2014 Honda CTX700 Threadfest

ehhh, or they're so far behind they're just getting ready to be lapped.

Right. Husaberg. That major player in motorcycles worldwide.

How much does the new CRF250L weigh again? Like 320?

Yeah, it is cheap, and it has its place, but moto heads have been ignored by Honda and I sure don't feel alone stating that. This board would have lit up if one of these new bikes was a 500cc DS single with 47 HP, (you know, to make the Euro govs happy!), with decent legs, a WR 6 speed box and around 300 lbs. Guys would be dumping the heavy exhausts and lights and racing them in enduros. Others would travel around the world on them, much like the KTM EXCs and Burgs.

There could have been dirty DS, street singles, an Adv and a supermoto.

But Honda can't cause it's too much of a major player?

I think that the M/C industry have been doing the "mines bigger than yours thing" for a long time now.

Initially it probably made sense as far as being able to cover ground at a reasonable speed. After a while that reasonable speed became a bit silly. Not content with that it then had to become really silly and after a while it went insane.

I remember going to "top fuel" drag meets in the 70's that weren't getting much better times than the latest sport bikes.

I suppose along the way, more and more people just decided that it was all a bit scary, while some people just got addicted to the adrenalin hit.

SO anyway it seems to me that Honda may be responding to the halving of sales in the States the quadrupling of petrol prices and are thinking that maybe some people may appreciate a bike that is not ridiculous in either power or total chrome mass.

They release a bike that gets about 300HP per ton, which is up there with muscle cars and big MPG when ridden reasonably. The average person is going to think that is pretty fast.

Nah, because they had a "focus" group

(my smilie is drinking the koolaid)

Honestly, I kind of like the look of these bikes. I've never been real big on the beaks and sharp angled, tail in the air styling that make up the "transformer" look of so many of the bikes these days. I don't need huge horsepower and 150mph+ top speeds. I'm pretty sure these bikes will have adequate performance for day in and day out street use under most all conditions. I'm not real big on forward controls, but I'll have to reserve judgement on this one until I get a chance to ride one. If I were in the market for a new daily rider kind of bike, I'd definitely give them a look.

Honda's outboards have more soul, than there new motorcycles.

Care to be more specific.



I am sure that level of soul is the first thing fishermen ask for when they are looking for an outboard.

Did any one spotted this ones yes? The CTX700N and the CTX700T are the first in a new family of future CTX models to come.
Link:
http://motorcycle.honda.ca/news
It seems like brand new models to me.

CTX700N is VERY interesting!

What cracks me up about the "forward controls" comments is that I had a sportster with forward controls once.... my knees were at 90°! Lol. Once you get above 5-11 or so, most forward controls just ain't all that "forward".

How many of those bikes would they really sell worldwide?

How many people would buy a bike like that for commuter duty over the variety of road biased limiter-capable twins already available? Everyone would bitch that its a single or not powerful enough or not hooligan enough, etc. Particularly enthusiasts, they're never happy. The only thing I see as much of as cruisers and sport bikes collecting dust on dealer floors are dirt bikes.

I can see tons of new riders on these things, especially if they're comfortable enough in the showroom. Most of that purchase is answering the questions: Does it look ok? Does it fit me? Can I afford it? Will I kill myself leaving the dealer lot?

Definitely. Totally agree.
Not looking for "soul" at machines.

However, what I dislike with these new bikes is: the NC platform was in a way innovative. The NC700 series
combines big riding fun with good mpg, low maintenance, nice styling, an enjoyable engine, up to date technologies and very good practical usage.

But with those two new bikes they take several steps backward.
Ugly outdated styling, looking like cars somehow (maybe this is intended?), extremely bulky, no great trunk, oldstyle fuel tank, even more weight, I guess

I was hoping they would bring the new concept including this special engine into an even more riding fun related class: lower weight, slim and up to date style. However, I am aware this was not a realistic view, but I did not expect them to create these bold oldstyle cruisers out of their latest mid level platform.

Well, after all there is no doubt, buying the NC700X in its first year was a perfect idea. It won't get any better.

Phil

http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2013/02/2014-honda-ctx700-ctx700d-are-probably.html#more

"2014 Honda CTX700, CTX700D are probably the world’s dullest motorcycles"

"For us, however, this bike is entirely devoid of any emotion whatsoever – it’s dull and cold and clinical and frigid. And that it comes from a manufacturer that used to build some of the most exciting, most technologically advanced motorcycles in the world makes it doubly sad."



No more press bikes for you!!!


Unless Honda has some knowledge of an untapped market of economists and
actuaries that LUST for a certain measure of dullness in their (otherwise usually exciting) motorcycles....I'd say these are going to be the turds in the punch bowl and clogging up dealerships for quite some time.


And unlike hondas other misunderstood poor sellers: GB500 Honda hawk etc....won't be collectors items in 20 years.

It doesn't look like they even tested one. That's some good journalism there. They even suggested Honda release a CBR1000RR with DCT, I'd love to see the bitchfest when that happens.

As for dullness, if that's what you want to call it Honda has been marketing it for years in some of their cars. A lot of people find easy to own and easy to ride appealing.

There is no discussion about those new cruiserbikes for me. Maybe targeted to US market, no idea. I will just ignore them.

But as to the DCT feature: great thing to ride. I realize there are many who like to change gears themselves.
But even for enduro competition riders there are many who like the rekluse clutch or whatever. I personally rode the KTM Freeride E without any clutch and gears, always perfect linear power: extreme fun to ride on difficult grounds. Easy. Fast. Perfect flow. Would no longer bother with any standard drivetrain if I had the choice for myself.

And for road usage, it is quite similar with the DCT. It is not a feature for track riding, doing hard maneuvers with slipperclutch and so on, but it is very cool, enjoyable and not at all boring for normal road usage of all kinds.

Last night I took an objective look at the big four Japanese manufacturers and Triumphs website. As I said earlier, I have been hard on Honda in recent years, but Honda had the most diverse lineup by far. They have entries into almost every class of bikes and they have the value leaders in almost every class. They don't offer a big ADV bike here in the states, and they don't offer hard core dual sports, but their line up is chock full of bikes and they offer many bikes that others don't. They need bigger tanks and bigger bags on some of their offerings for them to appeal to me, but I applaud Honda for daring to be different and for daring to explore new territory.

The new 500X has my full attention. The CTX seems pretty cool too, but I don't like the foot forward position. If they offered a CTX as it is right now with mid controls, a bit of a larger tank and there were large bags options, I'd likely buy one. A scaled down Goldwing at the CTX price point would be awesome! ABS is being offered on most of the new models. I don't begrudge Honda for building reliable, practical, well priced bikes and for pushing the technological envelope even if what they offer isn't a bike I would ever consider. Choices are good.

Dull is subjective and slow is relative. I enjoy the thrill of brisk acceleration, but as I reflect back on my riding and the things that made that riding enjoyable, speed and acceleration were not what did it for me. One of my best rides ever was done on a Burgman 650. In fact it was more fun than any other bike I have ridden through Deal's Gap. I need enough passing power to pick off slow movers on curvy roads, but most of the bikes I've owned had more power than I ever really needed. I'm not a skilled enough rider to tax any suspension I've ridden in the twisties either. The truth is that if you are pushing most bike past their handling limits, you should probably be on a track and not a public road.

Comfort and convenience have defined my trips to a large degree. Speed and handling never have. That's this rider's style at any rate. So the dull and slow bike that people haven't ridden prior to making that pronouncement, may just work for riders like me.

Well said.

So some org that calls themself "faster and faster" doesn't like the CTX? I'm shocked!

It really bugs me, all this whining about "dull" and "slow". Gee whiz folks, if it don't blow your skirt up, move on. Do you think that Honda should target every new offering directly to you? I mean, Honda has come out with a lot of new products over the last year or so - but NONE of it is what I would have picked. And they already had the bikes I wanted in Japan and/or Europe. I applaud them just the same. The NC concept is something completely new, and it has gotten rave reviews all over the world. Are you really surprised that Honda would try to build on that? I suspect they have done their homework and they feel the CTX will bring in some new riders. God knows WE could use some fresh blood to help push motorcyclist's rights, make America more aware of two wheelers, use less gas/oil, take up less parking... This is nothing but a good thing.

Rock on, Honda!

Oh, and if you could see fit to ship me a CB1300 Bol D'or I sure would appreciate it. Red and white please, with black wheels and hard bags. And send me one of those robots too. It can mow the yard while I go riding.