2013 Chicago International Motorcycle Show (pictures)

[OriginalRocket]

* Sorry about the grain, my hot shoe flash didn't charge the night before (I forgot) combined with a slow lens. Best I could do with my gear and situation. I should have brought my UWA 10-22mm lens it was jam packed.

As promised:

When you walk in the front doors, you are greeted by this:

CTX:

Video: [video]http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianrenken/8463690146/[/video]


CBR500R:

CB1100

CB500X:

NC700 DCT Engine and transmission:

CBR250R Repsol Edition:

CBR1000RR:

Ducati 1199:

Ducati 848 EVO:

Ducati Monster:

Ducati Diavel:

Yamaha Vmax:

Triumph Speed Triple R:

Triumph Tiger:

Kawasaki 300:

Kawasaki 636:

Kawasaki ZX-14R:

Harley Softail Delux:

BMW K1600GT:

1942 Indian Model 741B Army 500cc Flat head V-twin

*I'll post the CTX video once it is done processing.


Uploading the rest of the 114 photos on my Flickr:
CLICK HERE

 

[Oldenuf]

Nice, Honda sure seems to be offering some great, well engineered machines, and affordable!!
Great for my retired budget. And above that they are just great to ride.

Art

 

[NC700X.COM]

sorry i just think the "CTX" platform will be a real flop. it resembles the DN01 too much, we all know how that went. the new wing,cb1100,and the new 500's should be a real homerun for honda. the CTX concept is just tooo far out there for most to like. i know the initial dealer reaction was not all that great either.

 

[OriginalRocket]

sorry i just think the "CTX" platform will be a real flop. it resembles the DN01 too much, we all know how that went. the new wing,cb1100,and the new 500's should be a real homerun for honda. the CTX concept is just tooo far out there for most to like. i know the initial dealer reaction was not all that great either.

I'll call you on that. The dealers said the same thing with the NC. Hell my bike had to come from Wisconsin because my dealer never ordered one. And by September they had a waiting list of over 10. I sat on the CTX. If I had to choose between the NC or the CTX it would be a hard choice. I'd like both. Finally Honda has a real comfy cruiser offering. There were 4 CTX's on the floor, and each one had a huge long line to sit on it and talk with the reps.

 

[Billy Budd]

Great pics, I wish we had a show somewhere around here...................

 

[draco_1967]

I'll call you on that. The dealers said the same thing with the NC. Hell my bike had to come from Wisconsin because my dealer never ordered one. And by September they had a waiting list of over 10. I sat on the CTX. If I had to choose between the NC or the CTX it would be a hard choice. I'd like both. Finally Honda has a real comfy cruiser offering. There were 4 CTX's on the floor, and each one had a huge long line to sit on it and talk with the reps.

Yep, and the CTX is half the price that the DN-01 was.

 

[Tucsonrider]

Great pics, I wish we had a show somewhere around here...................

The organizers of the show tried to bring this event to Phoenix as off 2008. But stopped scheduling Phoenix when no one would attend. I work in the motorcycle industry and was at the Chicago IMS show. This show was busy.

 

[NC700X.COM]

I'll call you on that. The dealers said the same thing with the NC. Hell my bike had to come from Wisconsin because my dealer never ordered one. And by September they had a waiting list of over 10. I sat on the CTX. If I had to choose between the NC or the CTX it would be a hard choice. I'd like both. Finally Honda has a real comfy cruiser offering. There were 4 CTX's on the floor, and each one had a huge long line to sit on it and talk with the reps.

it is something new and different, there will tons of lookers. getting someone to actually ride it, and then put the cash on the table, we shall see. most dealers in this area did not even take their allocation. we were allocated 4 of each, and took 1 of each. the nc has some new design features, but does not look "odd", it looks like and adventure bike. the ctx is a cross between a scooter,cruiser, and a standard, and it looks odd, odd does not sell well in the usa. look at the Rune,DNO1,CX TURBO,GYRO,CB1,GB500,current v-twin offerings, and the list goes on. i have been in/around the buiness too long to see it any other way. i am excited about the new offerings, i just fell some will be more successful than others.

 

[bo7o]

I think it's great to see some innovation in the cruiser market. Personally I wish it had a more standard riding position. Aesthetically I love (really love) the look of the bike. I've never liked the big air gap above back wheel in sport bikes. But I was dismayed to see the forward pedals and cruiser classification. So nc700x still wins for me (though I will get panniers to cover the air gap I don't care for
Its great to see the low revving, high efficiency motor move to other lines... Which can only be a good thing from parts/support perspective.

What I don't understand is the pricing: it seems to have more fairing, yet cost 500 less. Maybe some of you guys can tell from the other components - or is it just due to the popularity of NCX?

PS: thanks for all the great pictures... I enjoyed browsing.


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[turbodieseli4i6]

sorry i just think the "CTX" platform will be a real flop. it resembles the DN01 too much, we all know how that went. the new wing,cb1100,and the new 500's should be a real homerun for honda. the CTX concept is just tooo far out there for most to like. i know the initial dealer reaction was not all that great either.

I'm betting it will sell great. It looks good and will help the shorter leg riders get a bike they can flat foot. I wish mine had a little more leg room myself.

 

[NC700X.COM]

I'm betting it will sell great. It looks good and will help the shorter leg riders get a bike they can flat foot. I wish mine had a little more leg room myself.

hope you are right

 

[johnakay]

sorry that is one ugly looking front end.

 

[happy]

Thanks! Great pics and good information!

 

[gaffer49]

Thanks so much for putting up these photos. I really liked them. I look at that CTX seat and it looks so damned comfortable. I do have my eye on the CB1100 coming out next month. Thanks again.

 

[jakeisbill]

Personally, I am stoked about the CTX. I just passed the MSF BRC this past weekend and got my license today. I have sat on a NC, but I am a bit too short for a comfortable stopping position. I do like the idea of having a touring capable cruiser with the NC's engine mounted into it. I might just say F-it and pre-order the CTX. Any suggestions or thoughts will be appreciated.

 

[Cap'n Kirk]

Thanks for the tour!

 

[NC700X.COM]

sorry that is one ugly looking front end.

like i said, odd never has done very well for honda in the states. the current 1300 v-twin offerings are a prime example. any 2010 model in the 1300 line up is readily available from the warehouse.

 

[wozza]

The the standard CTX is a winner for me, though I know the faired version will more than likely be the more popular version. However I'm really disappointed that there isn't any passenger grab rails on the unfaired version. Honda what are you doing?
The headlight on the faired version looks awful... Yuk.

 

[Texican88]

I forgot to get photos but the Twisted Throttle Project Bike was also there and I thought I'd give you guys some feedback, as well as ask a few questions.

- The Rear LED, especially if you decide to go with the clear lens, is going to work really well and creating more visibility. I don't think they are the brightest on the market, but they are effective.
- The Denali LEDs on the Front are pretty great. And they actually mounted them to what they said were pre-existing mounts/holes on the front fender. Has anyone out there used this as a mounting point instead of the OEM crash/light bar?
- The R&M radiator guard looks very nice. But, yes, the bottom of the guard is attached with a zip-tie. It's barely noticeable, and might not be a big deal to many, but the Bruddt guard is attached by screws at the bottom. Though a bit more costly.
-They mounted the power distributor in the Frunk. Which, at least for the helmets I tried, did not allow any helmet to fit. Where are you guys mounting your distributors?
- I know it's been talked about a lot, but those Barkbusters look very effective.
- Also, the SW-Motech brandmarks, aren't a wrap, but individually applied decals.

That's about all I can remember. I decided to pull the trigger on a Vanson this weekend. "Mrs. Vanson" was actually there helping people out. Says the company is struggling a bit. They weren't able to keep up with changes. Went from about 130 employees in the 90's to about 30 now. Kinda sad for such a reknown company. But the jackets still kick ass and you can get them made to order for a very small premium to what that sell for off the rack.

 

[MSAB]

Nice pics. Thanks.