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Over the years I have had several bikes all of which were 4 cylinders (Honda magna V45, V65, and a Yamaha Seca 900). Recently I have purchased a large twin (Honda vtx1800c). I like the bike a lot. It runs great, sounds great, and looks great. But there is just something missing. I'm not sure what it is. If its the high rpm whine or the quick acceleration thats just not there. Has anyone else ever suffered from post 4 cylinder depression?

I had a bit of withdrawal going from a Triumph Tiger 955i to a Kawasaki Drifter 1500 three years ago; I missed the instant "warp speed NOW" capability of the Tigger, as well as the really silly lean angles I could take with it on my fave twisty roads. But the Drifter won me over with its more relaxed pace and more comfy (for me, anyway) seating position. I quickly learned it was not a bike to go canyon carving with - I did some serious grinding on the left floorboard and right side muffler - but after awhile it didn't matter as much. I've gained a bit of ground clearance by switching to the Harley and while it is by no means a sportbike I find I can sling it around quite briskly on my fave roads and still be comfy at the end of the day.

I suspect you're feeling similar withdrawal symptoms, so just let the VTX work its magic on you and the feeling of "loss" will soon disappear.

I tried an '04 SV650. First time riding something that wasn't an inline four engine and man, it was such a difference. Boatloads of torque, but man, it just didn't feel smooth at all. If I didn't know the seller and the complete history of the bike, I'd think something was wrong with it. I'll take my silky-smooth four bangers any day of the week.

My first street bike was a CX650E twin and I had a difficult adjustment going the other way....at first. I had it for a few months and then picked up a 650 Nighthawk which was supposed to be a far more powerful bike at the time. Initially it felt silky smooth and extremely gutless unless you revved the snot out of it (which I learned to do well after not very long ). The two different engines require a completely different approach to riding but lots of people never adjust to one or the other. I like 'em both but if I had to have only one forever it would be a twin.
*edit- a revvy twin like a VTR, SV, TL, or Duck! Can't do the cruiser twins other than the V-Rod. They are all slugs!

Well Cowboy, we had a Vtwin, when hubby was riding 1100 virago, but now we have a inline4 and we havent looked back. FZX750. Dont want to change, just love this bike.

That was my problem I wanted the look of a cruizer but the power of a 4, I looked and looked at the VTX1800 but the $4k difference in price made the difference for me.


Tom

High_Side wrote:Can't do the cruiser twins other than the V-Rod. They are all slugs!

You clearly haven't ridden the Mean Streak! It'll cruise all day at 125mph....or so I've been told....

I had a 700cc inline four before my Meanie (NightHawk 700SC) and I did notice a huge change, but for me it was for the better. I liked the smoothness of the four, but it had a gutless low-end and I didn't care to wait until 8,000rpm for the engine to get "on the cams". For me torque is king. I like to take off from a stand still and feel a rush of torque, and shift at just 3k and still be pulling like a tractor. I would like a Yamaha FJR1300 eventually, but it'll have to share a stall with my Meanie...she's not going anywhere!

zootech wrote:

High_Side wrote:Can't do the cruiser twins other than the V-Rod. They are all slugs!

You clearly haven't ridden the Mean Streak! It'll cruise all day at 125mph....or so I've been told....

Yep, you are right. I'll have to retract that statement until I've ridden one of those. I was lined up to test ride a Vulcan 2000 this spring but I was going to have to wait all afternoon so I skipped out....

zootech wrote:

High_Side wrote:Can't do the cruiser twins other than the V-Rod. They are all slugs!

You clearly haven't ridden the Mean Streak! It'll cruise all day at 125mph....or so I've been told....

I had a 700cc inline four before my Meanie (NightHawk 700SC) and I did notice a huge change, but for me it was for the better. I liked the smoothness of the four, but it had a gutless low-end and I didn't care to wait until 8,000rpm for the engine to get "on the cams". For me torque is king. I like to take off from a stand still and feel a rush of torque, and shift at just 3k and still be pulling like a tractor. I would like a Yamaha FJR1300 eventually, but it'll have to share a stall with my Meanie...she's not going anywhere!

The FJR 1300 is a nice bike at a great price.


Tom

BudmanTom wrote: The FJR 1300 is a nice bike at a great price.

No doubt...but I couldn't deal with the wait!