A couple of new Honda N700s

[wozza]

The bike may have a 270 crank, but I find my bike very smooth. I can feel the engine work, but I like that as the engine has a certain character about it. Overall Honda have done a great job with the bike. Yes definitely a bit of price cutting here and there, but in this financially difficult times I think Honda have hit the mark.

[wozza]

The faired version looks like my cup of tea

But its only a half fairing though - if they put the Integra fairing on a 700X, then I might be interested.

Incidentally, I read that production of the Deauville has ceased - I wonder if one of these N700 models is supposed to replace it, or if not, what?

Unfaired one for me any day. The only thing I find disappointing about the new models is the faired bike has passenger grab handles, but the unfaired bike doesn't. That's bloody stupid in my book.

[wozza]

The motor is anything but lumpy and certainly isn't shit either.

Sales figures are not a reliable guide to quality of engineering and design, only an indicator of popularity.

Up to a point it is, because if the bike proved itself unreliable and was 'a lumpy piece of shit' as you say people wouldn't buy it. The main proving point for me is a Spanish mag doing 50,000Kms and then stripping the bike apart to find virtually no wear what so ever, and that was inspite of them thrashing the bike to death. Also one of the road testers from the Spanish mag ended up buying one... That says it all really.

[horobags]

On looking at the pics again of the half faired version , it has similar lines to the dno1, especialy the back end, very nice!!

[Deleted User 796]

On looking at the pics again of the half faired version , it has similar lines to the dno1, especialy the back end, very nice!!

I wasn't a fan of the DN01 looks but I do like these two models.

I wonder if Honda will continue their trend and release a new 1200 DCT bike based on the vfr/crosstourer? Maybe a big tourer?

[gn2]

Up to a point it is, because if the bike proved itself unreliable and was 'a lumpy piece of shit' as you say people wouldn't buy it

People will buy and rave about any old shite, just ask Harley Davidson.
The NC engine should be very reliable given that its half a Honda Jazz car engine.
Long term the DCT I'm not so sure about, it is an extremely complex piece of kit and I reckon that less than 1% of owners actually know how it works never mind how to fix it if develops a fault.

[Data]

It's interesting to hear your comments gn2 about the vibration. I've not actually ridden one and I'm going by what I've read about it. I do think however, these engines can be affected by how they are run in and the amount of mileage they have on them when you actually try one. For example, I tried the Suzuki GSX1300R not to long ago. It had been run in using the 'fast method' outlined on the interweb by the dealer. It vibrated like hell with just 300 miles on the clock. I'm not new to that bike or the GSX1400 having owned and ridden both over the years and the 13 and 1400 engines are normally smooth as silk. Anyhoo, when I took my Burgman in for service recently I was given the same GSX1300 I had ridden earlier with 300 miles on the clock, but now it had 2.5k on the dial as a loan bike for the day. It was smooth as silk just like all the others I have ridden. It's just the engine was still quite tight at 300 miles even though the bike had been subjected to the fast run-in method and it made it vibrate. Maybe the one you tried was still bedding in!

[gn2]

The machine in question had less than 300 miles on the clock when I rode it.
It wasn't just the vibration, it was the noise and proper running in won't eliminate that.
I just couldn't live with the agricultural feel/sound of the thing.
What could have been an excellent machine has been hobbled by pandering to conservatives.
If it had no vibration whatsoever plus a big comfortable seat and shaft drive would it have been a sales flop?
I seriously doubt it.

[wozza]

Up to a point it is, because if the bike proved itself unreliable and was 'a lumpy piece of shit' as you say people wouldn't buy it

People will buy and rave about any old shite, just ask Harley Davidson.
The NC engine should be very reliable given that its half a Honda Jazz car engine.
Long term the DCT I'm not so sure about, it is an extremely complex piece of kit and I reckon that less than 1% of owners actually know how it works never mind how to fix it if develops a fault.

Well it's the Japanese who have tried to copy Harley to varying degrees. You know what they say 'Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Even the bike mags don't scoff at Harley these days.


I didn't know being a mechanic or having mechanical understanding was a prerequisite for purchasing a motorcycle. So what if people don't know how something works? I'm sure DCT is a very complicated piece of kit and I have no doubt that there will be a percentage of repairs required on some bikes at some point in time, but I'll worry about it when it happens....if it does in my ownership.

[gn2]

The bike mags don't scoff at Harley because they appreciate the advertising revenue and they don't want to alienate any potential readers/subscribers.
As for mechanics, I grew up in a time when it was still considered part and parcel of motorcycle ownership to understand and appreciate the internals of the machine you owned and to be able to service and repair it yourself.
Guess there are fewer Ogris on the road and more Mals nowadays.