NT700: Have to remove exhaust to change tires ???

[et]

I've had my eye on Honda's NT700 since it came out.
I was seriously considering buying one if they were still available by the time I pay off my truck next year.
BUT I just read in this month's Motorcyclist that the exhaust has to be removed to change the rear tire.

Is this for real ? Or just another case of magazine "journalists" not knowing wtf they are doing ?
(After all; it IS Motorcyclist.)

--ET

[Rincewind]

That's the same thing I've heard.  Here's a video on the issue -

[gritsngravy]

From what I understand it is true, you must remove the muffler to change the rear tire.    Sounds like it could be a hassle if you are not into doing a bit of 'extra' work when it comes time to change tires.   If you are already spinning wrenches to remove the wheels anyway seems like it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me but ymmv.  

If you take it to a dealer and have them do it I'm sure they will charge a ton of $$ for the labor involved.  

At least it comes equipped with a center stand.  

[bubba zanetti]

Absolutely shameful engineering.  

[Xanth]

 
The person who designed that should be required to change tires on the NT700 for the rest of their life.

[tigertim955]

It might be easier to release the rear shock and drop the swing arm. You might gain access to the axle  that way.

[et]

Well after watching that video. I definitely will NOT be buying an NT700.
What a moronic piece of engineering.
Way to go Honda; you lost a potential customer.

[Rincewind]

There may be work arounds - I would do some searches at the UK owner's board: http://www.deauvilleuk.org/forum/

[sammyseaman]

I've had my eye on Honda's NT700 since it came out.
I was seriously considering buying one if they were still available by the time I pay off my truck next year.
BUT I just read in this month's Motorcyclist that the exhaust has to be removed to change the rear tire.
Is this for real ? Or just another case of magazine "journalists" not knowing wtf they are doing ?
(After all; it IS Motorcyclist.)

--ET

  Silly Honda

[atadaskew]

Absolutely shameful engineering.  

But to be fair it makes up for it with stunning good looks and outrageous performance.

[GerryPetrecca]

But to be fair it makes up for it with stunning good looks and outrageous performance.

[caddydaddy]

  Silly Honda

And BMW!  My friend has an R1200RT and you must remove the exhaust pipe to get the wheel off on it as well.  He says it's easy to do, and in reality, how often do you need to take the wheel off?  

[et]

And BMW!  My friend has an R1200RT and you must remove the exhaust pipe to get the wheel off on it as well.  He says it's easy to do, and in reality, how often do you need to take the wheel off?  

For those of us who do 30k per year (actually only 9 or 10 months) and use sport-touring or sport tires.
It would get rather monotonous to have to remove the exhaust to change a tire every 6 to 8 weeks.

[BamaBiker]

This is not the first time Honda has done this. You have to on the valkyrie. IT IS A PAIN, but dealers charge over $100 labor so I do it.

[caddydaddy]

I don't think I've heard of a BMW owner complaining about removing the exhaust. It's probably because they have the dealer mess with it!  

[shawn and gwyn]

thats just stupid.. we looked at them as a next bike for gwyn. glad we passed.

shawn

[sammyseaman]

And BMW!  My friend has an R1200RT and you must remove the exhaust pipe to get the wheel off on it as well.  He says it's easy to do, and in reality, how often do you need to take the wheel off?  

On some bikes I've owned? Once a year.

[Gary B.]

What blew me away in the mentioned article was the fact that you have to remove nearly ALL the bodywork to replace a headlight bulb!   Said it took hours! That concerns me more than tire replacement.

[et]

What blew me away in the mentioned article was the fact that you have to remove nearly ALL the bodywork to replace a headlight bulb!   Said it took hours! That concerns me more than tire replacement.

I can envision it now.
You're on a trip, headlight bulb burns out, you're in the parking of an auto parts store, in the rain, and basically disassembling the entire motorcycle; to change a fucking bulb !

If this model has been selling well in Europe for years; are Europeans actually using this motorcycle ??

[JamesG]

Finally, a rational reason to replace a stock exhaust with a slip on!

Thank you Honda!!!

[cworley5150]

The ST1300 is the same.  I've actually had 3 bikes that needed the exhaust dropped on at least one side to get the axle out and drop the rear wheel.  Not a big deal.  As has been said, if you are removing a rear brake caliper and all the other stuff needed to get the rear wheel off, what is the big deal to loosen an exaust bracket or two and swing the exhaust out of the way enough to get the axle out?

[JamesG]

 what is the big deal to loosen an exaust bracket or two and swing the exhaust out of the way enough to get the axle out?

Poor integration engineering design.










and another excuse to beat on Big H.

[atadaskew]

Well at least the mild state of tune is made up for with maintenance free hydraulic valve lifters.

[Scratch33]

Is that the same bike the tester had to practically dismantle in order to change a headlamp bulb?

[Gary B.]

Ok, seriously, a couple of bolts to remove a slip-on is too much, but people still think that disassembling half the bike for a 10-minute valve check is ok?

Seriously, THIS is what people are getting upset about? Dimple the muffler (if it's "almost there"), or as noted, pull the ONE bolt and drop the swing arm a few more inches.

Anyone bitching about the few extra minutes it takes to pull the muffler off this bike should be sentenced to doing every valve check on every C14 ever made.  

It's all a matter of perspective.  

I was kinda thinkin' the same thing. I have to pull one muffler to change a rear tire on one of my bikes. Adds all of 5 minutes to the operation.

[Uncle Leo]

From a personal perspective, I don't consider the exhaust design a flaw, and here's why. Yep, it happened to me.

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?82614-A-Good-Scare

[Cablebandit]

Cotter pin and a castle nut would solve that problem.

[atadaskew]

I've had my eye on Honda's NT700 since it came out.
I was seriously considering buying one if they were still available by the time I pay off my truck next year.
BUT I just read in this month's Motorcyclist that the exhaust has to be removed to change the rear tire.

Is this for real ? Or just another case of magazine "journalists" not knowing wtf they are doing ?
(After all; it IS Motorcyclist.)

--ET

I think motorcyclist mag said it took 2.5 hours to remove/replace the rear wheel.

That is beyond goofy if true.

[gritsngravy]

Maybe it's because I had to wrench on my old wrecks in the 80's but I just don't see having to remove some bits to change a tire as a deal breaker.   The head light bulb, tire change and whatever else folks are whining about is laughable.  

[Fourstring]

That's the same thing I've heard.  Here's a video on the issue -

My fanboydom for this bike disappeared completely by the end of that video.

[Giaka]

The ST1300 is the same. I've actually had 3 bikes that needed the exhaust dropped on at least one side to get the axle out and drop the rear wheel.  

Yeap as well as the old Concours 1000. There are many bikes that require the muffler to be moved to get the rear tire off.  You guys bitching about 10 minutes worth of work to remove a rear tire obviously have no clue what is involved in maintaining a motorcycle properly.  

Jesus Christ man it takes a day and a half to adjust the valves on a Ninja 250 if your hands are slightly larger than a gnomes. That's just one example.

EDIT: OK I watched the first 30 seconds of the video. Um use a fucking wrench to get the nut off. A torque value on that nut is not as critical as he makes it out to be. The damn axle has a pinch bolt for crying out loud! Holy Shit.......