Duffy
New member
The red New Old Stock (NOS) 2014 CTX700 is going to be on my breezeway within a few days. I'm looking forward to having the bike. I can start putting it through its paces.
I have a few questions that I'm concerned about. The bike represents some progressive innovations. Such as the catalytic converter. This is not new to me because I own an 1100 BMW Roadster that has a catalytic converter. It has never been a problem, other than that it probably contributes to the very faint exhaust note, and sewing machine vibe. I am ready for the CTX to produce a super ultra light exhaust note. I actually enjoy the quietness of the BMW, so I guess I should expect to like the modest nature of this new bike. I would like it if there was some way to get a stronger exhaust note out of the new bike though. Especially if I can do so economically and without adversely impacting the performance of the bike and the fuel economy. I have heard that messing with the stock exhaust system can cause problems with the electronic fuel injection program, etc. Any specific ideas regarding this bike and the quest for a more robust exhaust note will be appreciated.
One really positive thing I have going for me here is that I have a super good mechanic that runs his own business, including selling used bikes, but his main interest is in designing and building 'big' drag bikes from four cylinder Kawasaki's, etc. He races the bikes at Beaver Springs Drag Strip. He is advancing in age, although he is by no means an old dude; he has a lot of quality experience. Having him available to work on my new bike, instead of the amateur and novice mechanics at the Honda dealer, is a real plus. The local Honda dealer tries its hardest to hog up all the service work, of course, and resorts to some interesting tactics in order to do so, as you, I'm sure, can imagine.
Something I have not encountered before are the potential problems associated with the CTX700's 'rev limiter'. I have never had a problem from a rev limiter before. I am pretty sure that my 'new to me' Yamaha Majesty 400 Superscooter has a rev limiter, but if it does, it is mostly transparent and does not pose any noticeable problems of any sort. It has the Continuously Variable automatic Transmission (CVT), and I think I have noticed some rev limiting going on when I really pushed the bike recently, up a long incline. I wanted to see what kind of speed I could get out of it going up a long incline and I reached 72 mph before running out of room. It felt like, with more room, it would have kept climbing in speed for a while yet. At the same time it seemed like a rev limiter was keeping track of things.
With this in mind, I looked at the general comments on the forum here and didn't see any current topics mentioning a rev limiter or related problems. Should I expect to notice 'rev limiter' getting my attention? Is it an aggressive type of rev limiter, or something that does its job quietly in the background? I can understand where the rev limiter technology can protect the engine and produce improved mpg's.
I will be finding out a lot about this bike soon enough, but I thought I would ask some questions here and find out what kind of personal experiences some of you people here have had. There is zero substitute for experience. Bearing in mind that there is a great deal of experience concentrated on this forum, I thought it would be a good idea to ask some questions here.
I have been a long time rider. My dad bought me my first bike when I was 15 as a reward for me if I would get "all B's on my next report card". I got all B's and within a few days I had a shinny new red Honda 'Dream' parked in the drive way. Man I had a lot of fun on that bike. That is when I first learned that bikes are 'chick magnets'. Ha ha. Yeah. That bike was a lot of fun.
Since then I've always had a half way decent bike around. I gave my son my low mileage Honda XL185R several years ago and he is maintaining it very well. I am giving him my 2000 BMW 1100 Roadster.
So, with a lot of experience I will be rolling into this new CTX700, and, like with the Yamaha Superscooter, I am again 'toning things down' to a lighter, more easily manageable, yet interesting bike.
I never thought that I would be rolling with a scooter, but this Yamaha super scooter is really awesome and fun, from my point of reference. I think I will dig the CTX700 also.
Actually I think I will really dig the CTX700 since it is a conventional type motorcycle and has a six speed conventional clutch manual transmission. I like six speed transmissions and have not had one since my 1000cc super fast Kawasaki 'Concours' sport touring bike. I never found out how fast that bike would go. It would start to do the 'shake, rattle, and roll', shifting around in the lane, type of thing any time I got it rolling over 110 or 115. My BMW is rock solid at these speeds and feels like you are riding the blade of a sharp knife down the road. You think you are going maybe 80mph and glance down to see that you are actually going 110 to 115. This bike is a Thoroughbred and has a lot of confidence, just plain 'wanting' to go fast.
Well, anyway, I thought I would ask a few questions and got a little carried away. I hope I didn't offend anyone. If so I apologize. But then again, what is the forum here for if not to converse?
I'm looking forward to some positive feedback. I appreciate your consideration.
I have a few questions that I'm concerned about. The bike represents some progressive innovations. Such as the catalytic converter. This is not new to me because I own an 1100 BMW Roadster that has a catalytic converter. It has never been a problem, other than that it probably contributes to the very faint exhaust note, and sewing machine vibe. I am ready for the CTX to produce a super ultra light exhaust note. I actually enjoy the quietness of the BMW, so I guess I should expect to like the modest nature of this new bike. I would like it if there was some way to get a stronger exhaust note out of the new bike though. Especially if I can do so economically and without adversely impacting the performance of the bike and the fuel economy. I have heard that messing with the stock exhaust system can cause problems with the electronic fuel injection program, etc. Any specific ideas regarding this bike and the quest for a more robust exhaust note will be appreciated.
One really positive thing I have going for me here is that I have a super good mechanic that runs his own business, including selling used bikes, but his main interest is in designing and building 'big' drag bikes from four cylinder Kawasaki's, etc. He races the bikes at Beaver Springs Drag Strip. He is advancing in age, although he is by no means an old dude; he has a lot of quality experience. Having him available to work on my new bike, instead of the amateur and novice mechanics at the Honda dealer, is a real plus. The local Honda dealer tries its hardest to hog up all the service work, of course, and resorts to some interesting tactics in order to do so, as you, I'm sure, can imagine.
Something I have not encountered before are the potential problems associated with the CTX700's 'rev limiter'. I have never had a problem from a rev limiter before. I am pretty sure that my 'new to me' Yamaha Majesty 400 Superscooter has a rev limiter, but if it does, it is mostly transparent and does not pose any noticeable problems of any sort. It has the Continuously Variable automatic Transmission (CVT), and I think I have noticed some rev limiting going on when I really pushed the bike recently, up a long incline. I wanted to see what kind of speed I could get out of it going up a long incline and I reached 72 mph before running out of room. It felt like, with more room, it would have kept climbing in speed for a while yet. At the same time it seemed like a rev limiter was keeping track of things.
With this in mind, I looked at the general comments on the forum here and didn't see any current topics mentioning a rev limiter or related problems. Should I expect to notice 'rev limiter' getting my attention? Is it an aggressive type of rev limiter, or something that does its job quietly in the background? I can understand where the rev limiter technology can protect the engine and produce improved mpg's.
I will be finding out a lot about this bike soon enough, but I thought I would ask some questions here and find out what kind of personal experiences some of you people here have had. There is zero substitute for experience. Bearing in mind that there is a great deal of experience concentrated on this forum, I thought it would be a good idea to ask some questions here.
I have been a long time rider. My dad bought me my first bike when I was 15 as a reward for me if I would get "all B's on my next report card". I got all B's and within a few days I had a shinny new red Honda 'Dream' parked in the drive way. Man I had a lot of fun on that bike. That is when I first learned that bikes are 'chick magnets'. Ha ha. Yeah. That bike was a lot of fun.
Since then I've always had a half way decent bike around. I gave my son my low mileage Honda XL185R several years ago and he is maintaining it very well. I am giving him my 2000 BMW 1100 Roadster.
So, with a lot of experience I will be rolling into this new CTX700, and, like with the Yamaha Superscooter, I am again 'toning things down' to a lighter, more easily manageable, yet interesting bike.
I never thought that I would be rolling with a scooter, but this Yamaha super scooter is really awesome and fun, from my point of reference. I think I will dig the CTX700 also.
Actually I think I will really dig the CTX700 since it is a conventional type motorcycle and has a six speed conventional clutch manual transmission. I like six speed transmissions and have not had one since my 1000cc super fast Kawasaki 'Concours' sport touring bike. I never found out how fast that bike would go. It would start to do the 'shake, rattle, and roll', shifting around in the lane, type of thing any time I got it rolling over 110 or 115. My BMW is rock solid at these speeds and feels like you are riding the blade of a sharp knife down the road. You think you are going maybe 80mph and glance down to see that you are actually going 110 to 115. This bike is a Thoroughbred and has a lot of confidence, just plain 'wanting' to go fast.
Well, anyway, I thought I would ask a few questions and got a little carried away. I hope I didn't offend anyone. If so I apologize. But then again, what is the forum here for if not to converse?
I'm looking forward to some positive feedback. I appreciate your consideration.