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

[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.......