New Honda 670cc-twin commuters

[G]

https://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/new-honda-nc700s-and-nc700x-revealed-efficient-practical-and-fun/

Do kinda like the idea of a good-mpg commuter with auto option and ABS (though it's combined - dislike), would like traction control too really, though less of an issue with a rather paltry 48hp.

Of course, no way I'd want to pay more than £1k for one when you should be able to get that sort of fuel efficiency from a GPZ500.

[Rogerborg]

Sort of want, although it doesn't look like there's a lot of room for an under-seat tank, so I'd expect scooter mileage between fill ups.

48bhp is a funny number - I'd have expected 46.6 = 35kW = 3rd Directive A2 license limit, since they're already in that ballpark.

I wonder what they consider "excellent" fuel economy? I get 70-80mpg out of my 305 which claimed 36bhp from new and weighs probably 50kg (= 1 x pillion candy) less than that Honda.

I don't really see how constantly adding extra capacity and weight and complexity and cost helps to make a more practical, affordable commuter.

Eh, I'm just looking for reasons to hate that nobody is churning out cheap, simple 300-500cc bikes any more.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[blurredman]

48hp from a 700?

I actually quite like them tbh. Looks okay.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[Rogerborg]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/covdude/2011/668.jpg

Probably way too complex for its performance. Bit fugly too. Might as well stick with the CB500.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[stinkwheel]

It makes me pretty despondent seeing stuff like that.

So basically they've made a bike that is bigger, less powerful, no more efficient and more complex than the CB500 they were making ten years ago.

I was in a honda dealers at the weekend. They have basically fucked up every decent bike they had on their books and made shoddy re-releases of older ones. It's criminal what they've done to the VFR and the CBF600. They are making nothing new, nothing better and nothing innovative. Not just Honda, the whole frigging lot of them, there is nothing you can buy now which you couldn't get something to do the same job (or in many cases a better job) ten years ago.

In that dealer they had a tidy looking half faired, liquid-cooled 250 single labelled as a CBR250R. Looked a really tidy wee tool. Then I saw the sign giving you the specs: 75mpg, 162kg and 25bhp... THE FUCK?

In 1982, that's nearly 30 years ago now, the CB250RS weighed 30kg less, had the same fuel consumption and similar, if not slightly more power. It was also a characterful little thumper that is still sought after today.

So in 30 years of motorcycle development, they have succeeded in producing exactly the same performance from a heavier, more complex bike. A 250cc road bike for the UK market which claims to be a CBR should be making exactly 33bhp at the rear wheel and weigh 156kg fully wet through. I hope their designers disembowel themselves in shame.

I'd like to consider what UMG would have to say about the NC700 in five years time if they were still in print.... Probably unrepeatable.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[blurredman]

[andys675]

sod that, ER6's are only just about interesting with 20hp more!

[fatpies]

[Rogerborg]

[Alex A]

Honda have always made boring but relatively expensive motorcycles. These will be no exception.

[stinkwheel]

[Alex A]

I know all that. I'm a big Honda fan. My remark related to some of what Honda has always done, not all of it. The 'genius' stuff is the other side of Honda, and indeed becoming somewhat less frequent. Though the current Fireblade is a pretty good, undiluted, homage to the original.

I'd love to see them also make a 4 cyl 250 sports bike, and a V4 400cc and a V4 750cc superbike. But it's clearly not happening.

[G]

I'll accept the early fireblade as not-boring. Not so sure on the others . Ie later fireblades are still pretty damn fast, but the way they are set up, when compared to their contemporaries they still offer a very easy to use package.
CB250, cb750- dunno
c50 - may have sold a lot, but still boring, basically.
cb125t - decent chunk of power, but no patch on the 2 strokes for fun delivery.
NS750 - boring, surely because they wanted to make a 4 stroke GP bike to replace the 2 strokes .
RC30 - does look pretty, but dunno how it rides.
Blackbird - may have been fast for the time, but is the number one bike chosen by bike cops it seems .
Even the silly red line of the CBR250RR didn't come close to the power delivery of a similar 2 stroke 250 - also weighed more and had less power.

An interesting design does not an interesting bike to ride make.

[Darth]

I have always wanted an SD1.
____________________
Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[Rogerborg]

[Shielder]

+1 to what Darth has said!

SD1's rule.
____________________
CBT - 22/10/08 & 30/5/11, Theory - 13/06/11, Mod 1 - 26/9/11, Mod 2 - 29/9/11
'00 Suzuki Intruder VL 125 (06/06/09 - now)

[kawashima]

I heard this engine has same bore*stroke as honda jazz 1.4litre (73*80).
Thinking this as "Half jazz engine" disappoints me a little bit.
____________________
own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[JoeDougieDoug...]

I saw that bike in the magazine Honda sent me this month. Looks pretty sweet in my opinion, and the under-seat tank is brilliant, pure mind-fuck for people seeing you put your helmet in your fuel tank (but i'm sure some people on here do that anyway )
____________________
CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[LordShaftesbu...]

[Rogerborg]

Mmm, RiDE just reviewed the NC700X version. They were generally positive: it is half a Jazz engine, redlines at 6500 but with bags of usable torque, handy 'tank' storage, rides OK, can make progress if you short shift it, decent fuel economy - 66mpg measured while ragging it (all the way to that screaming redline).

Eh, I dunno. In theory it could have been designed to appeal specifically to me; there's probably even a rack for my pipe and some nice heated slipper holsters.

But when I look at it, all I see is a lardy over-engineered GS that wouldn't set your pulse racing if you rode it over a cliff. It's a bike designed to appeal to people who don't really like bikes, and who will probably never find out that it exists.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[LordShaftesbu...]

When I first clapped eyes on it I thought it was ugly as sin, but it's grown on me. I wish it had just a bit more power, if it had it would make a good replacement for my current winter/long distance bike (an ER-6n).

I've been watching The Walking Dead and I thought if I had to choose a post-apocalyptic bike the this would be good, it could handle dirt tracks with the right tyres and would make the most of your petrol stores.

[Alex A]

The chassis:

https://bikerscafeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/43407.jpg

It's the same for the NC700S/NC700X and the Integra maxi scooter:

https://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1513529750321&id=79f1821084be73419976b4b23af14678

No thanks.

[nowhere.elysium]

Hmm. I saw this thread when it first appeared, and my feelings have remained roughly the same: the 'X' version looks OK, but I still hate parallel twins, so wouldn't bother with it. I wouldn't be overly distraught if it was a loan/hire bike, but I can't see myself ever buying one.
I'm still trying to get my head around where it is they're aiming with this bike: it's 6 grand, which is a price range that opens up a lot of options.
On the up side, once these start being bought (and I'm sure some people will buy them) at least it'll mean that the SV650 receives a little less derision
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Rogerborg]