New NT700V, Europe's Deauville

[Uwe]

Wouldn't a bike looking like the NT but powered with the VFR800 have been nice?

Yes!  I happen to think the NT is rather attractive and would love to have a shaft-drive tourer in the 700-900cc range.  My biggest reservation is the V-Twin.  After ~11,000 miles on a DL-1000, I concluded that V-Twins weren't my thing; I want a smoother running engine.

I now own an FJR for touring and a VFR for fun.    The FJR is bigger and more powerful than it needs to be for my purposes (strictly one-up).  The VFR's riding position is too aggressive for long tours and it lacks a shaft drive.   Sorry, but I'd rather be riding or otherwise enjoying the trip than fiddling with a chain.  

As to the detractors who claim that it is:

Underpowered:    I guess it depends on one's perspective.   I've had 650-700cc bikes from the 1980s ('81 GS650G and '85 GS700E) and they had enough power to run 100+ mph on the highway and to get around slower traffic on two lane roads with no problems whatsoever.    The fact that it won't win stop-light drags with squids on track racks doesn't bother me a bit.

Overweight:  Compared to what?  It's a shaft-drive tourer with a fairing and bags, damn it!   Curb weight looks to be ~100 lbs less than an FJR and only ~20 lbs heavier than a VFR.   Could it weigh  less?  Sure, but at what cost?     Making the frame from aluminum and other bits from magnesium or titanium would add cost.

Overpriced:  Again, compared to what?    This bike is almost in a class by itself in the US market.  It's closest competitor looks to be the F800ST which costs more, has a smaller tank (by 1.1 gallons!), and less friendly ergonomics.     OK, a Wee-Strom is cheaper, but you need to add your own luggage (which will look tacked on no matter what type you choose), the aerodynamics on 'Stroms are joke, and you're stuck with a damn chain.  

So except for my reservations regarding the (lack of) smoothness from the V-Twin engine, I find the NT700V to be pretty close to my ideal tourer, at least on paper.   If it had a VFR-derived motor, I would have bought one already!  

-Uwe-

[Almy]

It's entirely possible I've jumped the gun being skeptical about it being under 700cc. And it's probably unfair of me to compare it's new price to a used big ST. The owner and main mechanic of our local Honda shop gets this 'trust me' look in his eyes when he sees me looking at it. And he knows my style/needs pretty well.

Cost wise though I guess maybe I'm just more of a buy used rather than new kind of guy. Which makes a full ST attractive.

[motorcyclelarry]

I have one in the shop if anyone wants to take a look or a ride around the parking lot.  I also have some accessories on line for it now and am making more new items.
Larry
www.motorcyclelarry.com

[gritsngravy]

Ah man, I was just down in SO Cal last weekend.   I coulda stopped by to check it out.  

[Allan]

I just got back from the show in Cleveland and after seeing the NT I wish it would have been out in 2007 when I bought my V-Strom 650.  I think I could have been convinced to spend the extra cash for the NT.

But its no so grand as to put up the V-Strom for sale and run to the Honda dealer. If I could afford the new VFR right now that would be worth while.

[spd2918]

So except for my reservations regarding the (lack of) smoothness from the V-Twin engine, I find the NT700V to be pretty close to my ideal tourer, at least on paper.

I had a beater Pacific Coast V-Twin that was smooth as glass.

I finally got to see this bike at the local dealer.  If I didn't have another expensive project going on I would try one out.  Maybe I will get a used ABS model in a couple of years.  I think those bags need to be much larger stock (yes,  know they have bigger ones at high cost).  Some of the black plastic seemed Chinese-bike cheap.  I liked the bare bars (read: easy and cheap to replace for custom ergos).  It seemed like there was plenty of room for higher bars.

I have one in the shop if anyone wants to take a look or a ride around the parking lot.  I also have some accessories on line for it now and am making more new items.
Larry
www.motorcyclelarry.com

I knew you would be on top of this.  Do you think you could do something with the bags at reasonable expense? (KMW / HMW Brad)

[sagerat]

Latest issue of "Motorcycle Consumer News" has a review of the Deauville.  Bottom line:  damned it with faint praise.  Fine commuter, not much of a sport tourer (5200 RPMs @ 70; cripes that's like my KLR) due to vibes at higher highway speeds, small bags, bargain basement forks and suspension.  

[atadaskew]

motorcycle.com said:

Revving to a peak of 8500 rpm, the oversquare Twin (81mm x 66mm) cruises along the highway at 70 miles per hour revving around 4750 rpm in top gear, but it really screams for a 6th gear. The NT’s Twin felt a little more comfortable down at 65 mph and 4300-ish rpm, where the little tourer settles into a harmonious groove

This thing would get eaten up on most CA freeways where the avg traffic speed is about 80mph.

[mugwump58]

I admit I had high hopes a couple of years ago when I discovered this bike while e-searching. I had even told myself to wait for spring and a possible test ride. So close... what it could'a been. As previously mentioned this isn't gonna cut it on the commute. $10K

[gritsngravy]

motorcycle.com said:


This thing would get eaten up on most CA freeways where the avg traffic speed is about 80mph.

I wish the avg speed on the 405/101/110 was 80mph, maybe in the slim time frame between 3:10 AM & 3:23 AM you can do 80mph for a mile or two but otherwise it aint happening.   Considering that the nt700 has virtually the same performance of  the 12.3  billion v-twin cruisers I see on the freeways I don't think it'll get 'eaten up' at all.  If anything it's narrow profile and great wind protection result in a comfortable lane splitting bike for congested freeways and surface streets.  

I like the concept, variety is the spice and all that.  

[JamesG]

This thing would get eaten up on most CA freeways where the avg traffic speed is about 80mph.

80mph or a standstill traffic jam...

[atadaskew]

80mph or a standstill traffic jam...

Exactly.

[gritsngravy]

Plenty of larger, cheaper, more powerful bikes out there to choose from for riders with insecurities.      It's way past time for a bike like the nt700v in this country.   Just a simple, comfortable, full size  bike with useful amenities for travel, no pretense or heritage crap.      Kudos to Honda for bringing it in.  

[atadaskew]

Plenty of larger, cheaper, more powerful bikes out there to choose from for riders with insecurities.      

Which is what you own.

A bike that has its 'happy zone' at 65mph is not going to make for a great travelling ride in the USA unless you only stay on the back roads.  I don't know of any other $11K sport-touring bike that is limited like that.

[gritsngravy]

  I don't know of any other $11K sport-touring bike that is limited like that.

Limited how?  You take a quote from some scribe and make it into a biblical fact.  News flash, the nt will cruise just fine at 80mph despite your repeated pronouncements that the thing  has 40 horsepower.     Read the many euro/uk deauville sites that feature real world experiences from real owners.   The NT is new only to the U.S., it's been a successful best seller for years despite what you may think.  

11K, so sorry that's too rich for your blood, maybe a career change?

Thing is (again) there are many more powerful machines out there that will push all the buttons your ego can stand.     I'm very glad there is another practical bike on the market to choose from.   You do know you can choose not to buy  a NT don't you?  

[atadaskew]

Limited how?  You take a quote from some scribe and make it into a biblical fact.  News flash, the nt will cruise just fine at 80mph despite your repeated pronouncements that the thing  has 40 horsepower.  
....
11K, so sorry that's too rich for your blood, maybe a career change?

Every US test has mentioned that it is not comfortable to ride at 75+ mph due to vibes which just increase.  So yeah, that makes it limited.
They complain that it doesn't have a 6th gear to help out with freeway cruising. So yeah, that makes it limited.

$11K too rich for my blood?  Hmm, that's like saying you should pay $10 for a Big Mac and if you have an issue then it can't be due to the fact that it is overpriced...

You're right, this bike isn't for me.  You should get one and continue trying to convince people that is it just fine.  But why would anyone want to settle for just fine?  

[Bryan217]

 But why would anyone want to settle for just fine?  

For the same reason that a lot of people buy cars like the Toyota Camry. A lot of people like "just fine".  

[spd2918]

Every US test has mentioned that it is not comfortable to ride at 75+ mph due to vibes which just increase.  

So, it's like every in line 4 on the market?  

[atadaskew]

So, it's like every in line 4 on the market?  

ZX14 and CBR11XX are wikkid smooth.

[Orson]

This thread shoulda  been titled, "There Will Be Blood"