[ShadowRider]

See the attached thumbnails.

I got the bike home and have been looking it over. Tomorrow I plan to take it out for an extended ride and really check it out. I have mixed feelings right now, but 15 miles in city/suburban driving is not enough to form a proper opinion. My overall impression right now is that the performance of the bike is spectacular, it is fairly comfortable, and it is very smooth.

My gripes have mostly to do with the design "features" that seem to have sacrificed usability for looks. I fear that adding some of the things I wanted to this bike, even really simple things, is going to be a royal pain, requiring some major disassembly, and I am not looking forward to that.

I will write a detailed review after tomorrow's ride.

 

[sleepngbear]

Very nice Steve!

Maybe for all those things you want to add, maybe just hold off until the winter and plan everything for one big off-season tear-down.

 

[ShadowRider]

Maybe for all those things you want to add, maybe just hold off until the winter and plan everything for one big off-season tear-down.

****, no! I need some of this stuff NOW. Especially the lights for visibility, and the place to hang my helmet. Because of how the license plate is attached, even THAT is kind of a challenge. You'll see what I mean (or your dealer will, like mine did) when and if you go to attach your plate. Since I am hanging a few things off of that area of the bike, I am actually considering taking off the back end of the bike in order to mount everything. Hopefully I only have to do that ONCE.

But maybe I was just tired and frustrated, and I'll be able to do it without such drastic measures...

 

[TennesseeSmith]

That's a good looking bike! I hope you have good weather so you can get out and enjoy the new bike.

28 hours to go...

 

[sleepngbear]

But maybe I was just tired and frustrated, and I'll be able to do it without such drastic measures...

That's what I'm thinking. Beyond what comes on the machine, 'need' is pretty subjective. (The Thunderbird, for example, doesn't even have a helmet lock ... anywhere.) As has been mentioned here once or twice, sometimes it's useful to have and use the thing for at least a little while to see exactly how things work and what may be better ways to do some of the things you want to do. Like location of lights and farkles, and even other options for locking helmets that might work better than what you presently have in mind.

In other words, patience grasshopper.

 

[bob]

try using the cable that comes in the tool bag and the hooks under the seat for at least a short time. I did that with my Burgman for a while (same setup with running cable loop through D ring and hooking the loops on the hooks under the seat). Then I was given a small retractable cable lock that I use for my helmet on the ST, I like that better. I think that same strap was included in the tool kit for the ST but was lost before I got the bike. PO maybe didn't know what it was for and chucked it.

 

[ShadowRider]

try using the cable that comes in the tool bag and the hooks under the seat for at least a short time.

Nope, sorry, not an option. Maybe I'd consider it if the seat went back into position more easily, but it seems to be really tricky to get the seat hardware lined up just right so that it snaps back onto the bike reliably.

Sorry if I sound like I'm nitpicking. I generally love the way the bike rides and handles. The engine performance is outstanding. The seat is very comfortable. And of course those are the things that really matter when riding. It's just the growing pile of little annoyances that is getting to me. I'm used to really high quality in Honda products, and it just doesn't seem to be consistent in this bike. I can learn to live with the quirks, but I had such high hopes for a pretty much perfect bike and I'm a bit disappointed to find that everything is NOT perfect.

I don't want anyone to NOT buy the bike because of these little things, but I think they deserve to know the minor flaws as well as the many more major good things.

I'll go into more detail later, especially about what I LIKE about the bike.

 

[Miks]

Steve,

I am with you on trying to make everything right. I have owned many motorcycles, and once I have them parked at my place, I am wanting the bike to "function" for me. Things like power for the GPS, where do I put the helmet, things need to be easy to use and convenient.

Perhaps I am the ideal Harley (?) owner, in that I put the pipes, get the mapping right on, add the backrest, luggage rack, pax backrest, luggage sleeves, lighting...and once I have them all working and correct...I get bored with the bike and sell it

Looking for more input as you get to know the bike more. The CTX 1300 definitely will be in my driveway in a short period of time.

Mike

 

[coneye]

Steve,
Perhaps I am the ideal Harley (?) owner, in that I put the pipes, get the mapping right on, add the backrest, luggage rack, pax backrest, luggage sleeves, lighting...and once I have them all working and correct...I get bored with the bike and sell it

Are you my long lost Twin