*** Apologies to those, mainly younger, folk who are hearing the distracting high pitched tone on the segments with the slides. For these sections I moved in to the garage to record the audio, ironically, to reduce the background noise without considering the high pitched noise rodent scarer that my wife had recently installed. If you can't hear it, I suspect your hearing has 'rolled off' a little bit like mine! I'll edit a new version shortly and upload for those with good hearing so you don't have to put up with the racket! ***
I owned an early 700cc version of the NC. In so many ways it is a brilliant daily rider / commuter motorcycle. I addressed the spongy / weak front brake feel by fitting a braided stainless brake line, front fork brace and higher spec. EBC front brake pads. Huge improvement with turn in on the twisties with MUCH improved and balanced brake feel under really hard braking. I went to a one tooth larger countershaft sprocket. My intention was to reduce engine RPM at advanced highway speeds. The unexpected result was an actual increase in performance because the engine was now in its torque sweet spot more of the time and I wasn’t constantly bumping into the rev limiter when accelerating hard. Of course the fuel economy got even better. The valve adjustment is so ridiculously easy with the old school jamnut adjusters, there is NO reason to ignore it. During our hot Florida summers I used 15/50 full synthetic Amsoil. The engine always ran smooth and quiet albeit with an ever so slight drop in the already crazy high fuel economy. The horrid seat was addressed by fitting a Corbin saddle. Expensive but ever so worth it. Overall, with the already long suspension travel, the new saddle, lower and slightly narrower Renthal aluminum bars and taller Puig windscreen gave this bike more long ride comfort than my ‘22 Goldwing! I gave this bike to my grandson, a Marine serving in San Diego. He has put another 20k miles on this great bike. Cheers!
Hi Mike, thanks for the detailed info, fascinating stuff. As you say the valve adjustments are about as easy as it's possible to get. I'm intrigued by the gearing change, I trust yours was a manual and not a DCT? I'll have to see if I can import one of the Corbin seats, I know they have a great reputation and it's good to hear of first hand experience. Incredible to think that with a few mods a humble NC can rival, let alone beat, a Goldwing for long ride comfort, praise indeed. I hope you're grandson son continues to enjoy it for many years to come. All the best!
This is a real and informative review rather than the waffle we normally get from know nothing riders trying to think of amusing things to say while they ride around pointlessly.
@jimsgewan1721 that’s really good of you to say, thank you. I was getting really tired of channels that all compete to get the latest bike from the dealers only to then always say how amazing it is to keep the dealer / importer sweet. I’m not ‘funny’ but what I’m trying to do is get out some detailed reviews on some popular bikes that I either own or have researched thoroughly and talked at length with owners. Hopefully in the pipeline are the CB500X and an extended review on the BMW GS series which needs a LOT of prep. Thanks again for the comment. 👍
I bought a 2015 NC750X-DCT to commute 55 miles each way to work and back. Fuel efficiency was my only consideration and it regularly topped its 99.9mpg as it only had 3 figures so couldn't show 100.0 or more. Utterly boring, but boringly brilliant. A real contradiction of a motorcycle. Did it excite? No. Would I own another one? Absolutely. The most versatile bike I have ever owned, and in a garage of 3 (I also had a Gold Wing and a Hayabusa) it quickly became the 'go-to' machine. Only sold it when I got a job 6 miles away as opposed to 55 but I do miss the old girl.
@BibtheBoulder that’s my take on it too. It’s the sort of workhorse that isn’t sexy in any way but is a such a great allrounder. I know it makes me sound ancient but it’s a bike to be *used* 365 days a year rather than a lovely toy only for dry, sunny Sundays etc
Respect the hell out of this bike and Honda for making it. What a well engineered tool for transportation. Would definitely consider owning one if I had a 55 mile daily commute. As it is, my daily ride is a CBR500R with a top case. Mpg marginally worse, fun factor perhaps slightly higher. Both bikes being quite inexpensive and easy to run, of course. I appreciate that Honda puts real engineering acumen behind their commuter motorcycles. Not something every brand prioritizes. Hell, most don't even sell a model you could honestly call a commuter.
@kleinbottled79 I couldn't agree more. I used to commute 8 miles each way to work but it was wasted on that in honesty. It's interesting to see how many people end up trying to decide between the 500 and 750 rather than between a Honda and something else. They sure do know how to make a tough workhorse!
I have the dct machine because I have had carple tunnel opp and arthritis in my left hand and cannot pull a clutch and the bike is brilliant I am 65 and don't want silly speeds. As for the seat I found a local upholster who pulled back the cover cut away 1/3 of the hard foam glued on softer foam and restapled the cover charged me £30 brilliant now
@davidwilliams5942 I think a few DCT have gone for them due to arthritis, it makes so much sense. I don’t think they’re slow in honesty, the only time I think they feel lacking is if you need a fast overtake on a country road or when you want to accelerate quickly whilst already at the legal limit. Like you, I don’t see that as a great loss given the other advantages. Great to hear you’ve got the seat sorted, and for such a reasonable sum. 👍
Thank you. Owner of a 2021 model (DCT, Top-Box, center stand, higher windshield, hand guards, additional lights) I can tell you it's a very good bike. I'm a "diesel-like" user and therefore it's an excellent choice. BUT Honda used to be much better in finishing. Plastic parts are cheap and some metal parts too. I dream of this bike with a shaft transmission. Would be perfect. Greetings from France.
@tinsspiny2861 Thank you for the kind words, some wise additions there I think. Like you I’m a “diesel-like” rider, I had a TDM900 a few bikes ago and while more characterful than the Honda it’s unwillingness to pull smoothly from low revs became a pain. It is a shame that Honda’s finish is not what it once was, on many bikes, but I think they and they others too, have been going down this route for many years. I guess if I had to choose I’d opt for the well developed and bombproof engine with less good finish than the other way around. As I’ve said on another comment I think we’d all love shaft drive but there again it would be slower, heavier and more expensive. Sadly, apart from BMW and Guzzi the shaft drive options these days are limited. Hope all is well in France, my favourite country!
I too would gladly forfeit a bit of its excellent fuel economy if they offered a shaft-drive option. Likewise why can't they add cruise control? For me, two changes like these would make this the most consummate motorcycle available.
Great video! As I have 2020 Nc750x you hit every point good and bad. I'm 57 and have owned over 20 motorcycles and this one is as good as it gets for the "times" we're in. Smooth and so efficient, I can tell the heft of the machine but as you mentioned it's low center makes it nimble enough and I have to say, on the highway it's quite solid almost surprising in cross wind and coming past semis. Very stable. I will never sell mine.
@stephenschneider9209 Hi Stephen, thanks for the kind words, very much appreciated. Honda seem to have a knack of looking at what we *need* and nailing it. I was having a good chat with the guys on a Facebook group for the bike and I’ve never met a bunch so happy with their bike. Like you I can’t see another bike out there that ticks so many boxes for what I want. It’s a keeper. 👍
I got my first bike, a barely used 2015 model, one year ago. It's been such a reliable practical vehicle that I'm tempted to go the same way my entire family of fellow Honda owners usually do and put 200k miles on it. It's like the stock 90s civic I learned stick on in the best way and as close to being a car as possible. An interesting comparison to my first car, a 91 Mazda Miata, which was about as close as you can get to the functionality of a motorcycle with four wheels.
@joelaugustin6407 It's really great to hear that you're getting on with the bike, the motors are damn near indestructible. Regularly serviced I'd have no doubt yours would be good 200k miles and only use a little gas in the process. Enjoy! :)
A nice review with relevant information about the bike. The brief history of how the model has been updated over the years is especially useful for someone looking at a second-hand purchase. Pros and cons listed are useful to someone who intends to do more than the odd ride. I bought a new NC750x DCT last year (2022) and had the centre stand and higher screen fitted . (I was looking for a new one and none of the dealers had one saying they were on backorder until maybe the end of the year. By chance I telephoned a dealer who had just got one in. It had taken so long to arrive that the person who ordered it had bought something else! ) This 2022 model seems to have a few more updates compared to the model in your review. The seat I think has been changed to get rid of what was a downward slope. I have seen the complaint about the earlier seats letting you slide forward in other reviews. The longest trip I've done is with my wife on the pillion to near Cockermouth in the Lake District from our home in Leicestershire, around 225 miles. A large proportion of the trip was on the M6 with 2 or 3 stops on the way up as we ran into a deluge halfway. The return was dry all the way with one-stop halfway for a drink and sandwich. We both thought the seat was comfortable for that kind of distance on relatively smooth roads. The display is LCD. It looks plain compared with the previous coloured one. There are four modes, Sport, Standard, Rain and User where you can set your own parameters if you have studied the handbook carefully. The suspension is as you imply budget. Not awful but at best just OK. It is something that I would have liked them to do a little bit better. I hope to maybe with experiment with different grade oils in the front forks to see if I can improve the damping Slow speed damping OK but high speed a bit harsh. The forks have Showa Dual Bendy Valves that are supposed to give good damping. I fa oil grade change doesn't help then I'll maybe have to look at spending a bit more money. Top speed is not a concern and although the performance is not scintillating, "Standard" setting is adequate for most riding conditions and Sport mode is good if you want to get a bit of a move on. The economy is exceptional, always in the high 70's - 80 mpg. Shaft drive would have been nice but would have put the NC into a different price bracket. I fit a Scottoile to all my bikes so I don't find chain maintenance a big deal. If there is one thing that I would have Honda to improve it would be the suspension. Ed
@MrEdgrew thanks Ed, I really appreciate the feedback. I have to say I should've mentioned the centre stand in the review, it makes such a difference when chain lubing, especially if you're touring, heartily recommended. You're quite right about the seat, it has been changed and continues Honda's attitude of gradual improvement / development of the model which is great to see. The new LCD screen is far clearer imho, I'd certainly take the clarity over the 'colourfulness' of the earlier model. I'd also be interested to hear what luck you have with different oil in the front forks. Mine are also SDBV but they're not the most subtle out there, but they're not bad. I know others have echoed your thoughts on the shaft drive but i think it's down to cost, weight and power loss. If even the NT1100 has to make do with a chain, I fear the NC has no hope. Hope you continue to enjoy the bike :)
Good video, I have the 22 model which has a different seat, more horsepower and shed’s about 5kg in weight . The dash is improved too. Coming from an Aprilia Tuono Factory you’d think I’d be missing the power, well I do on motorway overtakes but 90% of the time, it’s fine, plus I’ve had new Ducati and Aprilia bikes and their electric’s aren’t great, especially Ducatis . I’ve changed the front fork springs (£100) and put on a taller screen with deflector, now cruises at 85mph on the motorway’s mainly out of the wind, put the hand guards on too. Loving the bike. If I was going to change anything else, possibly the rear spring, but it’s not a massive game changer.
@colinbarber9324 thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! I must try a '22 model, I like mine but everything I hear about the newer variant sounds positive, being 6'2" I'd just want to make sure it's no more cramped feet / backside wise. I think people think it's slow because they hear mid fifties bhp and think of a 500 twin. The key to the NC is that it has the low and mid range grunt of a 750 just with the top end power missing so unless you go chasing the redline on a 750 the NC will rarely seem gutless. Like you, it's only the faster motorway overtakes where you realise there's not a lot more to come but adjust to that and I think it's a great bike with few competitors.
@taichiroward5770 that's great to hear, though it's a VERY different ride. If you're used to 'normal' bike engines, it takes a while to adjust. On the first manual I tried I ran in to the rev limiter, repeatedly, something I'd never done on a bike before! On the DCT you obviously won't get caught out like that :) If you approach like you would a Guzzi or even a Harley (engine character wise) it makes sense, those that think it will be like a slightly less powerful MT-07 for example, don't tell to gel with them lol. Hope you enjoy the ride and life is good in Alaska :)
What is forgotten about power is that a basic ford fiesta develops about the same power and weighs over a ton. It can travel at 70 mph with a driver and three passengers plus luggage. Just because the NC isn’t overpowered and is not a crotch rocket it gets criticised.
I think most people get it now, or certainly owners do. The engine is designed to pull well at low and mid range, be very economical and very long lived. Ironically while it's got a low top speed for 750, it's pulls harder low down and in the mid range than any 54bhp has any right to. :)
Very nice video about a bike that deserves more fans. I own a 2018 NC750X, and I'm very happy with it. Relaxed engine with great fuel economy and easy to maintain. The only thing I really don't like about the NC is the chain drive. For such an otherwise practical everyday bike it's disappointing that Honda hasn't given it either belt or shaft drive. Honda used to do shaft drive on practical middleweight bikes like the CX500, VT500 and NTV650, but today it's all chains. I notice that your rear rim looks like my own, black with oil stains from that chain. I have no plans of letting go of my NC, unless Honda were to update it with either belt or shaft drive, then they could sell me a new one.
Thanks for the kind comment, much appreciated. I have to say the chain is a pet peeve of mine too. Thinking back to the 80/90s you had Kawasaki with the GT550/750, Suzuki with the GS850/1100 and Honda with the CX, VT and NT/NTV. Nowadays BMW and MotoGuzzi aside it's hard to think of another shaftdrive bike, even the touring biased NT1100 is chain. I understand that the main reason is expense, but why they don't use more belts like BMW did with the F800 escapes me, seems to be the best of both worlds to me.
@@BibtheBoulder I agree, but unfortunately that's probably not going to happen. Instead I suspect that with the introduction of their new CB750 Hornet, Honda may drop the NC. That would be a real shame and a big mistake. There are plenty of bikes on the market just like the Hornet, but none like the NC.
@BibtheBoulder Sadly I can’t see it happening for a number of reasons. Cost is the obvious one, a chain is far cheaper. Then there’s the issues of power and weight. A shaft drive will sap more power than a chain and the extra weight blunts performance still further. The NTV650 had more power yet weighed 50kg less even with a shaft drive.
@olethorhermansen I think many of us fear that and lowering the NC and doing away with the S makes me think they didn’t want it compared to the new Transalp. I agree though that the NC and new Hornet / Transalp are so completely different that they should be able to coexist. I suspect it all comes down to whether it continues to sell or not.
Great detailed review. Thank you! I believe the 2021 - 2023 models also got a small horsepower boost and produce 58hp now. The seat is also much improved over the older version.
@jkenny6163 Thanks for your kind words, that's much appreciated. You're quite right re the latest model and I should've included that detail, they've raised the redline a bit too iirc which some will make use of from time to time. Let's hope there's many more years in the model yet.
Nice and straight forward informational video about the NC750X DCT. I'm on the verge of obtaining one and at present, looking at many videos and forums for the latest info on these what appear to be great all around bikes. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. SR
@scottraines7419 thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. If you want a dependable, frugal, long lasting bike, these are a good choice. If you want excitement, high performance and blistering top speed, there are better choices out there. Good luck choosing your next bike!
your right what you say about the frunk its really handy i enjoyed your video i'v just got a 2023 model and its my first one its interesting to see the previous models.
@arthurdunga345 Thanks for the kind comments Arthur, it's much appreciated. Honda have been very smart and gradually improved the bike rather than making huge changes, the latest model has a bit more 'go' at the top end and sits a little lower than the earlier X models so it's more approachable to more people. I like it and I hope you enjoy yours, ride safe out there :)
I came for the review and stayed for, "...like a baboon's backside". 😄 I really appreciate this and all your other videos I've watched. Fair, balanced, and full of great info. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! It’s been a bit slower this year but looking to get a few more reviews of bikes and other stuff out before the end of the year, fingers crossed!
I've never had a poke around an NC before. This is brilliant. That tank box is amazing! Total Honda genius. All bikes should have these! I fancy a try of a bike with the DCT. My family car has the VAG DSG transmission and there is no going back to manual after that...at least for an everyday vehicle!
I have to say I started by looking to downsize to a scooter but anything with a half decent sized engine was crazy expensive so thought I'd try an NC. Exciting it is not but it's a great workhorse in the way Honda do so well, think NTV650 and CX500 etc.
I am most likely going to be looking for one of these next year. The 2018-2020 model is the style I like best. Especially the 2019 because of the blue color. I also want the DCT on it. I am currently riding a Suzuki DR650. I mainly ride in town, but also some in the nearby countryside. Never go offroad anymore so don't need the dualsport capability. I took a look at the used market but don't see hardly any for sale around me here in Ohio. Hopefully some will pop up next year.
Hi, thanks for dropping by, I agree that these are the best years unless you really wanted the lower stance of the more recent bikes. I'm not sure how many they've sold in the US but from what I hear folk like them, which probably explains why you might not see many coming up for sale. I hope all is well for you guys in Ohio and you find a good NC soon. All the best, Jon.
Thanks for the feedback (and the sub!) it really is appreciated. With regard to the riding clips do you mean within the review vids or separate 'out and about' or 'travel' vids? Thanks again!
@@BikingChap thought perhaps it’d make a good extra bit of the review. You riding out and about on the bike telling us what it’s like! Although I’m sure that’s a pain from a camera point of view as well as tricky with owners and insurance
@Bartsk84eva Ok I’m with you. I’ll build that in to the next review. :) Currently the bikes I have on the channel will be ones I own or I’ve rented, I’m not ‘big enough’ to get bikes from dealers / importers and that’s fine because it means I can be completely honest. The insurance aspect is ok but I’ll need to upgrade my GoPro to do an on road piece as mine is quite old now. Thanks again for the input and if there’s any particular bike you’re interested in me doing a thorough review on, just let know. :)
Yay my hearing is good ;) I'm getting a 2014 S version for work in the next few weeks. Riding 15k a year on an R1200RT is costing too much, yet I need it for volunteer work....so I will be having two bikes
They really are a great workhorse Mark, not only super economical on fuel but long lived and cheap / simple to service. You should save a good but over the RT I'm sure!
Got my full license on one of these , a great smooth Honda . Thanks for the great review . ps. My Beautiful Wife rides a Honda VTR250 , so yes we know Honda quality
@Beanerds thanks for your kind words, they've been a great seller for Honda for good reason! I remember the VTR250, very quick for a 250, your wife has good taste too! :)
Good coverage, mines a 18 reg and your pros and cons are pretty much spot on.can tell from yours that the wheel bearing is good as its never seen a power washer lol 😂
Thanks for the feedback Tony, @tonywilliamson , much appreciated. I'm sure I don't know what you mean re never seeing a power washer! ;) Joking aside being on the coast I tend to leave it coated in various protective sprays, which then attract all sorts of muck, then give a good clean and re apply in spring. It does look decidedly grubby in the video though, sorry.
Great overall and honest review of the Nc750X I’ve two of these bikes and love it, my current one is a late 2017 DCT model same colour as your one but due to lockdown ect I only have 6000mls on the clock. My only problem was that I had to change the battery due to total failure around 4000mls luckily this new battery seems alot better quality than the standard Honda branded one but that’s the only problem I have had in five years. 👍
Hi, thank you for the kind words and a good reminder that I forgot to mention both the chain and sprockets and the battery for being a bit less than top quality. I keep meaning to change the battery in mine because if it's not left on a constant trickle charge it very quickly starts to turn the engine slower than it should. I know if I don't change it soon it'll fail and I guarantee when I'm away from home etc lol
I bought a 2017 750X DCT to replace my worn-out Deauville on my 100 mile round journey commute and love it. With covid and working-from-home my annual mileage has dropped considerably but it still gets regular outings. It now has 24k on the clock and I've avoided the ridiculously expensive valve check as the UK forum intimates that it is not required unless the engine sounds noisy. I was interested in the DCT problem - check the battery, because I replaced my battery and now it occasionally sticks in gear, hopefully a reset will help.
@jimcarr8425 I'd certainly try a reset to start with and also, if you haven't already, check the battery connections haven't worked loose, just a bit suspicious if it's been replaced recently. I'd thoroughly recommend having a go at the value clearances yourself. Even, if like me, you're not too experienced with the spanners the job really doesn't get any easier than on the NC. Here's a link to a guide which might help: th-cam.com/video/UA0X6bmT3rE/w-d-xo.html I'm glad you like it, I've always thought the NC to be a spiritual successor to the NTV / Deauville even if they are missing the shaft-drive.
IMHO, I wouldnt wait till the engine gets noisy, as in my experience, valves stretch and hammer into the seats, therefore the gaps reduce so become silent, then you will have trouble.... Valve checks isnt that difficult, easy enough for most owners.. See Utube for examples...
I appreciate the detailed review. I own a '22 DCT version. My Honda dealer recommends 10W40 engine oil and I don't live in a hot climate. This deviation worries me a bit but the dealer is supposed to do warranty work so they must not see it as a risky business decision.
@passinthru4328 thanks for that, it’s appreciated. Firstly I’d check your owners handbook, there’s a slim chance Honda has now changed the recommendation. If it still states 10w30 I’d be tempted to drop Honda UK a line querying the dealers advice and asking them to confirm, in writing, using 10w40 won’t invalidate your warranty. The bottom line is people do and I’ve never heard of any issues however the economy is likely to worsen slighter. Let us know how you get on. Good luck.
@@BikingChap Good advice. My bike doesn't yet have 8000 km on it and I don't ride during Canadian winters, so I assume no harm has been done in any case. Honda's owner's manual recommends 10W30. It makes sense that fuel consumption would increase slightly with the higher viscosity oil. I plan to switch to 10W30 next oil change.
@passinthru4328 I’m sure no harm will have been done, plenty of folk out there ignore Honda’s recommendation and run various oils and I’ve never heard of any issues but I’d be cautious if only because it might give Honda wriggle room in the event of a warranty claim on the engine.
15:00 can't agree with you on the fully synthetic oil, as you have no way to know what percentage of synthetic oil is in semi synthetic oil, and as fully synthetic is so much better than mineral oil or semi-synthetic, it's better at reducing engine and gearbox wear, but it's a personal thing 😊
Oil threads are always a good debate eh Kevin? ;) All I know is there are a number of guys with well over a 100k miles and I know of at least one with over 200k without issue and they've not used a fully synthetic oil. So is a fully synthetic necessary for a long and happy life? I don't believe so but if it works for you, that's all that matters :)
@@BikingChap I'd say that as long as you change it regularly it should be fine, but I'd always rather use the best one available for the job and I think that synthetic is definitely the better oil, but yeah you're right it's certainly one of 'those' topics 😂
I was all set to get a NC, had a CB500f at the time, and spent a hour and half test ride on an immaculate NC750s, that I had every intention of purchasing. The big deal breaker for me was the absolutely horrendous suspension!!! been on loads of bikes over the years and never once has the suspension been an issue, except perhaps the Honda Plak 90 with it's weird front link suspension. Also the engine seemed a little crude, albeit with a bit more power than my C500f. I know the suspension can be upgraded, but I estimate it would cost around £1000 to sort it? I ended up with a CB500x, which I am extremely pleased with.
@GBPaddling that’s really interesting to hear, I’m looking to do a comparison test between the CB500X and the NC shortly and I’ll make sure I cover the suspension in detail. Many thanks!
Worth being aware the some of the 2018 models had faulty DCT servo motors meaning the bike can stick in gear. Easy to fix. Mine had this but took Honda ages to diagnose.
My 2015 DCT did this. I used to stop the bike, apply the front brake, rock the bike forward a few times, and I could hear it clunk back to neutral. Only did it occasionally.
@trevorsmith8487 Hi Trevor, I admin a Facebook group for the NT1100 and it's amazing how many former NC750 owners there are on there. The Africa Twin and the NT1100 are both cracking bikes and a natural progression from the NC is you want something with a bit more punch imho.
@@BikingChap cheers, I loved onto a AT DCT back in 2017 and just printed that on for Guzzi V85 (I just love Guzzis, have three). The AT was a great bike although not as innovative as the NC, the sort of bike only Honda seem to be able to come up with.
@trevorsmith8487 I agree, Honda do seem to ‘get it’ with bikes like this. I love the V85 too but really have a soft spot for the v7 special with the traditional clocks. 👍
@@BikingChap I had V7 Stone but couldnt get on with the dodgy fueling and over reactive traction control, didn't learn though as bought a V9 Bobber which is worse (and will be going in the Spring). The V85 motor and feuling is a lot better but no where near as good as the 1100 Griso I have, old school is better IMO 😉
@trevorsmith8487 I think the latest V7, or certainly the special, has the V85 engine? I’d need to check. As you say the modern engines are so on the edge to hit the emission limits, the older engines often tend to run much more sweetly. Still, best to enjoy them before electric bikes are the only option.
Great video. I had a 2019 one of these and it was brilliant with the DCT. The Shad seat was a must though, pity it has been discontinued. I have since replaced it with an NT1100 dct.
Hi, thanks for the feedback, that's really much appreciated. I also admin one of the bigger Facebook group pages for the NT1100 and the number of people who've come from the NC750X is remarkable, it's clearly seen as a natural progression. As you say it's a shame Shad discontinued the seat. I can't help but wonder if they got a bit fed up with the criticism they were getting after not modifying the seat for the later models with a different shape to the rear of the frunk. I know a lot of owners were sending the seats back as there was a distinct gap between the seat and frunk. Rather than modify the design it almost appears that they sulked and withdrew the product entirely which is a shame.
@@BikingChap I posted pictures of the Shad seat on the nc700 forum showing cluse ups against my blue paint. Looked fine to me, dont know what all the fuss was about. I'm on the facebook group which has over 2500 members. I do though miss the frunk. It is so useful and handy.
@kennyg4744 I felt the same, I'd rather the seat was available even if there was a very slight gap (which i wouldn't even notice I'm sure) than have one less comfy seat option. Sounds like the same group, if your profile pic is a small white dog i can see you on there :) I think the frunk and crazy good fuel economy is often missed but the grunt of the 1100 is nice to have.
Superb video with many untold bits of information you don't get from a salesman, many thanks. Could you please let me know what you think about the mesh seat cover you have installed, is it any good, and where did you get it from . Thank you.
Hi, thank you for the very kind words, much appreciated. That's what I'm looking to do going forward, try and really dig out the detail on the bikes and because I'm not going to be getting free loan bikes from the manufacturer / importer I can be completely honest and don't always have to be gushingly positive. :) The seat cushion was a generic one off Amazon, similar to this: tinyurl.com/39h3t8xr Did it help? In honesty it did a bit but it's still pretty uncomfortable. That said I toured Europe on it pre-pandemic doing 5-7 hours in the saddle and 300+ mile days and apart from walking a bit strange when I first got off it was ok. If I regularly did longer trips though a different or remodelled seat would quickly be on my shopping list.
@@JanePreston-cl4nm My pleasure and yes, each time I go abroad I tend to underestimate the distances involved. It was only a couple of inches on the map.... ;)
You did a great job with this video, thanks. I am thinking of moving back to "bikes" from scooters. Had 2013 V-Strom from new, but swapped it for new 2017-model Tmax 530D in September 2018 also from new. Keeping it brief... I was extremely pleased with the Strom, on which I did 27,000 kilos over 5 years, but have put only 2,500 kilos on the Tmax as I have never liked it (I should have rented one for a week before buying it). Thinking of going back to "bikes" and specifically the latest NC750X-DCT. Must be able to commute on it when my back is too painful to use my usual commuter (2015 PCX 150). 110 kilos (70 miles) / day. How does this filter in heavy traffic on tight roads? It's a big consideration for me, otherwise the 90-minute-each-way commute would be even longer (not OK!). I rode the NC700S manual a few years back, and found the brakes to be much less good than the Strom (Strom has dual discs). Thanks from very far away (from a Brit who left a long time ago). EDIT. Liked. Subscribed.
Hi Stan, thanks for the like and especially the sub, very much appreciated! Interestingly I'd started looking scooters before thinking they were expensive for what you got and then discovering the NC, but a story for another time. To your questions... First off the NC is a great commuter, punchy off the line and nicely balanced, even with side cases on I rarely get stuck when I'm filtering. The only downside I find is the DCT is a disadvantage at very low speed filtering because you lose the clutch control option. From the many opinions I've read on this some folk think it's a downside, others say it's not an issue and you simply balance it on the back brake. It's very much a personal preference but on balance (sorry!) I'd take the DCT again. Worth getting a town based demo ride if at all possible though. Secondly, as I mentioned briefly in the video, the front brake isn't great. Ultimately the power is there but you do need to haul on it if you're in a hurry (to slow down!) Some swear by better pads but then others have reported that wears the discs out. Only you can decide whether its a deal breaker but along with the seat on the pre '22 models, the front brake is certainly a weak point.
@@BikingChap Thanks. If I go for one, it will be new, so 2022 or later. If I go for one, I shall first read up on brakes options and consider any that do not add more than about 5% to the price. Also, I will read up on seat options, as I mentioned (Thai companies) beforehand. I bought the Tmax with a test-ride, but... the wife of the dealer told me to take it easy as the bike had sports mods, but then when i asked the dealer if the bike had mods, he said no. That left me wondering who was correct/honest. Also, because of that, I went to a different dealer (same franchise chain) to buy the bike, thinking that the noisiness would not be an issue as it was caused by the (supposed) mods and that a stock bike would not have that horrible sound. It's too late to make long story short, but... I shall not part with any cash now without either a half-day test or a weekend hire as a test.
Thanks a lot for the good video. Actually me I own 2018 model here in Kampala-Uganda and I use it for my daily commute to and from work. What confuses me are the different models like XA and XAd.what do these mean?!!
@quraishgolooba4306 thank you for your kind words, my understanding re the models is that the X is the standard nc750x, XA adds anti lock brakes and the XAD is the XA with the DCT gearbox. Hope that helps?
@scottastell9415 I’m glad you found it useful. :) I have to say the front brake is not great but of all the people I spoke to who owned one, some thought it ok and some felt it wasn’t great but only a handful felt it was a deal breaker and sold them. Are you able to get a test ride?
Hi, just come across your video you have probably moved on by now but I Have just p/x my cbf600sa for the nc750xdct 2015. I am a bit nervous about the automatic side of it.Pulling away from junctions etc as you know you use the clutch for a controlled pull away how does it work on automatic never ridden one before apart from scooter years ago. I have decided to try automatic as i am having trouble with left hand and using clutch (old age haha) your thoughts would be welcome. Keep the videos coming..
Hi, thanks for dropping by and the feedback. For simple pulling away from a stop the DCT is great. You open the throttle and it smoothly slips the clutch until it's fully engaged and off you go. The only time I wasn't a fan was in very slow moving traffic where you might want to feather the clutch or choose to vary the rate of engagement, in these cases the manual 'box allows greater control. That said once you get used to balancing the bike with the use of a bit of back brake it's almost as good, just a bit of a different technique. Hope this helps :)
Chap! amazing video. This is my dream bike. I need your advice: 2000 miles trip with the wife on the back (we don't weigh much) what do u think? Cheers!
Hi, and thank you, glad it was helpful! I’ve taken mine all over Europe from the UK and it was great. For a couple, with luggage, I’d go for the NC. The extra grunt is noticeable even if the lower gearing hides it the deficit on the CB. What it will show up is the relatively weak front brake and I’d consider a changed to pads to try and get as much out of it as you can for two touring + luggage. Have an amazing trip!
Oh... and I have recently seen videos of seat customizing companies in Thailand. Many of their seats seem very good, but the prices are about half of those in the US or UK.
@staninjapan07 Interesting. If you have any links you could share, that would be helpful for owners living there and for the rest of us elsewhere in the world if they export, thanks Stan. :)
@@BikingChap Looked in my YT history, but the videos on seats are all about CT125 Hunter Cub seats, sorry. It must have been a while back, or I was not signed in when I saw the ones I mentioned, so they are not in my YT history. I don't keep a browser history.
@@BikingChap I am at work now so I cannot spend time looking, but this guy, if I remember rightly, has made videos about Thai-made seats for the NC750... www.youtube.com/@mikefreeriderAsia/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
Nice review thank you, been thinking about getting one and I reckon it ticks the boxes for most of my needs, got other bikes too so should be no complaints,
@yourplumbingpal1225 Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated. I’m a great believer that there are only a few truly bad bikes out there but there are many, many bikes out there with different strengths and weaknesses so it’s really a question of matching your priorities with the various bikes and their strengths. Get a test ride if at all possible, and a long one, as it’s quite different from most bikes out there. Let us know how you get on, good luck!
I would love to purchase this bike from Honda but they refuse to put electronic cruise control on it. Why DCT but no cruise control? I just don't get it. Once you are used to electronic cruise control on your bike, it's just awful to give up if you ride any long distances.
Hi, that's interesting to hear, I have to say I've never owned a bike with cruise control but I imagine if you're used to it it's a real bonus. Don't discount the possibility going forward however, the latest versions are 'drive by wire' so cruise control would be little more than a software tweak and a couple of buttons. Fingers crossed they offer in '23 / '24 for you!
Thanks for all the info, in the market to buy one and was thinking of trying to get new old stock, a 2021 or 2022. Is this a bad idea? Does the 2023 only come with the DCT now?
Hi, I honestly wouldn't worry about a NOS bike, that's how I buy nearly all my bikes and cars and I've never had an issue. I'm not sure where you're based but looking at the UK website, Honda are still referring to both the manual and DCT variants so it appears both are still in production. :)
Nice review of an interesting bike. Unfortunately it is difficult to judge the drive limitations with regard to the rider posture . Nobody talks about that on internet. Are there any NC750 riders out there taller than 1.90m? What is their comfort experience? Any (serious) adjustment done with leveling up the seat? What is the max seat height realistically achievable with after market gear? Thx for your thoughts. Ron
Hi Ron, thanks for the feedback. I'm around 1.9m and I'll be honest I didn't ever feel naturally comfortable on the NC, let me explain. I quickly found I was getting pain in my hips and while I could never be certain as to the cause I think it was a mixture of the slightly cramped peg to seat distance and that the seat rolled your hips forward. The bars, for me at any rate, were fine. What I think I would try is to lower the pegs and to adjust out the slope of the seat (along with some more padding). It wasn't the most uncomfortable bike I've had but it was certainly the only one to give me hip pain problems. I hope this help at least explain my experience. All the best, Jon.
Hi! Great video great review. I've got a question about your givi case holder. Is the traverse at the back original? I have the same thing but mine sticks out in direction of the license plate which collides with my new license plate holder so I'm looking exact for the traverse you have on your bike ;)
@SaschaHH1887 Hi, thank you for your kind words, very much appreciated. :) The frame / holder for the V35 cases I have is part number PLX1146, this is for the NC750X 2016 - 2020 only I think. www.givi.co.uk/my-motorcycle/product/honda/nc750x-16--20/optionals/plx1146 is the link to the UK site, I'm not sure where you are based. Just let me know if you're still having problems and I'll try to help further. :)
@@BikingChap it’s all the way through but not constant. When I get home I’ll send you a few time stamps. It’s super high pitched. I thought a bug flew into my room haha. Love the video though. Got my NC750X last month after a year long wait in Thailand! Love the bike more than my rebel.
@@sohantanna625 you’re an absolute star, thank you! I’d had one other report but couldn’t reproduce it so I fear it’s beyond my old ears range which is pain for me to catch and for you guys to listen to. The concern obviously is if all my videos are impacted. Hope it didn’t spoil it too much for you.
@@sohantanna625 ok, so I can see it clearly in the editing software at the point where a previous viewer had flagged it, around 3:05, it then repeats every few seconds cycling between 12-18KHz. I bet it's only on the sections where there are slides rather than me speaking to camera? The reason? When I did those pieces I moved in to the garage [ironically] to reduce the background noise. Initially I suspected the fluorescent tube might be interfering, then I had a 'penny drop' moment. My wife had installed a rodent scarer that sends out high pitch sounds to scare off any mice / rats etc. Bingo. Not sure I resolve in this video but I'll ensure it's turned off going forward! Many thanks again for flagging, I think you were only the second person to raise it because, frankly, most viewers are over a certain age like me! ;)
I am choosing between NC700x DCT 2013 and NC750X Manual 2014. Wondering if the DCT is worth the extra price, because the 700 it's more expensive for me.
@aks13v35 very much a personal decision really. Do you really want the DCT? Even though mine is a DCT, if the choice was between a 2013 700 with DCT or a 2014 750 with a manual gearbox that was cheaper, I'd go for the 750 with it's extra grunt but it's all down to what your priorities are really.
@@BikingChap I don't mind to change gears. The thing is I commute alot in the city, also I am 1.70m. Wondering if it will be as easy to drive the manual, as it is the automatic in case where a pillon is with me and I need to sport and go.
@@aks13v35 it’s a tricky one. The DCT is easier, yes, but if you want the ultimate control then manual is still the way to go but it’s very much a personal choice. As you’re 1.7m you may want to the lower the bike a little. You can buy longer links / ‘dog bones’ for the rear suspension, drop the forks and fit a side stand from the NC750S. If you do that however the centre stand, if fitted, becomes unusable. Hope this helps.
@Blurredman It's an odd one because I'd never heard of it but a tech approached me to say he'd done a number of them now and across all model years. The positive news is that symptoms are quite obvious (the sudden onset of a new rattle) touch wood the chain doesn't appear to skip teeth and there are no cases, that I could find, of the broken off piece causing carnage elsewhere. Why some have failed at under 10k miles and some bikes are unaffected with 200k+ miles on them remains a mystery...
@@Ian-xt1mb Hi, have you heard of camchain wear on the NC? The issue that was flagged to me was where the end of the camchain tensioner is snapping off as though it was a manufacturing fault or fatigued, but at widely difference mileages...
I would have loved on of these but they are simply too small in the leg. I had a test ride and found the either the pegs too high or the seat too low - I suspect a bit of both. I do wish motorcycle manufacturers would get away from the "one size fits all" mentality.
I don’t disagree Steve. When the forums are full of requests for raised seats and lowered pegs you know somethings not right. Ironic really as prior to them lowering them overall in ‘21 you had to be pretty tall to throw a leg over them.
@troy9er Hi, thanks for the sub! I’ve seen a couple of rumours, the earlier one based on an NC motor, the second based on a Goldwing motor, or an update of one, the Neowing. When you see concepts *and* patents being filed it tends to suggest they’re certainly working on something. I can see this finding buyers certainly in the US as there’s a big luxury trike following from what I can see. I suspect it’ll come down to whether they can make it at a price that buyers will accept. Here’s hoping!
If only the cost cutting did not lead to using a chain. It would have been perfect with a shaft. Does not really have anything over the old NTV650, except for better mpg.
Sadly I think bikes peaked in many ways some years ago. Previously we’ve seen beautifully engineered bikes from Honda like the VFR, with alloy frames and single sided swing arms and now it’s all steel tubing, even on the premium bikes. It’s all down to cost of course but I agree, a shaft would’ve been nice. Trouble is that saps performance even more and adds even more weight as well as pushing the price way up. To think years ago shafts were common, GT550, Virago, XJ900 as well as the NTV, to name a few.
@@BikingChap I agree. As a courier i put over 200k an an xj900, and my workmates all rode the company gt550s and some left over revere/cx500 imports. No one ran a chain bike. I ride an old xl250 as my knees and back cant deal with any weight, at least with 20hp, heavy chains do last a few years.
@@skaraborgcraft I have to say I'm getting to the point that I'd prefer something a bit lighter. On the move the weight of the NC just evaporates, as it does with most bikes, but pushing it around, especially as the drive is on a slope, I don't want to get to the point that I drop it...
@@BikingChap My old NTV 650 bore the scars of several drops, hard pill to swallow at just 50, but accidents add up. My old mantra of never owning a bike you can not lift up and ride out of a ditch really narrows it down. Still not quite ready for a scooter, but i can see the day coming if i dont give up 2 wheels entirely.
Sure, getting older sucks but, as a friend once said, it beats the alternative! Funnily enough I was considering a scooter but they seemed so expensive for what you got which is how I ended up with the NC. Sadly there's not much choice in the 250-600cc class these days. I do wish they hadn't discontinued the 690 Duke. It felt (and went!) like a 70bhp 125, great fun!
You may want to check your audio setup. Your audio includes periodically ramping up high pitched, piercing sound. Extremely irritating. It is very high pitch and I think you might have just missed it because at this frequency many people don't hear anything. For example 3:04-3:05, 3:15-3:16, etc.
Thank you very much for raising this, sadly I can’t hear this, no doubt due to the high frequency and my age. I’ll go back to the original file and see if I can ‘see’ it in the editing software and understand what’s gone wrong. Thanks again for flagging it to me.
@leonardmilcin7798 I just wanted to feedback on this issue that you kindly raised. Long story short I could see the tone cycling between around 12 and 18KHz every few seconds and suspect it's only on the sections where there are slides on screen and not me talking to camera. The reason? When I was talking to the slides I moved in to the garage [ironically] to reduce any background noise. The garage where my wife had recently installed a device that sends out high frequency tones intended to scare off small rodents. Mystery solved I think. I will clean up and re-upload for those who still have good hearing, thanks again!
@@BikingChap Now that you explained it to me it makes sense. The sound gets high in pitch very quickly and much quieter at highest frequency either because it is getting attenuated by something or because I just don't hear it very well. At least I know I still hear pretty well at those high frequencies!
@leonardmilcin7798 whether it’s the mouse scarer or the mic I’m not sure but I could see the levels dropping at higher frequencies. Iirc it swept from high to low stopping about 12khz. I’d say your hearing’s doing very well. :)
@chriszeis5477 exactly, it's unlikely anyone opens the garage door and goes "Oh wow!" when there's an NC in there but for many people the practicality, reliability and economy are hard to beat. Heart vs Head an all that :)
The old half a civic myth. It wasn’t even based on the civic. The truth is that Honda car engineers consulted on and had input to the design in order to develop a more frugal engine, this led to a joke by the Honda project manager at a launch press conference about being half a civic engine. And a myth was born.
I might end up doing a video just on this topic. There's almost a myth within a myth here. Is it right to say it's 'half a Honda Jazz engine'? No, the bottom end is completely different for example. However, there are some striking similarities. The bore and stroke in the original 700 are identical to one of the Jazz engines, the 750 simply being overbored. The valvegear looks to be near identical too, even with the same casting marks if you look closely. This of course ties in with the very car like driving and rev range characteristics. So is it half a Jazz engine? No. Was some of the R&D from the Jazz engine used for the NC engine? I'd say absolutely yes.
I have often wondered why they are mounted on modern motorcycles over 200kg. just a single disc brake on the front? First of all it is unsafe! Secondly, it does not give you the feeling of safety, especially when you are with a passenger!
I've ridden one for thousands of miles and I don't feel it's unsafe personally, ultimately the power is there if you pull hard enough, it's just that it needs an unusually large amount of 'pull' to stop quickly so it gives the impression of a weak brake. Many people aren't bothered by it, some like me tend to use a bit of back brake to stop where we wouldn't normally and for others it's a deal breaker. The underlying reason of course, is cost.
I’m with you re cruise control and would add tft screens to the list of things I don’t see the value of. The brake isn’t great though and especially when you try the cb500x twin setup or indeed the other 750s, it makes you realise it’s lacking. Sure it’ll stop you but I’ve ridden many, many bikes over the years and the only one less inspiring was an 1983 MBX80 which appeared to have pads made of soap at the first hint of rain.
Oh... you were talking in miles? You use the same oil for eight thousand miles? Do you hate your bike? I change my Honda Semi-Synthetic oil every five thousand kilometres (3,100 miles). I wouldn't dream of using the same oil for 8,000 m.
@staninjapan07 LOL, no, I don't hate my bike, 8k miles is the oil change interval that Honda state in the owners manual. I change mine yearly as I've been only doing around 4-5k miles each year now but there's a well known guy on the forums who changes the oil as Honda recommend at 8k and he's currently (last time I checked) on over 200,000 miles and the engines is still original. Modern oils are very good and the NC motor is very undemanding on it's oil.
@@BikingChap I did not really think you hated your bike. When I was a boy (though at the time I thought I was a young man), I worked at a Toyota car dealer in the UK, where I learned the important of frequent oil changes and good oil. I am religious about it, you might say.
@staninjapan07 oh absolutely, I get that. If I'm honest, if I'm doing enough miles to hit the mileage limit before time limit for an oil change I'll always be changing it early. No evidence it helps but oil is cheaper than rebuilds as they used to say ;)
Yes I know its not a car engine but Honda recommend 7500 to 10k oil change in the Jazz car.. I would say 7000 miles or 12 months whatever is the soonest....
@@anthonyquantuman730 that’s a fair point and given the oil in the bike is also getting hammered in the gearbox, I wouldn’t fancy going much over the 8k limit though I don’t doubt it’s fine in the car.
*** Apologies to those, mainly younger, folk who are hearing the distracting high pitched tone on the segments with the slides. For these sections I moved in to the garage to record the audio, ironically, to reduce the background noise without considering the high pitched noise rodent scarer that my wife had recently installed. If you can't hear it, I suspect your hearing has 'rolled off' a little bit like mine! I'll edit a new version shortly and upload for those with good hearing so you don't have to put up with the racket! ***
I owned an early 700cc version of the NC. In so many ways it is a brilliant daily rider / commuter motorcycle. I addressed the spongy / weak front brake feel by fitting a braided stainless brake line, front fork brace and higher spec. EBC front brake pads. Huge improvement with turn in on the twisties with MUCH improved and balanced brake feel under really hard braking. I went to a one tooth larger countershaft sprocket. My intention was to reduce engine RPM at advanced highway speeds. The unexpected result was an actual increase in performance because the engine was now in its torque sweet spot more of the time and I wasn’t constantly bumping into the rev limiter when accelerating hard. Of course the fuel economy got even better. The valve adjustment is so ridiculously easy with the old school jamnut adjusters, there is NO reason to ignore it. During our hot Florida summers I used 15/50 full synthetic Amsoil. The engine always ran smooth and quiet albeit with an ever so slight drop in the already crazy high fuel economy. The horrid seat was addressed by fitting a Corbin saddle. Expensive but ever so worth it. Overall, with the already long suspension travel, the new saddle, lower and slightly narrower Renthal aluminum bars and taller Puig windscreen gave this bike more long ride comfort than my ‘22 Goldwing! I gave this bike to my grandson, a Marine serving in San Diego. He has put another 20k miles on this great bike. Cheers!
Hi Mike, thanks for the detailed info, fascinating stuff. As you say the valve adjustments are about as easy as it's possible to get. I'm intrigued by the gearing change, I trust yours was a manual and not a DCT? I'll have to see if I can import one of the Corbin seats, I know they have a great reputation and it's good to hear of first hand experience. Incredible to think that with a few mods a humble NC can rival, let alone beat, a Goldwing for long ride comfort, praise indeed. I hope you're grandson son continues to enjoy it for many years to come. All the best!
This is a real and informative review rather than the waffle we normally get from know nothing riders trying to think of amusing things to say while they ride around pointlessly.
@jimsgewan1721 that’s really good of you to say, thank you. I was getting really tired of channels that all compete to get the latest bike from the dealers only to then always say how amazing it is to keep the dealer / importer sweet. I’m not ‘funny’ but what I’m trying to do is get out some detailed reviews on some popular bikes that I either own or have researched thoroughly and talked at length with owners. Hopefully in the pipeline are the CB500X and an extended review on the BMW GS series which needs a LOT of prep. Thanks again for the comment. 👍
I bought a 2015 NC750X-DCT to commute 55 miles each way to work and back. Fuel efficiency was my only consideration and it regularly topped its 99.9mpg as it only had 3 figures so couldn't show 100.0 or more. Utterly boring, but boringly brilliant. A real contradiction of a motorcycle. Did it excite? No. Would I own another one? Absolutely. The most versatile bike I have ever owned, and in a garage of 3 (I also had a Gold Wing and a Hayabusa) it quickly became the 'go-to' machine. Only sold it when I got a job 6 miles away as opposed to 55 but I do miss the old girl.
@BibtheBoulder that’s my take on it too. It’s the sort of workhorse that isn’t sexy in any way but is a such a great allrounder. I know it makes me sound ancient but it’s a bike to be *used* 365 days a year rather than a lovely toy only for dry, sunny Sundays etc
Respect the hell out of this bike and Honda for making it. What a well engineered tool for transportation. Would definitely consider owning one if I had a 55 mile daily commute. As it is, my daily ride is a CBR500R with a top case. Mpg marginally worse, fun factor perhaps slightly higher. Both bikes being quite inexpensive and easy to run, of course. I appreciate that Honda puts real engineering acumen behind their commuter motorcycles. Not something every brand prioritizes. Hell, most don't even sell a model you could honestly call a commuter.
@kleinbottled79 I couldn't agree more. I used to commute 8 miles each way to work but it was wasted on that in honesty. It's interesting to see how many people end up trying to decide between the 500 and 750 rather than between a Honda and something else. They sure do know how to make a tough workhorse!
I have now bought myself another NC750X. With a space for a third bike in my garage it was only ever going to be one machine....
I have the dct machine because I have had carple tunnel opp and arthritis in my left hand and cannot pull a clutch and the bike is brilliant I am 65 and don't want silly speeds. As for the seat I found a local upholster who pulled back the cover cut away 1/3 of the hard foam glued on softer foam and restapled the cover charged me £30 brilliant now
@davidwilliams5942 I think a few DCT have gone for them due to arthritis, it makes so much sense. I don’t think they’re slow in honesty, the only time I think they feel lacking is if you need a fast overtake on a country road or when you want to accelerate quickly whilst already at the legal limit. Like you, I don’t see that as a great loss given the other advantages. Great to hear you’ve got the seat sorted, and for such a reasonable sum. 👍
Thank you. Owner of a 2021 model (DCT, Top-Box, center stand, higher windshield, hand guards, additional lights) I can tell you it's a very good bike. I'm a "diesel-like" user and therefore it's an excellent choice. BUT Honda used to be much better in finishing. Plastic parts are cheap and some metal parts too. I dream of this bike with a shaft transmission. Would be perfect. Greetings from France.
@tinsspiny2861 Thank you for the kind words, some wise additions there I think. Like you I’m a “diesel-like” rider, I had a TDM900 a few bikes ago and while more characterful than the Honda it’s unwillingness to pull smoothly from low revs became a pain. It is a shame that Honda’s finish is not what it once was, on many bikes, but I think they and they others too, have been going down this route for many years. I guess if I had to choose I’d opt for the well developed and bombproof engine with less good finish than the other way around. As I’ve said on another comment I think we’d all love shaft drive but there again it would be slower, heavier and more expensive. Sadly, apart from BMW and Guzzi the shaft drive options these days are limited. Hope all is well in France, my favourite country!
I too would gladly forfeit a bit of its excellent fuel economy if they offered a shaft-drive option. Likewise why can't they add cruise control? For me, two changes like these would make this the most consummate motorcycle available.
Great video! As I have 2020 Nc750x you hit every point good and bad. I'm 57 and have owned over 20 motorcycles and this one is as good as it gets for the "times" we're in. Smooth and so efficient, I can tell the heft of the machine but as you mentioned it's low center makes it nimble enough and I have to say, on the highway it's quite solid almost surprising in cross wind and coming past semis. Very stable. I will never sell mine.
@stephenschneider9209 Hi Stephen, thanks for the kind words, very much appreciated. Honda seem to have a knack of looking at what we *need* and nailing it. I was having a good chat with the guys on a Facebook group for the bike and I’ve never met a bunch so happy with their bike. Like you I can’t see another bike out there that ticks so many boxes for what I want. It’s a keeper. 👍
I got my first bike, a barely used 2015 model, one year ago. It's been such a reliable practical vehicle that I'm tempted to go the same way my entire family of fellow Honda owners usually do and put 200k miles on it. It's like the stock 90s civic I learned stick on in the best way and as close to being a car as possible. An interesting comparison to my first car, a 91 Mazda Miata, which was about as close as you can get to the functionality of a motorcycle with four wheels.
@joelaugustin6407 It's really great to hear that you're getting on with the bike, the motors are damn near indestructible. Regularly serviced I'd have no doubt yours would be good 200k miles and only use a little gas in the process. Enjoy! :)
It's nice that you have included the bike history. Few channels do this.
@nattaponglertwanarin4901 Thanks for the feedback, I thought it might be of use and, like you, I hadn’t seen many other channel do it. 👍
Thats the BEST review I have ever seen. Superb video on a superb bike. Thanks.
Wow, thanks for the kind words Jim, much appreciated, quite made my day :)
A nice review with relevant information about the bike. The brief history of how the model has been updated over the years is especially useful for someone looking at a second-hand purchase. Pros and cons listed are useful to someone who intends to do more than the odd ride.
I bought a new NC750x DCT last year (2022) and had the centre stand and higher screen fitted . (I was looking for a new one and none of the dealers had one saying they were on backorder until maybe the end of the year. By chance I telephoned a dealer who had just got one in. It had taken so long to arrive that the person who ordered it had bought something else! )
This 2022 model seems to have a few more updates compared to the model in your review. The seat I think has been changed to get rid of what was a downward slope. I have seen the complaint about the earlier seats letting you slide forward in other reviews. The longest trip I've done is with my wife on the pillion to near Cockermouth in the Lake District from our home in Leicestershire, around 225 miles. A large proportion of the trip was on the M6 with 2 or 3 stops on the way up as we ran into a deluge halfway. The return was dry all the way with one-stop halfway for a drink and sandwich. We both thought the seat was comfortable for that kind of distance on relatively smooth roads. The display is LCD. It looks plain compared with the previous coloured one. There are four modes, Sport, Standard, Rain and User where you can set your own parameters if you have studied the handbook carefully. The suspension is as you imply budget. Not awful but at best just OK. It is something that I would have liked them to do a little bit better. I hope to maybe with experiment with different grade oils in the front forks to see if I can improve the damping Slow speed damping OK but high speed a bit harsh. The forks have Showa Dual Bendy Valves that are supposed to give good damping. I fa oil grade change doesn't help then I'll maybe have to look at spending a bit more money.
Top speed is not a concern and although the performance is not scintillating, "Standard" setting is adequate for most riding conditions and Sport mode is good if you want to get a bit of a move on. The economy is exceptional, always in the high 70's - 80 mpg. Shaft drive would have been nice but would have put the NC into a different price bracket. I fit a Scottoile to all my bikes so I don't find chain maintenance a big deal. If there is one thing that I would have Honda to improve it would be the suspension.
Ed
@MrEdgrew thanks Ed, I really appreciate the feedback. I have to say I should've mentioned the centre stand in the review, it makes such a difference when chain lubing, especially if you're touring, heartily recommended. You're quite right about the seat, it has been changed and continues Honda's attitude of gradual improvement / development of the model which is great to see. The new LCD screen is far clearer imho, I'd certainly take the clarity over the 'colourfulness' of the earlier model. I'd also be interested to hear what luck you have with different oil in the front forks. Mine are also SDBV but they're not the most subtle out there, but they're not bad. I know others have echoed your thoughts on the shaft drive but i think it's down to cost, weight and power loss. If even the NT1100 has to make do with a chain, I fear the NC has no hope. Hope you continue to enjoy the bike :)
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Good video, I have the 22 model which has a different seat, more horsepower and shed’s about 5kg in weight .
The dash is improved too.
Coming from an Aprilia Tuono Factory you’d think I’d be missing the power, well I do on motorway overtakes but 90% of the time, it’s fine, plus I’ve had new Ducati and Aprilia bikes and their electric’s aren’t great, especially Ducatis .
I’ve changed the front fork springs (£100) and put on a taller screen with deflector, now cruises at 85mph on the motorway’s mainly out of the wind, put the hand guards on too. Loving the bike.
If I was going to change anything else, possibly the rear spring, but it’s not a massive game changer.
@colinbarber9324 thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! I must try a '22 model, I like mine but everything I hear about the newer variant sounds positive, being 6'2" I'd just want to make sure it's no more cramped feet / backside wise. I think people think it's slow because they hear mid fifties bhp and think of a 500 twin. The key to the NC is that it has the low and mid range grunt of a 750 just with the top end power missing so unless you go chasing the redline on a 750 the NC will rarely seem gutless. Like you, it's only the faster motorway overtakes where you realise there's not a lot more to come but adjust to that and I think it's a great bike with few competitors.
A week a go I bought very new last model 2023 Nc 750 x Dct I am really satisfied it’s great 👍 bike like it really
@ugurbey7815 Glad to hear you like, they're great bikes :)
I recently picked up a 2021 with DCT here in Alaska & very excited to ride it since I’ve been on RR’s ever since I’ve been on street bikes.
@taichiroward5770 that's great to hear, though it's a VERY different ride. If you're used to 'normal' bike engines, it takes a while to adjust. On the first manual I tried I ran in to the rev limiter, repeatedly, something I'd never done on a bike before! On the DCT you obviously won't get caught out like that :) If you approach like you would a Guzzi or even a Harley (engine character wise) it makes sense, those that think it will be like a slightly less powerful MT-07 for example, don't tell to gel with them lol. Hope you enjoy the ride and life is good in Alaska :)
What is forgotten about power is that a basic ford fiesta develops about the same power and weighs over a ton. It can travel at 70 mph with a driver and three passengers plus luggage. Just because the NC isn’t overpowered and is not a crotch rocket it gets criticised.
I think most people get it now, or certainly owners do. The engine is designed to pull well at low and mid range, be very economical and very long lived. Ironically while it's got a low top speed for 750, it's pulls harder low down and in the mid range than any 54bhp has any right to. :)
Very nice video about a bike that deserves more fans. I own a 2018 NC750X, and I'm very happy with it. Relaxed engine with great fuel economy and easy to maintain. The only thing I really don't like about the NC is the chain drive. For such an otherwise practical everyday bike it's disappointing that Honda hasn't given it either belt or shaft drive. Honda used to do shaft drive on practical middleweight bikes like the CX500, VT500 and NTV650, but today it's all chains. I notice that your rear rim looks like my own, black with oil stains from that chain. I have no plans of letting go of my NC, unless Honda were to update it with either belt or shaft drive, then they could sell me a new one.
Thanks for the kind comment, much appreciated. I have to say the chain is a pet peeve of mine too. Thinking back to the 80/90s you had Kawasaki with the GT550/750, Suzuki with the GS850/1100 and Honda with the CX, VT and NT/NTV. Nowadays BMW and MotoGuzzi aside it's hard to think of another shaftdrive bike, even the touring biased NT1100 is chain. I understand that the main reason is expense, but why they don't use more belts like BMW did with the F800 escapes me, seems to be the best of both worlds to me.
I have long been advocating a shaft drive version with cruise control. If Honda added these I reckon the NC would be the best bike ever made.
@@BibtheBoulder I agree, but unfortunately that's probably not going to happen. Instead I suspect that with the introduction of their new CB750 Hornet, Honda may drop the NC. That would be a real shame and a big mistake. There are plenty of bikes on the market just like the Hornet, but none like the NC.
@BibtheBoulder Sadly I can’t see it happening for a number of reasons. Cost is the obvious one, a chain is far cheaper. Then there’s the issues of power and weight. A shaft drive will sap more power than a chain and the extra weight blunts performance still further. The NTV650 had more power yet weighed 50kg less even with a shaft drive.
@olethorhermansen I think many of us fear that and lowering the NC and doing away with the S makes me think they didn’t want it compared to the new Transalp. I agree though that the NC and new Hornet / Transalp are so completely different that they should be able to coexist. I suspect it all comes down to whether it continues to sell or not.
Great detailed review. Thank you! I believe the 2021 - 2023 models also got a small horsepower boost and produce 58hp now. The seat is also much improved over the older version.
@jkenny6163 Thanks for your kind words, that's much appreciated. You're quite right re the latest model and I should've included that detail, they've raised the redline a bit too iirc which some will make use of from time to time. Let's hope there's many more years in the model yet.
Nice and straight forward informational video about the NC750X DCT. I'm on the verge of obtaining one and at present, looking at many videos and forums for the latest info on these what appear to be great all around bikes. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
SR
@scottraines7419 thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. If you want a dependable, frugal, long lasting bike, these are a good choice. If you want excitement, high performance and blistering top speed, there are better choices out there. Good luck choosing your next bike!
your right what you say about the frunk its really handy i enjoyed your video i'v just got a 2023 model and its my first one its interesting to see the previous models.
@arthurdunga345 Thanks for the kind comments Arthur, it's much appreciated. Honda have been very smart and gradually improved the bike rather than making huge changes, the latest model has a bit more 'go' at the top end and sits a little lower than the earlier X models so it's more approachable to more people. I like it and I hope you enjoy yours, ride safe out there :)
I came for the review and stayed for, "...like a baboon's backside". 😄 I really appreciate this and all your other videos I've watched. Fair, balanced, and full of great info. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! It’s been a bit slower this year but looking to get a few more reviews of bikes and other stuff out before the end of the year, fingers crossed!
Thanks for this informative video. You’ve convinced me to get one. Luckily I’m too old to hear any noise on the slides!
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. Like you I couldn’t hear the noise, age creeps up on you :) Good luck with your new bike.
I've never had a poke around an NC before. This is brilliant. That tank box is amazing! Total Honda genius. All bikes should have these! I fancy a try of a bike with the DCT. My family car has the VAG DSG transmission and there is no going back to manual after that...at least for an everyday vehicle!
I have to say I started by looking to downsize to a scooter but anything with a half decent sized engine was crazy expensive so thought I'd try an NC. Exciting it is not but it's a great workhorse in the way Honda do so well, think NTV650 and CX500 etc.
The tank box as you described it is not a new idea by honda, the Gilera DNA had exactly the same thing but obviously smaller way back when 😊
I am most likely going to be looking for one of these next year. The 2018-2020 model is the style I like best. Especially the 2019 because of the blue color. I also want the DCT on it. I am currently riding a Suzuki DR650. I mainly ride in town, but also some in the nearby countryside. Never go offroad anymore so don't need the dualsport capability. I took a look at the used market but don't see hardly any for sale around me here in Ohio. Hopefully some will pop up next year.
Hi, thanks for dropping by, I agree that these are the best years unless you really wanted the lower stance of the more recent bikes. I'm not sure how many they've sold in the US but from what I hear folk like them, which probably explains why you might not see many coming up for sale. I hope all is well for you guys in Ohio and you find a good NC soon. All the best, Jon.
Great bike to start with. Interesting stuff, well done. Any chance of some riding clips in future? Great vid, thanks for the entertainment!
Thanks for the feedback (and the sub!) it really is appreciated. With regard to the riding clips do you mean within the review vids or separate 'out and about' or 'travel' vids? Thanks again!
@@BikingChap thought perhaps it’d make a good extra bit of the review. You riding out and about on the bike telling us what it’s like! Although I’m sure that’s a pain from a camera point of view as well as tricky with owners and insurance
@Bartsk84eva Ok I’m with you. I’ll build that in to the next review. :) Currently the bikes I have on the channel will be ones I own or I’ve rented, I’m not ‘big enough’ to get bikes from dealers / importers and that’s fine because it means I can be completely honest.
The insurance aspect is ok but I’ll need to upgrade my GoPro to do an on road piece as mine is quite old now. Thanks again for the input and if there’s any particular bike you’re interested in me doing a thorough review on, just let know. :)
Yay my hearing is good ;) I'm getting a 2014 S version for work in the next few weeks. Riding 15k a year on an R1200RT is costing too much, yet I need it for volunteer work....so I will be having two bikes
They really are a great workhorse Mark, not only super economical on fuel but long lived and cheap / simple to service. You should save a good but over the RT I'm sure!
Got my full license on one of these , a great smooth Honda .
Thanks for the great review .
ps. My Beautiful Wife rides a Honda VTR250 , so yes we know Honda quality
@Beanerds thanks for your kind words, they've been a great seller for Honda for good reason! I remember the VTR250, very quick for a 250, your wife has good taste too! :)
One of the best bikes i ever owned
@geecee4746 I agree, one of the unsung heroes of the biking world :)
Good coverage, mines a 18 reg and your pros and cons are pretty much spot on.can tell from yours that the wheel bearing is good as its never seen a power washer lol 😂
Thanks for the feedback Tony, @tonywilliamson , much appreciated. I'm sure I don't know what you mean re never seeing a power washer! ;) Joking aside being on the coast I tend to leave it coated in various protective sprays, which then attract all sorts of muck, then give a good clean and re apply in spring. It does look decidedly grubby in the video though, sorry.
Great overall and honest review of the Nc750X I’ve two of these bikes and love it, my current one is a late 2017 DCT model same colour as your one but due to lockdown ect I only have 6000mls on the clock. My only problem was that I had to change the battery due to total failure around 4000mls luckily this new battery seems alot better quality than the standard Honda branded one but that’s the only problem I have had in five years. 👍
Hi, thank you for the kind words and a good reminder that I forgot to mention both the chain and sprockets and the battery for being a bit less than top quality. I keep meaning to change the battery in mine because if it's not left on a constant trickle charge it very quickly starts to turn the engine slower than it should. I know if I don't change it soon it'll fail and I guarantee when I'm away from home etc lol
I bought a 2017 750X DCT to replace my worn-out Deauville on my 100 mile round journey commute and love it. With covid and working-from-home my annual mileage has dropped considerably but it still gets regular outings. It now has 24k on the clock and I've avoided the ridiculously expensive valve check as the UK forum intimates that it is not required unless the engine sounds noisy. I was interested in the DCT problem - check the battery, because I replaced my battery and now it occasionally sticks in gear, hopefully a reset will help.
@jimcarr8425 I'd certainly try a reset to start with and also, if you haven't already, check the battery connections haven't worked loose, just a bit suspicious if it's been replaced recently. I'd thoroughly recommend having a go at the value clearances yourself. Even, if like me, you're not too experienced with the spanners the job really doesn't get any easier than on the NC. Here's a link to a guide which might help: th-cam.com/video/UA0X6bmT3rE/w-d-xo.html I'm glad you like it, I've always thought the NC to be a spiritual successor to the NTV / Deauville even if they are missing the shaft-drive.
IMHO, I wouldnt wait till the engine gets noisy, as in my experience, valves stretch and hammer into the seats, therefore the gaps reduce so become silent, then you will have trouble.... Valve checks isnt that difficult, easy enough for most owners.. See Utube for examples...
I appreciate the detailed review. I own a '22 DCT version. My Honda dealer recommends 10W40 engine oil and I don't live in a hot climate. This deviation worries me a bit but the dealer is supposed to do warranty work so they must not see it as a risky business decision.
@passinthru4328 thanks for that, it’s appreciated. Firstly I’d check your owners handbook, there’s a slim chance Honda has now changed the recommendation. If it still states 10w30 I’d be tempted to drop Honda UK a line querying the dealers advice and asking them to confirm, in writing, using 10w40 won’t invalidate your warranty. The bottom line is people do and I’ve never heard of any issues however the economy is likely to worsen slighter. Let us know how you get on. Good luck.
@@BikingChap Good advice. My bike doesn't yet have 8000 km on it and I don't ride during Canadian winters, so I assume no harm has been done in any case. Honda's owner's manual recommends 10W30. It makes sense that fuel consumption would increase slightly with the higher viscosity oil. I plan to switch to 10W30 next oil change.
@passinthru4328 I’m sure no harm will have been done, plenty of folk out there ignore Honda’s recommendation and run various oils and I’ve never heard of any issues but I’d be cautious if only because it might give Honda wriggle room in the event of a warranty claim on the engine.
@@BikingChap Yep.
15:00 can't agree with you on the fully synthetic oil, as you have no way to know what percentage of synthetic oil is in semi synthetic oil, and as fully synthetic is so much better than mineral oil or semi-synthetic, it's better at reducing engine and gearbox wear, but it's a personal thing 😊
Oil threads are always a good debate eh Kevin? ;) All I know is there are a number of guys with well over a 100k miles and I know of at least one with over 200k without issue and they've not used a fully synthetic oil. So is a fully synthetic necessary for a long and happy life? I don't believe so but if it works for you, that's all that matters :)
@@BikingChap I'd say that as long as you change it regularly it should be fine, but I'd always rather use the best one available for the job and I think that synthetic is definitely the better oil, but yeah you're right it's certainly one of 'those' topics 😂
Oh sure I don't disagree, using the best oil you can always feels like an insurance policy to me, certainly cheaper than engine rebuilds lol.
Excellent, informative video. Thanks for your time!
Thank you for your kind words, its much appreciated! :)
I was all set to get a NC, had a CB500f at the time, and spent a hour and half test ride on an immaculate NC750s, that I had every intention of purchasing. The big deal breaker for me was the absolutely horrendous suspension!!! been on loads of bikes over the years and never once has the suspension been an issue, except perhaps the Honda Plak 90 with it's weird front link suspension. Also the engine seemed a little crude, albeit with a bit more power than my C500f. I know the suspension can be upgraded, but I estimate it would cost around £1000 to sort it? I ended up with a CB500x, which I am extremely pleased with.
@GBPaddling that’s really interesting to hear, I’m looking to do a comparison test between the CB500X and the NC shortly and I’ll make sure I cover the suspension in detail. Many thanks!
Thanks for making the review
My pleasure, hope you found it useful :)
Worth being aware the some of the 2018 models had faulty DCT servo motors meaning the bike can stick in gear. Easy to fix. Mine had this but took Honda ages to diagnose.
Thanks for the heads up, I wasn’t aware of that one. I’ll keep a careful watch on my ‘18 as the mileage is still quite low.
@@BikingChap I was getting the problem at 8,000 miles and an 18 month old bike
Ahh, I’m above that now so hopefully I had one of the good ones. :)
My 2015 DCT did this. I used to stop the bike, apply the front brake, rock the bike forward a few times, and I could hear it clunk back to neutral. Only did it occasionally.
Had a 700X DCT when they first came out, cracking bit of kit, moved in to Africa Twin DCT
@trevorsmith8487 Hi Trevor, I admin a Facebook group for the NT1100 and it's amazing how many former NC750 owners there are on there. The Africa Twin and the NT1100 are both cracking bikes and a natural progression from the NC is you want something with a bit more punch imho.
@@BikingChap cheers, I loved onto a AT DCT back in 2017 and just printed that on for Guzzi V85 (I just love Guzzis, have three). The AT was a great bike although not as innovative as the NC, the sort of bike only Honda seem to be able to come up with.
@trevorsmith8487 I agree, Honda do seem to ‘get it’ with bikes like this. I love the V85 too but really have a soft spot for the v7 special with the traditional clocks. 👍
@@BikingChap I had V7 Stone but couldnt get on with the dodgy fueling and over reactive traction control, didn't learn though as bought a V9 Bobber which is worse (and will be going in the Spring). The V85 motor and feuling is a lot better but no where near as good as the 1100 Griso I have, old school is better IMO 😉
@trevorsmith8487 I think the latest V7, or certainly the special, has the V85 engine? I’d need to check. As you say the modern engines are so on the edge to hit the emission limits, the older engines often tend to run much more sweetly. Still, best to enjoy them before electric bikes are the only option.
Excellent video,very comprehensive.
Many thanks Martin, much appreciated! :)
Great video. I had a 2019 one of these and it was brilliant with the DCT. The Shad seat was a must though, pity it has been discontinued. I have since replaced it with an NT1100 dct.
Hi, thanks for the feedback, that's really much appreciated. I also admin one of the bigger Facebook group pages for the NT1100 and the number of people who've come from the NC750X is remarkable, it's clearly seen as a natural progression. As you say it's a shame Shad discontinued the seat. I can't help but wonder if they got a bit fed up with the criticism they were getting after not modifying the seat for the later models with a different shape to the rear of the frunk. I know a lot of owners were sending the seats back as there was a distinct gap between the seat and frunk. Rather than modify the design it almost appears that they sulked and withdrew the product entirely which is a shame.
@@BikingChap I posted pictures of the Shad seat on the nc700 forum showing cluse ups against my blue paint. Looked fine to me, dont know what all the fuss was about. I'm on the facebook group which has over 2500 members. I do though miss the frunk. It is so useful and handy.
@kennyg4744 I felt the same, I'd rather the seat was available even if there was a very slight gap (which i wouldn't even notice I'm sure) than have one less comfy seat option. Sounds like the same group, if your profile pic is a small white dog i can see you on there :) I think the frunk and crazy good fuel economy is often missed but the grunt of the 1100 is nice to have.
Superb video with many untold bits of information you don't get from a salesman, many thanks.
Could you please let me know what you think about the mesh seat cover you have installed, is it any good, and where did you get it from . Thank you.
Hi, thank you for the very kind words, much appreciated. That's what I'm looking to do going forward, try and really dig out the detail on the bikes and because I'm not going to be getting free loan bikes from the manufacturer / importer I can be completely honest and don't always have to be gushingly positive. :) The seat cushion was a generic one off Amazon, similar to this: tinyurl.com/39h3t8xr Did it help? In honesty it did a bit but it's still pretty uncomfortable. That said I toured Europe on it pre-pandemic doing 5-7 hours in the saddle and 300+ mile days and apart from walking a bit strange when I first got off it was ok. If I regularly did longer trips though a different or remodelled seat would quickly be on my shopping list.
@@BikingChap Thanks for the quick reply and the link, I think we all walk a bit strange after 5-7 hours in any seat/saddle!😆
@@JanePreston-cl4nm My pleasure and yes, each time I go abroad I tend to underestimate the distances involved. It was only a couple of inches on the map.... ;)
You did a great job with this video, thanks.
I am thinking of moving back to "bikes" from scooters.
Had 2013 V-Strom from new, but swapped it for new 2017-model Tmax 530D in September 2018 also from new.
Keeping it brief... I was extremely pleased with the Strom, on which I did 27,000 kilos over 5 years, but have put only 2,500 kilos on the Tmax as I have never liked it (I should have rented one for a week before buying it).
Thinking of going back to "bikes" and specifically the latest NC750X-DCT.
Must be able to commute on it when my back is too painful to use my usual commuter (2015 PCX 150).
110 kilos (70 miles) / day.
How does this filter in heavy traffic on tight roads? It's a big consideration for me, otherwise the 90-minute-each-way commute would be even longer (not OK!).
I rode the NC700S manual a few years back, and found the brakes to be much less good than the Strom (Strom has dual discs).
Thanks from very far away (from a Brit who left a long time ago).
EDIT.
Liked. Subscribed.
Hi Stan, thanks for the like and especially the sub, very much appreciated! Interestingly I'd started looking scooters before thinking they were expensive for what you got and then discovering the NC, but a story for another time. To your questions... First off the NC is a great commuter, punchy off the line and nicely balanced, even with side cases on I rarely get stuck when I'm filtering. The only downside I find is the DCT is a disadvantage at very low speed filtering because you lose the clutch control option. From the many opinions I've read on this some folk think it's a downside, others say it's not an issue and you simply balance it on the back brake. It's very much a personal preference but on balance (sorry!) I'd take the DCT again. Worth getting a town based demo ride if at all possible though. Secondly, as I mentioned briefly in the video, the front brake isn't great. Ultimately the power is there but you do need to haul on it if you're in a hurry (to slow down!) Some swear by better pads but then others have reported that wears the discs out. Only you can decide whether its a deal breaker but along with the seat on the pre '22 models, the front brake is certainly a weak point.
@@BikingChap thanks. as for clutch balance, i use a CVT scooter and that has the same issues at very low speeds, say 10-15 kph
@@BikingChap Thanks. If I go for one, it will be new, so 2022 or later. If I go for one, I shall first read up on brakes options and consider any that do not add more than about 5% to the price. Also, I will read up on seat options, as I mentioned (Thai companies) beforehand.
I bought the Tmax with a test-ride, but... the wife of the dealer told me to take it easy as the bike had sports mods, but then when i asked the dealer if the bike had mods, he said no. That left me wondering who was correct/honest. Also, because of that, I went to a different dealer (same franchise chain) to buy the bike, thinking that the noisiness would not be an issue as it was caused by the (supposed) mods and that a stock bike would not have that horrible sound.
It's too late to make long story short, but...
I shall not part with any cash now without either a half-day test or a weekend hire as a test.
@staninjapan07, wise man, I'd always recommend a good test ride though i know in some countries they can be very hard to secure.
@@BikingChap I actually found the DCT easier at lower speeds. I only have to work the throttle and the rear brake; no need to add clutch work.
There's a Berlingo in the background, which lead me to think - if you consider it a good car, NC will be a good bike
A neighbours car rather than mine but yes, workmanlike car = workmanlike bike. :)
Thanks a lot for the good video. Actually me I own 2018 model here in Kampala-Uganda and I use it for my daily commute to and from work.
What confuses me are the different models like XA and XAd.what do these mean?!!
@quraishgolooba4306 thank you for your kind words, my understanding re the models is that the X is the standard nc750x, XA adds anti lock brakes and the XAD is the XA with the DCT gearbox. Hope that helps?
An amazing, well explained the point review video. Already subscribed. Good luck from Ireland 🇮🇪. Richie
Thanks Richie, really appreciate that, especially from a guy whose got such a great channel himself. Subscribed back! Have a good one!
Thanks for the detailed review. Like the look of it but not crazy about that single front disc.
@scottastell9415 I’m glad you found it useful. :) I have to say the front brake is not great but of all the people I spoke to who owned one, some thought it ok and some felt it wasn’t great but only a handful felt it was a deal breaker and sold them. Are you able to get a test ride?
Hi, just come across your video you have probably moved on by now but I Have just p/x my cbf600sa for the nc750xdct 2015. I am a bit nervous about the automatic side of it.Pulling away from junctions etc as you know you use the clutch for a controlled pull away how does it work on automatic never ridden one before apart from scooter years ago. I have decided to try automatic as i am having trouble with left hand and using clutch (old age haha) your thoughts would be welcome. Keep the videos coming..
Hi, thanks for dropping by and the feedback. For simple pulling away from a stop the DCT is great. You open the throttle and it smoothly slips the clutch until it's fully engaged and off you go. The only time I wasn't a fan was in very slow moving traffic where you might want to feather the clutch or choose to vary the rate of engagement, in these cases the manual 'box allows greater control. That said once you get used to balancing the bike with the use of a bit of back brake it's almost as good, just a bit of a different technique. Hope this helps :)
Chap! amazing video. This is my dream bike. I need your advice: 2000 miles trip with the wife on the back (we don't weigh much) what do u think? Cheers!
Hi, and thank you, glad it was helpful! I’ve taken mine all over Europe from the UK and it was great. For a couple, with luggage, I’d go for the NC. The extra grunt is noticeable even if the lower gearing hides it the deficit on the CB. What it will show up is the relatively weak front brake and I’d consider a changed to pads to try and get as much out of it as you can for two touring + luggage. Have an amazing trip!
Oh... and I have recently seen videos of seat customizing companies in Thailand.
Many of their seats seem very good, but the prices are about half of those in the US or UK.
@staninjapan07 Interesting. If you have any links you could share, that would be helpful for owners living there and for the rest of us elsewhere in the world if they export, thanks Stan. :)
@@BikingChap Looked in my YT history, but the videos on seats are all about CT125 Hunter Cub seats, sorry. It must have been a while back, or I was not signed in when I saw the ones I mentioned, so they are not in my YT history. I don't keep a browser history.
@staninjapan07 thanks for looking and getting back to me though, that's really good of you. :)
@@BikingChap I am at work now so I cannot spend time looking, but this guy, if I remember rightly, has made videos about Thai-made seats for the NC750...
www.youtube.com/@mikefreeriderAsia/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
@@staninjapan07 you’re a star, thanks Stan. Looks to be a great channel too!
Nice review thank you, been thinking about getting one and I reckon it ticks the boxes for most of my needs, got other bikes too so should be no complaints,
@yourplumbingpal1225 Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated. I’m a great believer that there are only a few truly bad bikes out there but there are many, many bikes out there with different strengths and weaknesses so it’s really a question of matching your priorities with the various bikes and their strengths. Get a test ride if at all possible, and a long one, as it’s quite different from most bikes out there. Let us know how you get on, good luck!
I love this bike!
They're a great workhorse aren't they? :)
verry good rivieuw manny thank grts from belgium from danny
Thanks Danny, much appreciated! :)
I would love to purchase this bike from Honda but they refuse to put electronic cruise control on it. Why DCT but no cruise control? I just don't get it. Once you are used to electronic cruise control on your bike, it's just awful to give up if you ride any long distances.
Hi, that's interesting to hear, I have to say I've never owned a bike with cruise control but I imagine if you're used to it it's a real bonus. Don't discount the possibility going forward however, the latest versions are 'drive by wire' so cruise control would be little more than a software tweak and a couple of buttons. Fingers crossed they offer in '23 / '24 for you!
Good reviews 👍
Thanks Stephen, appreciated, more coming soon!
Thanks for all the info, in the market to buy one and was thinking of trying to get new old stock, a 2021 or 2022. Is this a bad idea? Does the 2023 only come with the DCT now?
Hi, I honestly wouldn't worry about a NOS bike, that's how I buy nearly all my bikes and cars and I've never had an issue. I'm not sure where you're based but looking at the UK website, Honda are still referring to both the manual and DCT variants so it appears both are still in production. :)
Nice review of an interesting bike. Unfortunately it is difficult to judge the drive limitations with regard to the rider posture . Nobody talks about that on internet. Are there any NC750 riders out there taller than 1.90m? What is their comfort experience? Any (serious) adjustment done with leveling up the seat? What is the max seat height realistically achievable with after market gear? Thx for your thoughts. Ron
Hi Ron, thanks for the feedback. I'm around 1.9m and I'll be honest I didn't ever feel naturally comfortable on the NC, let me explain. I quickly found I was getting pain in my hips and while I could never be certain as to the cause I think it was a mixture of the slightly cramped peg to seat distance and that the seat rolled your hips forward. The bars, for me at any rate, were fine. What I think I would try is to lower the pegs and to adjust out the slope of the seat (along with some more padding). It wasn't the most uncomfortable bike I've had but it was certainly the only one to give me hip pain problems. I hope this help at least explain my experience. All the best, Jon.
@@BikingChap Thx Jon, very helpful. 👍
@@ronplekkringa8130 No problem, you're welcome.
Useful info. Thanks
@christianweller4288 You're more than welcome, thanks for the feedback! :)
Can you tell me are the tyres tube or tubeless .thanks
HI, yes of course, they're tubeless tyres on the NC.
Hi! Great video great review. I've got a question about your givi case holder. Is the traverse at the back original? I have the same thing but mine sticks out in direction of the license plate which collides with my new license plate holder so I'm looking exact for the traverse you have on your bike ;)
@SaschaHH1887 Hi, thank you for your kind words, very much appreciated. :) The frame / holder for the V35 cases I have is part number PLX1146, this is for the NC750X 2016 - 2020 only I think. www.givi.co.uk/my-motorcycle/product/honda/nc750x-16--20/optionals/plx1146 is the link to the UK site, I'm not sure where you are based. Just let me know if you're still having problems and I'll try to help further. :)
what's the whistling sound on your video?
@sohantanna625 Apologies for that and thanks for flagging, is it all the way through or just a certain point? I'm struggling to pick it up currently.
@@BikingChap it’s all the way through but not constant. When I get home I’ll send you a few time stamps. It’s super high pitched. I thought a bug flew into my room haha.
Love the video though. Got my NC750X last month after a year long wait in Thailand! Love the bike more than my rebel.
@@sohantanna625 you’re an absolute star, thank you! I’d had one other report but couldn’t reproduce it so I fear it’s beyond my old ears range which is pain for me to catch and for you guys to listen to. The concern obviously is if all my videos are impacted. Hope it didn’t spoil it too much for you.
@@sohantanna625 ok, so I can see it clearly in the editing software at the point where a previous viewer had flagged it, around 3:05, it then repeats every few seconds cycling between 12-18KHz. I bet it's only on the sections where there are slides rather than me speaking to camera? The reason? When I did those pieces I moved in to the garage [ironically] to reduce the background noise. Initially I suspected the fluorescent tube might be interfering, then I had a 'penny drop' moment. My wife had installed a rodent scarer that sends out high pitch sounds to scare off any mice / rats etc. Bingo. Not sure I resolve in this video but I'll ensure it's turned off going forward! Many thanks again for flagging, I think you were only the second person to raise it because, frankly, most viewers are over a certain age like me! ;)
I am choosing between NC700x DCT 2013 and NC750X Manual 2014. Wondering if the DCT is worth the extra price, because the 700 it's more expensive for me.
@aks13v35 very much a personal decision really. Do you really want the DCT? Even though mine is a DCT, if the choice was between a 2013 700 with DCT or a 2014 750 with a manual gearbox that was cheaper, I'd go for the 750 with it's extra grunt but it's all down to what your priorities are really.
@@BikingChap I don't mind to change gears. The thing is I commute alot in the city, also I am 1.70m. Wondering if it will be as easy to drive the manual, as it is the automatic in case where a pillon is with me and I need to sport and go.
@@aks13v35 it’s a tricky one. The DCT is easier, yes, but if you want the ultimate control then manual is still the way to go but it’s very much a personal choice. As you’re 1.7m you may want to the lower the bike a little. You can buy longer links / ‘dog bones’ for the rear suspension, drop the forks and fit a side stand from the NC750S. If you do that however the centre stand, if fitted, becomes unusable. Hope this helps.
What is it with Honda and their cam chain issues!? :)
@Blurredman It's an odd one because I'd never heard of it but a tech approached me to say he'd done a number of them now and across all model years. The positive news is that symptoms are quite obvious (the sudden onset of a new rattle) touch wood the chain doesn't appear to skip teeth and there are no cases, that I could find, of the broken off piece causing carnage elsewhere. Why some have failed at under 10k miles and some bikes are unaffected with 200k+ miles on them remains a mystery...
There seems to be a correlation between frequency of oil change and cam chain wear. Change oil and filter earlier.
@@Ian-xt1mb Hi, have you heard of camchain wear on the NC? The issue that was flagged to me was where the end of the camchain tensioner is snapping off as though it was a manufacturing fault or fatigued, but at widely difference mileages...
I would have loved on of these but they are simply too small in the leg. I had a test ride and found the either the pegs too high or the seat too low - I suspect a bit of both. I do wish motorcycle manufacturers would get away from the "one size fits all" mentality.
I don’t disagree Steve. When the forums are full of requests for raised seats and lowered pegs you know somethings not right. Ironic really as prior to them lowering them overall in ‘21 you had to be pretty tall to throw a leg over them.
Wow 47k views 🎉
Thanks for all your support! :)
Subbing. 😉 I ride a Spyder saw a concept of a Honda with 2 wheels up front. Seen them?
@troy9er Hi, thanks for the sub! I’ve seen a couple of rumours, the earlier one based on an NC motor, the second based on a Goldwing motor, or an update of one, the Neowing. When you see concepts *and* patents being filed it tends to suggest they’re certainly working on something. I can see this finding buyers certainly in the US as there’s a big luxury trike following from what I can see. I suspect it’ll come down to whether they can make it at a price that buyers will accept. Here’s hoping!
@@BikingChap cool! 😉
Motor woow amazing
They really are a good allrounder. 👍
If only the cost cutting did not lead to using a chain. It would have been perfect with a shaft. Does not really have anything over the old NTV650, except for better mpg.
Sadly I think bikes peaked in many ways some years ago. Previously we’ve seen beautifully engineered bikes from Honda like the VFR, with alloy frames and single sided swing arms and now it’s all steel tubing, even on the premium bikes.
It’s all down to cost of course but I agree, a shaft would’ve been nice. Trouble is that saps performance even more and adds even more weight as well as pushing the price way up.
To think years ago shafts were common, GT550, Virago, XJ900 as well as the NTV, to name a few.
@@BikingChap I agree. As a courier i put over 200k an an xj900, and my workmates all rode the company gt550s and some left over revere/cx500 imports. No one ran a chain bike. I ride an old xl250 as my knees and back cant deal with any weight, at least with 20hp, heavy chains do last a few years.
@@skaraborgcraft I have to say I'm getting to the point that I'd prefer something a bit lighter. On the move the weight of the NC just evaporates, as it does with most bikes, but pushing it around, especially as the drive is on a slope, I don't want to get to the point that I drop it...
@@BikingChap My old NTV 650 bore the scars of several drops, hard pill to swallow at just 50, but accidents add up. My old mantra of never owning a bike you can not lift up and ride out of a ditch really narrows it down. Still not quite ready for a scooter, but i can see the day coming if i dont give up 2 wheels entirely.
Sure, getting older sucks but, as a friend once said, it beats the alternative! Funnily enough I was considering a scooter but they seemed so expensive for what you got which is how I ended up with the NC. Sadly there's not much choice in the 250-600cc class these days. I do wish they hadn't discontinued the 690 Duke. It felt (and went!) like a 70bhp 125, great fun!
You may want to check your audio setup. Your audio includes periodically ramping up high pitched, piercing sound. Extremely irritating. It is very high pitch and I think you might have just missed it because at this frequency many people don't hear anything. For example 3:04-3:05, 3:15-3:16, etc.
Thank you very much for raising this, sadly I can’t hear this, no doubt due to the high frequency and my age. I’ll go back to the original file and see if I can ‘see’ it in the editing software and understand what’s gone wrong. Thanks again for flagging it to me.
@leonardmilcin7798 I just wanted to feedback on this issue that you kindly raised. Long story short I could see the tone cycling between around 12 and 18KHz every few seconds and suspect it's only on the sections where there are slides on screen and not me talking to camera. The reason? When I was talking to the slides I moved in to the garage [ironically] to reduce any background noise. The garage where my wife had recently installed a device that sends out high frequency tones intended to scare off small rodents. Mystery solved I think. I will clean up and re-upload for those who still have good hearing, thanks again!
@@BikingChap Now that you explained it to me it makes sense. The sound gets high in pitch very quickly and much quieter at highest frequency either because it is getting attenuated by something or because I just don't hear it very well. At least I know I still hear pretty well at those high frequencies!
@leonardmilcin7798 whether it’s the mouse scarer or the mic I’m not sure but I could see the levels dropping at higher frequencies. Iirc it swept from high to low stopping about 12khz. I’d say your hearing’s doing very well. :)
I owned a 2016 nc700x and not super fun but plenty to do any type of riding
@chriszeis5477 exactly, it's unlikely anyone opens the garage door and goes "Oh wow!" when there's an NC in there but for many people the practicality, reliability and economy are hard to beat. Heart vs Head an all that :)
The old half a civic myth. It wasn’t even based on the civic. The truth is that Honda car engineers consulted on and had input to the design in order to develop a more frugal engine, this led to a joke by the Honda project manager at a launch press conference about being half a civic engine. And a myth was born.
I might end up doing a video just on this topic. There's almost a myth within a myth here. Is it right to say it's 'half a Honda Jazz engine'? No, the bottom end is completely different for example. However, there are some striking similarities. The bore and stroke in the original 700 are identical to one of the Jazz engines, the 750 simply being overbored. The valvegear looks to be near identical too, even with the same casting marks if you look closely. This of course ties in with the very car like driving and rev range characteristics. So is it half a Jazz engine? No. Was some of the R&D from the Jazz engine used for the NC engine? I'd say absolutely yes.
I have often wondered why they are mounted on modern motorcycles over 200kg. just a single disc brake on the front? First of all it is unsafe! Secondly, it does not give you the feeling of safety, especially when you are with a passenger!
I've ridden one for thousands of miles and I don't feel it's unsafe personally, ultimately the power is there if you pull hard enough, it's just that it needs an unusually large amount of 'pull' to stop quickly so it gives the impression of a weak brake. Many people aren't bothered by it, some like me tend to use a bit of back brake to stop where we wouldn't normally and for others it's a deal breaker. The underlying reason of course, is cost.
@BikingChap Yes, needs a good pull but most modern riders must be limp wristed thats why they all burst into tears when they find no cruise control.
I’m with you re cruise control and would add tft screens to the list of things I don’t see the value of. The brake isn’t great though and especially when you try the cb500x twin setup or indeed the other 750s, it makes you realise it’s lacking. Sure it’ll stop you but I’ve ridden many, many bikes over the years and the only one less inspiring was an 1983 MBX80 which appeared to have pads made of soap at the first hint of rain.
Oh... you were talking in miles?
You use the same oil for eight thousand miles?
Do you hate your bike?
I change my Honda Semi-Synthetic oil every five thousand kilometres (3,100 miles).
I wouldn't dream of using the same oil for 8,000 m.
@staninjapan07 LOL, no, I don't hate my bike, 8k miles is the oil change interval that Honda state in the owners manual. I change mine yearly as I've been only doing around 4-5k miles each year now but there's a well known guy on the forums who changes the oil as Honda recommend at 8k and he's currently (last time I checked) on over 200,000 miles and the engines is still original. Modern oils are very good and the NC motor is very undemanding on it's oil.
@@BikingChap I did not really think you hated your bike. When I was a boy (though at the time I thought I was a young man), I worked at a Toyota car dealer in the UK, where I learned the important of frequent oil changes and good oil. I am religious about it, you might say.
@staninjapan07 oh absolutely, I get that. If I'm honest, if I'm doing enough miles to hit the mileage limit before time limit for an oil change I'll always be changing it early. No evidence it helps but oil is cheaper than rebuilds as they used to say ;)
Yes I know its not a car engine but Honda recommend 7500 to 10k oil change in the Jazz car.. I would say 7000 miles or 12 months whatever is the soonest....
@@anthonyquantuman730 that’s a fair point and given the oil in the bike is also getting hammered in the gearbox, I wouldn’t fancy going much over the 8k limit though I don’t doubt it’s fine in the car.
Looks alot like my old 1982 Sabre .
@hossteinle6064 I had to google the Sabre and I agree, it does a bit. :)
167 th like :)
@warrior4095 167th thank you very much, it’s much appreciated!