Honda NC700

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It's priced okay but where they find top of class is beyond me.
My take at Rock the Red ( and my son's ) was....... boring.

Too bad you didn't get a chance on the BMW CT650 at Mosport- sweet machine.

For the same $9k a Burgman Exec will walk all over the NC700 storage, handling, features and protection up front. ABS, power windshield, heated grips, twin front discs instead of the single on the NC700.
Honda calls 21 litre storage generous - that's a joke - one single helmet, no up front storage and a truly sucky windscreen.

It's got good gas mileage and the detuned motor should go a long way.
Now at least the DCT version has a sport transmission mode that might make it a fun ride. As it stood both my son and I were far from impressed.

The suspension was good on the Honda - hard to tell on a demo ride but most have a better suspension than the Burgman.
The Burgman is always stable even at high speeds but the suspension is short and can be harsh on rough surfaces.

In my view it is overpriced but then most Honda's are on the top end of any pricing scale by model.
I'll wait til I get a shot on the DCT version to make a final call.
That's a good tranny and like the Burgman 650 you can switch between commuter/touring mode and spirited.
Might make the dull 700 perk up a bit.
But lack of front protection seems wrong headed in a commuter/light touring bike.
The BMW CT and the Burgman Exec both far superior in that respect.
 
I really need to call around and see if I can get a ride on the NC. Opinion seems to be all over the place on it, so I can seemingly only trust my own.
 
I think you have to be careful which NC700 you end up demoing.

This likely sums it up closest to what I experienced..

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-honda-nc700x-review/19622.html

That review nails the problem....

It’s a tricky balance, though. Like driving an old diesel car, there’s not much spread of power when your revs are capped with such a lowly ceiling and peak torque (a healthy 60Nm) is made just 1,400 or 1,500rpm before it’s all over. In reality it means you’re busier with the gear lever which might not be ideal for a rubbish (new) rider. If ever an engine screamed out for a CVT or DCT transmission as standard, this, surely, is it.
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You hit the rev limiter all the time and not in particular aggressive riding and the gearing choice is very weird.

I suspect the DCT version may be a hoot but not all will want that.

I'll bug my Honda contact and maybe we can get the Brampton dealer to lend out a couple of 700s as I'd like to try the DCT version

One reviewer noted it felt like the older Brit bikes but with better gas mileage.
I guess one could get used to that kind of approach. Not for me tho.
3 months on a thumper a year in Aus is quite enough.
 
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MacDoc said:
You hit the rev limiter all the time and not in particular aggressive riding and the gearing choice is very weird.
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Sounds like my experience testing a WR250 coming from a 600cc sport bike. You adapt. It's got all it's power low and early in the rev range, a "truck motor" as I not-so-affectionately call them.

It's interesting the polarizing response this bike is getting as Rob said, particularly since it's meant as a mid range kind of do-it-all bike, which are normally pretty bland or even boring. While it's not for me (I love me some RPM), I hope the model does well because I want to encourage Honda's innovative, somewhat risk taking design approach.
 
fastar1 said:
Sounds like my experience testing a WR250 coming from a 600cc sport bike. You adapt. It's got all it's power low and early in the rev range, a "truck motor" as I not-so-affectionately call them.

It's interesting the polarizing response this bike is getting as Rob said, particularly since it's meant as a mid range kind of do-it-all bike, which are normally pretty bland or even boring. While it's not for me (I love me some RPM), I hope the model does well because I want to encourage Honda's innovative, somewhat risk taking design approach.
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As I tend to short shift, this bike might suit me rather well. Also, when it comes to MacDoc's luggage comment, I think that the rather large amount of optional luggage answers it quite nicely. Sure, it's an extra cost but if you want to turn the NC into a baby tourer, you can do it easily and with equipment specifically designed for it, rather than a 3rd party cludge.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
As I tend to short shift, this bike might suit me rather well. Also, when it comes to MacDoc's luggage comment, I think that the rather large amount of optional luggage answers it quite nicely. Sure, it's an extra cost but if you want to turn the NC into a baby tourer, you can do it easily and with equipment specifically designed for it, rather than a 3rd party cludge.
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I like the look of the bike, but 700cc is just to small for me, riding a 1200, so would not be interested in a step down. A shaft drive would also be a must for me, low maintenance and very very smooth ride. The NC700 does at least have luggage options. Comparing a scooter with a motorcycle storage is almost unfair, as most bikes just dont have any built in storage at all. Now the luggage options and farkling it to make it suited for you, thats a bonus.

Through some tough luggage and the bike only looks better, unfortunatly only aesthetically
NC700X-2.jpg
 
Rob MacLennan said:
As I tend to short shift, this bike might suit me rather well. Also, when it comes to MacDoc's luggage comment, I think that the rather large amount of optional luggage answers it quite nicely. Sure, it's an extra cost but if you want to turn the NC into a baby tourer, you can do it easily and with equipment specifically designed for it, rather than a 3rd party cludge.
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You definitely need to ride one yourself....too many opinions. I stand by mine...My current bike has a 8500 redline but I rarely use it. The only time I hit the limiter on the Honda was coming onto hwy 115 and I just forgot...was also chasing a CBR 1000. I am sure that you would get used to it in no time. In fact last Monday I was on track at Barber on the 1000RR in a school. If I can go from that and only hit the rev limiter once on a demo ride on the 700X it can't be that bad. The complaint about a narrow power band is just unfounded in my opinion, the torque starts very low and the thing pulls hard. I would never consider this bike slow, I demoed the new BMW 650 Serteao the day before and although that bike surprised me with it's power it was nowhere near as strong as the Honda's.
Btw didn't like the Serteao at all...too tall...motor seemed rough and the tach was pathetic.
 
wonderings said:
I like the look of the bike, but 700cc is just to small for me, riding a 1200, so would not be interested in a step down. A shaft drive would also be a must for me, low maintenance and very very smooth ride. The NC700 does at least have luggage options. Comparing a scooter with a motorcycle storage is almost unfair, as most bikes just dont have any built in storage at all. Now the luggage options and farkling it to make it suited for you, thats a bonus.

Through some tough luggage and the bike only looks better, unfortunatly only aesthetically
NC700X-2.jpg
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Step up, step down, sideways..... Whatever. It's all in how you look at it. I've ridden 1100 and 1200cc inline fours, then owned a VFR800 for 9 years. Now I'm on a 650cc twin. They're all bikes.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
Step up, step down, sideways..... Whatever. It's all in how you look at it. I've ridden 1100 and 1200cc inline fours, then owned a VFR800 for 9 years. Now I'm on a 650cc twin. They're all bikes.
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I like anything with 2 wheels, but if I have a choice, and I do, this would not suit me, though it would over many many other bikes. I agree it is how you look at it, there is no one right bike for all, buy what best suits your needs in a bike.
 
The NC700 does at least have luggage options. Comparing a scooter with a motorcycle storage is almost unfair, as most bikes just dont have any built in storage at all.
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Except the Integra 700 is the same machine with storage and with a better transmission. Don't think your blanket statement holds. And the Aprilla 850 has zip storage is still classed as a maxi.

It's blending all over the place.

The Sertao is a single and can go off road properly.....hardly in the same class.

2012-BMW-G650GSSertaoa-small.jpg


the BMW F650 on the other hand is a twin and GS and at 71 horsepower likely to outrun the Honda and lots of farkles available. The F800 is only 207 kg and 85 hp - quite a potent mix.

Versus 50 hp and 226 kg for the Honda.

I do suspect the NC700 engine will run just about forever with simple maintenance so that's a big plus.
 
Patrick Trahan put in a plug for this bike as an adventure tourer. He loves the low centre of gravity and torque curve on it, and this is coming from a guy who rode the Dakar and attempted a circumnavigation of Africa on Honda XR650L. We were talking about the Kawasaki Versys 650 that I rode while touring Europe this past June, and he suggested the NC700X when I described how anemic the Versys was in second gear if you were lugging the engine at the bottom of the power band trying to get the sucker uphill. If the NC700 pulls hard just after shift change into second than I may take a look at it seriously.

While I hate the idea of having to move a tailpack to fuel up, I definitely want to test ride this bike and see if it would make a decent touring bike with hard luggage and all the other farkles that make riding on and off the superslab more comfortable.

As far as the single disc brake goes, I rode a KLR that had a single disc and single piston calipre that was like trying to stop a dishplate with two wet sponges. My DR650 has 1/3 more braking ability, but dives like a submarine. The NC700 has got to be better than those two bikes for the road. ;)

I found this comment on visor down:
gunshot 72, you have excellent points. I've read around the web and so many people are complaining about the horsepower numbers, low rpm, and whining up a storm. But many are entirely missing the most beautiful thing about this bike, and that's the torque! Torque is a beautiful thing! You don't need high horse with this bike; it will haul plenty fast for the average rider from 2000 rpm. With this bike you have almost diesel like torque.

I had an XR650L for years, and it only made about 28.5 foot-pounds of torque stock, and only about 33 horsepower. Those are low numbers on paper for a 650! Many people ******* there too. But that XRL, while not a racebike, was a tractor on two wheels! That thing could pull stumps out. It made it easy to ride, very tractable, and it snorted from 1000 rpm's! This NC700 has 1.55 times a much torque as the XR650L had, and the weight only went up 1.38 times as much, so this NC has an even better torque-horsepower/weight ratio. And these numbers are combined with close to 80 miles per gallon? Sure a scooter gets 100 mpg, but they have all the horsepower and stump pulling torque of a weed eater! Alright, enjoy your scooters!

Man, this bike would be an absolute blast to ride. People will quickly adapt to the torque curve on this bike in their shifting...as for all these expert journalists and sport-bike jocks who can't figure it out, well, that says something about them doesn't it. Most critics here don't know what they are talking about. And what's this about "crude but effective" suspension and brakes? The auther just slammed half of the bikes on the road with those assanine comments.

Fill this bike up with some Amsoil and the mileage and longevity will increase even more, on top of Honda's famous quality levels. I wish they used this engine in an updated dual-purpose bike. But I'll take it, and enjoy it riding around everyday. Good work Honda.
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Rotten_Ronnie said:
We were talking about the Kawasaki Versys 650 that I rode while touring Europe this past June, and he suggested the NC700X when I described how anemic the Versys was in second gear if you were lugging the engine at the bottom of the power band trying to get the sucker uphill.
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I can see your point if you're whipping up "proper mountains" in higher elevations. My 2 trips this year to TN/NC/WV/VA I rode the bike down loaded with about 60lbs of gear. I found her extremely capable racing up the "baby" mountains. On a couple occasion I had wished for a little more "Go" but who doesn't after a few hours of that kind of riding.
Now say something nice about my bike! :)
 
too funny

Rob MacLennan
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Mr. MacLennan is an intense man, but also a ever-helpful, stand-up, determined dude. That’s why we gave him the Soapbox deletion keys, which he’s happy to use. We think Rob lives in the GTA but if he actually told us, he’d have to kill us.
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killerkeith said:
I can see your point if you're whipping up "proper mountains" in higher elevations. My 2 trips this year to TN/NC/WV/VA I rode the bike down loaded with about 60lbs of gear. I found her extremely capable racing up the "baby" mountains. On a couple occasion I had wished for a little more "Go" but who doesn't after a few hours of that kind of riding.
Now say something nice about my bike! :)
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It out turns a BMW F800GS. Handles beautifully at fast and low speeds, and had all the top speed one could ever use without losing their license. For a KLR rider, the Versus was a KLR on steroids with the same seating position and neutral steering. With the right tires it would make a gravel road adventure bike. It tricks out with hard bags and you can haul a house and never feel it back there. Much better handling than my Bandit 600.

Oh, the first gear wheelies are awesome until the front comes down again. ;)
 
Rotten_Ronnie said:
It out turns a BMW F800GS. Handles beautifully at fast and low speeds, and had all the top speed one could ever use without losing their license. For a KLR rider, the Versus was a KLR on steroids with the same seating position and neutral steering. With the right tires it would make a gravel road adventure bike. It tricks out with hard bags and you can haul a house and never feel it back there. Much better handling than my Bandit 600.

Oh, the first gear wheelies are awesome until the front comes down again. ;)
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Message approved:D
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