Motorcycle specifications Honda CTX 700 N 2014 The little cruiser

a custom bike looks like a Harley, that's just the way it is. Even though many manufacturers and variations strive to offer machines that are more powerful, more fun, different or striking, we always end up with an ersatz that's more or less like a Harley. This doesn't detract from the fact that you can find better bikes from Milwaukee, but... Style dictates.

honda shakes things up a bit with this strange custom: the CTX 700 N. A new concept, defined by the manufacturer as "Comfort Technology eXperience". An interesting cocktail of ideas, shaken up by a strange mix of design. Clearly the son of the ill-fated DN-01 and the NC 700 S, although Honda more readily associates it with the 1800 Goldwing. Except that here, no 6-cylinder or aluminum perimeter frame. Most of the chassis and engine come from the NC 700 roadster. So, no V-twin as usual. Instead, we have a 670 cm3 with its in-line guts, its power in orbit of the 50s and its lymphatic high revs. A sober engine, far from skull-busting, but one that takes on another dimension on a custom bike. In comparison, the twin is more powerful than that of a Shadow 750, with torque values not so far apart. A special feature of this engine is its almost horizontal layout, which frees up a lot of space above the engine and accommodates a trunk in the false fuel tank, alas too small to hold a helmet.
As with the NC 700 and VFR 1200, the CTX can be fitted with the optional DCT robotized gearbox, with dual clutch and automatic or sequential gear management.

and there's no mystery about the chassis, which is largely based on the NC 700. The tubular steel frame has been slightly reworked to lower the seat height (720 mm) and increase the wheelbase. The wheelbase spans 1529 mm, just 4 mm longer than the NC-S. Yet it looks much longer than that; a magic of form and style. Braking is limited to the minimum necessary, one disc per wheel, but valiantly backed up by the reinforcement of ABS as standard. Honda plays the safety card with this chassis: anti-lock braking, very low center of gravity, stability. And to win over the public, it offers remarkable comfort, a delicate ride and first-rate handling. Above all, thanks to economies of scale and the removal of components from the NC series (frame, engine, headlight, fork, brakes, etc.), the CTX 700 N is priced at just $6,999 in the USA, or approximately 5,400 euros in France. When will it arrive in France? Its semi-hubby cousin is entitled to one, but the N has not yet been announced in the catalog.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos