Honda CTX1300

I am intrigued by the Honda CTX's engine. Anyone owned one of these?
We go over a short history of this model and its predecessor as well as thoughts on other motorcycle engine configurations.
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[@tweak991]

I bought one NEW in 2018. Was always intrigued by it, loved the look but thought it was a little overpriced when it came out. That V4 is smooth as butter and just pulls nice and strong. You're not going to get the same feel as it's 1100-1300CC Sport Touring cousins, but those won't give you the nice low seat and generous passenger accommodations and of course that V4 rumble! I love mine!

[@HooptieDoodle]

The v4 is SUPER cool 😎

[@mikechaplin1566]

I owned one and loved it, and only ended up selling it because I wasn't using it for fun on the weekends, I was using it to commute, which took the fun away and involved traffic. I may buy another one since I am retiring in a few months.

[@HooptieDoodle]

Enjoy your retirement! And thanks for the first hand account of this interesting bike. I have been keeping an eye out for these on the local classifieds and they come up once in a while, but seem to be among the less common models - or perhaps people just hold onto them :)

[@blaineholsonbake3613]

Yep, I have one and love it

[@jimmyvv3925]

The engine's torque comes in very low rpm so if you get in a situation and do not have time to downshift just twist and it snarls as it gets you out of danger. I feel the center of gravity a bit high with the V config. just a bit so I would not say it's all too much a sport tourer. It's just a nice 5 speed. The suspension adjustable in the rear does pass on some chatter. ABS, traction control and blue tooth gets you a few points. The tires wear fast. The side bags do not hold a full helmet. No protection to the panels if you drop the beast even if your not moving it will get broken. The mirror placement are worthless unless you like looking at you hands. Paid 10k for a new deluxe one during the year end purge at a dealer. This is a fine bike overall.

[@ctxrider7585]

Own one and love it! I drove 3 US states to get it- it was a good deal! And rode it back. Worth every second I researched and waited, every bit of effort to find one and every penny! Comfortable, good gas mileage, looks great, and it’s different. I was parking it once and a gentleman left his wife sitting by herself at the table to come out to the parking and ask me “What the heck was it!” 😂

[@HooptieDoodle]

Very cool. Everyone that's had one seems to really enjoy it. They sound like great bikes. I will certainly try to get my hands on one at some point. Thanks for sharing!

[@peem1244]

Hi Dooddle. Started out life as the ST1100 tourer, preferred by many over the later 1300. Cos it's a tourer don't get caught up with horse power, instead check out the torque figures. Smooth easy power and ride all day long. Awesome bike, you got to try one. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and keep up the good work. 👍🖖😎🏍

[@HooptieDoodle]

Thanks for the info 👍. I would definitely like to try one out. They sound great

[@LooxJJ]

I could be wrong but CTX was only made in 1 year - 2014. And Honda discontinued entire "Touring Bike" lines except for Gold Wing. Mid-size touring line was dying market - as folks moved onto Street oriented retro-styled bikes (that can also tour)...such as CB series. Looking forward what else is to come.

[@mikechaplin1566]

The ST1300 was made for many years and had the same engine as this one.

[@singuyen5927]

I'm in the same boat. Looking for a CTX or ST. Prefer the CTX without all the fairings for easier maintenance. We're nearing the end of the riding season, I've seen some last year go for around $3500-$4500.

[@HooptieDoodle]

I saw an ST1100 around here for $1400 that, supposedly, was in good running condition. Very tempting.

[@singuyen5927]

HooptieDoodle That’s a steal. I’d pick it up in a heartbeat

[@HooptieDoodle]

@@singuyen5927 yeah, it went quick 😀

[@HooptieDoodle]

@@singuyen5927 I probably should have gotten it. It probably needed work, but at that price you could put a couple grand into it and be okay. Best of luck finding a deal 👍

[@MegaTroyhamilton]

Saw a few in nwa, like a guzzi v4, like them

[@Paul_Zernick]

Got a CTX. Lazy, low revving V4. Quiet as a mouse. It's nothing like what anyone reviews it as. I WILL tell you what it is, exactly. A GL1800 on a budget, primarily(bagger) the F6B. Near on same weight, near on same look, features etc. One is a flat 6, one is a V4. Both 6000rpm bikes, both torquey, both quiet and smooth as fuck. Mine is fitted with cruise control and a mastrad tour. screen. It is peachy. Open up double twist on my note8, pick a play list press play. Bingo. BT tunes on a whisper quiet smooth riding laid back bagger. Set cruise and just chill the fuck out. BTW I have another V4........... a VFR1200F DCT. When I wanna get a bit more spirited. So my take. Goldwing budget buyer, or someone who wants a similar experience but with a few less kg's to throw around. The humm is intoxicating. V twins(Harley style) shit me no end. I will be graduating up to a GL1800 varient, which one yet to decide. Love the sound and grunt of the 6. Baught mine for around $10kAU 2020, GL1800s started at $14kAU for Valkyries upto $20kAU+ for Goldwing tourers. So yeah. Loving my entry level, baby goldwing. If that's your cup of tea, you'll love it. The fuckwits who fucked this bike for you in the US are the retarded cunts who dropped knees, scraped pegs, and slammed this bike for being a shit sports tourer??!! WTF?? It might be a ST engine, but how the flying fuck does it even remotely look like one. Not even close. Um, ya reckon the 6000rpm mighta given it away? Nope. They slammed it, it didn't sell, they shut down sales. You guys really missed the point, and a sweet bike. I baught another US "dud". The VFR1200F. Got slammed aswell. And yet here I am. 👍😊 If ya want a "sports tourer" don't buy either. Then again I'm currently keeping an eye on VFR1200X adventure tourers. So yeah, don't mind me. 3x V4s? Quite possible. As ya might guess, yep, I'm quite a fan off the power plant. Each bike different. Why would ya buy, for eg, 3X sports bikes? Nope. A bike for each occasion. Yes I can commute the CTX. It's big but it's manageable. It was also my second bike after my learner's bike, a Ducati monster 659. So yeah, big jump size wise, hence not going straight to the big 1800 6ers. Yet. I'm 6'2 250lbs btw. Long story short. I loves it! I thought baby F6B(goldwing) I was correct. Tick! Happy days. Oh, buy red! In the flesh, hooooooolllly fuck! It is something else. Only colour to get. Trust me. 😉🇦🇺👍

[@HooptieDoodle]

Fantastic! :) Thanks for the info. I get the baby Goldwing vibe, partly because I don't quite understand the distinction for a sport tourer since the Goldwing isn't exactly slow, yet it's just a tourer. I would definitely like to get ahold of a V4 - cool engine!

[@Paul_Zernick]

@@HooptieDoodle 6000 vs 10000rpm. One 76°(10k) one 90°(6k). Similar, kinda, but different. Different exhausts, pretty sure different firing orders. Also depends on how ya feeling. The VFR is 2 different bikes also. A sub 6000rpm bike and a over 6000 one. Keep it under and it's pretty tame and subdued. Yeah, I like different. I like to be in rare company. I live in Sydney Australia and for me I'm yet to see another CTX or VFR! 👍😂😂 Harley's? Everywhere. GSXR/CBRs etc, everywhere. V-twins/I4's? Everywhere. Not I McFly 👍😁😉🇦🇺

[@jfro5867]

@@Paul_Zernick Hi Paul, I have a DCT Crosstourer, really good bike. I like the look of this CTX and entirely get why you like it too.

[@Paul_Zernick]

@@jfro5867 lay back & chill. Cross tourer if I really get into touring maybe, though I'd need to justify it by taking the dirt back roads, which in Australia is easily done, if you so choose. Cross that bridge when I get there. Gotta get some highway miles and a few multi day stints on the CTX first. Tbh, still a "new" rider so bit by bit🇦🇺👍

[@EmilyChuu]

This dudes gonna shit himself when he learns of the st1100

[@_audacerider3838]

Well to be honest you are missing the Honda ST 1100 wich was know as a baby Goldwing cald the Paneuropean here in Europe. The ST1100 is cheeper and it is absolutely incredible UK police used them for years!! Over 100K miles on them is not uncommon!! The leter model was the ST 1300 but sadly it had a handling problem!!! At hight speeds it wasn't stable so the Police started replacing them with the BMW R1200RT at the time. The engine is bulletproof on bouth bikes so is the transmission but if You look at forums the ST1100 is a better bike in the opinion of most people. CTX 1300 is a cool bike I was thinking about one as well but in the end I went with a Moto Guzzi California Audace 1400 :)

[@HooptieDoodle]

Thanks for the info. I have discovered the ST1100 since this video and do agree that it seems to be the bike to get. Enjoy that Audace!

[@Stevieboy130664]

It's derived from the Pan European, isn't it? Very popular with the police here in the UK a while back.

[@HooptieDoodle]

My understanding was that the Pan European and the ST are the same bike under different names for different markets

[@Stevieboy130664]

@@HooptieDoodle yes you're right but it was in production for a very long time - from 1990 until 2013 with both engines (23 years!) when it was sort of replaced by the CTX. Like I said very popular with the police until Honda cocked up its fairing dynamics so that it could wobble in certain conditions at higher speeds. Pity - a great bike in its class just like the Gold Wing. The CTX was a bit of a missed opportunity - that engine would have looked great in a more traditional cruiser with the right finish.

[@HooptieDoodle]

@@Stevieboy130664 I like the idea of the Pan European in either a stock or custom bike. I mainly like the idea of a custom to show off the engine - what a cool engine! If I get into touring though, a stock version is top of my list 😀

[@Unertl16122]

I have an st1100 and itll pull 50 mpg

[@HooptieDoodle]

50mpgs is really good for a bike that size. I assume that is mainly due to gearing. Very neat bike 👍

[@Unertl16122]

@@HooptieDoodle that's touring easy on the highway, the old st1100 never disappoints, I can normally get 300 miles to a tank easy on it

[@HooptieDoodle]

@@Unertl16122 sweet 👍😀

[@mohammedmidlaj4623]

👍👍👌

[@1satisfiedmind]

I have only seen one one the road. Honda should have made a hp/tq monster out of these. Fail. I've owned 2 V-4 Magnas ('88 & '03), both very fast.