So, I was at the bike show...rubbing and touching things I can't afford (no Yama...different show) when I went over to the Honda area and saw a couple of bikes that they are bringing to Canada (and I think to the States as well?).

These were the naked NC700S and the fared NC700X.  The naked is the bike I saw first and sat on.  Really comfortable with a lower seat height.  I liked it...then I saw the NC700X.  It looks quite similar to the Honda CrossRunner that is supposed to be coming as well with the V4 out of the VFR800...but I'm not talking about that one...I like the styling...a little bit sporty, a little bit adventure...all good to me...

The "X" has a higher seat height, longer travel suspension and farings...that's about the extent of the differences between them...

It has a new motor, 670cc parallel twin and a 6spd transmission, wet multi-plate & chain drive.  The center stand is an option (expect around $120cdn, probably $100US)  Honda states that the engineering direction on these bikes is different from the normal performance mandate.  They went after fuel efficiency and low emissions...and nailed it...the consumption numbers from Honda are 3.78L/100kms (62mpg US ~ 75mpg Imp), and some real world testing has been done and they found the bike to get 4.04L/100kms (58mpg US ~ 70mpg Imp) on average...so pretty close to the projection and someone that is really trying would probably hit the projected numbers...

The bike is a little heavier than the GS500F, coming in at 480lbs wet...but the engine puts out quite a bit more torque.  Performance numbers for the engine are 47Hp@6250rpm & 44lb.ft@4750rpm, with a redline at 6500rpm...so obviously not high revving, more like cruiser numbers...but decent numbers given the efficiency of the unit...

Another cool thing about the bike is the storage...the fuel tank is smallish at 14.1L, but the efficiency of the bike would give it similar range to the GS500...so pretty good.  That small tank is under the pillion seat and where the fuel tank usually sits is a storage area large enough to hold a full face helmet...

Anyway, here are some pics...I grabbed them off the net...my daughter's pics weren't very good (since I was sitting on it grinning...)









And after talking to the Honda Rep, she said the bike would be hitting the showroom floors in July this year at $8990cdn for the NC700X, maybe $7990 in the States? (sorry, I didn't even ask about the pricing for the NC700S)

Dimensions that I found...
Seat Height: 32.7" (830mm) the "S" was lower by about an inch
Wheel base: 60.6" (1540mm)
Rake/trail: 27deg/4.3" (110mm)
Weight: 481lbs (228kg) wet...the "S" may have a slight weight advantage, 20lbs maybe??

Anyway, I was really impressed.  Nice looking bike in my view, decent pricing, more leg room than the GS...a little heavier, but the fuel weight is lower due to tank location, similar Hp rating but approx. 50% more torque than the GS...I never found the GS slow, but I didn't like how the wind or hills would cause you to have to gear down at hiway speed...the extra torque of this motor should correct this...

Now who thought it would be Honda to update our beloved bike??  I sure didn't...

Of course this is totally my opinion and I'm sure a bunch of you won't agree, but that's how I saw the bike and got quite excited to take one for a test ride when they arrive...

Later.

Quote from: madjak30 on January 17, 2012, 03:30:00 PM
e bike to get 4.04L/100kms (58mpg US ~ 70mpg Imp) on average...

Do you mean to tell me there are two different lengths that a mile is measured to?! Man I hate english measurements more every day.
.....and to think of all the time I've watched top gear and been happy that even though I had no idea how much those cars cost, at least I could still tell how fast they were going, and obviously I was wrong about that too??


Anyway, 6500rpm redline isn't bad. My XB9 redlined at 7200, the XB12s at 6800. the only time the low redline got annoying was when I would do wheelies, but at 47hp and 480lbs, I don't see that being an issue haha.

I think that helmet storage is a BMW idea. I remember they had a bike(looked really similar to this one) and it had a big indent in the same space where you could either fit a helmet, a tank bag, or a special stereo they made. It wasn't an internal locking compartment, but just a big recess a helmet would fit down into for storage.

Aah, found it, bmw F650CS....


Looks like the Aprilia Mana also has helmet storage, but more similar to the honda.

Is it just me, or does the front end look like the early GS1000 (or 1100?) Katana?

Quote from: tt_four on January 17, 2012, 03:45:32 PM

Do you mean to tell me there are two different lengths that a mile is measured to?! Man I hate english measurements more every day.
.....and to think of all the time I've watched top gear and been happy that even though I had no idea how much those cars cost, at least I could still tell how fast they were going, and obviously I was wrong about that too??

Ummm, no...the gallon is different...US gallon = 3.78L (ish), Imp gallon=4.5L (ish)

I was just impressed by the mileage and it is another good all rounder...

Quote from: Big Rich;669169Is it just me, or does the front end look like the early GS1000 (or 1100?) Katana?

I can see a resemblence to the original Katana 750...the ones with the pop up headlights...



Later.

Quote from: Big Rich on January 17, 2012, 03:53:16 PM
Is it just me, or does the front end look like the early GS1000 (or 1100?) Katana?

It looked BMW to me before, but now that you mention it, I definitely see Katana.

Quote from: madjak30 on January 17, 2012, 04:06:27 PM

Ummm, no...the gallon is different...US gallon = 3.78L (ish), Imp gallon=4.5L (ish)

I was just impressed by the mileage and it is another good all rounder...

haha, got it, that makes me feel a little better, but not too much.

That honda is not something I'd want. Too many newer bikes look like a squashed hornet or a wasp that got painted. The lines are not simple and clean. These new bikes have so many points, gaps, twists, doo-dads hanging everywhere, that you lose the beauty of the bike.

I want a motorcycle, not a complex looking machine. If I did, I'd put wheels on a bowling pinsetter and ride it around.

Here are nice, clean, simple lines.


There is so much going on here I can't appreciate the bike and am not sure where the bike is hidden in all the detail


This is just my opinion and preference.

Quote from: adidasguy on January 17, 2012, 05:29:19 PM
That honda is not something I'd want. Too many newer bikes look like a squashed hornet or a wasp that got painted. The lines are not simple and clean. These new bikes have so many points, gaps, twists, doo-dads hanging everywhere, that you lose the beauty of the bike.

I want a motorcycle, not a complex looking machine. If I did, I'd put wheels on a bowling pinsetter and ride it around.

Here are nice, clean, simple lines.
There is so much going on here I can't appreciate the bike and am not sure where the bike is hidden in all the detail


This is just my opinion and preference.

Agreed. I like the 80's model sportbikes the most. Simple, elegant lines and shapes. New GSXR/CBRR/ETC just look like...well...a mishmash of stuff.

People are always trying to complicate things, I like nice straight lines 




Seriously though, I don't understand the direction modern bike styling is going. GP bikes are are gorgeous, and yet, superbikes just keep getting uglier and uglier.

Yes......



NOOOOOOOOO............

Quote from: tt_four on January 17, 2012, 06:59:06 PM
People are always trying to complicate things, I like nice straight lines 




Seriously though, I don't understand the direction modern bike styling is going. GP bikes are are gorgeous, and yet, superbikes just keep getting uglier and uglier.

Yes......



NOOOOOOOOO............

That Buell is gorgeous.  So is that Aprilia shown earlier:

Quote from: tt_four on January 17, 2012, 06:59:06 PM
People are always trying to complicate things, I like nice straight lines 

If that's the case, why did you sell yours?

But it's a little more than an updated GS500...

Later.

Didn't mister do a thread on this bike?

Fugleee ... just goes to show all the plastic in the world cant cover up what is basically a fuglee bike.
Cool.
Buddha.

Fuel tank under the seat and a helmet/luggage storage compartment up front... sounds like a Suzuki innovation from 1990!

Quote from: Unsane on January 17, 2012, 08:21:32 PM
Fuel tank under the seat and a helmet/luggage storage compartment up front... sounds like a Suzuki innovation from 1990!

Such a sweet bike.  Too bad it never made it to the US.  I'd love to have one.

Quote from: madjak30 on January 17, 2012, 07:52:46 PM


If that's the case, why did you sell yours?

I was just referring to the styling. That GSVR has to be way more complicated mechanically than any bike I'll ever own, I just like the clean lines. I still think the Buell xbs are still one of the best looking bikes(only beaten by the older Buell S1). If I could have my Buell with a Suzuki TL1000 engine in it I'd never give it up. It was no secret that the engine was that bikes weak spot though. It needed to rev smoother in the low RPMs, and needed 2-3k more rpms to make up for how low the engine was geared.

Quotethe fuel tank is smallish at 14.1L, but the efficiency of the bike would give it similar range to the GS500...so pretty good.

Seriously, what's with the stingy fuel tank?
So it can go as far as the GS, why not give it the extra fuel capacity so it can go further. Why is 20L a huge fuel tank? I am not suggesting a 60+L car size but why is range given such short shrift in the bike performance stakes?

Plus it reminds me of a BMW GS without the surprised headlights.

Quote from: adidasguy on January 17, 2012, 05:29:19 PM

What a great little bike for its day.  And surprisingly agile and fun to ride. 

I did do a thread on this weak bike. I know I did one elsewhere, might not have duplicated it here. Frankly, it's hard to get excited about a 670cc bike only putting out the same hp as a gs500. Can't get excited about extra torque without hp to match.

Michael

Quote from: tt_four on January 17, 2012, 06:59:06 PM


Seriously though, I don't understand the direction modern bike styling is going. GP bikes are are gorgeous, and yet, superbikes just keep getting uglier and uglier.

I have to disagree with you on this bike though TT. This is the only faired bike I drool over.



It could be that I am very biased too 

Quote from: Twisted on January 18, 2012, 12:24:02 AM


I have to disagree with you on this bike though TT. This is the only faired bike I drool over.

I think I was mostly just referring to japanese bikes. Italians(and others) usually seem to know how to style a bike.