[Panther Dash]

I've read a few threads that have been asking about various aspects of riding with a passenger. I decided to do a write-up here that goes over how to ride with a passenger and what to look for in a good passenger bike. Finally, I'll look at how the CTX1300 measures up as a passenger bike.

When you are riding with a passenger you have to be aware that you'll have a lot of extra weight on your bike. Given that, you want to make sure that you have a bike that gives you extra control. Some things that can help you get more control are choosing a bike with wide bars, a commanding riding position, comfortable ergonomics, a reasonable seat height and smooth controls.

As far as things that can be done to make your passenger more comfortable, you can try to get your passenger a spacious seat. That seat should be a reasonable distance from the passenger pegs. The passenger seat should be just a few inches taller that the driver's. This is to make sure the passenger feels neither perilously high, nor so low that they can't really see what's going on.

There are also things that you can do as you are riding in order to accommodate your passenger better. The overarching theme here is to ride smoothly. This means you should shift smoothly, and you can even try to drag your back brake at low speeds to help stability too. If your passenger's helmet taps yours when you are braking, you probably aren't riding smooth enough. You can also adjust the suspension (front and rear) to handle the extra weight.

So, how does the CTX1300 measure up considering all these things that make a good passenger bike?

The CTX1300 has a riding position that is right in the middle between sportbike and cruiser. It seems to be both commanding and comfortable, so I think it gets a thumbs up for riding position. It seems like the handle bars aren't the best around. They sweep back pretty severely from the triple tree, and it might be better if it was a slightly flatter handle bar.

The CTX1300 has a pretty smooth ride. Dual-counter-balancers keep the engine smooth. One review I read says this:

[The engine runs] so smooth that I didn’t realize that I’d hit the 7,000 rpm redline until the rev-limiter flattened out my acceleration.

The CTX1300 also has adjustable rear suspension which is great for accommodating the extra weight that carrying a passenger comes with.

That's all that I could find, Do you think that the CTX1300 is a good bike for those of us who like to ride 2 up? Is there anything that you would change about the bike to make it more amenable to passengers?

 

[sleepngbear]

Do you think that the CTX1300 is a good bike for those of us who like to ride 2 up? Is there anything that you would change about the bike to make it more amenable to passengers?

In a word, yes. The CTX1300 is a great two-up machine. The seat is plenty comfortable for a passenger, and it has all the power you need for hauling around another body. All it really needs is a backrest, which should be coming soon. I wish it came as standard equipment, but by can see why Honda would prefer to keep the visual lines cleaner on the showroom floor.

 

[SoCalRyder]

I always seen it as a good 2 up bike, good to see this article reaffirming that

 

[Holtsys]

In a word, yes. The CTX1300 is a great two-up machine. The seat is plenty comfortable for a passenger, and it has all the power you need for hauling around another body. All it really needs is a backrest, which should be coming soon. I wish it came as standard equipment, but by can see why Honda would prefer to keep the visual lines cleaner on the showroom floor.

I think it's comfy for a passenger and I have the rear trunk for backrest. But I would love the option to install armrests. Haven't seen an aftermarket that will work yet.

 

[19689]

I think it could be with some work $$.....

 

[Shak]

I've had the bike for about a month now, got the OEM top case. Compared to my previous bike, this one is a big upgrade.

There are only 2 butts that get to sit on my bike, other than mine, and it the wife and daughter. So far, both butts approve for day rides.

Shak

 

[HansenCTX]

My 2 cents,

I purchased my 2014 Honda CTX1300 brand new in August of 2014. My wife rode on the back the first weekend I owned the bike. She was amazed! She loved the seat, storage, and music. The two bikes she was used to (prior to the CTX) was a 2010 Honda Fury and a 1994 Honda Magna VF750C. The CTX was designed for rider/passenger comfort. Now, six years in, she continues to love riding with me on my bike. I know of many folks who ride two-up most of the time (Tom and Carol, Chris and Karen, etc.) and they seem to be comfortable and happy with their experience.

Now, there are some considerations I cannot ignore and should mention. My wife is 5'2" tall and weights 100lbs. She is a small person. I am 6'4" tall and 210lbs (literally twice the size of my wife, LOL!). My prior bikes were not designed with passenger comfort in mind. These two aspects effect our perceptions and experiences. I guess if my wife was not so petite and we had come from other larger cruiser bikes designed for rider/passenger comfort, we might have a different opinion.

Enjoy the ride my friends,
Chris

 

[Ctxrider44]

My wife has ridden with me on a over night trip with the backrest and hated it. She did a few hours with the trunk yesterday and said it was a great ride. She would never go back to backrest.
i think it has enough Power and comfort to be a great backroad/ two-up bike..... but MY opinion based on my situation.

 

[Gary9648]

My wife has ridden with me on long trips and has never complained of sore butt. We’ve been through the Dragon, Devils Triangle and all over that area and we rode from Ohio on the freeway. I have the tail trunk with back rest installed.