Any knowledge of CTX 700 DCT Honda? Possible upgrade for the wife.

[_Sheffjs_]

My wife Sherry rode a Honda CB 200 to work daily (Sarasota) for a few years when young, fast forward she got back on her own bike almost a year ago when we picked up a Rebel 300, at this point she is comfortable and confident riding in traffic and speeds and up to 90 mile rides at any time.  She needs a low seat bike and I have been eyeing some CTX-700s locally. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of these bikes? 

[cookiedough]

does she not like the honda rebel 300?  Seems like a good fit for her and will do 75 mph no problems.

I was interested in a CTX700 cruiser for a daily commuter went to private sale 3200 or so very good shape low mileage few years old probably could have gotten him down to 3K even.  It was a a shift model NOT DCT test ride was nice rode very comfy for me 5'10" and seat nice and comfy for a stock seat and ergonomics good for my height or shorter.   I hear they will get 60-64 avg mpg and the weight was super down low and easy to flick around for anyone felt like 300lbs. to me anyone can handle it easily.

NOW, the one downside on why I did not get it, the shift model anyways:   The REV limiter sucked forcing you to shift well below having any fun on it.  Nearly every single time I wanted to go FAST,  power would cut out well before red line and the engine (or should say tranny) would act funky like SHIFT NOW or else.  That ONE thing ticked me off but if you go DCT automatic one,  I see NO issues with that pre-shifting issue so go for it.   

I hear very reliable and although will set no records off the line,  is a very comfy, manageable commuter cycle with limited power that anyone can handle.  I know my 650cc suzuki burgmann (vtwin) would blow that 670cc parallet twin out of the water in a drag race and that is an automatic. 

Prior to that test drive,   a salesman at a cycle dealer who thought he was knowledgeable had a brand new one for 3800 + dealer fees brand new carryover model few years old but still sitting in showroom brand new - yes, they are out there NEW for under 4K if find carryover model.  It was silver so passed on it wanted either all black or red one.  I think the all black ones look sharp.    When I asked him what I had (a Valk) and my kid at the time had an older 1997 honda 700 magna 4 cylinder he said that the 700CTX he had would easily keep up with that similar sized honda magna.  I just shrugged my shoulders and said NO way and that after driving one was clearly a sales pitch to sell it for NO comparison that 97 magna likes to REV HIGH big time thru the gears and super fast for such a little machine keeps easily right up to my 1520cc Valk up to say 80 mph which is 99% of my driving.  My kid and me raced side by side roll on around 20 mph 2nd gear both and he goosed it so did I and we were neck and neck  side by side before we backed off around 80 mph. 

[_Sheffjs_]

She loves the rebel   but I wonder once we pass the 90 mile day and into longer rides I have the feeling the potato chip seat and the small 300cc Rebel will not be comfortable. And I also know full well the Magna’s power, many salespeople just flap to flap.  Once this stay put deal is over we will hit some known Honda dealers that have them in stock we will have her sit on one.   Thanks

[Pappy!]

I'll take a look up here for you if you want?
Sure the bike is made in a DCT?
Also, is there a good aftermarket for it? Saying this just in case you can entice her into the weekend trips or longer, ya' know! Cushy seats and a way to put on enough storage for a gal for a weekend.

[Jess from VA]

A decent female review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpnkrv9nU6M

The very end of the vid, with her explaining how to go very slow with no clutch is interesting.  The other issue is seat height.  

[_Sheffjs_]

A decent female review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpnkrv9nU6M

The very end of the vid, with her explaining how to go very slow with no clutch is interesting.  The other issue is seat height.  

Jess

 I was surprised at some of the things mentioned here that is opposite of my research and then how you found a video from a female perspective that I missed on my YouTube searches, I started the film wide eyed and then slumped in the chair sad and then it came to the helmet storage it hit me, this is a different bike.   The CTX 700 is the one that has the low, comfy seat and is under the touring section on the powersports Honda site. This bike I believe this is a 700x, (older) and the newer is 750x, more of an adventure bike.   I did however enjoy the clip and many parts of this was good information.

Pappy

 There are nice Honda bags, rear rack and aftermarket seats. I missed a low mile F/S in Orlando that was loaded with goodies but the timing about 5 months ago was not good.  I feel the best step to take is have her sit on one.   

I am rather enamored with this bike and hope this is a good working answer as they don’t make a mini wing.  . I am interested in the top pic the CTX with a slightly peg forward stance.

[Alpha Dog]

The bike review in Jess's video is a different dct model, more along the adventure bike line and therefore that high seat height.  The CTX DCT is more like 28 inch height, maybe less, cruiser style bike.  I had one in 2018 as a fireman wanted to sell it quick to get a Honda Silverwing, so I bought it to flip.  I did keep it 6 months before selling it for a profit and it sold fast.   I had the full blown fairing/ bagger model and it is a good bike.   After riding through a city in standard mode and hitting 6 gear at 37 mph, I only rode it in sport mode, where 6th gear comes on closer to 60 mph and still got 64 mpg twisting the throttle pretty good.  The bike will make gear shifts, depending on acceleration, and always seemed to find the appropriate gear. The fairing worked great against the wind with no buffeting and I am 6 foot.  I liked the riding egos, and put on a mini floorboard.  The dct shifter is smooth and one can paddle shift, which may be beneficial in the mountains.  Power is what one would expect out of a maybe 45 to 50 horsepower bike.  Certainly much more than a rebel.  My friends wife's rebel feels really cramped for me.  The Honda CTx is light years better for me. i suspect Sherry is a good bit shorter so have her sit on one.  It corners very good.  I understand the reliability is Honda quality.  Once my muscle mass deteriorates to where the large bikes I ride become to much, I would put this CTX at the top of the list to keep in the wind with no qualms.  In fact an 85 year old in my area sold his heavy harley and puts 15k per year on the red CTX he bought.  Also if Honda were to build a 1300 cc DCT cruiser/bagger bike with a stout engine and same ergos as the 700, I think I would be all over it.  I liked the DCT a lot as most new Goldwing Riders are finding out. I see no reason your wife could not use this for high milage days and it should keep up just fine.  Just my opinion of course.

[_Sheffjs_]

Thanks Alpha Dog 

[cookiedough]

I am also with Alpha Dog on this.  The CTX700 with or without the front fairing (that one is up to you they make one naked without the front fairing which I like the loosk of better, but the one without a front fairing you can also add a nice tall windshield to.   It has a nice supply of aftermarket and HONDA accessories to be added if you wanted to being more forward full sized floorboards,  rear flat rack of which can then attach a huge lockable trunk in back,  hard OEM Honda side bags look sharp, etc. 

How tall is the misses?  At say 28-29 inch seat height me being 5'10" with 30 inch inseam I was comfy on it (could be near 30 inches but I am taller than your wife)  but if she is under say 5'5" tall it might be too tall to be flat footed on it, maybe, pretty close anyways I think?  Still,  the 530lb. bike really feels like 300lbs. to me much lighter than my light to me 600lb. scooter.    The parallel twin design is down low and is easily flickable and even on tippy toes or partially flat footed I think anyone can handle the weight side to side at a stop.  Like you said,  she will have to go to dealer or private party sale nearby and sit on one to see if not too tall for her but you can I think adjust the rear shocks to say 2 setting so squats down a little as well when sitting on it for lighter, smaller riders.  I still think that nice looking honda rebel 300 would be fine for longer rides but without sitting on it,  not sure how the seat is being too firm or uncomfy?  It appears in the pic that the seat is very big for such a small cycle.  If on the super slab though over 75 mph,  that 300cc motor will be struggling for sure unlike the 670cc parallet twin on the ctx700 able am sure to do longer Interstate rides doing 80-85 mph or so.   I also have a 249cc single cylinder scooter does 78 mph top speed much over 70 mph and the engine gets buzzy so keep it under 65 mph feels fine at that speed and sounds like that 300cc motor in the rebel would be very similar at speeds much over 70 mph. 

Like I said,  DCT automatic maybe the way to go since I was HUGELY disappointed on the shifter clutch model when I could not rev it up well before redline engine/tranny required you to shift way way too early to have any fun on it so might as well get the DCT automatic model.  ONLY thing bad I heard about that is the plastic parking brake on handlebar tends to break so be careful with that.   I also remember now that if in too high of a gear doing to slow of speed,  the parallel twin engine with clutch would chug/lug like all vtwins do if not in the proper gear having to downshift unlike our Valks or even my kids 97 magna.

I really still enjoy the looks of the ctx700 (especially the black) and one day when I get older might be an option used, but for now,  my 2003 suzuki burgmann 650 (630cc vtwin 54 hp) with the most storage under seat holds 2 full sized helmets,  super easy to drive and smoke most Harleys up to 50 mph works for me for a DCT automatic.  I stole it I think last year from an older gent only asking 1995 with only 12000 miles on it mint condition, most newer model year ones (exact same thing just newer in model year) with more miles were going for near 3K or more.  He said him and his wife used it to go from southern WI to Door County for weekend rides which is about 6 hours one way.  One drive on it and was hooked went to 85 mph in no time flat felt like 60 mph is all super smooth, quiet, super excellent wind and body protection, and comfy.   I am 290 and wife 150 and we have both comfy gone on rides with it with power to spare did not feel her on back at all was like near riding solo with very little loss of power.  I have gone 90 mph on it no problems feeling like 65 mph and top speed supposedly is around 112 mph but feel 90-95 tops is fast enough for me could do that all day long on it on the super slabs.  The only thing I will not do on it is pass like I can my VAlk up a steep hill cars going 55 to 60 mph me wanting to go near 65 mph.  It will do it, but not as quickly as my Valk.  From 0 to 50 mph though is plenty fast enough for me.  I tried the push button shifters on left handlebar and do not enjoy doing that let the DCT automatic do its thing is best, but the POWER button is great to have use that often to race anyone off the line it keeps the REVS UP another 1000 rpms in the powerband like gaining 10 more instant hp, very torquey, when turn the POWER button on.  but yah,  the ctx700 looks more like a real cycle than a scooter both can be automatics,  I understand that but at my age I tend to not look cool no matter what I drive..     and personally do not care what others think of what I do or do not ride.

[Jess from VA]

Sorry for the mistake Jerry, I thought it was the right one.

I taught my 5' 5" wife to ride, and we went through CM250, 600VLX, 800 Kawi Vulcan, and ended up with a Yamaha Vstar 1100 Custom.... which was the lowest and lightest cruiser with enough power for all day travel on or off the freeway I could find.  They stopped making them in 2009.   About a 100+ more pounds than the 700 though.   No DCT automatic of course.

Lot of upgrades on hers with OE Yami bags painted to match.

[_Sheffjs_]

I am also with Alpha Dog on this.  The CTX700 with or without the front fairing (that one is up to you they make one naked without the front fairing which I like the loosk of better, but the one without a front fairing you can also add a nice tall windshield to.   It has a nice supply of aftermarket and HONDA accessories to be added if you wanted to being more forward full sized floorboards,  rear flat rack of which can then attach a huge lockable trunk in back,  hard OEM Honda side bags look sharp, etc.  

How tall is the misses?  At say 28-29 inch seat height me being 5'10" with 30 inch inseam I was comfy on it (could be near 30 inches but I am taller than your wife)  but if she is under say 5'5" tall it might be too tall to be flat footed on it, maybe, pretty close anyways I think?  Still,  the 530lb. bike really feels like 300lbs. to me much lighter than my light to me 600lb. scooter.    The parallel twin design is down low and is easily flickable and even on tippy toes or partially flat footed I think anyone can handle the weight side to side at a stop.  Like you said,  she will have to go to dealer or private party sale nearby and sit on one to see if not too tall for her but you can I think adjust the rear shocks to say 2 setting so squats down a little as well when sitting on it for lighter, smaller riders.  I still think that nice looking honda rebel 300 would be fine for longer rides but without sitting on it,  not sure how the seat is being too firm or uncomfy?  It appears in the pic that the seat is very big for such a small cycle.  If on the super slab though over 75 mph,  that 300cc motor will be struggling for sure unlike the 670cc parallet twin on the ctx700 able am sure to do longer Interstate rides doing 80-85 mph or so.   I also have a 249cc single cylinder scooter does 78 mph top speed much over 70 mph and the engine gets buzzy so keep it under 65 mph feels fine at that speed and sounds like that 300cc motor in the rebel would be very similar at speeds much over 70 mph.  

Like I said,  DCT automatic maybe the way to go since I was HUGELY disappointed on the shifter clutch model when I could not rev it up well before redline engine/tranny required you to shift way way too early to have any fun on it so might as well get the DCT automatic model.  ONLY thing bad I heard about that is the plastic parking brake on handlebar tends to break so be careful with that.   I also remember now that if in too high of a gear doing to slow of speed,  the parallel twin engine with clutch would chug/lug like all vtwins do if not in the proper gear having to downshift unlike our Valks or even my kids 97 magna.

I really still enjoy the looks of the ctx700 (especially the black) and one day when I get older might be an option used, but for now,  my 2003 suzuki burgmann 650 (630cc vtwin 54 hp) with the most storage under seat holds 2 full sized helmets,  super easy to drive and smoke most Harleys up to 50 mph works for me for a DCT automatic.  I stole it I think last year from an older gent only asking 1995 with only 12000 miles on it mint condition, most newer model year ones (exact same thing just newer in model year) with more miles were going for near 3K or more.  He said him and his wife used it to go from southern WI to Door County for weekend rides which is about 6 hours one way.  One drive on it and was hooked went to 85 mph in no time flat felt like 60 mph is all super smooth, quiet, super excellent wind and body protection, and comfy.   I am 290 and wife 150 and we have both comfy gone on rides with it with power to spare did not feel her on back at all was like near riding solo with very little loss of power.  I have gone 90 mph on it no problems feeling like 65 mph and top speed supposedly is around 112 mph but feel 90-95 tops is fast enough for me could do that all day long on it on the super slabs.  The only thing I will not do on it is pass like I can my VAlk up a steep hill cars going 55 to 60 mph me wanting to go near 65 mph.  It will do it, but not as quickly as my Valk.  From 0 to 50 mph though is plenty fast enough for me.  I tried the push button shifters on left handlebar and do not enjoy doing that let the DCT automatic do its thing is best, but the POWER button is great to have use that often to race anyone off the line it keeps the REVS UP another 1000 rpms in the powerband like gaining 10 more instant hp, very torquey, when turn the POWER button on.  but yah,  the ctx700 looks more like a real cycle than a scooter both can be automatics,  I understand that but at my age I tend to not look cool no matter what I drive..    and personally do not care what others think of what I do or do not ride.

Inseam is 29+, she is short, 5’1 for her it is she has no upper body.  She jokes legs, belt, boobs.   She has plenty of stand over on the Rebel.

[Alpha Dog]

Jeepers at 5' 1" that 29 inch inseam is a plus for riding motorcycles.  I would think she would do fine with the ergos of the CTX 700.  And the bike is on the skinny side, another plus.  Cookie is right about the weight feeling even lighter than what it is.   Good luck on your(s) endeavor.  Half the fun is in the looking.

[Jess from VA]

Jerry, looking at this picture, can't she ride the 800 Drifter?
 
The pic reminded me that while I was teaching my wife to ride on her 250 (which took a while), I got tired of riding chase at low speed on my big hot dresser Harley around the neighborhoods all the time, so I picked up a used Kawi 800 A model just for that purpose.  Later, when she moved up to a 600VLX, I kept it.  But the 4-speed VLX cannot get out of it's own way (much better than a 250), so when it was again time to move up, I put her on the 800A model.  Right away, it was too tall a seat, so I got a 3" lowering kit (it's a softail design, just like the Drifter).  Except the three inch drop left almost no suspension, but it was OK at the 2" setting (esp as she only weighed 125lb).

She passed me around 110mph on that bike once.      



Not that the 700 DCT isn't probably a great choice for her.

My 800 A before lowering.

[_Sheffjs_]

Jess, oh boy did I try, the statement Alpha Dog made hit the last nail in the go for it category. “The 700 is narrow.” Sherry told me a big fat NO saying the Drifter is to wide.  I custom made that bike for her complete with candy black cherry paint.       I almost gave up and she remained a passenger for life when we tried the 300 Rebel. 

[Jess from VA]

Well whatever you do (or get), don't sell the Rebel, unless a replacement is fully accepted. 

[Pappy!]

I like the way this is going with you guys! Really happy Sherry is heading in the direction she is. 
Lesa had a Rebel 250 for quite a while and loved it when she was still in Tennessee.

[_Sheffjs_]

Jess, I agree fully and will do just that.

Pappy, maybe just maybe there will be a JB Boondocks run with a CTX 700 along.