it seems honda are recalling the nc 700 due to some being fitted with sub standard chains which are snapping and doing quite a bit of damage

Oh dear, that's a bit embarrasing.

There's been 8 reported failures in Europe and the danger is anyone with "RK" stamped on their chain, which is one of three options supplied.

What I will say is that Honda have done something (pretty quick) about this, whereas the likes of Suzuki who are well aware of transmission issues (past & present) in the Burger range, have done zip.

I know who I would rather buy from!

EDIT: Though I guess it is still embarrasing.

I agree with Poldark, it's good Honda have acknowledged this and are dealing with it.

Well, its their own fault for putting silly chain drives on - should have put shaft drive in!!

There fault for sourcing chains from probably China

Good they have acted quickly like they didwith the PCX fuel issue... like has been said, Suzuki do sod all!

Just everso slightly in defence of Suzi...Honda's chain issue is a bit different! It's an immediate danger to anyone with this chain fitted to their bike. If it breaks it can cause you to instantly dump the bike in the road where you can be a: run over, b: collide with any manner of things as you go down, c: lose limbs, d: be killed. My ex-colleague who had a new 600 Yammy Fazer lost the lower part of his leg when the chain broke on a dual carriageway at 70mph. I guess Honda don't want that happening too often. High mileage tranny failure on a Burgman (just like on any bike or car) or some minor clutch judder on some 400's doesn't even cause a blip on the safety radar.

barryG wrote:There fault for sourcing chains from probably China

Good they have acted quickly like they didwith the PCX fuel issue... like has been said, Suzuki do sod all!

Well that may be part of the truth, as the three types in use are apparently marked as:

DID Japan
RK Japan .................. both absolutely fine
&
RK ................ which are the potentially dodgy ones

My NC700 brought last Wednesday has an RK chain fitted, hopefully was the early ones effected as the company has identified side plate stress fractures, I did stress to Mike Doble that I wanted one with a DID chain, but on collection it had the RK.
Just before riding away, I asked how would I know if I had a faulty chain fitted? he said the chain would snap.
I've had chains snap before, they usually run themselves off the sprockets and snake behind you in the road.
So I'm waiting for a recall letter.

Nice of Dobles, sounds like my experience