New NT700V, Europe's Deauville

[atadaskew]

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

Honda doesn't make a milkshake that I want to drink.



(ok ok apart from the CB1000R)

[Oilhed]

Honda doesn't make a milkshake that I want to drink.

Still lovin' this one!

[spd2918]

Honda doesn't make a milkshake that I want to drink.



(ok ok apart from the CB1000R)

Yet you feel the need to post in the Honda Forum.  

[atadaskew]

Yet you feel the need to post in the Honda Forum.  

Yes.  
Or is this just the fanboy section?

I've owned more Hondas than any other bike.  That is why I expect so much from them.  They can do it.

[gritsngravy]

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?  

No one here has been saying the nt700v is a perfect wonderful creation from heaven.    I think most folks that appreciate this honda simply are expressing their approval of adding yet another real world alternative to what's already on the market.    The arrival of the nt also can mean honda will start making other models available to the U.S.    

As far as complaining about the price......it is what it is.    If they import to many, can't sell 'em etc Honda knows how to discount a bike so it will sell.        Only the individual in the market for one can really make the call on affordability.    Ya got the jam or ya don't.


Buying  one?    Yes eventually.  It's one of those Honda's I noticed in the UK a few years back that really looked cool to me.   Seemed so european to me at the time.   Really feel in love with the things.      I know that if I don't get one it will become another one of those bikes I'll regret not getting when I had the chance.   Just a personal preference, not in any way shape or form recommending ANYONE buy this bike, decide for yourself and move on.  

[sagerat]

I can't get past the small bags and the big price.  I can live without sixth gear, despite trying to shift my KLR into sixth every so often, and I love the shaft drive.  Actually, in person it's a pretty good-looking bike.  More of a solo tourer than a two-upper, IMHO.  Out in Orygun and the rest of the intermontane West I can actually toodle along for hours at 75-85 per without much drama.  

Well, when I had my other bikes; for now I'm back in the land of the double nickel to 60 or so with the Kawi and the Ural.  

[skater69]

NT700V will be a colossal failure.  I predict dealers get maybe one model each and then sell them for $7K once they've been sitting for 2 years on the floor.  There's really nothing appealing about the bike......especially for the asking price.

[gritsngravy]

God I hope so.

[County Tar]

I finally sat on one recently.  Sits OK.  Real small hard bags but you can get larger covers.  Heavy.  I'm still keeping my Strom.   Can't see enough difference to justify the price of the Honda.  

[custodian]

God I hope so.

Chalk me up as another rider who would love to find this scooter at leftover pricing in a year...

[2DFlyer]

Still lovin' this one!

  I like the NT700 they way I like the 1/2" torque wrench I just bought.  A beam type was too little, a digital too much, but that micrometer style was just right.  The Deauville I like - it has a utilitarian appeal - but the CB1100F I absolutely love.  

[Baz]

NT700V will be a colossal failure.  I predict dealers get maybe one model each and then sell them for $7K once they've been sitting for 2 years on the floor.  There's really nothing appealing about the bike......especially for the asking price.

Anyone who is attracted to the NT should get their eyes and or mental state checked.  

Wow, lets all write Honda and get them to re-do the Pacific Coast while they are at it.  

[JamesG]

Anyone who is attracted to the NT should get their eyes and or mental state checked.

Good thing you aren't in charge of what everyone else thinks, eh?

Your and the other poo-pooer's attitude is why North American market gets such a poor selection of models compared to the rest of the world.

Wow, lets all write Honda and get them to re-do the Pacific Coast while they are at it.

What do you think the Deauville is?

[spd2918]

Your and the other poo-pooer's attitude is why North American market gets such a poor selection of models compared to the rest of the world.

True dat!  That's also why we don't get good small cars or more diesels.

[alarue]

I'm awfully late to the game here. 26 pages of comments! I only read about 5 pages.

Two questions:

1) Why don't the collective here think the NT would be good for two-up? The seat looks plenty roomy. If you want more separation, Corbin has a nice looking saddle with a higher pillion.

2) What competition does it have? BMW F800ST is one. Someone mention the Aprilia Mana, and Motorcycle.com paired it with the NT, but it isn't fully faired. Any others?

I've been thinking for quite some time about a VStrom 650, for which you can get a really good luggage setup, but again, you won't get the weather protection. It rarely gets below the freezing mark here, but we get 60" of rain every year, sometimes even when it isn't forecast, so it's easy to get caught in it on your afternoon commute.

The price of the NT seems awfully high for a 700, but really low compared to other faired touring bikes. Both points have been mentioned in this thread, and I think both seem true. Base price is only $1000 less than the F800ST, but the base model is better equipped. The price I was quoted was about $450 off of sticker, but I've heard of people doing a lot better than that.

Some have commented about the looks. It isn't quite 2010 modern, but it's more 2000s than 1990s. IMO, it isn't beautiful, or cutting edge, but it isn't ugly either.

Guess I have one more question: 3) Having not ridden a bike with a "sport" fairing, do you get the same weather protection? I.e. if I were to get an FZ6R and put bags on it, will that fairing help keep me from freezing when the temps are in the 30s? It appears to me that there are two different types of fully faired bikes: One type to reduce the upset of the airflow around it, and the other to protect the rider (somewhat) from rain and wind. (Not that you won't get wet or cold, but that you can ride comfortably in slightly worse conditions.)

Had a first gen FZ1 for a year. Loved it, except it killed my lower back. Might need some pullbacks for the NT700V for the same reason.

In the end, although it seems a tad expensive, it seems like such a practical ride that if I were to get it, I'd probably keep it for years. But then I've been driving a 1999 Saturn SL1 for 7 years, so I must be pretty boring. (Sold an '85 Corvette that was on its last legs before buying the Saturn... what have I become?)

Almost any motorcycle is more fun than most cars. They're more open than any convertible, and they lean into the corners. So if you get a "practical" motorcycle, you've still got a fun machine. It's all relative. I'll say this, I almost completely lost interest in cars when I got the FZ1.

[sammyseaman]

Had a first gen FZ1 for a year. Loved it, except it killed my lower back.

Really???  

[alarue]

I believe the problem was that my forward lean on the FZ1 was both too much and not enough. My wife says I have an unnatural amount of curve at the base of my spine. Sitting upright on a cruiser, no problem. And when trying out a bike with more agressive ergos, the curve straightens out as I lean forward. However, on the FZ1 (and I'm speculating, really), it seems that rather than stretching out the curve, it more collapsed. Since I rode a cruiser both before and after the FZ without a problem, I'm almost certain that's what was wrong.

I'm a little afraid that the NT700V's ergos are too similar to the FZ. Of course, handlebar pullbacks or risers may have solved the problem. And maybe some specific exercise to strengthen the lower back muscles would have helped, as well.

There are a lot of days when I really miss that bike. I've been two years without a motorcycle now, and I still think about them every day.

[sammyseaman]

I believe the problem was that my forward lean on the FZ1 was both too much and not enough. My wife says I have an unnatural amount of curve at the base of my spine. Sitting upright on a cruiser, no problem. And when trying out a bike with more agressive ergos, the curve straightens out as I lean forward. However, on the FZ1 (and I'm speculating, really), it seems that rather than stretching out the curve, it more collapsed. Since I rode a cruiser both before and after the FZ without a problem, I'm almost certain that's what was wrong.

I'm a little afraid that the NT700V's ergos are too similar to the FZ. Of course, handlebar pullbacks or risers may have solved the problem. And maybe some specific exercise to strengthen the lower back muscles would have helped, as well.

There are a lot of days when I really miss that bike. I've been two years without a motorcycle now, and I still think about them every day.

That is completely unacceptable. Now get your ass out there and buy a bike for petes sake. Yes, even if it's an NT  

[Rabidsnipe]

That is completely unacceptable. Now get your ass out there and buy a bike for petes sake. Yes, even if it's an NT  

Agreed.  And don't let everyone here ruin the NT for you.  Anything at this point will be awesome.

[Phil Tarman]

I've ridden the NT700V.  Did it a couple of weeks ago.  It was only a 4.5 mile ride, *but*:  I was impressed.  I've got about 150K miles on the Kawasaki Concours (the old one) in the last 11 years.  I am a sport-touring rider.  I like to ride far and I like to carry stuff with me so I can stay out for a couple of weeks or more.  I ride reasonably rapidly, but top speed is not my #1 priority.  

I liked the bike's lighter weight (I've had five knee replacements and while I can still pick up the Connie when it's lying on the ground, I'd just as soon not).  I liked the handling.  I liked the weather protection.  The luggage was a bit on the small size, but there are larger pannier lids available in the UK that increase capacity by 10 liters per side, plus I'd buy a trunk (probably not Honda's -- it's close to $400 plus you've got to buy a mounting plate (about $160, IIRC) and a mounting plate bracket (about $60).  Coocases look pretty good to me.  Yes, I wish it had more acceleration, but it was not ]terribly[/b slow, and when I got it up to 90 for a short stretch, I don't think the vibration was significantly worse than my old '83 Silverwing GL-650i.

I'm pretty sure I'll be buying one of these.  There are a significant number of us (I believe) who want to sports-tour, with the emphasis on touring, and who don't need a 1300-1400 uber-tourer to do it with.  And  And