Honda motorcycles are known for many things: reliability, everyday usability, and smooth performance, but not aggressively designed V-twin cruisers. Or that’s what you’d think if you don’t look well enough at the company’s lineup. In fact, Honda has made some incredible V-twin cruisers in the past, including the VTX 1800, Shadow Spirit, and Shadow Phantom.
Out of these V-twin cruisers, one bike stands out the best: the Honda Fury, a thoroughly aggressive chopper that does not compromise on looks. The best part is that this age-old motorcycle is still on sale and remains relevant even today. If you’re in the market for an aggressive V-twin cruiser unlike any other without sacrificing Honda reliability, nothing will beat the Honda Fury. Here’s why.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Honda Powersports.
The Honda Fury Is The Most Aggressive V-Twin-powered Cruiser From Honda
Starting Price: $11,499
The Honda Fury strikes two birds with one stone, offering a dramatic chopper design along with a decently powerful V-twin engine. It’s easily the closest thing you can get to a custom chopper without resorting to giving big money to a custom shop. It features a raked-out front end, open chassis, large front wheel, a thick rear tire, and a low, long stance. Within this design sits a big V-twin engine, which may not blow you away with its performance, but is still usable for weekend cruises. Not to forget, it’s a V-twin that will outlast any of its rivals.
This design is also the most aggressive in Honda’s lineup of cruisers, closely followed by the Shadow Phantom. The latter is another custom-style cruiser that features a V-twin engine, but it doesn’t look nearly as custom as the Fury. Instead, it seems like it’s designed to steal customers from the Harley-Davidson Sportster. Meanwhile, the Shadow Aero, with its old-school cruiser design, is anything but aggressive (though still pretty). The Rebel line does come across as aggressive, but it lacks the V-twin experience.
A Bold Design That Stays True To Dramatic Chopper Design Traditions
The chopper design stems from the post-World War II bobber trend, taking the design to an extreme. They’ve always been design-first motorcycles, and the Fury stays true to that tradition. It features a sweeping flyline with a raked-out front end, an elongated fuel tank, and a large V-twin engine. It is complemented by a large 21-inch front wheel at the front and an ultra-wide 200-series rear tire, along with a two-on-two chrome exhaust. Take it anywhere on the road, and it’s bound to steal a lot of attention with its aggressive stance.
The Honda Fury is also a relatively blank canvas motorcycle, given its minimalist take on the chopper design and limited color options. Honda offers the Fury in only one color option, Adventure Green, which challenges you to give it a custom candy paint. Add to that some more chopper touches, like a sissybar and colorful seat leather and complementary handlebar grips, and the Fury will look like it’s born in a custom shop, not a factory.
Design Highlights
- Raked-out front-end with beefy forks creates a low, long, and lean look
- The 3.4-gallon fuel tank is slim and long, mounted high on the frame for a proper custom look
- The radiator is subtly mounted to accent the bike’s clean lines
- You can easily remove the passenger seat and pegs for a clean, solo look
Big-Twin Experience With Honda Reliability And A Maintenance-Free Shaft Drive
Power Output: 57 HP
The aggressive stance is nothing without a characterful engine, and nothing beats a throbbing V-twin here, which the Fury gets right. It features a large 52-degree V-twin engine that prioritizes a torquey power delivery. The engine features a single-pin crankshaft that is said to give it a power pulse sensation, while dual counter-balancers curb its primary vibrations. Honda says it has managed to strike a balance between a true V-twin character and everyday practicality and reliability.
The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which Honda claims provides the bike with exciting roll-on acceleration and easy highway cruising capabilities. The transmission is connected to a neatly tucked final shaft drive, which delivers smooth power without the stress of cleaning the chain every other week. According to the company, even the exhaust is tuned for a throaty exhaust note, which should complement the bike’s aggressive design.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
52-degree V-twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
1,312cc |
|
Compression Ratio |
9.2:1 |
|
Valve Train |
SOHC, three valves per cylinder |
|
Torque Output |
79 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
Five-speed manual |
|
Final Drive |
Shaft |
Responsive Handling Paired With Suspension Tuned For A Plush Ride
Frame Type: High-Tensile Steel
The more you prioritize design, the less comfortable a motorcycle is bound to get. That was the case with choppers, but not the Honda Fury. Instead, the company has focused on giving the Fury a more everyday-friendly ergonomics that balances comfort without compromising on its chopper feel. As such, it features a laid-back riding triangle that is said to be comfortable on city roads and highway cruises.
What should make the Fury even more comfortable are its underpinnings. For instance, the high-tensile steel frame, while serving as an aesthetic foundation, is said to offer a responsive and smooth ride quality. The frame is paired with a beefy 45 mm extended front fork and a rear monoshock that is tuned for a plush ride with enough travel to soak up road bumps. You can even fine-tune the rear monoshock’s preload and rebound damping for added comfort.
|
Rake |
32 degrees |
|---|---|
|
Trail |
3.6 in. |
|
Wheelbase |
71 in. |
|
Seat Height |
26.7 in. |
|
Front Suspension |
45mm fork, 5.1 in. travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
Single shock, 3.7 in. travel |
|
Curb Weight |
675 LBS |
Closest Thing To a Chopper You Can Buy From A Dealership
Nothing comes close to the Honda Fury when it comes to custom chopper style, and the only one that comes close is the Harley-Davidson Breakout. It’s a head-turning custom-style chopper, with a raked-out front-end, 21-inch front wheel, an ultra-wide rear tire, and a powerful M8 117 V-twin. Unfortunately, it’s still a Softail cruiser and doesn’t commit as hard to the chopper aesthetic as the Fury.
Other chopper rivals of the Honda Fury live in classifieds and custom shops. The former includes old cruisers chopped up and customized into choppers, and reliability and custom quality with such models is hit or miss. Meanwhile, pure custom choppers, as good as they are, are also ridiculously expensive and eat away your bank balance for breakfast. That’s why the Fury stands out, not only as the most aggressive V-twin-powered Honda cruiser but as a one-of-a-kind chopper that’s a classic in the making.
