It's just my size!! (Honda NT700)

[R6Chick]

Anyone have experience with one of these?  http://powersports.honda.com/2010/nt700v.aspx

I think I want one.

[still kickin]

Be sure you throw a leg over one. The seat height is good for riders with a 32" inseam and better. The salesman said" Honda really made a mistake making the seat height so tall" I have always wanted one. I saw one in France on 2002. Very practical. But I am 5'8" and to damn old to use one foot for stops. Later

[Cablebandit]

Be sure to ride before you buy.  I test rode one and hated it.  The engine makes no power at all.  Even the dealer I was talking too said they really screwed up by putting such a weak engine in that bike.

[spd2918]

Be sure to ride before you buy.  I test rode one and hated it.  The engine makes no power at all.  Even the dealer I was talking too said they really screwed up by putting such a weak engine in that bike.

   None?  Really?

I have not ridden one yet but I totally support a light, upright touring style bike.  If you think you need 120 HP to enjoy your ride I feel sorry for you.  Small bikes are very rewarding.


The NT appears to be a modern Pacific Coast.  They had a V-twin, too, and where a lot of fun to throw around.  I would buy a new PC if they could be had with shaft drive and ABS.  The NT may well replace my ST when it's time.

[Cablebandit]

Um...I ride a Vstrom 650.  I think on a good day it might make 66 horsepower at the crank.  The NT feels like it makes a quarter of that at best.

[MK96xj]

I like the NT

I sat on one and could touch just fine with a 29-30" inseam. I would certainly try to get a test ride regardless.

Only the European market has the larger side case cover at this time. If I had one I would go out of my way to get them.

[McRider]

I seriously thought about replacing my Kawi 650R with one of those.  As a smaller, lighter rider not addicted to horsepower, it had a lot of appeal.  Ultimately, though, the high price, and high weight put me off.  So I added Givi hard luggage to my Ninja and a custom seat and still came out a few thousand dollars better.  

[falconati]

Great!  You can be the first person on your block to have one!  

[custodian]

This is one of the three bikes that I am reading about for purchase next season (in addition to the Vstrom 650 & the F800ST) . The auto loan on our Colorado is paid off this time next year... so I am doing research now... will visit dealerships over the winter... & make a final decision next spring.

The NT700V looks the closest to a "traditional" touring bike... the Vstrom & BMW are more sport oriented IMO.

All look like good, mid-displacement, "lightweight" rides... exactly what I am looking for coming off 3 seasons on my Buell. The Honda & BMW are a little pricey... again IMO.

[Cablebandit]

Money no object...the Beemer.  That being said The V-strom is the best bang for the buck out there (i'm biased).  If you ride two up a lot definitely take the pillion with you.  It has hauled my ass and a weeks worth of camping gear half way across the country at a very spirited pace.

[JimNtexas]

I was in the market for a new bike last winter, and was reall excited about seeing one at the Dallas IMS.  

I was pretty disappointed, it's taller than an ST1300 ( I rented an ST that same weekend) , about the same as an FJR, and the NT is pretty heavy.  I don't want or need a whole lot of power, but I wanted to step up at least a bit from my Ninja 250.

When I found a left over 2008 FJR for less than an NT700 with abs it was a no brainer to get the FJR.  

Put that NT on a diet, lower it an inch or more, and I'm there.

[still kickin]

R6 not trying to steal your thread. Custodian I just bought a used F800St with 1200 miles on it . A 08 for $7900. It has the factory lowered suspension. It is the best bike I have ever owned. Fits me and runs like the devil. R6 you may think about this model for the future. Good luck

[vguy]

Honda spent so many years trying to copy Ducati, they missed the boat by not making their own "SV650." They had one with their 650 Hawk that they let go because of poor sales. Then Suzuki came out with the SV650 in '99 and have sold a gazillion of them. Since old man Honda passed away the motorcycle division seems to be run by a bunch of executive idiots. IMO.

This new NT looks like something they slapped together just to get something "different" out there.

My local Honda dealer (been here since 1959) will be shutting down within the year because of the economy and the fact that Honda doesn't have anything to sell besides Wings and CBRs. Their quads, dirt bikes, and watercraft can't compete with the others according to my Store owner. Not to mention the big VFR (in name only) disappointment.

[Gaw]

I think this motorbike is great for commuting. I like that saddlebags have a pass-through area for wider things, It's very useful

By the way, I didn't see in the US Honda Web the recent Honda naked model, CB1000R, is it no selling in the US? I'm very surprised because I think it's a really spectacular motorbike

[xdavemanx]

Like most of you, I came away even more unimpressed with the bike in person than I did in print.

I don't like the way it looks.  It seems superficial to say that, but something about the integrated hard bags looks tacked on, and the exhaust pipe is really out of place.  If there ever was a bike that was in need of a chin fairing, this is it.  It looks incomplete.

Also, the dealers place it next to the Goldwing, which makes it look pitiful and poorly made in comparison.

[Blunder]

By the way, I didn't see in the US Honda Web the recent Honda naked model, CB1000R, is it not selling in the US? I'm very surprised because I think it's a really spectacular motorbike

No, Honda doesn't sell any interesting bikes in the US.

[Rabidsnipe]

Wow!  Tons of negative press here.  I have test ridden an NT and came away very impressed with the overall package you can get out the door.  This bike would appear to be a spec sheet loser but in the flesh I think it works very well together.  Although I agree the fit and finish isn't up to Goldwing standards, you also are saving $15000 with ABS (NT700VA = $10999, Goldwing ABS = $26599).  Because of all the features, there isn't a real clear-cut competitor to this bike; V-Strom 650 & F800ST seem to be the most obvious choices.  Both of those models can be found on the used market so you can obviously save some coin there.  But don't use the fact that it is a brand new model to criticize the bike; there will be used ones eventually.  And shop around for good prices.  It wouldn't appear these are selling very well and I've gotten quotes as low as $9299 + tax for an ABS OTD.  I can't find any V-Strom ABS models near me.

But be sure to ride one for yourself before you believe what we say.

And seriously Jeff?  I guess Honda is the new Harley.

[R6Chick]

R6 not trying to steal your thread. Custodian I just bought a used F800St with 1200 miles on it . A 08 for $7900. It has the factory lowered suspension. It is the best bike I have ever owned. Fits me and runs like the devil. R6 you may think about this model for the future. Good luck

Not considered thread jacking by me! these are the kind of opinions I am looking for.

What is your inseam and arm length? My inseam is 30 inches and my reach is 25 inches.

Do you find the F800ST to be good for daily commute as well as distance riding? I only put 2000 miles a year on the cage while my bike gets between 20k and 30k a year. My current daily rider is an 08 GSXR750 and the old R6 has 125k miles on it. I guess I am getting older because I know I want hard luggage on my next bike.

I borrowed an FJR for a trip to Oregon once and love it as long as I am on the move. But if I am not on the move it is just a big pain in the ass for me to man handle about. Borrowed another friends ST1300 and pretty much found the same issue. I certainly like the FJR more than the ST but not enough to buy either. The Concourse is just a giant elephant of a bike and I did not like riding that at all. I took a VFR on a trip and while it was a good machine with a full set of givi luggage, it did not make me smile. We have had a Triumph in the stable and that has made me not want the Sprint because parts, maintenance, and reliability as a daily machine were not up to snuff. I have not considered the BMW's too much. Usually when I spot one it is priced well over other bikes in the same class as well as being made for people over 6 feet tall. I have not ruled them out though.

[Rabidsnipe]

Your gripe about handling the FJR at a standstill might be an issue for you on the NT.  I noticed the bike felt heavy when moving around the dealership and parking lot.  Once underway the weight seems to disappear.

Also, something else to consider about the bikes you're looking at is the NT requires 8000 mile valve checks whereas the Strom is 15k (I think??).  I don't know what the F800 requires.  But if you're putting 20k-30k on a year it might matter to you how many times you're pulling plastic off to check the valves.  Although someone, like you, with multiple bikes might not care about such things.

PS - You're my hero...

... I only put 2000 miles a year on the cage while my bike gets between 20k and 30k a year. My current daily rider is an 08 GSXR750 and the old R6 has 125k miles on it. ...

[McRider]

I rented an F800ST last February and rode it about 600 miles.  In the end I didn't think it was that much better than my Ninja 650.  Fit and finish was definitely better but power was about the same and it was a little heavier and harder to manage in a parking lot.  I have put some more forward-lean handlebars on my 650 and it has almost identical ergonomics as the ST, but a little lower seat.  The best thing about the ST was the suspension.......definitely a cut above the stock Kawi, but with Race Tech Gold valves in the forks, I'm getting there.  The ST had heated grips, ABS, and hard bags which made it about a $13,000 motorcycle.  I put heated grips on my 650 for $40 and Givi bags for about $900 and still have less than $8K in it.  I don't know why people don't take the Ninja 650 seriously.....maybe its the stupid name or the way it is promoted as a beginner bike, but I have 54,000 miles on mine and it has been completely trouble free.  It's a perfect sport tourer for my 5' 5" 145 lb 69 year old body.  

Another bike to consider if you like four cylinders is the Yamaha FZ 6.  It is in the same class as the Ninja 650 and the SV650 in that it has a low seat height, torquey engine and more upright ergos......perfect to make a sport touring bike for a smaller rider.