[wimpyhonda]

Has anyone came up with a good pair rear shocks for the CTX1300? These stock shocks suck big time.

 

[wimpyhonda]

guess every body is ok with there rough riding CTX1300s

 

[Hoosierman]

I don't understand why everybody thinks these CTX's ride so bad. I don't think mine rides bad at all, but that's just me and I came off a Honda Fury that I had lowered 2" in the rear.

 

[Springer]

I don't understand why everybody thinks these CTX's ride so bad. I don't think mine rides bad at all, but that's just me and I came off a Honda Fury that I had lowered 2" in the rear.

+1

I toured on a VT1300CS (Sabre) and didn't think it was bad.

The CTX is plush.

But you do have to strike a balance with the shock preload and the lively forks. Rider and cargo weight have a significant bearing on the most pleasing ride.

And it's definitely not on the #1 factory setting.:wink:

 

[sleepngbear]

I don't understand why everybody thinks these CTX's ride so bad. I don't think mine rides bad at all, but that's just me and I came off a Honda Fury that I had lowered 2" in the rear.

I agree -- and have agreed as long as I've been here. I think the CTX rides as well as any other bike I've owned. I'd like to know what people who think it rides rough have had to compare it to to give that impression. Everybody's make-up and preferences are different. But, as I noted in another post/thread, it's also quite possible that these things just vary from one bike to another. OK, I understand that some people just like to tweak things to improve them -- everything out of a mass-production assembly line can be improved in one or many aspects. But I just don't see how anybody can call the ride on this bike bad, any more than any other aspect of the bike that has after-market replacement or add-on parts can be considered bad.

 

[bob]

I would agree that the ride on the CTX1300 is not the same as the ride on something like the GL1500 I had. But it's darn close. I do feel a LITTLE more of the bumps but not by much. And most of that may be that there have been a few less plush bikes under my tush in between. Adjust the rear shocks and try different settings there for some miles before jumping to any conclusions about the ride. Every day I ride over the same railroad tracks that have had no work done on them. The first few months I did notice a bit more bump going over those tracks, now I don't notice any. The first 4000 miles improved the ride some, but I'd have to say the most improvement from simply being broken in has happened in the last few thousand miles.

 

[wimpyhonda]

The problem I have with the CTX1300 is on rough roads or dips it feels like it bottoms out. I have 8000 miles on my bike now and it is not getting any better or worse. I have tried all the settings on the rear shock and it does not help the bottoming out thing. Yes on pretty good roads it rides great but hit a rough bridge or dip and mine will jar the crap out of you. My 2012 GL1800 with 49000 miles does not do that it soaks up the rough places riding the bikes back to back same roads. If I could get the jarring out of this bike it would be great

 

[gtmn]

oh man I wish I could pipe up here but I don't have forks back yet
TRAXXION DYNAMICS still has them
apparently they are the busiest right now
they have had my forks since the 23rd of last month
I left a message today for Dan but still waiting, I thought it would be a quicker turn around but I guess they just got pounded now that its spring
I think that the harshness is the fork bottoming out due to the soft springs
if you want to know for sure if that's the case put a tie strap around the fork near the upper tube, go for a ride on hose bumpy roads
and when your done see how much of the travel you used,
just put it on the side stand have your wife pull up on the bar a little and measure to the strap
I bet its 4 inches
which is all we get on this bike
just sitting on the bike with feet on the ground I used 2 inches
so I sent mine right in to Traxxion
there is a fix
just depends on if we are willing to spend the $$$$$$
because as all of you know there is no hope for the factory fork
as soon as they open up my forks I will let all of you know or I will ask Dan if he can do a post
for now we wait
for most of us it could be as simple as a spring upgrade as per your weight, or a new ak20 kit, ( entire guts )
google Traxxion Dynamics ak-20 and see what it is. its really cool

 

[sleepngbear]

OK, if your bike drops 2" just from sitting on it, well first of all, does it drop 2" and rebound 1", or does it drop 2" and stay there? And then that begs the question of those of you complaining the loudest about the suspension -- how the he11 much do you guys weigh? I'm 190 (should be 165, but that's another story), and I have no complaints (that's NOT to say it couldn't improve, I'm just saying I'm OK with it as it is.) Considering this bike has a capacity of 400 lbs, being in the mid 200's shouldn't make that much of a difference -- but it could.

 

[Springer]

And then that begs the question of those of you complaining the loudest about the suspension -- how the he11 much do you guys weigh?.

I was right with you up to there.

But now yer just meddlin'...:rotfl9:

 

[cjm76]

I have never had a complaint with the rear shocks - and I ride two up about 60-70% of the time. At the 4000 mile check-up, I had my shop set the rear pre-load one step firmer (from factory default) just to see what would happen - not because I perceived any real problem. I think it is a bit better ride, but like I said, I was not complaining to start with.


Now I do feel the harshness in the front suspension that everyone else talks about and will be very interested in the report on the Traxxion Dynamics up grade that gtmn will give us. If it is good news, I will probably bust open the piggy bank and see if I can swing some for myself.

 

[sleepngbear]

I was right with you up to there.

But now yer just meddlin'...:rotfl9:

What? You really think if you look like this guy you're going to have ideal ride and handling?

:520: :520: :520:

 

[Springer]

I told my wife that picture was not for general release....:tongue:

 

[sleepngbear]

I told my wife that picture was not for general release....:tongue:

See, that's why you never, ever believe it when they say "that's okay, you don't have to get me anything."
:rotfl9:

 

[Springer]

:520:

 

[gtmn]

a very heavy 250
at 5'11"
and no it doesn't rebound

 

[shane]

I'm huge. Over 300 pounds, and exactly 6 feet tall. I have my suspension set at 5, and I have no complaints at all. I ride 2-up with my (much smaller) wife, and I've never bottomed out, even when crossing RR tracks. This is not a Goldwing, but I can't imagine a more comfortable ride. As for the picture of the fat guy a couple posts up: Look at the smile on his face and tell me he's not still better off than all the cagers that will never know why he's so happy.

 

[niftee]

I had my front and rear suspension done by a local specialist and I have got to say that the before and after are like chalk and cheese. The guys that did the work are called Teknik Motorsports, located in Penrith, Sydney.

They replaced the front springs, changed the fork oil and did some other stuff (I know, this is all very technical) and replaced the rear shocks with some Ohlins for a harley FX-D, model number HD216. He had to do some work to get them to fit, like drill out the eye thingys, but after a few hours I rode away and was amazed at the change in the handling and feel of the bike. Rough roads were smoothed out, there was no jarring through the handlebars, it was just a joy to ride.

cheers

steve

 

[wimpyhonda]

:520:

I had my front and rear suspension done by a local specialist and I have got to say that the before and after are like chalk and cheese. The guys that did the work are called Teknik Motorsports, located in Penrith, Sydney.

They replaced the front springs, changed the fork oil and did some other stuff (I know, this is all very technical) and replaced the rear shocks with some Ohlins for a harley FX-D, model number HD216. He had to do some work to get them to fit, like drill out the eye thingys, but after a few hours I rode away and was amazed at the change in the handling and feel of the bike. Rough roads were smoothed out, there was no jarring through the handlebars, it was just a joy to ride.

cheers

steve

THANKS STEVE


That's the kind of infro I was looking for

 

[bruceb]

I changed the fork oil to lighter 5 weight at delivery.

O/W no other mods.

I have no complaints about the handling or the ride. [Other than wearing out my left boot sole when I get too enthusiastic. Or is that a good thing?]