• Honda was the last major motorcycle manufacturer to offer a big V-Twin cylinder. It took more than five years of development, but when Honda finally introduced the 2002 VTX1800 it was the largest displacement mass-produced twin cylinder motorcycle at the time. In discussing the size of the VTX engine, Motorcycle Cruiser magazine said, "To put this in perspective, Honda's all-new Civic engine is 127 cc smaller (and makes less torque)."
  
  

• The 2002 Honda VTX had a 1795 cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected SOHC 52-degree V-twin cylinder engine with three valves per cylinder. Bore and stroke was 101 mm by 112 mm and the compression ratio was 9.0:1. The VTX1800 generated 107 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, a maximum torque of 120.2 ft.-lbs. at 3,000 rpm and a top speed of 111.8 miles per hour. Motorcycle News said, "The engine is typically Honda smooth, with just enough vibes to remind you it is in fact a V-twin."
  
  

Transmission Specs

• The VTX1800 had a five-speed -- one down, four up -- transmission. A shaft final drive system transferred power from the engine to the rear wheel. While the transmission was smooth, Motorcycle Cruiser noted that shifting was noisy.
  
  

Body

• Honda built the VTX1800 around a tubular steel frame. A 45 mm inverted front fork and dual adjustable rear shock absorbers provided suspension. Honda put a new type of linked braking system on the 2002 VTX, with about 30 percent of front braking power being activated by the rear brake pedal. Dual 296 mm discs with three-piston calipers in the front and a single 316 mm disc with a two-piston caliper in the rear provided the braking power. A dragster-style seat and bobbed fenders added to the muscle styling of the VTX1800. Instrumentation, housed in a tank-mounted chrome nacelle, included the speedometer, LCD odometer and tripmeter and warning lights for low fuel, oil pressure, high beam and turn indicators.
  
  

Dimensions

• The 2002 Honda VTX1800 was 98.5 inches long, with a wheelbase of 67.5 inches. Seat height was 27.3 inches. Dry weight of the VTX1800 was 705 pounds. Fuel capacity was 4.5 gallons and it averaged 43 miles per gallon. Honda offered the 2002 VTX1800 in black, illusion blue, illusion red or metallic silver.