2014 Honda CTX1300

Blrfl said:
Many V-twin designs make most of their torque at relatively low RPMs and peter out soon after, and most of the cruiser market expects that. A lot of us (myself included) had to get used to the idea that 3K was the beginning of the fun zone on the ST rather than the end. Retune for that and something else has to give.
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+1 All of my bikes have been Hondas except for a Duc 750 Sport. It has always seemed that cruising speed (what ever that was on any Honda) was 4000-4100rpm. That was always a little buzzy even on my GL-77. Maybe a taste lower on my V65 Sabre because of the sixth gear but I don't remember exactly.

What a change when I got my Duc. Low end torque was a whole new experience to me. And cruising? I thinking that it was >3000rpm. It could get quick in almost any gear just with roll on throttle. Red line may have been about 7K and I seldom saw it even in first gear. It got pretty fast at low rpm. And about cruising: the low rpm gave a very relaxed feeling like I had all day to get where ever I was going. Like the bike was telling me "The sooner we get there the sooner the ride is over. Just so ya know". It went as fast as I wanted to go and went when I wanted to. But it never felt like it was pulling at the traces. My V65 was my only Honda that came close to that relaxed feeling.
 
rjs987 said:
Actually there are grab rails on both models. They are not like most grab rails where there is a definite "rail" that is open all around the circumference but more of a moulded handle or deep ridge (more than enough to grab) that is an extension of the tail as it wraps around the seat toward the front.
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Actually, there was a CTX700 sitting next to the CTX1300. The 700 had very visible and physical grab rails bolted in place. The 1300 had the "placeholder" plugs in place ...
It would be a matter of removing those plugs and bolting on the grab rails. I've done a Google Image search and can't find one !
 
I sat on a blue CTX1300 yesterday in the dealer showroom (Salem Oregon).

I came from a cruiser (Nomad) and am now a believer that the Sport Touring neutral riding position is better for me . More comfortable, less fatiguing, easier to see/safer , and I can stand up on the pegs without as much effort. I love my ST and will keep it until Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Suzuki come up with an ST that is not cramped (for me), has self cancelling signals, and has factory cruise control. I also love the FJR and Concours but each are missing at least one of my requirements.

Is the Sport Touring segment growing or shrinking? Not many conversions from Cruiser to ST, I think one of the issues is to really appreciate any brand ST you need to ride it for a full day to appreciate the benefits vs. a cruiser. That does not happen at a demo day. As the case with many bikes (unfortunately) of all styles if you ride all day you need it dialed in for you (riser, seat, etc.).

It would be interesting to know the % of cruiser to ST converts and % of ST converts to cruiser. I can see rider height as a reason to switch from ST to cruiser but not much else. IMHO.
 
caldercay said:
Actually, there was a CTX700 sitting next to the CTX1300. The 700 had very visible and physical grab rails bolted in place. The 1300 had the "placeholder" plugs in place ...
It would be a matter of removing those plugs and bolting on the grab rails. I've done a Google Image search and can't find one !
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You'll have to do a lot more research then. Those "place holders" are on top of the grab "rails" on the CTX1300 and are simply covers for the bolt holes for the rear luggage rack only. There are no other grab rails as an option nor are they needed. Both the Standard and the Deluxe are the same. The grab rails are moulded into the tail piece and may look like just body work but they are indeed good grab rails. They're just not open all around like the ST or CTX700 rails but work fine, I tried them when I was sitting on the CTX1300. In this photo the model's left hand (with bracelet) is resting on top of the grab rail.

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BakerBoy said:
There's a grabrail in that picture?!
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Yes, but as I said it's not like typical grab rails on most bikes that have a separate *handle* bolted on. This is moulded into the bodywork. Need to sit on it in person to know. Also need to look beyond the model to see :grin:
 
The all around best riding position I've ever had on a bike before was on the GW ('90 GL1500). The ST is at the edge of the limit toward sport for me. I had a cruiser (Vulcan 750) 12 years ago and that was really bad for me, same as when I sat on a full on sport bike but in the opposite direction. The riding position on the CTX1300 is almost same as the GW... about 4" different in the pegs in reference to the seat. The ST is about 7" back from the GW. True cruisers, the ones with foot forward controls, are about 12" forward from the CTX or about 16" forward of the GW. BTW- the CTX700 *is* a foot forward cruiser style bike.
(as you can tell I have been looking into this... a lot).
 
rjs987 said:
You'll have to do a lot more research then. Those "place holders" are on top of the grab "rails" on the CTX1300 and are simply covers for the bolt holes for the rear luggage rack only. There are no other grab rails as an option nor are they needed. Both the Standard and the Deluxe are the same. The grab rails are moulded into the tail piece and may look like just body work but they are indeed good grab rails. They're just not open all around like the ST or CTX700 rails but work fine, I tried them when I was sitting on the CTX1300. In this photo the model's left hand (with bracelet) is resting on top of the grab rail.
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Thanks for the clarification. When I was looking at the 700 and then the 1300, and inquired about the "missing" grab rail (and yet the 700 had them), the "salesperson" said he didn't understand why they aren't included either ... but were an option.

So it seems that after browsing in dealerships for 40 years, I still can't trust a salesperson.
 
Just saw my first CTX "in the flesh" a few days ago, in the dealer showroom as I was picking up a new helmet. My God, what an ugly, massive looking bit of bodywork in front of you as you sit on the thing! Pictures I had seen so far did not really show how grotesque that was! Then there's the WIDE tiller type handlebar - ugh! Then there's the cylinder heads sitting exposed and right in front of where your legs will sit, roasting the hell out of one's legs, I would think.

Honda is losing it's way, in my opinion, focussing, it seems, on pursuing the cruiser crowd that is so prevalent in North America. This thing can only be described as a bagger and is destined to be found parked beside rows of Harleys at your local Starbucks!

Every year I cherish my ST1100 more.
 
So yesterday was my dealer's open house.....rode the CTX1300....only about 20 miles.....had different shield on it....about16-18 inches tall with two slots down low....adequate wind protection.....didn't feel heat on the legs.....tiller bars come too close....make me lean back....between that and the forward and high footrests put a lot of strain on my back.....seat was comfortable.....(won't fit on an ST1300-I asked).....has noticeably less power.....ran it through the gears like I normally do on my ST.....hit the sweet spot (where everything just feels good)......looked down at the speedo and was surprised it only read 62 mph.....it'd keep me from speeding I guess.....felt light, low CG, of course the whole riding position is lower.....forks a little mushy over stutter bumps.....rear seemed OK.....tiller bars just feel weird to me.......overall not impressed......not my kind of ride.....ff
 
flyfisher said:
[snipped]
...has noticeably less power.. [snipped]
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Understandably, considering the HP rating, but with torque spec adjusted per "what you expect a bagger to have". So, low-end grunt, but nothing on the top.

This bike was designed explicitly to mimic loping twins with a low seating position.
 
caldercay said:
This bike was designed explicitly to mimic loping twins with a low seating position.
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You're welcome to defend it all you want....I just gave my impression of the bike....and the "power what you expect a bagger to have" is BS.....much less power than the ST....from the same engine...not a giant step forward by along shot............MY impression......not my kind of bike.......ride safe, ride well...(BTW, out of respect for my dealer's new bike I didn't drag anything, but I sure could have.....doesn't corner like kind of bike I ride.........................ff
 
flyfisher said:
You're welcome to defend it all you want....I just gave my impression of the bike....and the "power what you expect a bagger to have" is BS.
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My definition of bagger is obviously is different than yours :)
Yes, the CTX is a bike with saddlebags, but I'm thinking bagger as a "soft" bag version of a bike, for example, a Harley.
So, yes, via my definition, the CTX will have similar [HP \ torque profile] to a Harley. And I wasn't defending the CTX, but comparing it to a Harley "type" of bike.

I don't see myself adding a CTX to my stable - conversely, I'm looking to add a VFR1200.
 
caldercay said:
but comparing it to a Harley "type" of bike.
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I'd be all for it being like a V-Rod "Harley type of bike".........vfr1200s are nice, but poor tire and gas mileage.....not that that's much different from anything else out there............ride safe....................ff
 
Bush said:
Just saw my first CTX "in the flesh" a few days ago, in the dealer showroom as I was picking up a new helmet. My God, what an ugly, massive looking bit of bodywork in front of you as you sit on the thing! Pictures I had seen so far did not really show how grotesque that was! Then there's the WIDE tiller type handlebar - ugh! Then there's the cylinder heads sitting exposed and right in front of where your legs will sit, roasting the hell out of one's legs, I would think.

Honda is losing it's way, in my opinion, focussing, it seems, on pursuing the cruiser crowd that is so prevalent in North America. This thing can only be described as a bagger and is destined to be found parked beside rows of Harleys at your local Starbucks!

Every year I cherish my ST1100 more.
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There is absolutely no heat coming off the engine or exhausts that I can feel. Same could not be said for the ST1300.

That massive bit of bodywork in front of you is not much different from the ST1300, either. After just a few hours behind it, it all seems pretty normal, certainly less than that of any full tourer.

Everything else here is purely subjective. but remember, this is not intended to be the next ST. It is not a sport tourer by any stretch, so it's obviously not going to appeal to the sport tourer crowd.

Conversely, the ST didn't float my boat. I rode it for a year and couldn't stand the riding position and it's top-heaviness. But I didn't come in here squawking about what a monumental pile of junk it is. Quite the opposite, in fact -- I admire it for what it is, even among other bikes in that class -- a class that in the whole of motorcycling is relatively miniscule, I might add.

You guys who don't like the new CTX for yourselves, that's great -- no bike is built for everybody. But I'd really appreciate it if you people would quit pissing all over it and Honda just because it isn't something you'd put in your garage. Then again, I don't really give a good runny crap what anybody else thinks. Somebody else started this thread, not me; I bought this bike because it's the bike that I want, so I figured I'd offer an honest, hands-on opinion about it. Honda discontinued your bike; my heart bleeds for ya.
 
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