Is it a shudder or just a lot of vibration at times?
First time I test rode my Gold Wing I was coming off a Vulcan 750 and the very first few miles I felt a LOT of handlebar shudder almost to the point of a severe tank slapper. I learned that was due to me having no experience with such a big heavy bike. After the first day I never felt that again. Sometimes, in a used bike, that could be from loose or worn steering head nut or bearings. Tightening the steering head nut will eliminate this if it is even slightly loose.
If it is vibration, like from hitting pot holes or significant bumps and irregularities in the road, then that would be reduced (not eliminated) by removing the bar end weights. But then you'd feel the constant vibrations from the engine. It's either one or the other. Some riders prefer the engine vibes over the road bump vibes. Maybe just replace the stock bar end weights with slightly lighter ones. Someone here did that with good results. I just waited until the first 8000 miles were done on my new CTX and that almost went away as the front forks broke in... or maybe I just got used to it. I had a ST1100 just before my CTX and the front end felt the same on both those bikes to me.
Another member here has owned 2 CTX1300 bikes at the same time and reported that one was much better than the other. So there is known to be some variance between one bike and another within the series.
Many of the parts on this bike, especially the engine and transmission, are taken right off the ST1300. That ST was in the Honda lineup from 2002 until 2012 and showed many of the very same pros and cons of the CTX1300 as a result. A rather rough front end, twitchy throttle at lower speeds, bullet proof engine and strong power, etc.
First time I test rode my Gold Wing I was coming off a Vulcan 750 and the very first few miles I felt a LOT of handlebar shudder almost to the point of a severe tank slapper. I learned that was due to me having no experience with such a big heavy bike. After the first day I never felt that again. Sometimes, in a used bike, that could be from loose or worn steering head nut or bearings. Tightening the steering head nut will eliminate this if it is even slightly loose.
If it is vibration, like from hitting pot holes or significant bumps and irregularities in the road, then that would be reduced (not eliminated) by removing the bar end weights. But then you'd feel the constant vibrations from the engine. It's either one or the other. Some riders prefer the engine vibes over the road bump vibes. Maybe just replace the stock bar end weights with slightly lighter ones. Someone here did that with good results. I just waited until the first 8000 miles were done on my new CTX and that almost went away as the front forks broke in... or maybe I just got used to it. I had a ST1100 just before my CTX and the front end felt the same on both those bikes to me.
Another member here has owned 2 CTX1300 bikes at the same time and reported that one was much better than the other. So there is known to be some variance between one bike and another within the series.
Many of the parts on this bike, especially the engine and transmission, are taken right off the ST1300. That ST was in the Honda lineup from 2002 until 2012 and showed many of the very same pros and cons of the CTX1300 as a result. A rather rough front end, twitchy throttle at lower speeds, bullet proof engine and strong power, etc.
