11-23-2018, 02:47 AM
The mirror stalks appear to be longer on the '17 EX, so the EX might offer a less obstructed rear view than the DLX. The seating positions/leg room are the same. The rider portion of both seats appears to be identical, although the rear of the EX's seat is beveled, compared to the DLX's more vertical design. The EX's seat is flatter, front to back. The passenger portion of the DLX's seat looks to be a bit thicker than the EX's, giving it a slightly higher rise.
Besides the much-improved suspension, slipper clutch, spoked wheels, two-tone engine treatment, LED lighting front and back, seamless contoured tank, and all the extra chrome and aluminum everywhere, the other main difference between the two models is the EX makes a few more hp than the DLX and sounds a whole lot deeper and throatier, due to the shorter, lighter exhaust system. The EX sounds and feels much meaner than the DLX, with the EX offering a significantly more textured, crunchier motor pulse that can be felt throughout the entire bike every time you blip the throttle. It's a very cool, immediately noticeable difference.
Overall, however, the three main differences are the EX's vastly superior suspension and handling, the seamless tank design, and the spoked wheels with all the additional chrome, aluminum, and stainless steel bits. The EX has a more premium finish, and a much plusher ride quality. The EX also displays a penchant for the front brakes to squeal when coming to a slow, gradual stop, which is an issue that doesn't seem to afflict the DLX. Lastly, the DLX runs tubeless tires, while the the EX's spoked rims require inner tubes, which kinda sucks. Honda should have gone the BMW route with tubeless spoked rims, but they decided to stick with the pure retro theme, and CBs from the '60s and '70s with spoked wheels obviously didn't have tubeless rims.
Besides the much-improved suspension, slipper clutch, spoked wheels, two-tone engine treatment, LED lighting front and back, seamless contoured tank, and all the extra chrome and aluminum everywhere, the other main difference between the two models is the EX makes a few more hp than the DLX and sounds a whole lot deeper and throatier, due to the shorter, lighter exhaust system. The EX sounds and feels much meaner than the DLX, with the EX offering a significantly more textured, crunchier motor pulse that can be felt throughout the entire bike every time you blip the throttle. It's a very cool, immediately noticeable difference.
Overall, however, the three main differences are the EX's vastly superior suspension and handling, the seamless tank design, and the spoked wheels with all the additional chrome, aluminum, and stainless steel bits. The EX has a more premium finish, and a much plusher ride quality. The EX also displays a penchant for the front brakes to squeal when coming to a slow, gradual stop, which is an issue that doesn't seem to afflict the DLX. Lastly, the DLX runs tubeless tires, while the the EX's spoked rims require inner tubes, which kinda sucks. Honda should have gone the BMW route with tubeless spoked rims, but they decided to stick with the pure retro theme, and CBs from the '60s and '70s with spoked wheels obviously didn't have tubeless rims.