VOL. 51 ISSUE 13 APRIL 1, 2014 P41
then stow it under the seat which
has room only for that and a U-
lock). But there's good stowage
in the lockable 9.2-gallon side
panniers, which apparently take
10 minutes to remove complete
with frames for a cleaner look
and a slimmer bike for commut-
ing in tighter traffic lanes. But
there are also handy storage
pockets in the fairing to make life
a bit more convenient when the
bags are off.
While capable of encompass-
ing a variety of different uses,
the CTX1300 ticks all the boxes
in terms of riding dynamics; with
the brakes featuring Honda's es-
tablished CBS linked system that
sees the front twin 310mm discs
gripped by three-piston calipers
whose central piston is also op-
erated when you press the rear
315mm disc's pedal. ABS is fit-
ted to the Deluxe model cost-
ing $17,499, vs. $15,999 for the
non-ABS base model.
The Deluxe also includes
switchable single-stage trac-
tion control, electronic self-can-
celling indicators, and an audio
package that includes Bluetooth
connectivity for the first time on
any Honda. This doesn't include
a radio, but it can play audio files
from flash drives and most smart-
phones via a USB connection,
and has three-level speed-sen-
sitive SVC/Sound Volume Com-
pensation that adjusts the volume
based on vehicle speed. It also –
hurray - has a selectable (should
be default!) auto mute feature that
quiets the audio system when
bike speed slows to below 7 mph
and then returns it to the original
setting once it reaches 9 mph.
For an extra $1500 all that
seems hard to pass up, but Hon-
da expects around 30 percent
of CTX1300 sales will be for the
lesser version. Both models are
available in Candy Red, Metallic
Black or Gray Blue Metallic.
The CTX1300's distinctive
bluff-fronted styling bears a fam-
ily resemblance to the six-cylin-
der F6B, with the half-fairing's
vestigial windscreen providing an
unexpected degree of protection
by cleverly ducting airflow over
your shoulders, which practically
eliminates any turbulence.
There's a long list of options
