Honda VT 1300 CX FURY 2011 — Specifications

You sometimes wonder what Honda is producing in its design offices? When they released this VT 1300 CX Fury in 2011, they clearly decided to play in the big leagues, the realm of American choppers. It’s far removed from the usual Japanese rationality. With its 1312 cc V-twin, its aircraft carrier appearance, and a wheelbase of over 1.8 meters, this machine is a stylistic declaration of war. It’s a bold gamble for the manufacturer, who wants to prove that it can do pure American style, but with Japanese reliability and engineering in its belly.

The engine is a mechanical curiosity. A 52° V-twin with three valves per cylinder, a configuration that seeks to combine simplicity and efficiency. It delivers 56 horsepower and a torque of nearly 107 Nm from 2250 rpm, figures that speak more of muscular sensation than explosive performance. On the road, this translates to slow and constant propulsion, a deep rumble that wants to imitate the sound of air-cooled twins, even if the well-integrated liquid radiator subtly recalls its origins. Shaft drive transmission adds to this feeling of robustness and tranquility, ideal for long, straight roads.

But the real subject here is style. The Fury is a rolling sculpture. The line is radical: a minimalist front with a 21-inch rim, a stretched fork, and a massive rear end carrying a 200-width tire on an 18-inch rim. The visual balance is masterful. Honda worked the details, hiding the cables, integrating the shaft drive into the swingarm. However, some chrome elements have a plastic feel that clashes with the machine’s premium ambition. This is the point where the homage to the traditional chopper meets the limits of the Japanese industrial process.

Compared to a Harley-Davidson Softail of the same era, the Fury positions itself as a technological alternative. It offers a similar, sometimes even more extreme, aesthetic, but with the promise of less capricious maintenance and superior reliability. For 14990 euros at the time, it was an interesting proposition for those who wanted the look of a custom chopper without the associated worries. Today, searching for a used Honda VT 1300 CX Fury can be a judicious choice for a globetrotter who prioritizes style and peace of mind on the road. It will never be a cornering machine, with its weight of 303 kg and a rake angle of 38°, but for riding straight and impressing in parking lots, it does its job with a certain authority.

Ultimately, the VT 1300 CX Fury remains a fascinating object in Honda’s history. It proves that the manufacturer can step outside its comfort zone and create a machine with a strong personality. It is not suitable for the track rider or beginner, but for the enthusiast of stylish big machines who wants a credible and reliable alternative to American products, it has marked its territory. Considering a used Honda VT 1300 CX Fury today is a way to acquire a piece of this history, a motorcycle that wanted to challenge the establishment on its own terms.