I got out for a short inaugural ride today of about 100 miles. This bike feels like it was made for sweeping curves. I also had the bugs-on-shield experience which I'm not used to and had me chuckling. Think I need to keep some faceshield cleaning supplies in a saddlebag.
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I haven't had a bug-covered ride like that in awhile! I've always kept a small spray can of cleaner and a microfiber cloth on hand as long as I've had saddlebags to keep 'em in. 
Yesterday I also did my longest ride yet, about 170 miles in all. Since I don't yet have the taller windshield I avoided the freeway completely. While that meant doubling my travel time each way, it was great to actually see some scenery instead of just concrete rushing by.
It hit 81 degrees here, so the temperature was perfect for riding. I hit a wide range of environments, from the usual city driving, to suburban sprawl (yuck), to open country. Farm country, obviously, from the smell of manure in some places.
The bike handled great, even when I got hit by some pretty hefty crosswinds. Absolutely no vibration. At one point I pulled up next to a Harley rider, and I could see his handlebars shaking up and down. It looked like he was riding a paint mixer.
I left for home later than I had planned, about 30 minutes before sunset. That was a bit of a scary experience--riding on VERY dark country roads that I was unfamiliar with, at fairly high speeds so that I didn't hold up the traffic behind me. Being just after winter, I was worried about potholes, but luckily the rural areas seem to do a much better job at patching their roads and I only had a few jarring bumps now and then. (Yes, the front end IS a bit too "springy"; it definitely does not absorb the bumps as well as the Gold Wing did.)
The seat was amazing--I had no pain the whole time, at least not in the usual places. I've been having some lower back pain lately, and riding didn't help, but at least the upright position was much better for me than if I had been on another kind of bike.
All in all a good ride.
It hit 81 degrees here, so the temperature was perfect for riding. I hit a wide range of environments, from the usual city driving, to suburban sprawl (yuck), to open country. Farm country, obviously, from the smell of manure in some places.
The bike handled great, even when I got hit by some pretty hefty crosswinds. Absolutely no vibration. At one point I pulled up next to a Harley rider, and I could see his handlebars shaking up and down. It looked like he was riding a paint mixer.
I left for home later than I had planned, about 30 minutes before sunset. That was a bit of a scary experience--riding on VERY dark country roads that I was unfamiliar with, at fairly high speeds so that I didn't hold up the traffic behind me. Being just after winter, I was worried about potholes, but luckily the rural areas seem to do a much better job at patching their roads and I only had a few jarring bumps now and then. (Yes, the front end IS a bit too "springy"; it definitely does not absorb the bumps as well as the Gold Wing did.)
The seat was amazing--I had no pain the whole time, at least not in the usual places. I've been having some lower back pain lately, and riding didn't help, but at least the upright position was much better for me than if I had been on another kind of bike.
All in all a good ride.
Actually I thought the CTX was geared longer (taller) per the spec sheets. (?)
I would expect the CTX would definitely compare well to the ST1300, especially at the lower rpms. I almost never go over 4800 rpm just accelerating on my ST1100 and don't usually ride much higher than 3500-4000 rpm at steady speed on county and state highways. I do get to around 4200-4500 rpm on the super slab at most. I know the CTX has stronger torque than my ST1100 at all rpm levels, and likely higher HP at those rpm levels. I only have my ST1100 for a direct compare and my few short test rides proved to me the CTX was a much stronger ride. I "can" get my ST to accelerate faster but only when I get into high rpm levels. I don't usually (as in almost never) ride like that so the CTX would be perfect for my riding style.
Man, I'd love to get some more seat time on one
I would expect the CTX would definitely compare well to the ST1300, especially at the lower rpms. I almost never go over 4800 rpm just accelerating on my ST1100 and don't usually ride much higher than 3500-4000 rpm at steady speed on county and state highways. I do get to around 4200-4500 rpm on the super slab at most. I know the CTX has stronger torque than my ST1100 at all rpm levels, and likely higher HP at those rpm levels. I only have my ST1100 for a direct compare and my few short test rides proved to me the CTX was a much stronger ride. I "can" get my ST to accelerate faster but only when I get into high rpm levels. I don't usually (as in almost never) ride like that so the CTX would be perfect for my riding style.
Man, I'd love to get some more seat time on one
I guess I was remember some of the other reviews that stated the opposite.
I actually remember seeing that, too -- but it was back when the thing was first introduced, before anybody had actually ridden it. Of course it's all speculation until somebody comes up with the real numbers anyway.I guess I was remember some of the other reviews that stated the opposite.
Long or short doesn't really matter. Only that it performs!
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