Seems I’ve bought a Crosstourer!

[haggetty]

Well now.
Have been a bit of a bike flipper over the last 7 or 8 years and was today readying my VStrom for sale - with the expectation that a planned test ride on the new Tracer 9 Gt would naturally lead to it becoming my next bike! Next week.

I have been looking at the CT for some time and daring myself to try this possibly leftfield choice. I always found a reason to dismiss it. Too big, too heavy, too awkward to wangle into my garden shed, too thirsty, too expensive to buy, too expensive to insure blah blah!

So, what happened? Well, as ever, I make up my mind then step back and procrastinate.

The Yam is £12200, quite a price but I’m prepared to pay it. So what CT can I get for that? I’m thinking. I check Autotrader, Gumtree and eBay and find a 2020 CT Manual Highlander on a 70plate (with spots) with just 695miles covered and for a very palatable £10191.

I’ve never ridden a CT at all and was disappointed and somewhat puzzled that testrides were not available from the seller (Superbike Factory). Quite how they expect someone to drop 10 grand on a bike they can’t ride first seemed crackers so I abandoned the idea and let them know why.

I wrestled with the conflict of not wanting to buy a bike I hadn’t ridden versus not wanting to let a good bike go!

Sod it, I phoned back and asked them to sweeten the deal by £300 to make me feel better and.....they duly obliged!

So that’s it. CT is go! And I’m pleased that I’ve decided to go for it.

The CT will complete my adv bike journey I think.

I started in 2013 with a lovely 650 VStrom, then had a surprisingly disappointing Gs1200Te LC. Then a 2014 S10 which was much nicer than the GS.
Following that was a 2015 FJR1300. Impressive in many ways but far less comfortable than it should have been. Next, as an antidote to that was a 2011 RT1200 air cooled. Super comfy of course but just too big to easily get through my garden gate! Next up was a 2017 AT. Nice looking but somewhat bland and with a monumentally terrible seat!
That was sold and replaced with the slightly quirky 2018 NC750x DCT on which I did the NC500. Wanting a bit more oomph I moved that on and bought a very nearly new VStrom 1000. This is my current bike and one which I am very happy with. Grunty, comfortable, with good handling and is easy to live with. It’s the bike I’ve had the longest and I’m rather fond of it. No nonsense, solid honest and reliable.

A few weeks ago I bought a Montesa 260 trials bike! I’m a bit too old at 57 and probably a bit heavy at nearly 17st but I’m managing ok and enjoying the challenge!

I expect the CT to impress with its engine and presence, annoy me with its wind protection and uncomfortable seat but most of all be a reliable companion for me and the missus for the foreseeable future! Desperately hoping it’s a keeper.

Cheers!

[DaveinNC]

I had a V Strom, the CT is light years ahead of it in pretty much every area. I wanted a big, smooth, powerful reliable LOW tech bike, I got it all plus some with the CT. I have owned mine for 3 years and since then I have lost any interest in riding anything else. It took me 55 years of riding to find my perfect bike. You will love it, good luck and enjoy.

[haggetty]

That’s a very handsome looking machine! Nice n shiny! (Thanks for your reply).

I see you’ve personalised the screen, handguards and seat.

Which made the biggest improvement in comfort? The screen or seat?

[matt28]

Originally Posted by haggetty

Which made the biggest improvement in comfort? The screen or seat?

I would say seat, as screen at 2016-up models are quite good (small deflector added may increase comfort significantly).

[shadowarrior]

Welcome aboard! Just became a CTer and joined here a few weeks ago myself. They seem to be generally nice bunch so far! Looking forward to hearing how you get on

[DaveinNC]

Originally Posted by haggetty

That’s a very handsome looking machine! Nice n shiny! (Thanks for your reply).

I see you’ve personalised the screen, handguards and seat.

Which made the biggest improvement in comfort? The screen or seat?

The seat by a long shot. The factory seat was miserable after one hour, the Corbin is good for all day.

[haggetty]

Originally Posted by shadowarrior

Welcome aboard! Just became a CTer and joined here a few weeks ago myself. They seem to be generally nice bunch so far! Looking forward to hearing how you get on

Thanks, well, the deal went through and had my first ride back home from the dealer with the wife on the back.
A great ride from Macclesfield over the Cat and Fiddle pass and back to Nuneaton on a variety of roads.
Took it easy with the missus on the back of course and recorded 52 mpg.
Bike is only 8 months old and with 700 miles on it so pretty well box fresh!

She is a heavy old girl ( the bike, not the wife) and this was expected so care is needed at low speed and taking off. Once on the move I found the bike very neutral and easy steering, rolling into corners and holding a line easily.
I found none of the expected jerky shunty on/off fuelling problems reported by others. Progress was smooth.
The screen is too short by 2 or 3 inches and this needs sorting - it always does on bikes I get. Head buffeting for me at 6’2” is unpleasant.
The seat is initially fine but I’m shifting after 1 hour. I have an Airhawk so will give that a try.
The induction howl between 3-4500 revs was surprisingly loud and I didn’t find it that pleasant to listen to. Engine sounds great chuffing around up to 3k and pushing on above 5k revs.
Cruises easy at 79-80-90 and beyond notwithstanding screen deficiencies.
Looks great, proper quality fit and finish - typical Honda premium product.

I was a little sad to see the V-Strom go - absolutely nothing wrong with it. It had a better stock seat - all day comfy, a great aftermarket screen option (Givi Airflow) and a strong enough and characterful engine as well as cheaper insurance and easy 60mpg.
I was also confident in taking the Strom up muddy 4wd tracks on summer tyres without fear of dropping it!

The V-Strom lacks the premium appearance, componentry and feel of the CT and of course does not have shaft drive or a v4!

The CT is a different proposition altogether.
Funnily enough, the riding experience reminded me more of riding my mates 1200 Goldwing years ago than riding my Strom yesterday, such is the greater sense of occasion you feel when riding it.
When seat and screen are sorted I look forward to building my relationship with it.