The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Discussion about "Lesser" makes, er, Non-BMW ;-) => Topic started by: steve hawkins on May 25, 2015, 02:21:32 PM
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A change of jobs has introduced a 30+ miles cross country commute each way, every day. I did look at another airhead to run alongside my R100, but they have gone up in price recently and getting a cheap bike to put a lot of miles on seems to consigned to history.
Enter the Honda NC750X. Half a Honda Jazz engine, so a parallel twin, 270 deg firing order and lots of balancer shafts, only revs to 6500rpm. Low outright bhp, but high low down torque. Up to 80 mpg (uk gallons), 8000 mile service intervals, yada, yada.
Funnily enough, rides like an airhead. The X refers to its adventure bike styling. Bought a manual, as good as the auto (dual clutch gearbox) is, its a 10kg luxury I can do without.
Keep my Airhead for the weekends.
There, they do say sharing your shame, somehow lifts the burden slightly.
Rev Light
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Ease up on yourself, Steve. [smiley=steinigung.gif]
Bunch of us have additional bikes that are not from the Motorrad shed. Doesn't make you a bad person. Incidentally. if you don't post up a photo, well, you know... the bike doesn't exist.
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Oddly enough, I've been noticing some of the adventure touring bikes myself lately, and consciously controlling the opening of my wallet.
As nice as the R1200GSA is - it is just too much, in my book. Especially pricewise. I was looking at a 800GS XC (used) and also a 2-year old Yamaha Super Tenere. But, I'll probably just plod on with my current stable of bikes, especially now that we're borrowing some money to make more house updates..
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Enter the Honda NC750X. Half a Honda Jazz engine, so a parallel twin, 270 deg firing order and lots of balancer shafts, only revs to 6500rpm. Low outright bhp, but high low down torque. Up to 80 mpg (uk gallons), 8000 mile service intervals, yada, yada.
Photos God damm you, photos!!!!!
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Oddly enough, I've been noticing some of the adventure touring bikes myself lately, and consciously controlling the opening of my wallet.
I posted not so long ago in this very sub-board about my own foray into the world of Adventure Bikes - a KLE 500 Kawasaki...That project meanders along.....
However I did put some dirt miles on a F650GS BMW. Direct comparison to my current dirt transport, a 330 year old XT350, the 650GS is heaven on a stick. What a lovely, confidence inspiring little machine, heaps of get up and go and judging by the luggage kit the owner has for it, quite capable of carrying a load too.
And best of all they are dirt cheap.
Meanwhile, back int he real world, I will finish stripping the KLE frame as far as I intend to strip it this weekend and will then do a bit of painting. The engine awaits my attention, it is a lovely simple thing, but my goodness is it ever heavy, lifting it from floor to workbench was very close to be beyond me.
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Me picking it up:
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That's a pretty good looking commuter, Steve. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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Steve, that looks like it could be a lot of fun on the ride to work!
Great colour and those tyres look nice too
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Looks good! I'd not have any qualms about riding that bike to work, or out on a tour!
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Spouse has an NC700X that he uses as a commute bike. Its a pretty awesome bike. I love the fuel tank 'trunk' and how easy it is to work on. And the fuel economy..... He averages about 75 mpg.
Its his 'go to' bike for trips as well. recently took it back to MN to visit parents. Bike now has SW Motec tail and pannier racks, Wolfman panniers, and a rack that replaces the pillion seat made by a guy in western Washington state. Its nicely made, and has an opening to replace the fuel cap without having to unload the baggage on the seat.
Bike loaded up for 10 day trip:
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe340%2Fflymymbz%2FNC700X%2Fracks%2520and%2520bags%25202_zpsjqsp13qm.jpg&hash=e3c6ab8c44b9f52505beeb87bbdea669c3f42eb1)
I don't have any pictures of the pillion rack installed on our bike, so I will steal a couple from the guy that built it.
Pillion rack installed (photo courtesy of HondaBikePro)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe340%2Fflymymbz%2FNC700X%2Fpillion%2520rack%25202_zps8xbbghbt.jpg&hash=bf91276b87010d92b3801557fc366854b2ad812c)
Top view of pillion rack in unfinished state (photo courtesy of HondaBikePro)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe340%2Fflymymbz%2FNC700X%2Fpillion%2520rack_zpskdb8lath.jpg&hash=7e1a1cedda4d77ec2e03074c5b107c03b288022c)
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Interesting accessory setup - and thanks for the write-up Dee! Does look like a very good choice for a 'standard' does everything sort of bike.
I gotta wonder a little about that luggage rack - does the front edge of it press against one's rear end/coccyx area?
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Interesting accessory setup - and thanks for the write-up Dee! Does look like a very good choice for a 'standard' does everything sort of bike.
I gotta wonder a little about that luggage rack - does the front edge of it press against one's rear end/coccyx area?
he has never mentioned it doing that. We just stuck new tires on it yesterday, and I was chosen to be the test ride guinea pig. he wimped out and rode the CB500X to work this morning. If I get my tail in gear, I can get the ride in before the temps climb over 100F. I'll let you know if I can feel it or not.
Dee
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I bought a 700X more than three years ago. Already covered more than 52 000km, and regard this bike as one of my best buys ever.
A couple of photos below :
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Hi Danie!
It has been quite some time since we heard from you - glad to see that you're back!
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Hi Danie!
It has been quite some time since we heard from you - glad to see that you're back!
Ditto that!
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Thanks !
Yea, I'm still around, also visited and toured the US two years ago ! In fact - today, exactly two years ago we were on a flight back to South Africa. The tour started at Bondurant, IA, and we travelled through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, down to Edisto Beach in South Corolina. On our way back to Iowa we went through Georgia and Missouri as well. What an experience !
We really enjoyed visting the Charleston (SC) area Lots of historic places and buildings down there ! Hopefully I will be able to see more of the US before I bite the dust one day .
God Bless !
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Pretty solid machines.. I worked a few years for a Honda dealer here in London and sold a fair few of these. Good choice!
Also I don't know if you rode one or not but the automatic models, as clever as they are, felt really strange to me.. Always felt like there was way more of a clunk when changing gears then there should be! Nice for city traffic but would rather have a full manual for real riding.
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Ah well, so much for the Honda. One day I came to the conclusion that as good as it was there were too many annoying things about it.
1. Its a very wet bike to ride in inclement weather due to the idiot stylists chopping away all the fenders, etc.
2. Its chain driven.
3. It does not have a centre stand as standard.
4. Honda accessories are stupidly expensive.
5. Its not great on the motorways for covering long distance as its too upright.
A wise man once said: "if you are only going to run one bike, then run the one you want, not the one you need."
So I changed it for this:
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Well, don't just stand there with a silly smile on your face! Tell us the details: mileage, condition, etc etc.
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Looks killer, Steve. But, after living with this 1150RT for a few years I don't envy you when it comes time to do any service that's underneath the "Tupperware!"
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Nice Bike Steve. A friend of mine locally has one and it is a great ride, but they do have something of a Achilles heel.
If it has ABS, flush the fluid regularly and hope. If (when) the ABS unit fails it quite playfully leaves you with no brakes at all. which is apt to be "exciting".
A new ABS unit is not really an option as they cost more than the bike is worth, but there is a bypass kit readily available, you do however need to buy a new master cylinder.
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This one is an early one, a 1998 model. It has the earlier ABS II (?) that can be bypassed if it fails, does not leave you with no brakes and generally has a few more things that can be done to it to resurrect it if it starts flashing. It is not the servo assisted brake system fitted to later bikes that will indeed leave you high and dry when it fails, along with a much bigger bill.
It has 40k miles on it and full luggage, that I shall safely store away. Actually it has more than 41k now.
It is a sophisticated beast, there is no denying it. An alternator change is a frame off job, I believe.
But its a bike with a very good record for reliability, if you get out and use it. Rear main seals drying out on unused/low mileage machines are one of the favorite failures, usually costing you a clutch in the process - an item that should last much more that 100k, if you can keep the oil off it.
I swapped the Honda for it, plus a very few bear tokens. Which is top money for a 19 year old bike. But condition is everything, and it was local, just serviced, MOT'd and had a short warrantee period for piece of mind.
Back in the day when I was putting 40k on an already old K100RS, I stopped at a local BMW dealer to have my tappets checked and bought into spec. Whilst I was waiting the salesman asked me if I would like to take their new demonstrator down to the local garage to fuel it up. It was one of these K1200RS's that had just come out (1997). It was lovely in its yellow and gunmetal livery, so much more sophisticated and smooth compared to my old nail. The salesman knew what he was doing, he just did not realise that it would take 20 years for me to buy it.
I saw a nice example of one recently at a motorbike shop, ridden by a new and nervous owner. I new at that point that I should be on the lookout for one.
I was after a silver/blue one or one of the original yellow and gunmetal ones. But this red one came up, and its nice enough and the deal was too easy.
It is a 'Rocket Ship' though.
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