Honda CTX 700: Performance And Reliability Overview

In 2013, Honda Motorcycles brought forth a new line of motorcycles, bearing the CTX nameplate. Quite a significant departure from Honda’s motorcycles, up until then in terms of design, the 2014 Honda CTX 700 did garner a fair bit of attention, and rightly so. The Honda CTX 700 motorcycles offered versatility and comfort, along with a remarkable amount of power. There is no denying that the new styling for the CTX 700 bikes was definitely mixed, and there is simply no denying that the Honda CTX 700 is an impressive machine overall. Above all, the inclusion of an automatic transmission, with the Honda CTX DCT, was the biggest selling point for this motorcycle.

Contrary to what most motorcyclists would have you believe, there are some automatic motorcycles that are actually fun to drive, and this Honda motorcycle is certainly one of them. Honda built the CTX 700 for a new breed of riders, those who didn’t want speed and nothing else, but rather valued everything a motorcycle could do well. At the time, the 2014 Honda CTX 700 boasted quite an impressive brochure, and looking back on it after almost a decade, there’s still quite a lot that makes it easy to recommend. With 2018 having been the last year of production for the CTX 700, here is a look at the overall performance and reliability of this Japanese touring motorcycle.

Honda CTX 700 Remains An Extremely Impressive Performer

When the Honda CTX 700 came out in the 2014 model year, it immediately turned heads for everything it offered at its price. In a market where most motorcycles cost more and offered less, the CTX 700 came with a 700cc engine, started at $7,000, and of course, boasted the option of an automatic engine. This touring motorcycle even has ABS, for an added cost. The Honda CTX, with its refined parallel-twin 670cc engine, churned out over 45 horsepower, alongside 44.3 lb-ft of torque. These numbers, to say the very least, are quite impressive, especially considering the inexpensive cost of owning a 2014 Honda CTX 700 today.

2014 Honda CTX 700 Engine Specs

It wasn’t just horsepower and torque that the Honda CTX 700 was impressive for. The Honda motorcycle’s total 391-lb load capacity made it feel like a motorcycle for a seasoned tourer, and not just beginners. Of course, on the other hand, Honda had built the CTX 700 in such a way that it could be marketed as a great touring motorcycle for beginners as well, and despite the large displacement from the engine, the horsepower and torque were definitely in the beginner area. Furthermore, the option of a DCT transmission made the 2014 Honda CTX 700’s ease-of-use even greater, making it one of the best motorcycles for beginners.

RELATED: 2023 Honda Navi Motorcycle: Everything We Know

Honda CTX 700: Design, Handling, And Reliability

Honda made the CTX 700D and the CTX 700N for handling well, bearing in mind its beginner-friendly marketing. Let’s face it – the CTX put function over form, but we’re not exactly complaining. The weird-looking fairing does in fact help create a significant pocket of air that helps keep the air away from your legs and knees, which comes in extremely handy during longer rides. While the automatic transmission of the Honda CTX 700 was clearly the motorcycle’s USP, even the manual transmission of the bike doesn’t leave too much room for complaints. An automatic transmission, after all, is quite welcome on a full-fledged touring motorcycle, much like the Honda Africa-Twin.

Honda CTX 700 Dimensions

The world knows Japanese motorcycles to be some of the most reliable, and the Honda CTX 700 is no different. In fact, according to a Consumer Reports survey on motorcycle manufacturer reliability, Honda was the second-most reliable motorcycle manufacturer behind Yamaha motorcycles. As such, this 2015 survey pretty much solidified that the 2015 Honda CTX 700 was one of the most reliable tourers on the market. A quick look at online consumer forums would also bring you to the same conclusions, with countless CTX 700 owners stating their satisfaction with years of ownership of the motorcycle. It was the NC700 engine that powered the Honda CTX 700, and that motor remains legendary for its reliability. There’s plenty of Honda CTX 700 owners who proudly sing praises of the motorcycle’s reliability, unwilling to switch bikes.

RELATED: The Touring-Ready Husqvarna Nuda Was Both A Supermoto And A Naked Sport

If you’re wondering if a used Honda CTX 700, from either 2014 or 2018 would prove to be a reliable purchase, you can rest assured that it will. Honda motorcycles are quite durable, and that holds especially true for the likes of the CTX 700, which has crossed tens of thousands of miles for owners. After all, all you would need after bringing home a used Honda CTX 700 is a little TLC (Tender Loving Care) to give to the touring motorcycle.

The Honda CTX 700 Boasted An Impressive Spec Sheet

For its price point, there aren’t a lot of things you could fault the Honda CTX 700 for. In fact, even today, the motorcycle boasts an impressive spec sheet. Sure, it might not have the full-LED instrumentation that became the norm only a few years ago, but its LCD-panels are by no means bad. Plus, the DCT automatic is just as refined as the fantastic NC700 engine itself, making for a ride experience that is almost impossible to get at the current price point. Furthermore, the fuel economy of this Honda motorcycle was remarkable not just at launch, but even today, after being thoroughly broken in. For example, a 2015 Honda CTX DCT returns over 60 MPG, which, paired with its 3.3-gallon fuel tank, gets you almost 200 miles on a full tank.

Honda CTX 700 Special Features

• Dual-clutch transmission (automatic)
• Great fuel economy
• Separate sport and driving modes
• Handlebar-mounted gear-shifters
• Locking saddlebags (optional)
• Heated grips (optional)

Even more impressive are the handlebar-mounted gear-shifters that you could use to change gears with the press of a button. These great features make the Honda tourer a fantastic touring cruiser that prioritizes ride comfort above all. After all, the CTX does stand for ‘Comfort, Technology, and eXperience’. Another fantastic feature of the CTX 700N DCT is its switchable ‘D’ and ‘S’ automatic modes, which are better-suited for urban riding and spirited riding, respectively. In fact, when the Honda CTX 700 is put in its automatic ‘D’ mode, the DCT system would adapt its gear change schedule on the fly, reacting to changes in rider input.

RELATED: 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST: Price, Specs, And Features

Honda’s CTX 700 Remains An Affordable And Capable Tourer

Starting Used Price: $3,700

As the headline suggests, you could definitely bring home a used Honda CTX 700 for under $4,000. According to listings on CycleTrader, a used CTX 700 begins as low as $3,700. Even in its own time, Honda’s power-to-price ratio for this motorcycle was quite impressive, and today, the ballpark figure of $4,000 for an automatic, comfortable, versatile 700cc tourer is simply impossible not to consider. A used Honda CTX 700N, without ABS, starts at the $4,000 mark, and you’d have to shell out an extra $500 to avail a CTX 700N with DCT as well as ABS.

Pricing

If you’re looking for a Honda CTX DCT for sale, the lowest price you’d have to part with is around $4,500. We did manage to find a 2018 model for $6,000, but most of these are from the Honda CTX 700 2014 model year, considering it was clearly the most popular. Sadly, Honda no longer makes the CTX 700 touring motorcycle. Honda motorcycles ceased production of the CTX 700 in 2018, which is also the final model year you’d find if you’re looking for a used Honda CTX 700 for sale. You’d be hard-pressed to find any warranty on the Honda CTX DCT, since even the latest model of this motorcycle would be at least 5 years old. However, the stellar reliability of the Honda brand, as well as the proven dependability of the CTX 700 motorcycle itself are some big factors that should enhance your confidence in your used motorcycle purchase.