
Oh and you comment about the Fury is a VTX? similar engine, as for the leaking over heating HD's? same frame and most generally same 96 inch air-cooled engine in about all of their bikes, put a fender on it, call it a softail, 18,000 bucks, put a fairing on it, call it a Ultra Classic 18,000 bucks, put a drag bar on it , call it a Road King, 20,000 bucks. Their all the same? and we are the idiots that buy them piles of crap! I got a Dyna and a its junk from the ground up. and HD has all these names , Super Glide, Wide Glide, Electra Glide and so on, to make them sound like they ride comfortable. Wrong again. all of my HD's ride like covered wagons! the image is what? What is the image? what is the lifestyle? I can have the same lifestyle for less money with a Honda without all of the rhetoric... It's childish. Harley Davidson, Man! I feel like I'm in High School again. Be in the cool club! but this time pay a bunch of money..
KB
First off, let me say that overall Honda makes a much better product than Harley could ever hope to. The only reason Harley is still around (remember AMF) is that there cycle-heads ou there who have nothing better to do with their money. (and before you say that this is from someone who can't afford a harley, I make well over six-figures a year). Secondly, most guys who ride Harley's liken them to extensions of their penis so therfore it makes them feel "manly" when they're seen riding down the street on their "Milwaukee Vibrators". Anyway, thank god that the other manufactures (including Honda) still make a very good product so the average joe does not have be be stuck with the schlock that wears the "Harley" moniker.
I have ridden motorcycles for over 40 years most all brands, the worst was Harley and BSA, Expensive to maintain, in the shop a lot, and working on a Harley is expensive. In those 40 years I have never had to put a Honda on a trailer because of a break down on the road, I'm sorry I can't say that for Harley. Harleys look good, sound good, are fine for short trips or bar hopping, but they are not fast, unless you spend big bucks, then you run into problems keeping them running. I am more into ridding distance than polishing or bar hopping, for distance ridding give me a bullet proof Honda or A Yamaha.
At first I was shocked at all the negative posts on Honda, then I realized this is a mostly Harley site, after adjusting for IQ I now understand the posts!
My, my the defensive posturing of the Honda folks is still a wonder to me. But then I have trouble with the stupidity of war too!
The Fury looks somewhat cool with fairly clean lines and I'm sure it runs well and handles like crap as most chopper frames must.
As to the insanity of brand-lifestyle choices, I'll stick with being friendly to all motorcyclists without any bias as to what brand their ass sits on!
Im a previous HD owner and recently purchased a fury,no comparison Fury rocks.I'm 6'7" tall and 235 i dont look good on the short framed HD bikes but i loved mine. I found out i could have aq chopper that fit me for under 20,000 dude i jumped on it and let me say "AWESOME" ill never say anything negative about a HD, but ill never own another.
Plastic.
Actually, I used to have a Harley, and then got sold on the VTX.
I don't need to buy a lifestyle, I made my own. I just wanna buy a motorcycle that I like.
Harley is certainly a "lifestyle" bike. If it were not for that "brand name" element HD would sell about 1/4 th. the bikes that they do! Knowing many riders personally, the HD group are far more connected the the HD brand than most other riders (Ducati & BMW riders are typically connected to their brand as well). I like HD's but their core design just looks tired to me. That's not a criticism, just a personal opinion. Most of the Japanese bikes are just as American as Harley these days, so that argument is an outdated one! To me, it's just sad for a motorcyclist to be so connected to a badge that they have to make fun of other brands and are just unaware of the superior technology of the more modern bikes! I'm not pointing to technology as being that important, I really like bikes such as the Enfield, the new Indian, and the Moto Guzzi's. Above all, HD is a marketing company, and they have done that well. Honda is a technology based company, and they have made more grounbreaking innovations than many other companies put together (in line modern OHC 4cyl, effective water cooling, suspension innovations, 4, 5 ,6 cylinder engines, creative types of valve mechanisims, thin walled crankcases, modern motorcycle fuel injection systems, super thin pistons,and on and on). I understand that all ot
f these things have been done before (like the AJS Porcupine or the Moto Guzzi V-8), but Honda has made them not only common, but reliable and inexpensive. I think Honda does need a touring bike beyond the Wing. I would like to see a Honda Evo 6 based tourer. Check out the bike on www.markbayersmotorcyclenews.9f.com
I driven many bikes over the years, currently own a VMax and now looking for something a bit more "time to appreciate the view" no longer in a rush to get there. I've never owned a Hog but have test driven a few, particularly the VRod and NightRod. Being 6ft2 my problem was the bars and pegs were so dame uncomfortable on the VRods. Lower back ache and crap fuel economy. Servicing costs and purchase price are also unrealistic in todays climate. I've seen the Honda Fury and sat on one, I'll definitely consider it. There are a few things that appeal to me.. MPG, very low maintenance i.e. shaft.. open engine, reliability, and technology that keeps up with progress. I certainly don't need to buy a lifestyle I've made mine and if I did then the Honda Fury makes it cost effective with limited negativity. Besides, its not as if they don't make cruisers, they do, and the Fury is basically that, a crusier but with a longer rake.
The problem with Harleys is their stuck in the past with outdated technology, expensive parts, they ain't cheap, build quality leaves a lot to be desired, and to say its a lifestyle choice is lame. I can think of cheaper ways to spend my hard earned cash with hassle free fun. Then you have high MPG, reliability, good quality, and a budget that doesn't break the bank, the Honda Fury. Now that's a LIFESTYLE choice. Thank goodness for variety.
Anonymous has left a new comment on the post "The Honda Fury - Yet Another VTX":
"The problem with Harleys is their stuck in the past with outdated technology, expensive parts, they ain't cheap, build quality leaves a lot to be desired, and to say its a lifestyle choice is lame. I can think of cheaper ways to spend my hard earned cash with hassle free fun. Then you have high MPG, reliability, good quality, and a budget that doesn't break the bank, the Honda Fury. Now that's a LIFESTYLE choice. Thank goodness for variety."
I've ignored many posts protesting my post on the Honda VTX. All those who bashed Harley's have been anonymous trollers so it wasn't worth anyones time to protest.
This last duffus quoted above bashes the Harleys too much to ignore.
I am a 63 year old who has owned 67 motorcycles. I have had racing in my past and do not give a hoot in hell for newbie morons who have opinions without experience to back it up!
First off Harleys, if taken care of, are the least expensive motorcycles to own and operate on the planet! Resale value is where they shine above all comers. Also the prices for parts on older models are much less than Honda. And most importantly you can actually buy parts for them-forever!
The words I posted about the frames on Honda's are true. Excluding the race and off road versions they all are a mess in high side wind situations. There goes that experience thing again.
Please do not bother to set me right with posts--all will be dumped from now on--------
What the hell is wrong with you guys? and all that mine is better, yours is crap shit.
I ride a Fatboy, I tinkered a bit with the motor and she runs real nice and dam strong. I'd put her up against any of these bikes without a doubt.
but what does that matter? Just enjoy what you got untill you can get something better.
I have been riding for 30 years and have had many brands and styles of bike, always rode whatever i got a good deal on. Now i have the money to ride what i want and have been testing everything out there, just bought the new fury and love it, not because its a honda or because its not a harley just because it feels and rides so damn good. The fury is not a crotch rocket or a touring bike, its not a long distance crusier, its just a SWEET RIDE FOR ME! Enjoy what you have or get what you want but leave everybody else alone. See you on the road...... HIPPY
"Yet another VTX" indeed. Tell me, how many models does Harley Davidson market with essentially the same 105-year-old technology? With the HD alphabet soup affixed to their myriad of models, it's difficult to tell one from another - except perhaps by the paint scheme, an occasional fairing or the front wheel. Otherwise to me, they all look pretty much the same. Yet another Harley...
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