2014 HONDA CTX1300
FIRST RIDE
P42
for the CTX, including heated
grips, a centerstand, an acces-
sory socket for GPS (there's no
trip computer included) or phone
charging, an 11.8-gallon color
matched rear trunk, a luggage
rack, LED fog lights and various
chrome trim items. Included in
this is a taller 15-inch high wind-
screen, and fitting that – it's a
matter of 10 minutes to swap be-
tween the two, say Honda staff
– does give better overall pro-
tection, but only at the expense
of restoring that turbulence to a
5'11" rider's helmet. So long as
it's an option, Honda should offer
this screen in a variety of heights
– well, two at least.
But fitting it doesn't detract
from the CTX1300's handsome
looks, which also incorporate a
four-lamp LED headlight—used
for the first time on any Honda
motorcycle - with accent lighting.
But at the end of the day the
star of the show is that lovely
V-four engine, with its liquid-
smooth power delivery at all
revs thanks to its twin counter-
balancers and 90-degree format
removing all primary and even
secondary vibration. The ultra-
precise EFI mapping plays a key
role in making what is undeniably
a long, heavy bike seem so unin-
timidating and easy to ride. The
bike pulls silkily away with zero
snatch from as low as 2300 rpm,
and accelerates forcefully yet
with complete linearity up to the
6900 rpm redline, and onwards
to the 7900 rpm rev-limiter - if you
really insist.
But it's not that kind of bike,
and riding the smoothly delivered
torque is the way to go, which
effectively makes use of the
clean-shifting gearbox pretty re-
dundant. Once the show's on the
road, third and fourth gears are
The bike is available in two
versions – Standard and Deluxe.
The Deluxe model gets ABS and
costs $17,499 vs. $15,999 for the
non-ABS base model.
