Alright let’s dive into my latest project with the big boy, that trusty Honda VTX. Gotta squeeze some more fun outta this machine, you know?
Starting Simple: Airflow is Key
First thing I tackled was letting her breathe better. That stock air intake? Total chokehold. Swapped it out for a high-flow setup – basically just a bigger, less restrictive filter housing. Took maybe an hour fiddling around in the garage, gotta watch those vacuum lines though, they’re sneaky buggers.
Then came the exhaust. Those factory pipes are way too quiet and choked up. Ordered a set of slip-ons – decent rumble but not obnoxious. Installation was mostly unbolting the old clamps, wrestling the old pipes off (some heat shield clips were stubborn!), lining up the new ones. Used extra gaskets for good measure – hate leaks!
Making Sense of the Mix
Now, after opening up the intake and exhaust? My bike sounded meaner for sure, but it felt kinda sluggish low down. Needed fuel adjustments, simple as that. Two paths:
- That “Power Commander” Thing Everyone Talks About: Looked it up online. Seems fine, plugs into the factory brain box. Kinda pricey though.
- DynaJet Kit: Went old school instead. Popped off the carbs (carefully! Dropped one once, nightmare). Installed bigger main jets, tweaked the needle positions a couple shims up for midrange. Messier job, carb cleaner smell everywhere, but felt more hands-on.
Chose the DynaJet route this time. Figured it was cheaper and lets me learn the carbs better. Reassembled everything, double-checked my throttle cables weren’t binding.
Spinning it Up!
Fire up time! Nervous moment turning that key… Started right up, that exhaust note definitely deeper now. Let it warm up good.
Took it on the backroads:
- Bottom End: Felt smoother pulling away from stops, less hesitation.
- Mid-Range Punch: Huge difference! Crack the throttle around 3-4k RPM? Whoa, shoves you back much harder. Big grin moment.
- Top End: Felt strong, just keeps pulling cleaner.
Ran hotter than usual though – gotta keep an eye on that coolant temp now.
The Payoff & Reality
So, for basic cheap grins? Intake, exhaust, and jetting worked like a charm. Didn’t break the bank, made a real noticeable seat-of-the-pants difference in the powerband I use most.
But… It’s Not Magic: This is fiddling, not doubling your horsepower. It’s about shifting where the power feels best and making the ride more responsive. Totally worth the greasy knuckles and shop towels for me. Got a few buddies asking how I did it now!
