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Motor and speed observations: I am sharing my experience after 2 days and 80 miles. I know a lot of you might be waiting to get yours or thinking of getting one. Sure comfort is nice but that is a preference or you would not think of this model. Sitting on it is not aggressive like a sport bike but it will corner well and stop well. Coming off a VFR I was looking for smaller, lighter and more comfort. I will miss the 109 HP and 11.5k redline. The CTX is a very easy bike to ride.
Day 2, Honda owner’s manual calls for shift at these miles per hour and I estimated what rpm that would be close to.. 2nd at 12 mph (2100), 3rd at 19 mph (2000), 4th at 25mph (2100), 5th at 31 mph (2100), 6th at 37 mph (2200).
The engine generates44 ft. pounds of torque at 4750 with 51 HP at 6250 and red line at 6500 so My max will most likely be around 6 if I get in a hurry.
After reading the above I decided that 2100 is too low rpm for me to shift. Lugging the engine in my mind is not a good thing. So for now I am using about 3000 as a low and 5000 as my normal driving range. Yes there may be times when I go above or below but you get the idea I hope.
At lunch time, I collected the following data by looking at the tach and speed trying to be accurate.
At 30 mph, 2nd gear rpm 3750, 3rd gear 2900, 4th gear 2400, At 40 mph, 2nd gear rpm 5000, 3rd gear 3800, 4th gear 3100, At 50 mph, 4th gear rpm 3850, 5th gear 3300, 6th gear 2650, At 60 mph, 4th gear rpm 4700, 5th gear 4000, 6th gear 3250, At 70mph, 5th gear rpm 4600, 6th gear 3750, At75mph, 5th gear rpm 4800, 6th gear 4000. Those who want to see more get out your graph paper and make a chart.
Now based on mileage markers in two miles I gained about ¼ of a tenth so that is about 2.5-3% indication over actual speed (going slower than indicated) so at 40 indicated you might be going 39.
Now I will relay my feelings on the ride. I have owned two nice Honda Hawk 650 GT’s which I know most have never seen one since they were only imported 1988 to 1991. This CTX accelerates close to it. The Hawk red lined at 8500 and would kick the CTX’s ass in a drag race or in the twisties. That said around town and driving normal I feel they are about the same. The weight is more but it is down low and that makes them feel the same rolling it around the garage (very easy). I took it out on my favorite twisty road on Day 1 with only 50 miles of experience on it. I was within about 5 miles per hour on most turns. I am still figuring when it will drag a peg, so far not once. The biggest difference is getting used to the lower shift points and working the torque curve better AND when you pick up your feed remember to put them forward not under you, lol, Figure about 500 miles for that.
Glad to have this forum. Sure used the Hawk and VFR forums.