Honda NC700X: specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The economic instability of recent years is making its own adjustments to the motorcycle market. As a result, even those manufacturers who fundamentally supported the high price bar, increasingly began to lean towards the release of budget models. These include the hero of today's conversation - Honda NC700X. Let's find out what, besides the price, the Japanese crossover is ready to surprise!

From a clean slate

Very rarely does the global motor industry please with models made from scratch. In our case, everything is completely new: the engine, chassis, design, in general, a new motorcycle. Already at first glance it is clear that the similarity of the bike with the older Crossrunner and Crosstourer models, if there is a small one, is only in terms of design. The fact is that there is no off-road component in this model, but more on that below.

First impression

One of the clear advantages of the bike can be seen even without getting behind the wheel and without starting the engine. We are talking about the luggage compartment, which is located on the site of the gas tank. As conceived by the designers, an integral helmet should be placed in it, and it really does fit. True, the owners of a large headyou have to sweat before their helmet still fits into the trunk. The second task that such motorcyclists will face is to remove the helmet back. The Japanese obviously foresaw this situation and made the trunk of such a configuration that the helmet entered face up. This makes it possible to raise the glass and pull the helmet out by the chin.

However, the container turned out to be very successful and useful. In addition to the instructions and the standard set of tools that lie there in special compartments, you can put a lot of things in the trunk. The luggage compartment will be especially useful on long trips. It practically replaces the rear case. And if you add a rear mesh and a couple of suitcases, then on a bike you can even go on a trip around the world.

Fuel consumption

The second highlight that the Honda NC700X intends to attract a wide audience of potential customers is its moderate appetite. Having created a model with such characteristics, the designers, on the one hand, respected the Europeans, for whom the environment is one of the priorities, and on the other hand, they reduced the volume of the gas tank. The latter, by the way, migrated to the back of the bike. The fuel filler neck is located under the passenger seat. The volume of the tank is about 14 liters.

At the presentation of the model, the creators announced the consumption of 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers. As a rule, such statements are very different from reality, so many did not attach any importance to ambitious statements about the meager appetite of the motorcycle. In practice, the consumption is about five liters per 100kilometers. And this is in the sport driving mode, when the “gas” handle is practically not released, and the rev limiter constantly makes itself felt. In general, a good expense. Of course, when driving in economy mode, you can get closer to the declared 3.5 liters. In this case, you don’t even have to wait for a tailwind and turn off the engine when descending a mountain.

Honda NC700X Specifications

Of course, there are no perfect motorcycles, and sooner or later, but the positives end. The 670cc engine3 is supposed to develop 70-80 horsepower, like the Kawasaki ER6, for example. But in our case, it gives only 50 liters. s., which is clearly an anti-record in the segment. Honda NC700X is available in three versions: base, with automatic transmission and with ABS. The automatic transmission version is considerably heavier and more expensive than the others.

At the presentation of the bike, its creators talked about statistical studies that supposedly showed that only “one percenters” accelerate faster than 140 km / h, and only athletes raise the speed above 6 thousand, and even then not always. They told all this to protect the Honda NC700X motor. Reviews show that the bike really has problems with dynamics. At low speeds, the motor pulls very confidently, at medium speeds it is even better. The problem is that around 7000 rpm, all the bikes show their potential, and our hero pesters with the chirping of the limiter. When the gear is increased, the speed, of course, drops for a while, and again I want to overclock the motor to eight thousand - althoughwould.

Thus, to move more or less briskly, you need to get the hang of keeping the speed below the limiter. But for this, even in slow traffic at speeds of no more than 100 km / h, you will have to change gears, like a rifle bolt during active shooting. And if it becomes possible to break away and reach speeds of up to 150 km / h, then the number of switches will completely exceed all boundaries.

The most pleasant thing, as reviews show, is to ride a Honda NC700X at a speed of 130-140 km / h. If desired, the bike can be brought up to 180, but the downward slope of the road, tailwind and the posture of the motorcycle racer in this case will become mandatory attributes.

Motor features

To understand why the motor cannot be "spun up" to a decent speed, you need to understand its structure in more detail. "The dog is buried" in an indicator that usually no one pays attention to - the ratio of the piston stroke and cylinder diameter. So, here it is 80x73. The long-stroke engine on a road bike is another strange design decision. It would even be more correct to say, nonsense, which makes one think about the competence of the creators. As the reviews show, there is no normal explanation for this decision.

The long-stroke motor has literally "tractor" traction from the very bottom and keeps it on the entire rev range. However, it is impossible to spin the engine up to high speeds - the pistons can simply not withstand the load and come off. For the same reason, there are only 50 horsepower.

Landing

To everyone who wants a bike withsmooth and comfortable fit, the Honda NC700X will definitely fit. Owner reviews confirm that a direct landing with a high steering wheel makes it possible to ride comfortably in both urban and suburban modes. There is nothing overly attractive or extreme about the fit of this bike. The only thing that causes some confusion among the owners is the wide steering wheel. Perhaps this is some kind of tribute to the enduro style. Be that as it may, when driving in the rows of men, the wide steering wheel makes you nervous. Another small note concerns the aerodynamics of the Honda NC700X. The windshield protects the body from gusts of wind, but does not give the bike proper streamlining at a decent speed.

Off-road potential

Honda NC700X is positioned by the creators as a bike with light off-road capabilities. In fact, among crossovers, it definitely ranks among the most asph alt-oriented. Riding it on the ground is not the most comfortable experience. The maximum that he is capable of is to drive 200 meters along a flat dirt road from the highway to the dacha, for example. And even with cracks in the asph alt, the bike does not cope well.

Chassis

The vaunted luggage capacity was also reflected in the running gear. The designers were forced to stretch the motorcycle and increase the wheelbase. Many assumed that such measures would affect maneuverability and make the model even more boring, but this did not happen. Narrow tires and other tricks have done their job - the bike maneuvers very well. The suspension works even better than most crossovers. In general, on the highway, the Honda NC700X is almost as good as a typical neoclassic. And the bike even surpasses some competitors.

Savings

Given that the model belongs to the economy class, they tried to make it as cheap as possible, and did it in several ways. The most interesting way to reduce the cost of a bike is to use single steel plate brake discs. That is, the scrap steel that was cut from the front disc became the rear disc. After some processing, of course. Naturally, such a scheme does not allow for two front discs, so the company decided that one would be enough. Given the power of the motor and other parameters of the motorcycle, the factory braking system is enough.

Usually, savings are strongly reflected in the appearance of the motorcycle, and there are details that remind you that the bike belongs to the budget class. In our case, there are no frankly cheap elements, which, of course, pleases. By the way, if you wish, you can change the appearance of the motorcycle. To do this, you don’t even need to do anything with your own hands. Honda releases a set of parts that make the NC700X very similar to the BMW GS. The set includes: arcs, glass, light bulbs and other exterior elements. At the same time, the price of the Japanese bike is almost half that of the Bavarian prototype.

Potential Buyer

Many people know that inexpensive but practical two-wheelers are Honda motorcycles. Honda NC700X is a mediocre experience for experienced bikers, but not every buyermotorcycle is a "hell racer". Every year more and more townspeople change to two wheels purely for practical reasons. Their main goal is to save time. Most of these people do not need sky-high engine power, fully adjustable suspension and other expensive pleasures. They need a reliable, obedient, comfortable motorcycle that can get its owner to the right place in a reasonable time without any unpleasant surprises. It is also important that such an iron horse does not cost like a used Gelendvagen.

The second category of riders for whom the NC700X is quite suitable are beginner bikers. This motorcycle is able to carefully and easily teach you how to ride more or less weighty vehicles and, what is very important, not get bored in the second month. It is more tractable and easier to handle than many of its smaller competitors, making it safer for beginner riders to ride. In addition, the Honda NC700X, whose photos look quite modern and dynamic, is perfect for young people in style. Well, the opportunity to purchase a version with automatic transmission further expands the circle of buyers.

Conclusion

Extremely attractive price for the Honda NC700X, the characteristics of which we reviewed above, allows you to forgive the creators of many shortcomings. Especially if you remember about the efficiency of the motorcycle and the trunk, which is a real rarity. The motor of the bike is rather weak, but when riding long distances, time is won by the stability of the ride, and not by the dynamics. Driving 400 kilometers between gas stations, albeit at a speed of 130 km / h, you can go much further than sports bikers who fill up three times as often.

This bike is quite comfortable to sit on. Riding around the city is several times cheaper than the owners of sports bikes or naked ones. So with its task - to make an economical and at the same time quite stylish and comfortable motorcycle - the Japanese company coped up to the mark.

Model 2012 in the secondary market is about 3-4 thousand dollars. For a slightly updated version, you will have to pay about a thousand more conventional units.