Home
Bike Reviews
Test Ride Review Of The NC 700 S - By Mark Tomlinson
Having read Ren’s review of the NC 700 X on this website and because I am currently looking for a mid-range bike myself, I thought I’d arrange a test ride on this bike too. My local Honda dealer only has the “S” version for demonstration, there’s an “X” model on display but it’s for sale, not for demonstration. I figured that would have to do.I sat on the “X”. As far as I can tell in a showroom it does look and feel like a modern big trailie, and like most of the modern big trailies just looking around the bike it’s very obvious it was never really designed to go off road. 17 inch front wheel, road tyres, mag wheels and no high level exhaust means the “X” is trailie style, not a real big trailie. Shame really, with a few mods it might just be a good replacement for the Transalp or the Africa Twin.
At the shop I’m told the “S” version has a lower seat height. According to Honda’s website the “X” is 830mm, the “S” is 790mm, so that’s 40mm or about 3 inches difference. I can’t bloody tell the difference! I thought the “S” would be low like a SV650 but at 5 foot 9 inches I can reach the floor OK but it is with straight legs. Just like the ER6 I rode the other day it seems all modern bikes are tall. With the ever growing number of female riders I think Honda could be missing a market here.
Unlike Ren I managed to get my full face helmet into and back out of the storage space under the pretend tank. I admit it does not look like it will fit until the salesman shows me the correct way of fitting it. A nice little touch is that the small Honda toolkit is easily accessible in the storage space and not hidden in some dark recess under the seat. If your helmet is in there then there is no space left for anything else.
The fuel cap is locked under the rear seat. The key on the “S” model is in the left hand side panel, the same lock opens both the storage and the seat by turning one way or another. The rear seat lifts up and a natty little piece of metal keeps it up while you fill the tank, much like a miniature bonnet stay on a car.
Sitting on the bike for the first time feels quite normal. The salesman points out the odd way the indicator is positioned low on the left hand switchgear. Ren mentioned this in his review and the salesman confirmed quite a few people had been “beeping” when they should have been indicating. The clocks sit behind a tiny plastic screen, the screen is only beg enough to protect the clocks, it’s not really designed to keep the wind off the rider.
The clocks are Ok, I would have preferred an analogue rev counter and perhaps a little more information, but all the basics are there. I would have thought on a bike designed for economy there would be something like average fuel consumption or an indication of current consumption, much like the modern cars. The revs are indicated across the top of the clocks and although they are clear there not as “instinctive” as a good old dial. I later learn you need to watch the revs closely.
When I start the motor I’m reminded of my old Dominator. There’s a steady pulse from the motor and a quiet “dum-dum-dum” from the exhaust. I set off and just like the ER6 it feels like there’s plenty of torque and this would be a hard bike to stall. A little later in the ride as a matter of interest I tried setting off without the throttle. No problems, just gently release the clutch and it will roll forwards. I do this in the car a lot and it does make slow traffic riding (or driving) a lot easier.
I’m expecting very little from this bike. It’s less than half the power of most 4 cylinder mid range bikes and still considerably less than the ER6, SV650 or even a Deauville. Yet as I leave the lights I’m over the 30mph limit far far quicker than I expect, or even feel like I’m travelling. Wow! This thing will eat traffic for breakfast, no worries at all. It will do it and not even feel like it’s trying either. Unlike a 4 that seems to scream unless you short shift, only first and second are required to get it to 30 with no effort. I wouldn’t bother with third unless there’s a lot of clear space ahead.
In the town the long gears, low down grunt and immediate power are a joy. This bike is so easy to ride, you don’t need to be shifting gear all the time to access power, its just there, anywhere. It’s so well balanced too. Around tight corners and roundabouts it feels sure and secure. As I pass from a 30 to 40 zone in third just a tiny squirt of the throttle sees me alter speed on a satisfying bulge of torque. I’m starting to like this bike a lot.
I hit the motorway. Being unfared this is a problem, no doubt about that. If you like being cosseted behind a big screen then obviously an unfared bike is pointless. If, like myself, you’re used to naked bikes on the motorway then this bike is no better or no worse than any unfared machine. So taking the lack of fairing as given, how’s the rest of the bike? You can tell, for sure, there’s a lack or real go or top end. Using fourth and fifth, keeping the speed up and altering speeds is satisfactory and safe, but no longer exhilarating. It will hold legal limits with no issues at all, but above that it will get a little breathless, or at least that’s what I guess, officer.
Sixth gear is like an overdrive. It can hold high speeds in sixth but gaining more speed is a slow affair. Instead of treating sixth as a riding gear but using it as an overdrive it makes sense though. In sixth at 70mph the motor is running at a lowly 3,500 rpm (and at 60, 3,000rpm so you can work out the rest) and this feels so relaxed and lazy it feels more like a cruiser. From a mechanical mind hearing the motor running at low revs compared to most other bikes makes me feel all warm and cosy inside.
I come off the motorway and hit some back roads and even single track roads. This bike weighs 211kg’s according to Honda’s website. Kawasaki’s website claims the ER6-F weighs 209kg, Suzuki claims the Gladius weighs 202kg. Many reviews have stated the Honda’s a big fat heavy beast, but compared to these 2 similar bikes it’s not that bad really. What I can say is that if it is heavy, it sure as hell does not feel like it.
Like Ren I like to explore single track lanes and narrow back roads. On these roads the bike feels so stable, so secure and perfectly happy. I’m happy to fly down bumpy back lanes, slither over gravel, chuck it round switchbacks and peel through poorly surfaced bends without much fear. This is the first bike in a long time where I feel confident immediately on this kind of road. Most bikes take time to learn what it can and cannot cope with, this feel right from the start.
I mentioned earlier about the rev counter and how I’d need it. This bike runs out of revs so quickly with its car-derived engine. I hit the rev limiter several times at first so I make a note to NOT try and rev the nuts off it to get going. As soon as I adjust to this new riding style the bike comes to life. Changing gear at 5 or 6 thousand revs keeps the motor pulling magnificently well at these sub-60mph speeds. It feels alive, grunty and it pulls like a train. I know inside my head that there are much faster bikes but at legal speeds and sensible levels for these narrow lanes this bike must surely be as quick as any other, save for the lunatic super-motoards.
I’m so excited! I’m having so much FUN! It feels like the Dominator in its performance and power delivery, it feels like a 250 in its manoeuvrability and cornering and it feels like I’m on top of everything in the way the bike works. I’m starting to worry, I can see over 5 grand coming out of my account. I’m just glad I can’t afford it…right now.
After playing on a bunch of roundabouts I hit the motorway again. I want to put a few miles on to see what comfort is like. You can’t really test comfort unless you have 5 hours to cover a few hundred miles. Apart from the lack of fairing the bike feels…OK. Not good like I’d expect a Goldwing to feel, but there’s plenty of leg room, the seat feels a tad hard perhaps and the low revs of the motor are relaxing enough. I’ve been riding for over an hour by the time I pull off and I feel fine. How I’d feel after a full day I can’t really say, but so far it seems OK.
I make a point of returning to the shop via lots of housing estates and the town centre. This is another revelation. Unlike sports bikes and even a big heavy trailie this thing is so stable it can potter around the tightest estate and gravelly car park fine. In fact it’s as easy to ride as a 125 around town. Better than a 125 the tall gears and grunt of the motor mean fewer gear shifts and poke when you need it. Ren mentioned the gear box is very smooth, I have to agree in that I did not notice the gearbox at all, which means it just works and does not intrude.
So what have Honda given us here? It’s not a sports bike, it’s not a big trailie, it’s not a muscle bike and it’s not a tourer. The salesman tells me it’s a commuter, but it’s much more fun than that. In my humble opinion, it’s the ultimate all rounder. For each and every aspect there is a better machine. For back lanes you want a super motard, for motorways you want a tourer, for pure commuting or economy you want a 125 or 250, for speed you want a sports bike and for off road you want a trailie. But if you want to cover all bases (except off road) without too much compromise and still have fun, this has GOT to be a good option.
Love it, I WILL be getting one soon.
Reader's Comments
mervyn said :-
I hope its as good as you say i have just bought one had the phone call today to say it is in stock sold my Triumph T100 to buy one.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
DAVID said :-
Thanks - really useful review. Only negative for me in the review is that the seat must feel higher than the spec says it is
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Dave said :-
Thanks for a balanced real world review, I,ve just test rode one and agree with your opinions totally, I,ve just ordered one from my local dealer, it,s the most relaxed bike I,ve ridden.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
VEF said :-
"40mm or about 3 inches difference. I can't bloody tell the difference!"
40mm is about 1.5 inches, not 3. Maybe thats why You cant tell the difference. Good review otherwise.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Jakub said :-
Thank you for this review.I'm looking for upgrade from my 125cc honda PS.
I'm looking for everyday commute bike and l want to escape from busy London roads sometime. I'm not a speed freak so this bike will do the job.
The only issue is witch one should l get , the one with manual gear box or automatic ? I ride scooter in busy London l never change gears , how hard is to ride with manual gears? How much would l loose l go for the automatic gear version? (apart from spending more money of course )
Rgards
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
richard thomas said :-
you seem to find the 700s as good as i do after 4.000 miles all trouble free id recomend one to anyoune
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Karum said :-
I can't believe that a mere 47bhp is going to be enough to move such a big machine. It's got to be dog slow and no fun at all. When Triumph can make a bike that weighs 170 kilos and produces almost 100 brake horse why can't honda make a lighter machine with a bit of power. the light weight would save on fuel too if thats what this bike is about
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Leslie said :-
Have my Honda 700 NCS booked and looking forward to ride it, since I have not been riding for a while. Was glad to read the reviews including yours that the bike is good.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Vince said :-
I have really enjoyed reading this review, so much so I have a test ride booked for Saturday!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Thomas said :-
I have about 3 thousand miles on mine and have loved every bit of it. I have the Givi saddlebags, tour box and engine guards, center stand, heated hand grips, Givi windshield. And to top it off I am averaging 75 mpg!!!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Paul Bones said :-
Needs:
1) a serious weight reduction programme
2) make a fairing available (ie not a standard fitting)
equals a bit closer to perfection1
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
NC Owner said :-
Paul Bones, did you road tested one ?
1) The weight is so well balanced and the gravity center so low you don't feel it.
2) Put a tall touring windshield in the place of the stock one.
3)Give it a try.
4)Keep the money you save on gas in your bank account and start saving now for your next Honda.
4)Post your comments !
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Mike said :-
40mm is NOT 3 inch, it;s only 1.6 inch :)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Steve said :-
You don't have to be a beginner or an old fogie to enjoy this bike, I've been riding for 30 years and I reckon it's a lot of fun. As the commentator says it can be out gunned in all specialised aspects but as an overall package it's great! But what the hell I'm only Steve L not Valentino Rossi so what would I know.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ian Dalgliesh said :-
I just bought a 2nd hand NC700S.So far,day2,I'm in love,except I froze yesterday,riding through London,when I've been used to large screens for the past 8 years.That apart,it handles well enough,has instant power to overtake.Only downside,it seems to be canted forwards all the time,giving me sore wrists.Oh! and the wife immediately bought a bike jacket and new helmet ,upon seeing the bike.She hasn't ridden pillion since 2003.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Gareth said :-
Didn't know these existed until very recently, just moved offices and I park my gilera 200 scooter next to one every day. Having not recovered from selling my TDM850 a few years ago I feel that this could be the ideal compromise between my scoot and the TDM. Lots of positive reviews, must try and organise a test ride.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
danny said :-
HEY GUYS. CAN THE SEAT LEVEL OF THE NC700X BE ADJUSTED AND LOWER IT
TO 40 MM LIKE THE NC700S ?
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Danny
I suspect the main difference between the street S and the trailie X is the suspension. As such that's a fair item to change. You best bet would be to go to your local Honda dealer and see if they have any further info.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Richard said :-
I've had my NC700S now for 6 months and done 10800km.
I rode from Sydney to Adelaide with detours this is 1650km. I did 650 km day 1 and 1000km day 2. I felt I could have kept on going it is so comfortable.
Bike averages about 3.5lt/100km (4.0lt/100km with head wind).
Had a 650 Suzuki Gladius before this (wrote it off when I hit a 'roo). The NC lacks power by comparison and definitely needs more revs and gear shifts if you want to keep it moving. However it does well in the corners and thru the hills.
I ride most weekends with Christian Motorcyclist Association (CMA) and get lots of comments on how smooth it looks when I'm tucked in, knee down.
Bottom line? Touring, commuting, boy racing (legally of course), I love it!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Richard. NC700S, Sydney to Adelaide, good fuel economy and weekend rideouts with your mates...are you deliberately trying to make us soggy Brits jealous!?
That said I know Sydney has had some very severe rain recently.
A friend has just purchased the "X" version so I might beg a test ride.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Henrik said :-
Looking after a KLE500, by pure curiosity I have been looking what compares today, Guess CB500X is the only MC that I would consider.
KLE/GPZ-500 engine has every narrow span on consumption, 18 km/l
driving as a maniac, and 22 km/l driving super-economy, (its hard
getting these bikes under/over these limit's no mater how).
CB500X seems to perform around 27 km/l according to fuelly.com so
injection most certainly gives a lift in the 500 segment bikes.
More impressing is that NC700S/X is also around the same 27 km/l !!!
They all got thanks around 14-17 litres, I find this being far to
small for a medio-sized travel-machines, that goes around 25 km/l
Especially the NC, I ask my self why they didn't make a larger tank insteadt of that luggage-rom in front, 25-30 litres would be nice,
and possible,...
Btw. Keeway KLS is very well-equipped with tank capacity compared to
consumption, that alone makes it a candidate for touring,..
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Henrik. I daresay while both the CB500X and the NC700X are more economical they are really road bikes with off road styling. The KLE has a little more off road potential.
As for fuel tank sizes...ARGH! Yes, why are they so small these days? Many bikes seem to come with a 120 to 150 mile tank range. My CBF125 will easily do 300 miles and the gf's Keeway does at least 250. I'd LOVE to own a Honda CRF250 but it has the tiny little 7 litre, yes SEVEN litre tank. Useless, absolutely useless. Grrrrr!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Henrik said :-
Agreed to the fullest,CB500X, NC700X, DL650, is "styled" road machines only
KLE500 is 20-40 kg less, "better" suspension, and "open" to mod even further
Then again, even my 145 kg DRZ was to heavy in the mountains, for the small tracks, (my dream-bike in that department is a 300cc two-stroke GasGas), but still KLE is wothy the tittle "dual purpose", unlike the styled monsters :-)
Guess I once saw someone who did cut the top of his KLE-tank, and rised it for an additional 5 Litres, wait, here is the pic, fantastic skill's,
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Henrik. I read a website about a guy who spent a fortune expanding the tank on his Super Tenere 1200 to achieve a 300 mile range. Stick a 14-16 litre tank on most 125 and that's the problem fixed.
The people that can do this kind of work are far more skilled than I am.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
John D said :-
I rode my friends nc700. What a geek bike! Non adjustable weak forks and sad brakes. Got out run by a 84 kz550. Wouldn't have
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi John D. I am told that others don't rate the suspension much but I've heard nothing about the brakes. I think to get caught up in high speed handling issues and other performance related topics is to miss the point of the NC. I don't think it was ever intended to be ridden hard and fast.
Was talking to a chap this weekend who's put 40,000 onto his NC750X (the traile styled version) and he's very happy with it. He didn't look like the boy racer sort.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Alex W said :-
Tested this one. Liked how agile it feels. But bought V-strom, cause I think it can offer a bit more almost in every aspect.
15/01/2016 06:09:30 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers Alex. Agile? That's not a word that springs to mind when you consider the weight of this beast, but then it's all about how it carries the weight and not the number on a spreadsheet. I would agree that perhaps the V-Strom is just that little more "something" than the NC700 and it is a proven machine. Correspondingly though the NC was never intended to set your pants on fire, rather it offers gentle, sensible and relaxing sensations to the rider who's not looking for performance.
It really is a matter of taste and riding style. I'd love to hear what you think of your 'Strom. My review is below...
www.bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=185...
15/01/2016 18:06:52 UTC
John Dally said :-
Ian Dalgliesh said :-
I just bought a 2nd hand NC700S.So far,day2,I'm in love,it seems to be canted forwards all the time,giving me sore wrists.!
If you slacken the 4 bolts (12mm ) holding the handle bars a bit, sit on the bike and pull them back to where you want, and no sore wrists.;-)
21/02/2016 18:36:14 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers John Dally. You're quite right there's adjustments to be made to the bars and the levers to make things more comfortable. If that's not enough then there's bar risers.
22/02/2016 16:26:59 UTC
John Dally said :-
If you want to try a cheap set of handle bar risers, what you do in get a set of top handle bar clamps, and some longer bolts, rest the spare clamps upside down on the part that is fitted on the triple clamp, then put the longer bolts through the old top clamps rest the bars on and bolt them all together. bars raised about 3/4-1", if you done like take them off,
11/03/2016 21:25:05 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
That would work John. I don't know how confident I'd feel about it as a permanent feature, it would all depend on how well everything sits together. It would certainly be helpful in testing for things like cable length and riding position.
11/03/2016 23:35:25 UTC
Alan said :-
I bought an NC700S second hand just over a year ago because the price was right and I just wanted something easy to ride on my daily commute. Didn't expect much and was totally surprised at how much I enjoy riding it. Of course it's not as fast as my Sprint ST but it will eat pretty much any car at the traffic light Grand Prix and is still turning in over 80mpg. 4500 miles on this and just 200 on my triumph in the same time says something!
21/05/2016 17:38:44 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I'd best not tell my friend you said that, he's totally Triumph mad! It is a great bike Alan and once you get used to the low revving motor it'll shift along quite happily. 80mpg, oooh that makes me smile.
22/05/2016 16:36:02 UTC
Name
Comment
Add a RELEVANT link (not required)
Upload an image (not required) -
Uploading...
Home
Bike Reviews