Cw First Ride 2014 Honda Ctx700
CW FIRST RIDE 2014 HONDA CTX700
IGNITION
FIRST RIDE
Big Red's new-think standard
Blake Conner
HONDA'S MISSION to reignite motorcycling by providing a wide range of easily manageable bikes for beginners and re-entry riders that also happen to be affordable, continues with the new CTX. Following on the heels of the CBR250R, NC700X and threebike 500cc lineup that includes the CB500F (p. 20), CB500X and CBR500R and the recently announced Grom 125 (p. 28), you can't say that Honda hasn't gone to great lengths to get people riding.
Big Red had three primary goals with the CTX700: Comfort, Technology and a great riding eXperience, hence the CTX name. To meet these points, the CTX needed to have a low seat height (28.3 inches), low center of gravity, unintimidating power delivery and an optional DualClutch Transmission. I rode a naked DCT/ABS 700N and was impressed with its easy-tomount seating position, comfortable ergonomics and lightweight feel. In motion, the CTX has neutral steering, which is especially noticeable at slow, parking-lot speeds; feet-up U-turns are a snap. On the road, the CTX's handling is much better than you'd expect from a bike with foot-forward pegs. The engine provides a wide swath of performance. Torque that seems like it's always on tap makes leaving stoplights easy, especially so on the DCT model. The second-gen version of this multi-mode, fully auto or manual-shifting (via leftbar-mounted paddles) transmission is a great fit with the 670CC parallelTwin's power characteristics. Another bonus is the engine's efficient use of fuel; I recorded 62 mpg on a manualtransmission model.
THE SECONDCENERATION VERSION OF THIS MULTIMODE, FULLY AUTO OR MANUALSHIFTING TRANSMISSION ISA C RE AT FIT.
Breaking down the barriers to motorcycling is the goal here. And with the new CTX700, Honda has succeeded in doing just that, opening the door to future generations who may also become addicted to the awesome world of riding. CW
2014 HONDACTX700/CTX700N
ENGINE TYPE
sohc parallel-Twin
DISPLACEMENT
670cc
SEAT HEIGHT
28.3 in.
FUEL CAPACITY
3.3 gal.
CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT
494-518 lb.
PRICE
$6999 to $8799
