Honda Vtx 1800 F Service Manual

							42Instruments & Controls
04/08/11 14:30:31 31MCH630_051 
						

							

43
Bef ore Riding
Before Riding
Bef ore each ride, you need to make sure
you and your Honda are both ready to ride.
To help get you prepared, this section
discusses how to evaluate your riding
readiness, what items you should check on
your motorcycle, and adjustments to make
f or your comf ort, convenience, or saf ety.
This section also includes important
inf ormation about loading.
For inf ormation about adjusting the
suspension on your Honda, see page ...................... AreYouReadytoRide .44
............................. Protective Apparel . 44
................................... Rider Training . 46
... Is Your Motorcycle Ready to Ride . 47
............................ Pre-ride Inspection . 47
..................... Load Limits & Guidelines . 50
.............................................. Loading . 50
....................................... Load Limits . 51
........................... Loading Guidelines . 52
130
04/08/11 14:30:37 31MCH630_052 
						

							44Protective Apparel
Are You Ready to Ride?
Before Riding
Bef ore you ride your motorcycle f or the
f irst time, we urge you to:
Read this owner’s manual.
Make sure you understand all the saf ety
messages.
Know how to operate all the controls.
You f eel well and are in good physical
and mental condition. Before each ride, be sure:If you must carry an extra helmet while
riding, use a commercially-available
elastic cord, strap, or net to secure the
helmet to the seat.
For your saf ety, we strongly recommend
that you always wear an approved
motorcycle helmet, eye protection, boots,
gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved
shirt or jacket whenever you ride.
Although complete protection is not
possible, wearing proper gear can reduce
the chance of injury when you ride.
Following are suggestions to help you
choose the proper gear. Youarewearinganapproved
motorcycle helmet (with chin strap
tightened securely), eye protection, and
other protective clothing.
Make sure your passenger is ready to ride,
too, and is wearing proper gear including a
helmet.You don’t have any alcohol or drugs in
your system.
04/08/11 14:30:47 31MCH630_053 
						

							Not wearing a helmet increases
the chance of serious injury or
death in a crash.
Be sure you and your passenger
always wear a helmet, eye
protection, and other protective
apparel when you ride.
45
Are You Ready to Ride?
Before Riding
(cont’d) Helmets and Eye Protection
Your helmet is your most important piece
of riding gear because it of f ers the best
protection against head injuries. A helmet
should f it your head comf ortably and
securely. A bright-colored helmet and
ref lective strips can make you more
noticeable in traffic.
An open-f ace helmet of f ers some
protection, but a f ull-f ace helmet of f ers
more. Regardless of the style, look f or a
DOT (Department of Transportation)
sticker in any helmet you buy (USA only).
Always wear a f ace shield or goggles to
protect your eyes and help your vision.
Leather gloves to help protect your
hands. Sturdy boots with non-slip soles to help
protect your f eet and ankles. In addition to a helmet and eye protection,
we also recommend: Additional Riding Gear
04/08/11 14:30:57 31MCH630_054 
						

							46Rider Training
Are You Ready to Ride?
Before Riding
Riding Tips A motorcycle riding suit or jacket for
comf ort as well as protection.
Bright-colored and ref lective clothing
can help make you more noticeable in
traf f ic. Avoid loose clothes that could
get caught on any part of your
motorcycle.
Developing your riding skills is an on-
going process. Even if you have ridden
other motorcycles, take time to become
f amiliar with how this motorcycle works
and handles. Practice riding the
motorcycle in a saf e area to build your
skills. Do not ride in traf f ic until you get
accustomed to the motorcycle’s controls,
and feel comfortable with its size and
weight.We urge all riders to take a certif ied
course approved by the Motorcycle Saf ety
Foundation (MSF). New riders should
start with the basic course, and even
experienced riders will find the advanced
course benef icial. For inf ormation about
the MSF training course nearest you, call
the national toll-f ree number: (800) 446-
9227.
Other riding tips can be f ound in the
booklet that came with your
motorcycle (USA only).
04/08/11 14:31:03 31MCH630_055 
						

							Improperly maintaining this
motorcycle or failing to correct a
problem before riding can cause a
crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always perform a pre-ride
inspection before every ride and
correct any problems.
47 Pre-ride InspectionBefore Riding
Is Your Motorcycle Ready to Ride?
Tires
&
Wheels Check the f ollowing items bef ore you get
on the motorcycle: Before each ride, it’s important to inspect
your motorcycle and make sure any
problem you f ind is corrected. A pre-ride
inspection is a must, not only f or saf ety,
but because having a breakdown, or even
a flat tire, can be a major inconvenience.
(cont’d) Look at the tires. If a tire
appears low, use an air pressure
gauge to check its pressure. Also
look f or signs of excessive wear
(page ) or damage to the
tires and wheels.139
04/08/11 14:31:10 31MCH630_056 
						

							48
Is Your Motorcycle Ready to Ride?
Before Riding
Leaks,
Loose
Parts
LightsLoad Limits
Cargo
Adjustments Walk around your motorcycle
and look f or anything that
appears unusual, such as a leak
or loose cable.
Make sure the headlight,
brake light, taillight, and
turn signals are working
properly.If you are carrying a passenger or cargo,
also check the following:
Make sure you do not
exceed the load limits
(page ).
Check that all cargo is
secure.
Adjust the rear suspension
(page ) according to
your load.51
130
04/08/11 14:31:20 31MCH630_057 
						

							49
Is Your Motorcycle Ready to Ride?
Before Riding
Periodic Maintenance Throttle
Brakes
IndicatorsIf you haven’t ridden the motorcycle in
over a week, you should also check other
items, such as the oil level and other f luids.
See (page ).
Periodic maintenance should also be done
at least once a month, no matter how of ten
you ride.
Remember, be sure to take care of any
problem you f ind, or have your Honda
dealer correct it before you ride. Check these items after you get on the
motorcycle:
Rotate the throttle to check
it moves smoothly without
binding.
Pull the brake lever
and press on the brake
pedal to check that
they operate normally.
Turn the ignition on and
check f or normal operation
of the indicators (page ).1876
04/08/11 14:31:29 31MCH630_058 
						

							Overloading or improper loading
can cause a crash and you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this manual.
50Loading
Load Limits & Guidelines
Before Riding
Your motorcycle has been designed to
carry you and one passenger. When you
carry a passenger, you may f eel some
dif f erence during acceleration and braking.
But so long as you keep your motorcycle
well-maintained, with good tires and
brakes, you can saf ely carry loads within
the given limits and guidelines.How much weight you put on your
motorcycle, and how you load it, are
important to your saf ety. Anytime you
ride with a passenger or cargo, you should
be aware of the f ollowing inf ormation.
However, exceeding the weight limit or
carrying an unbalanced load can seriously
impair your motorcycle’s handling,
braking, and stability. Non-Honda
accessories, improper modifications, and
poor maintenance can also reduce your
saf ety margin.
04/08/11 14:31:35 31MCH630_059 
						

							401 lbs (182 kg)
403 lbs (183 kg)
410 lbs (186 kg)
412 lbs (187 kg)
40 lbs (18 kg)(Canada only)
(Canada only) …VTX1800F
…VTX1800C
…VTX1800F
…VTX1800C
51 Load Limits
Load Limits & Guidelines
Before Riding
maximum weight capacity:
maximum cargo weight: Following are the load limits f or your
motorcycle:
includes the weight of the rider,
passenger, all cargo, and all accessories.The weight of added accessories will
reduce the maximum cargo weight you
can carry.
04/08/11 14:31:43 31MCH630_060