I made this video for people who are interested in owning one of these bikes, if you have any questions please leave it in the comment section below. Thanks for watching!
Just so everyone knows you can pop start the CTX700D. I wound up with a low battery because I didn’t leave it on trickle charge all winter. I was at a park and I shut the bike down to talk for a few minutes after riding for about a half hour. When I went to start it up there was not enough juice to start. There was a nice, gradual hill ahead of me so I turned off the key and started to roll down the hill. When I got up to about 10-15 mph I turned the key on and let it run in neutral for a few seconds and then put it in drive. It started right up. So it’s the same principal as a manual but you need a little more speed before you put it in drive. Also, make sure your key is OFF when you are building up speed.
I really like the look of this bike especially, especially, with the front fairing on it. I just bought a Honda SilverWing which is automatic and I really like not having to shift the gears manually, one less thing to think about while I learn to ride. I been thinking about upgrading to this very bike in a year or so but my SilverWing is such a nice little ride that it will be hard to let go of. That CTX is absolutely beautiful though! Especially with the fairing, IMO.
I have a 2018 and it’s a superbly balanced and nimble ride. The gas tank is down low even though it looks like it’s near the filler neck. This helps majorly with balance. I went from a 250cc scooter to this bike the very first ride at the dealership. Very happy with it.
That is a NOICE set up there! Corbin seats are 2nd to none! I want a bike set up exactly like that one, only in the full fairing version. That WILL be my next motorcycle. My wife rides with me most of the time and now living in town, I really want the automatic transmission feature. Shifting is fine, out on backroads. First time in town going down "the strip" in a tourist town.....................shifting 100 times in 10 min SUCKS! lol Great vid! Very thorough.
This is great video, and super informative. Much appreciated. Regarding the small fuel tank, and concerns of being stuck in BFE without gas. This is probably to little too late, but I would think a 32oz can of VP Fix-it Fuel with Mechanic In-A-Bottle might come in handy. Home Depot and other chains carry it. It's sold in a sturdy metal bottle, doesn't seem to expand when air temperatures get warm. I use it to flush out my lawn mower after sitting over the winter. Assume it's okay to use on a motorcycle (not sure of that). It would be easy to stow away as a 1/4 gallon reserve.
Great bike. I have a 15 dct fairing model. Penske rear shock and a race tech forks kit makes the bike a keeper ! Mid pegs and every option one can think of. Make this my favorite do it all bike. 53 yrs riding all bikes.
Nice review, nice bike. Thanks for making this effort. I got a used 2014 last fall, and really love it. It's one of those models that got bad "looks" and "not cool factor" reviews from the riding community, so as you say, it didn't sell well. The reality is that it's a handsome bike that has great quality and economy. If you want to make the scene, get a sport bike, cafe racer, or hog. If you want to ride a motorcycle for the joy of riding without breaking the bank, this bike is the lost gem of motorcycling.
@@kyleweber4543 Or revive it. Sometimes a product is just a bit early, and comes back to market successfully a second time. Ride safe, and thanks again for the fine video.
This is a fantastic bike and your video motivated me to buy it 4 years ago. After 40k miles I want to add to your review that the stock wheel bearings fail way earlier than they should and that's the only negative I could find. Valves, coolant, air filter can be a problem because of the fairings that need to be removed but once you get used to it it's not that hard.
The CBR900RR ('96-'97) remote reservoir shock bolts right in. It's a tad longer (at ~307mm) so there is near an inch more rear travel. Damping is adjustable as is the spring. Much superior ride for little money, as they are available on Ebay.
I got a height adjustable shock from YSS which i ordered online from an international seller for much less than other “new” options. They even sell a variety of springs for their shock. So much better than stock..
I too have the 2014 CTX700 DCT and LOVE IT! I bought it used 5 years ago. I added Honda Bags and the short backrest and back rack. I added an aftermarket windscreen tinted that does the trick, not great, but only $40. Mine is all black also. I only ride it in the manual mode. There really is no reason in my opinion to ride in full auto. I also own and ride regualry a 2007 Yamaha Majesty 400. For super long rides....I prefer the Yamaha. It's a "LazyBoy Recliner" on wheels and gets 74 mpg!!! Plus has trunk space under the seat for 2 full-face helmets and more! BUT I love my CTX!
Also, I'm with you on the tire life. I once when with Continental tires and the mech that went to put them on warned me, that you are not gonna be able to carve well becuz they slide... My reply was "I don't carve"... well dumbass mistake because I was sliding all over the place! Won't do that again!
I have the ctx700 in the "D" variant....with a fairing. I don't seem to have the air flow at the forks. Maybe something to look for when replacing this one.
I own a 2014 CTX700 DCT and LOVE IT! Sold a long owned 2009 Triumph Bonnie for this one. I was with you all the way until the comments about the wiring harness for the "auto"... - LIKE WHAT? Really?? Not sure you know what you're talking about on this point, nor is it a point at all... I have a load of electronics mounted on my bike and all run and does the bike to perfection. Cheers!
My father had an NC700 standard trans, when we pulled the side covers off both of the bikes there where significantly more wires in the harness of my ctx700 dual clutch. Just makes things more complex when you have all of the extra switches on the handlebars and a computer shifting the bike instead of the rider, and the wires for the anti-lock breaking system. I believe the charging system on these bikes produce around 450 watts at 5,500 rpm, so i'm certain it produces less at lower rpm. If you factor in the power draw from the lights, gauge cluster, computer, fuel pump, fuel injectors, and the power needed to charge the battery there isn't a whole lot left to spare. I remember I wanted to add auxiliary headlights to my bike but decided against it because of all of these factors. Plus with the DCT it is impossible to push start the bike if the battery is low. It's just not a good idea to put a lot of stress on the charging system of any vehicle, especially a motorcycle with a smaller engine.
Great review! I've had a '22 Rebel 1100D since October and while it's enjoyable to ride as my first bike, I'm starting to think I should have waited for a CTX700 to become available.
Hi, I may have missed it in comments, but can you tell me the name/brand of the engine guards/crash bars? I dropped mine and got my foot pinned (all ok) underneath when my foot boards folded under. Also LOVE the saddle bags. They look great! Did you use the saddle bag mounting brackets from Honda or Shad? Did the mounting brackets for the CTX come with your cases from Shad? Trying to get mine dressed up (really just tired of not having a place to put my stuff) and could use some advise! Thanks, Kathy
Yeah all the mounting brackets are from Shad, I honestly don't remember what brand the engine guards are but if you do a Google search I'm sure you will find them. Take care!!!
Great Video! I am wanting to buy a Honda CTX 700 soon and Because of my height of 6’4” i definitely want to get the highway pegs & engine guard/ crash bar which will make riding easier for me. I haven’t been able to find where Honda sells them, if they even sell them at all. Where did you get them for your CTX 700?
A good quality chain should last quite a while, 10,000 miles ish?? But for long trips it's still a bummer to bring all the tools along just in case it requires an adjustment.
Hi, Great video. I have a CTX700 and I was just wondering if you had to get a power commander or booster plug in order to enrichen the air-fuel mixture after putting on the new exhaust? The reason I ask is because I just got a Coffman shorty exhaust and I do notice some popping when Engine braking. Thank you!
Nice review and I agree the engine is bullet proof. I have a 2014 faring model with 7 inch touring windscreen and it eliminates almost all wind buffeting and extremely beneficial in the rain. I also put on barkbusters hand guards which keeps my hands toasty and relatively dry. I tried the DCT but went with the manual because, like you said, it feels like the DCT shifts too early and I like to down shift and use engine braking. I really like the bike (performance/price point/cost of ownership) but it appears Honda killed it in favor of a rumored Africa Twin engine on a redesigned Deauville, something like a NT1100V and NT750V with shaft drive and optional DCT. Of course these bikes will drive the price into the $10K+ range which defeats the purpose of the CTX. I'm not sure what Honda is thinking.
I have a 2015 faired model. It does not have the buffeting coming up the forks. With the Madstad windshield it is pretty quiet. All wind is at the top of my helmet and higher.
I have the same shield and do not use it due to wind turbulence on my helmet. Which is amplified with prescription glasses. 🧠 14,000 miles the bike averaged 67.007 mpg. Most of that I was driving 65-70 mph hiway. It's a 'standard' bike and does that job very well. WishI had someplace to stash helmet, jacket and groceries.
Nice Bike Kyle! I own one myself and am having a ball. Quick question: Could you please provide a link on where you purchased the engine guard? Thank you much.
Hello. So I own the same bike but mine is the full fairing'd model and was wondering what brand that front bar is and where you bought it? It' looks really nice.
I put one of their windshields on my fairinged ctx700s and the bike was unrideable at above 60 due to buffeting and helmet vibrations. I still have the windshield in my garage.
My 2015 ctx700 d doesn't wind buffer. I have a vtx1800c and I brought the windshield down closer to the tank and it stopped buffering. Looks like your windshield is too high.
How do you like the Corbin seat? I have this same bike and really like it, but the stock seat gets uncomfortable after a while. Due to the cheaper suspension not absorbing much, I keep thinking that an upgraded seat would help with that. Thoughts?
The Corbin seat is very nice and fits your body will do distribute the load evenly but the foam in the seat is very firm so keep that in mind. I personally like the Corbin seat very much but there are a couple different companies that make custom seats. I know I've heard great things about Russel Day Long seats but I've never tried one.
I'm wondering if the fairing model would help with the wind buffeting. I've been looking at the 700 and the 1300. I think the size and economy of the 700 is more of what I want. What MPG does your 1300 get? Thanks for the review.
-> Thank you for this very informative video. I have been looking for years for a motorcycle that is AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE but comfortable for long distance as the Goldwing, is that one the closest choice ??
It's a good choice but there are so many options out there for bikes it's hard to say, this bike fits shorter people the best because of its low seat and forward pegs.
Just purchased a 2014 and was looking at a little bit louder of exhaust and seen you were not sporting the OEM muffler did you have any sort of back pressure issues or idling?
i like your video. i have the manual one and i just got the touring seat ordered last week. I’m 6’2. I’m just curious about the seat. do you still like it? What do think about the seat after doing a long trip?
I had to replace the stock seat, as it was a painful ride after about 20 minutes. The Corbin custom seat is amazing and I can ride for hours pain free. 👍
Do you feel like the version with the factory fairing would have less buffeting? Or do you think it would be comparable to yours with the windshield? What brand center stand did you buy/install (is it Honda brand or aftermarket)? I’m looking at a 2014 with the manual transmission and it has the Shad bags, rear rack and a windshield, but it is the N (naked) version like you have.
HI Kyle, not sure if you mentioned that your wife rides as a passenger on your CTX700, because you mentioned something about doing long trips with her, at around 1:12
So my buddy has a bike he’s telling me there’s way to much power behind this bike for it to be a good beginner bike. That true is it a little to powerful or would i be alright for never riding a bike in my life.
I think this is a great beginner bike, It's only about 40 HP which is enough to move along but it's not a fast bike. It's very beginner friendly, handles nice and easy, it is a bit heavy but the center of gravity is very low and the low seat height makes it easy to control when coming to a stop or starting from a stop. Very well made motorcycle for the money and you won't outgrow it as your skills increase like you would a smaller bike. Take care and thanks for watching!
I just wonder how much of that power is already being used for fuel injectors, lights, DCT transmission, fuel pump, and charging the battery. How much power is it making between the 2000-4000 rpm range? What kind of accessories do you run on you CTX? Is yours a DCT model? Just curious, thanks!
@@kyleweber4543 I've got the 15 naked DCT. Just added the Madstad, working the adjustments., Also rear rack. I bought it used with floorboards and a Corbin already installed. Sadly , even though I've had many bikes with Corbin seats, this one pushes me a bit more forward than is comfy after a while. 32 inseam I'm not sure if the stock seat would be any better. I do like the bike. In my 57th year, I wanted a light weight, easy machine. This one if most definitely that. I usually just ride in sport mode, as it's plenty responsive. There is a lady here on RU-vid with the same bike with fairing with 100,000 miles, she reports trouble free riding. I don't recall her channel.
can you explain the chain maintenance? i am not very mechanical inclined. also can you provide a link to those side bags? did you have to mod the bike to attach them?
chains stretch as they are used, this is normal. It's important to keep the correct adjustment for the chain so it rides on the sprockets properly. There are plenty of videos out there about how to properly adjust a chain so I would suggest you watch of few of them. I purchased the side bags and mounting brackets from Shad USA website.
I am a total beginner with very little experience with motorcycles. I found this bike on a list of automatic motorcycles. The fact that it is an automatic peaked my interest. I am relatively short at 5' 8"would this bike be a good size for someone of my stature?
@@kyleweber4543 thank you so much for the reply. Like you said in your video you "like to research something before you commit to buy it" I am doing the same. Started watching videos on the bike today. Yours was incredibly informative. I like how you covered both the good and the bad. I even watched another video that happened to be yours, it was the "5 things you hate" about the bike. Those are important to know as well, sometimes the negatives are more important to know than the positives.
I'm 5 ft 1 and have a Manuel ctx700. I bought it at 14k. She is solid. My first bike too I was scared at first until I took her on highway 85...man now I drive her.likee she's a scooter. Your 5 8 the back is adjustable.ypull have no problem. But idk I would never get a automatic bike. More fun with manuel
You said that you rode that bike 3 years for 24k miles. If that bike was ridden on a daily basis during spring and summer for everyday activity, would the bike still be running good after 3 years of constant riding? I’m interested in buying one never rode one before I’m just curious
Is this a good starter bike for someone looking to learn how to drive a motorcycle? I'm a big fan of Honda's vehicles and have been looking to branch out into some of their other products. Also, can it adequately carry two people?
@@kyleweber4543 Lovely, I'm a pretty small frame guy and my girlfriend is pretty petite, so that should be perfect. My job requires me to go to different places across the parish a lot and I thought a motorcycle could be a fun way to runabout on pretty days.
@@kyleweber4543 I disagree, but only if you plan on turning motorcycling into a hobby and want to try different bikes. This bike is very unique because of its transmission, and it will hinder the learning of fundamentals on every other motorcycle because you don't have to use three movements to shift.
@@mikelangelo2020 nah, that would be like saying if you don't drive a stick shift car then your hindering the learning experience of learning to drive a car. I think it's a great idea for a beginner to be able to focus on just balancing and cornering without having to worry about shifting, then some day if they want a different bike all they have to do is learn to shift because they already know how to handle a bike.
brought it in to be looked at. Turns out needed new chain. Rides so well now. I would like a better rear shock as mine is still good, but you really feel the potholes and bumps.
"This is great, and it's definitely a motorcycle. People say "aww, come on man, it's a scooter." Nonsense. This is definitely a motorcycle." But scooters are motorcycles. Wikipedia disambiguates motor scooters from other kinds of scooters by using the term "motorcycle." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle) I don't really understand the distinctions. Cruisers, Adventure bikes, sports bikes, minibikes, dirt bikes, etc. are all considered motorcycles without any reservation from anyone. Why aren't scooters? It can't just be the transmission, there are scooters with manual transmissions (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_(scooter)) and motorcycles with automatic.
Thinking of buying this exact bike for Queens to Manhattan commute, to stay out of the plague subway. The automatic is the big selling point, but I'm also a beginner. The bike checks a lot of boxes.
@@dennisjcny this will be the perfect bike for you, just enough power for a beginner but still enough to keep a seasoned rider happy. The handling is great and the bike is lightweight with good gas mileage. The automatic transmission is smooth and responsive. Like the Nike commercial says "just do it".
I looked for months to replace my '08 Shadow Aero, traveling many miles (OK Km's, I'm in Canada, eh) to look at alternatives. Then a '14 CTX, manual, with fairing & ABS! sort of fell into my lap. 6,900 Kms on it, CAN$4,500. It's resting for the winter, so this video came at the right time. I put a much larger windshield on it (Kappa), as well as heated grips, wiring for heated jacket liner, wired up a USB outlet, and the trickle charger pigtail. Now I'm champing at the bit, anxious to start and eager to ride. I'm 73. I'm no novice, but this machine is perfect for a guy my age. Thanks so much for your advice, Kyle.
That seat is a Corbin and I think it cost about $500 so it's not a cheap option. The foam is stiff but offers good support without pressure points so you can stay comfortable for those long days of putting down miles. In my personal opinion it's worth it.
That's how mine came, mine is a CTX700ND (non-fairing/ dual-clutch) I would have preferred the fairing model but this is what was available at the time.
If you go on ebay, look for the center stand from a seller named dirtbike-boy ($132.00) free delivery from China. Or T-Rex Racing $169 plus $19.00 shipping. Other sources too. I got the Chinese one. It is identical to the German Hepco & Becker model (same instructions, same SKU). The German model costs € 239.00 !!
