My Honda CTX1300 (My Girl)

Started out an hour before sunrise this morning. At sunrise I decided to stop and take a photo:

Took 64 from Tn to NC. All the scenic pullovers were packed. Had to make do with this:

A nice scenic waterfalls that you can drive behind:

The mountains were beautiful, even tho it rained on us for several hours.

Dragons everywhere and they attract lovely damsels:

What a Day. Maybe it won't rain tomorrow and I can get some good shots.

Riding back down HWY 129, I decide to follow it into Georgia.
Too early and they weren't open yet, but still took a photo.

Have you ever had chocolate or fudge that would make your tongue slap your brains wanting more? This is one of those places.

Little cafeteria next to the Hanzel & Gretel's candy kitchen.
I didn't eat there. Brother said he and wife tried it last month and were disappointed. It was ok, but he said other places here were better for the money.

Yonah ride? I did, to Yonah Ga. This is one of those road side attractions that get you to stop, then you automatically go into their shop.

My Girl asked me to call someone else if she ever needed a tow.

Entering back to my home state on Hwy 411, I see this little place and decide to take one more photo before returning to the stall.

I was up on the Dragon this past Saturday (Labor Day weekend), if that was the Saturday you were up there, I saw your bike; love it. I was on my little Honda-the NC700x

Hey Uncle Jed, what is the fuel mileage you getting on the CTX1300?

Anyone know the type of valves, are they shim/bucket or screw/bolt, or hydraulic.

Thanks David,
I started out upper 40's(MPG), but traveling surface roads and obeying the speed limits, I get 50+.

Yes sir, I was there around 4-5pm. Crowded!!!!!! Unfortunately, I had someone(another biker) hit me from behind and didn't ride much more that day.
I was in a gas station waiting for traffic to clear so I could go. The rider behind me decided it was clear enough and ran into me.
Their bike has broken turn signal, crushed saddlebag, floorboard folded up against the engine, and highway pegs/crashbar shoved back.
All I had was scuff marks on my right saddlebag where he impacted me. I spent a little time with a rag and toothpaste buffing it.
The last photo above with the waterwheel shows that bag and it isn't noticeable in the photo. There is a small white chip showing at the top of the shiny panel just above my reflection.

I was looking for the 700 when I saw the CTX on the showroom. It looked so much better than the photos. I fell in love with her there and then.
Valves are the bucket-over-shim type. And I'd not call your bike little...I'd call it sweeeet.

more commonly referred to as shim under bucket, as opposed to shim over bucket.

shim under bucket makes for a more compact top end, longer valve lash inspection intervals, with the downside being that if a shim swap is needed - the cams come out.

not many screw & locknut valve trains out there anymore, even in the dirtbike world.

hydraulic valve trains do not 'automatically adjust' themselves, they never go out of spec because the hydraulic lifters take the "solid" out of the equation.

I haven't had my CTX in a while now, but it's good to see the prices come down to a reasonable level as a rule of thumb, and not be a rare special deal.
Pretty good bikes, loved the LED lighting - would have loved a 6 gallon tank.

Ditto. And that's a great picture.

The Honda NC700x is screw/locknut-easiest thing in the world to adjust on this bike, and my Suzuki C50 Boulevard (2007, now with 74,000+ miles) is also screw/locknut-I guess I am a little spoiled with the valve adjustments (hate shim/bucket).

Dang, sorry about the accident, I left right after I saw your bike. I also liked your pictures of Helen, Ga-been there a few times. A nice little tourist trap of a town, but the homemade fudge shops and ice cream shops are out of this world. Food restaurants in town, ah, not so much-better food up at Unicoi state park and great little family restaurant about 10 miles north of Helen (excellent Rainbow trout).

Doing some mods when not riding:

Cockpit view without the GPS/Phone mounted:
Cup holder has been used more as a catch all for placing things at stops than for drinks, but I still like it. Took the photo at about belly height. Now after seeing it here, I guess I should have taken one higher.

Here you can see the accessory plug and I cut one of the old grips and zipped it to the riser to put the GPS plug when not in use.

Mini board on left side:

Mini board on right with the brake pad extension:

And my new Corbin:
This is the saddlebag that got beat up during the trip to NC in the rear end accident, but it doesn't look too bad after buffing and a little black touch up paint and more buffing.

Paging Dr. Clampett...

Check your conversations on the off-chance you get notifications this way first.

Sinn'

Would like to give you my opinion on Honda's CTX1300 standard. I'm 5' 8" 165 with riding gear. I just return from a 5 day 1,400 + mile trip. Camped 3 of the 4 nights. I did the Skyline drive and Blue Ridge parkway north to south. Temps mornings mid 40's to afternoon 70's. I had a twisted throttle large dry bag strapped to rear ( front to back ). Provided a nice backrest for the long ride back up Rt. 81. On top of dry bag I strapped my sleeping pad, which was nice for storing water bottle or Gatorade bottle at each end. I slid granola bars in between worked out great. Installed battery tender leads, which allowed for a small USB with SAE connection on the outside of battery cover ( cycle gear ). I had a car GPS nuvi 2595 lmt with suction mount just below ignition. Easy to remember to unplug because of battery drain. Installed Honda touring screen which is a must for any long distance. I averaged 46 mpg, route 81 didn't help. The screen read 51.3 mpg on blue ridge at one point. Bike cruised at 75 miles per hour seems to be the sweet spot for me. Check the oil everyday, same level every time. I might disconnect fuel cap tether so it gives you a little more room to fill up. Right saddlebag no problem, left sucks scrapped skin off fingers every time closing. I picked up River Road saddlebag liners which helps some. I tried to pack so I didn't have to go into left bag much. Also had to remember to pack even weight on each side. I think a rear trunk is in the future. Didn't have to shift much because of torquey engine, stayed in fourth most of the time. Seat not to bad, 200 miles you want to get off and walk around a bit. I would hang my legs in front of foot pegs on the long runs. Longest day was the last 404 miles. I tried to stay with around 200 miles per day but the weather for the end of the week was low 30's. Hammock camping low 30's not that comfortable. I have never taking a trip this long before and I can say I was shocked at how comfortable it was to ride for that distance. Even the last day I got off the bike unpacked and proceeded to cut the grass. I've had my share of bikes but this one so far is my favorite. I'm already planning my next trip. I purchased this bike for touring very happy. I got a great deal from Pete's Cycle in Baltimore MD.
Thanks
Brian R.


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Thanks Brian. I read your report on the CTX forum, but glad you posted here for others too.
When you see the yellow bear avatar on the other forum, that's me.
It's amazing how few people know about this bike, so I started posting here just to get a few people to notice it.
Feel free to add some of your pictures to this thread also.

The bike performed as expected for a Honda. Tall screen was a must, doesn't take the look away either. This was the first multi day trip for me and the bike worked out great. I've been looking online for top case probably go with Givi v47. My next trip will be Niagara Falls ride up into Canada. My hands didn't get to cold, I ride with leather work gloves. I will be taking short rides since it's getting cold out and no more vacation days till next year. Very happy with bike. The bike is not on people's radar but it should especially since the prices have dropped. It's one of those bikes that just doesn't look right to most people, but for me I like it because it does what I need it to do.


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Neat bike in it's own way. I'm sure it's bulletproof.

Shame about saddlebag and option prices. It appears Honda is trying to make it up on the back end.

Shad is currently making a mount for the SH36 side cases and a top case mount. They are less than a 3rd the cost of the Honda OEM and are quick release. They also can hold a full face helmet. The bike is a bit over a year old.
There are aftermarket windscreens available, extenda fenda, Corbin/Russel seats, Givi top case (but not side case) mounts also. While it is not fast enough for the early adopters, I remember being that way with the Goldwing in the beginning.
Not meaning it will take off like the GW, because I don't think it will. But it is starting out pretty fair.

tell me about the mirrors. I sat on a couple of these recently at two different dealers, and I noticed a big part of the mirror was obstructed by the handgrips. Is there a fix for this?

Couple of fixes for the mirror issues.

First, the factory settings for the bars are "wrong" since as you noticed your rear view is blocked by the clutch and brake reservoirs. Simple to rotate them down a bit to improve the rear view.

Second, you can mount regular bar mount mirrors in the capped mounting holes in the lever mounts. Plastic caps pop out and the usual threaded holes are there for any stock Honda mirrors.

I added some moveable blind spot stick on mirrors to the fairing mounted mirrors.

Aloha,
Huladog


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As Huladog says, the stock mirrors are set at a generic setting. If you take it on the road/purchase it, then have the dealer reset the handlebars or you will feel 1/2 blind on the road.
After the bars are adjusted (usually lower for the majority), then you still have a small part at the edge you can't use, but they work just fine. I've also added hand guards to my bars and because I have them kinda large, they block maybe 20% of the top view of the mirror.
The good thing about the OEM mirrors is that once you get them adjusted where you can see, you only need to move your eyes a little to see behind you. Fairing mount mirrors being farther out make this easy.
The handlebar mount mirrors require me to move my head more to see behind me. But both solutions work and it is a personal preference which is best.