Ctx1300 to ST1300???

[Andrew Shadow]

I'll address the other complaint that no one has mentioned: I'll never understand the need to put a helmet in luggage (unless perhaps it's raining but then I just leave it someplace under cover). For over 50 years I've left mine on the seat, handlebars, or on the ground beside my bike and no one has ever taken or even touched it. It's ALWAYS been an expensive full face and the last 10 years of so has had a Sena attached. Hell I have a garage full of old Shoei, Nolan, and even a Shuberth or two helmets I wish someone had taken.

To your first point everyone has their own view and their own comfort level for such things so I think that this is very much a matter of to each his own. For me the answer is extremely simple- I lock up my helmet because I don't want my trip ruined. While it may be true that the risk of my helmet being stolen is small it can happen. It happened to my sister on a trip in Virginia. It is not even about the cost of replacing the helmet. I am rarely riding in urban areas so there are not places around to buy a new helmet let alone getting to that place. If my helmet was to be stolen my trip is screwed up immediately. It doesn't even matter about all the laws making it illegal to ride without a helmet- I won't ride without a helmet. So I can be stuck in the middle of no where having no idea where to go to buy a new helmet and having no way to get there. Then there is the matter of being stuck buying a helmet that I don't really like because I had to settle for what they had in stock- hopefully in something close to the right size. The effort that is required to completely eliminate this risk and all of its associated headaches and expense is virtually non-existent. I simply invest 30 seconds and lock my helmet in one of my cases- done.

I never need a rationalized REASON, or other peoples' advice to get a new ride if I want it!

To your second point I agree 100%. Ride what you want and enjoy it. I have read the expression It's not about what you ride but that you ride on this forum many times. The fact that so many people here get that it is about the riding and not the ride and even furthermore do not judge others by what they ride is one of the attitudes about this forum that makes it such a good motorcycle forum.

 

[TPadden]

To your first point everyone has their own view and their own comfort level for such things so I think that this is very much a matter of to each his own. For me the answer is extremely simple- I lock up my helmet because I don't want my trip ruined. ....I simply invest 30 seconds and lock my helmet in one of my cases- done......

To your first point; then someone stealing, or breaking into your or your friends luggage, which probably has the same risk level but more reward, wouldn't ruin your trip?

A stolen helmet wouldn't ruin my trip any more that anything else stolen off my bike; do you also pack up everything everytime you leave a campground?

Agreed: comfort and experience levels differ .

Tom

 

[Andrew Shadow]

To your first point; then someone stealing your or your friends luggage, which probably has the same risk level, wouldn't ruin your trip?

Sure it could because we are in the trip together and will stick together until we get home. It just so happens that everyone I travel with on a regular basis locks up as well so we have the same low risk level. If it did happen and we are two or more it is less of a hassle because there is someone else who can still travel to go get a replacement helmet but still a hassle. I was thinking more of when I am traveling alone when I responded however- that would be a major hassle.

A stolen helmet wouldn't ruin my trip any more that anything else stolen off my bike; do you also pack up everything every time you leave a campground?

No I don't, but having my salt shaker stolen or my favourite pair of underwear doesn't endanger my life. Having my helmet stolen and being forced to ride with out it to go get a replacement does. My answer was in regards to helmets only because it was helmets that you posted about. The loss of most other items I carry does not have the same potential to allow serious harm to befall me like the loss of my helmet does.

 

[ST Gui]

I think it's more likely that a helmet be stolen off the seat or mirror than getting your luggage broken into.

Maybe nobody here has ever had a helmet stolen. I'd just as soon not take the chance.

 

[rjs987]

I'm in the camp of don't waste the space in the hard luggage with my helmet. But I do lock it with a retractable cable lock. The bigger thing to me is that being able to store a helmet in the top case (never had one that I couldn't do that in) or saddlebags is a non-issue and has never eliminated any choice of bike. There are too many options for securing a helmet to a bike. With my Gold Wing there was plenty of space in both saddlebag and top case to store the helmet... more than one even. But I still used the helmet locks under the top case saving the storage inside for other stuff that I felt like putting in there. With my Burgman 650, ST1100, and now my CTX1300 I simply secure it with the cable lock on the seat or top shelter between the handlebars. Here is how it sits when I leave the bike at the store these days, and if it rains then it's still dry inside (and birds don't drop anything in it either):

 

[Upt' North]

I suppose this could become an oil thread type ongoing saga.
I hope so.......
Regardless of whether it may be stolen or not how would you know if some grubby little urchin have had their mucky mitts on it and dropped it on the road. Thereby making it useless in the event of needing it. My head may not be pretty, stop snigerring at the back, but I would prefer it to stay in one lump in the event of a ......, I'm not saying that word.
I'm a locker upper or a carrier.
Upt'North.

 

[TPadden]

Regardless of whether it may be stolen or not how would you know if some grubby little urchin have had their mucky mitts on it and dropped it on the road.
Upt'North.

With my grandkids you'd need a helmet safe at home too ........ personally I'd be more worried about a grubby, cheap, Honda ST Owner.

You guys really have a lot to worry about; I'm much more likely to lose things than have anyone run off with or drop them, so as long as I've got my credit card I don't worry about any gear on the road.

Tom

 

[UpArrow]

Though 4 months dead I'll chime in here with my now learned opinion.
Skip the blah blah and head to bottom paragraph for useful info.

I had a CTX1300 from July '17 to June '18. Put about 15k miles on it in that 11 months and was thoroughly in love with it and convinced I wouldn't buy another for 10 years.
But with experience I learned how deficient the suspension was. I addressed the rear by installing $500 shocks from Progressive. And addressed the whipping bars by double darksiding the bike: the extra mass up front did calm the bars.
Then, I hit a poorly blended bridge seam at 50mph and received a terrible jolt to the spine. Within 2 days I couldn't sleep and wound up for the first time in my life at a back cracker (Chiro). No thanks to him, within a week the swelling subsided and I was whole again.
But I now rode with hyper-vigilance watching for bridge seams and other bumps in the road, and found myself putting weight on the pegs or clenching butt cheeks to a degree that started to impact my riding enjoyment.
I sold a '12 Victory XCT off and replaced it with an '18 Goldwing Tour DCT. The CTX at that point became too hard to justify but I didn't move to sell it.

Then to answer a curiosity about how the V-4 would feel in the ST1300 vs the CTX I bought one and then had 3 bikes in the garage. New to a semi-tucked position, I kind of hated it at first. But as I put miles on it and got to know it I really became fond of it. Then, I came to realize that the CTX was going to be the odd man out and let it go at a bargain price to the buyer.

So my comparison.
(Most of my riding is 80+ mph on sweeping interstate and mountain roads)

- The ST rides far better due to it's superior suspension. It's about 80% as smooth as my '18 Wing which is really saying something. On the CTX you feel every tar snake, every bump.
- I don't care what the engine power ratings say, the ST will flat out smoke the CTX from a dead stop or at any roll on point thereafter. There's no debate to be done here. Anyone in SLC wants to debate the issue on the roadway I'm game. Whether you lose or I win I'll buy you a beer afterward
- The CTX was a great Winter machine and shields the rider from cold air far better than the ST. Both on the legs and the head, where you are ~2' behind the windshield in a pocket of calm air.
- The vertical seating position of the CTX is especially troublesome for rider comfort when paired with the very poor rear suspension. On the ST you are leaned forward slightly and any hard hits transferred through the seat don't spell trouble for your spine, as they do on the CTX where your spine is a vertical column.

My experinces, YMMV

 

[Al st1100]

Sure it could because we are in the trip together and will stick together until we get home. It just so happens that everyone I travel with on a regular basis locks up as well so we have the same low risk level. If it did happen and we are two or more it is less of a hassle because there is someone else who can still travel to go get a replacement helmet but still a hassle. I was thinking more of when I am traveling alone when I responded however- that would be a major hassle.


No I don't, but having my salt shaker stolen or my favourite pair of underwear doesn't endanger my life. Having my helmet stolen and being forced to ride with out it to go get a replacement does. My answer was in regards to helmets only because it was helmets that you posted about. The loss of most other items I carry does not have the same potential to allow serious harm to befall me like the loss of my helmet does.

do you think that if someone wants something in your luggage that a simple lock would stop them? I think if they want something they will get it no matter what they have to break to get it.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

do you think that if someone wants something in your luggage that a simple lock would stop them? I think if they want something they will get it no matter what they have to break to get it.

Al, you are absolutely correct about that and I never wrote otherwise. My response was in regards to the risk of a helmet being stolen when it is locked inside a case out of sight versus leaving it out and unlocked in the open. I think that if some one wants it badly enough they will take it no matter how well it is secured. I also think that it is obvious to most that a helmet that is locked away out of sight in a case is far less likely to be stolen than one that is left exposed in full view and unattended. It is the same logic that I am certain drives all of us to keep our money secured out of view or on our person versus leaving it in full view sitting on our seat when we park and leave the bike. If someone wants your money badly enough they will get it no matter where it is including if it is on you. But certainly you must agree that your money is more secure stored out of sight rather than sitting unattended and exposed on your seat. Same logic- it is about reducing the risk.

 

[VT-Woodchuck]

My 2cents based only on my personal preferences and experience. I now own a mint 03 ST1300 non abs and must say it is one of the best all around bikes I've owned. I bought it because I'm now in my 60s and I was feeling a bit long in the tooth to keep riding sport bikes. My knees, back and neck really appreciate the more upright position of the ST1300 while still being sporty enough to roar though the twisties when the spirit moves me. One ancillary benefit of the ST1300 is the stately executive profile gives my wife the illusion that I may have finally grown up. The roads here in Vermont are like narrow roller coasters and make for great sport riding. It has been said that if you flattened Vermont out it is as big as Texas. A couple months ago I had a chance to spend a couple hours on a CTX and I came away thankful for the opportunity but unmoved from my faithful Rosinante. I'm sure it will appeal to some folks but it struck me as Honda's attempt to appeal to the Harley mob by trying to mimic the mega Harley profile with the low cut cruiser style fairing and its lounge chair driver position. (note: I admit to briefly owning a Harley a couple years ago, though I put a for sale sign on the POS only 150 miles after I bought it.) I'm short at 5'8" and couldn't find a comfortable position on the CTX to feel like I had the control that I do on my ST with its proper riding stance, maybe if I was taller I could have found a way to get my upper torso over my lower legs to feel more balanced? My stock suspension on my ST soaks up road irregularities very well and even scarified pavement is smoothly handled. No so with the CTX, I felt like I could feel every pebble and crack in the road and a short patch of some scarified pavement felt like I was driving on marbles. Sitting in the CTX's drivers position made me feel like I was falling off my bar stool every time I entered and exited a corner. Perhaps with more time I could have got used to it, but I didn't really want too. So for me the ST1300 suits me perfectly but I can see where people coming to sport touring bikes from the cruiser world or in a geography with less challenging roads they might feel right at home with the CTX.

KC
:slv11:

 

[Nevada]

- I don't care what the engine power ratings say, the ST will flat out smoke the CTX from a dead stop or at any roll on point thereafter. There's no debate to be done here. Anyone in SLC wants to debate the issue on the roadway I'm game. Whether you lose or I win I'll buy you a beer afterward

Don't do it folks, don't take him up on that challenge. The beer here is the CTX of beers. A pale imitation of real beer.

BTW, UpArrow, are you going to WeSTOC?

 

[ibike2havefun]

stately executive profile

Love the description

 

[UpArrow]

Don't do it folks, don't take him up on that challenge. The beer here is the CTX of beers. A pale imitation of real beer.

BTW, UpArrow, are you going to WeSTOC?

LOL on the beer. No WeSTOC for me. I'm 4 months into a new job. Next year would be good.

 

[red one]

Years ago when I was getting tire installed on my ST1100 they had a blue CTX1300 on the show room floor. I sat on it. Seat felt good but I wasn't moving. Then got off and looked at it for awhile. My short inspection of the bike led me to believe Honda was doing an styling excersise and wasn't serious about a long term legacy for this motorcycle.

 

[TPadden]

....... My short inspection of the bike led me to believe Honda was doing an styling excersise and wasn't serious about a long term legacy for this motorcycle.

...... and what are you led to believe Honda is doing about any serious legacy for the virtually unchanged in 12 years ST?

I know a relatively few old men really like it so much they will keep their legacy ST forever; the rest of us have moved on to BMW or Yamaha (or Gold Wings).

If you look up the word legacy; the Honda ST really doesn't fit the definition as neither of my son's wanted mine even as a gift! They have taken other mentioned manufacturers' bikes.

Tom

 

[Bilko]

So my comparison.
(Most of my riding is 80+ mph on sweeping interstate and mountain roads)

- The ST rides far better due to it's superior suspension. It's about 80% as smooth as my '18 Wing which is really saying something.

What is your view on the performance differences between the ST1300 and the your 2018 Goldwing?

 

[TPadden]

What is your view on the performance differences between the ST1300 and the your 2018 Goldwing?

Although I know the question wasn't directed at me, and I don't have a Wing; but the answer seems obvious: comfort and 12 years of electronic marvels .

Seriously, I'd be very interested in the CTX at current discounted prices if it only had cruise control .

Tom

 

[MaxPete]

I understand Euro 4 for motorcycles began compliance with 2016 models. The 2014 CTX1300 was a one-year model in the USA. That doesn't seem to make sense for Honda to build a E4 compliant bike 2 or 3 years before necessary then only build it one year.

Who knows what really goes on within large companies, but you're right - they would never build a model that was compliant with a complex regulation before it was necessary. My guess is that they had a stock of ST parts, sport tourer sales were dropping and so they wanted to try it as a cruiser. It didn't sell, and they had run through their stock - so they ditched it.

 

[red one]

...... and what are you led to believe Honda is doing about any serious legacy for the virtually unchanged in 12 years ST?

I know a relatively few old men really like it so much they will keep their legacy ST forever; the rest of us have moved on to BMW or Yamaha (or Gold Wings).

If you look up the word legacy; the Honda ST really doesn't fit the definition as neither of my son's wanted mine even as a gift! They have taken other mentioned manufacturers' bikes.

Tom

well its just I was having a hard time figuring out where that thing belonged(CTX1300) in the motorcycle genre. Basically what in the hell were they thinking. IMHO its been decades since Honda bought out a game changer motorcycle.