the interesting thing about the CTX is that it's a cruiser riding position on modern naked bike geometry, wheels and tyres. There's no sport bike in there, more cruiser /all rounder. It's torquey, fuel efficient ... and different, I can't think of any other bike like this.
I have trouble conceptually understanding what Honda has here in the CTX700 and 700N; maybe someone who is more familiar with different styles and how motorcycles are normally engineered can help me.
I know from reading that Honda has created a space-saving situation with this power train set up compared to any bike ever built, because the cylinders are canted so far forward. This, as I understand it, makes the center of gravity lower than similarly-styled bikes for better handling especially at slower speeds, and also, gives more space vertically to allow other options not ever seen from an engineering standpoint.
So with the NC700 series, the space savings is easily seen. They've been able to keep an acceptable fuel capacity and add enough built-in storage in front of the rider to store a full-face helmet.
What I don't understand is what is going one with the CTX700 and 700N. The fuel capacity is slightly less than the NC700 and far less than most cruisers, and the storage is pretty minimal. So where does the space savings show itself? How does this bike differ from other cruisers with similar seat heights?
I've been looking at cruisers to try and figure this out myself but am still at a loss. What I've seen is that some of them with big twins on them have the engine come way up vertically between the riders legs; most of them have the wheel going more forward and the forks at a more horizontal angle; and some of them have a larger wheel in the front. But I've also seen that some of them don't seem to have any of that, and looking at the specs, some don't have a longer wheel base, yet they have a similar seat height. So if this is the case (and I'm not saying it is, because I'm motorcycle dumb and don't really understand) where is the space taken up that was gained in the CTX700 series?