Spay Stuff!!!
SPAY STUFF!!!
New Honda cruiser caught on film
WHAT THE HECK'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF
cruisers? Rubber Sporties, titanic Trumnets and
now this, one badass, black-as-sin chopper from. . .wait for
it. . .the Honda Motor Company, former provider of 50cc
step-throughs to the Nicest People!
Caught by a telephoto-toting spy shooter, what we have here is a bobbed VTX1800 undergoing thermal testing in Death Valley, California, a convenient place for such activities, being just a few hours away from American Honda’s headquarters and averaging a toasty 116 degrees for the daytime high in July, when these pix were snapped. The bike’s ability to keep itself cool is paramount, because from what we can deduce there is no radiator-at least not in the conventional up-front location. Instead, the rad seems to be buried amidships or maybe located beneath the motor, evidenced by the twin air scoops (and jury-rigged coolantoverflow bottle) just below the seat.
Other interesting tidbits? Previous VTXs have been shaft-driven, but this one clearly wears a belt. A carburetor, too, rather than regularissue EFI. Gone are the twin rear shocks, replaced by a rigid-look swingarm and hidden damper. And apparently Honda R&D has an account at Performance Machine-the test mule brandishes PM “Trespasser” tri-spoke wheels and rotors (the rear mounted inboard of the drive-belt pulley), and the firm’s familiar brake calipers, the front a six-piston affair.
Looks like 2004 is going to be a very interesting year for cruiser buyers.
David Edwards
