Test ride NC700X Dual Clutch
Had a test ride on the N700X Dual Clutch (automatic) yesterday. Picked it up from Padgetts of Batley but was only allowed a 30min ride due to Honda insurance restrictions and the excess was £1000 so no falling off!
I set off in S for sport mode as recommended, first thing I noticed was how light and maneuverable it was, looking down it was already in 3 rd and I hadn’t really noticed the gear changes. Brakes were good and progressive with no fork twist I could discern from the single sided disc. Switching to D mode (drive) the engine was more subdued but kept up with town traffic no problem at all. It’s obvious the engine has loads of grunt, when you think it should be struggling it just digs in and moves on smoothly. Switching to Manual change the gears slip in and out just as smoothly as it does in auto, its quite satisfying accelerating up through the gears on a steady throttle just pushing the button for the next gear, slowing down through the gears the electronics adds a blip to the throttle on the down change to help smooth things out, very clever! Now if your in S or D and press a gear button the gearbox will change up or down depending on which button you pressed (can be used as a manual kick down if your accelerating, but I’m pretty sure the bike kicks down of its own accord anyway, pushing the button may just be quicker).
A couple of negatives.
Firstly, I was aware of a little mechanical harshness in the transmission, it maybe a tight chain, but I didn’t check, anyway, this bike was very new with only 20 miles or so on it so maybe it would subside, but its worth being aware of.
Secondly, the suspension. Mostly it seemed fine, that was until I rode over a short rough section of tarmac, helped by a very firm seat the vibrations from the back wheel drove up my spine and literally rocked my head, blurring my vision, it was very close to being painful! Not nice! Dave on his DN01 was aware of the bit of rough road but it had been no problem to him and my RT would have rolled over it like it was hardly there.
Mostly I was very impressed; the engine has loads of low end power and is astonishingly fast away from the lights with a good twist of the right wrist in S mode, from my short ride I only felt the rear suspension lets it down really.
Rode Dave’s DN01 almost straight after. This is a Honda automatic too, same size engine give or take, but fluid drive rather than gears. Personally, I prefer the DN01’s fluid drive, its a little smoother and the suspension is much better, altogether it’s a better built machine but as it was originally near twice the price the NC700X is now, it should be. Only down side of the DN01 is wind blast, I didn’t notice it so much on the NC700X, but then again, I didn’t go that fast.
Had a test ride on the N700X Dual Clutch (automatic) yesterday. Picked it up from Padgetts of Batley but was only allowed a 30min ride due to Honda insurance restrictions and the excess was £1000 so no falling off!
I set off in S for sport mode as recommended, first thing I noticed was how light and maneuverable it was, looking down it was already in 3 rd and I hadn’t really noticed the gear changes. Brakes were good and progressive with no fork twist I could discern from the single sided disc. Switching to D mode (drive) the engine was more subdued but kept up with town traffic no problem at all. It’s obvious the engine has loads of grunt, when you think it should be struggling it just digs in and moves on smoothly. Switching to Manual change the gears slip in and out just as smoothly as it does in auto, its quite satisfying accelerating up through the gears on a steady throttle just pushing the button for the next gear, slowing down through the gears the electronics adds a blip to the throttle on the down change to help smooth things out, very clever! Now if your in S or D and press a gear button the gearbox will change up or down depending on which button you pressed (can be used as a manual kick down if your accelerating, but I’m pretty sure the bike kicks down of its own accord anyway, pushing the button may just be quicker).
A couple of negatives.
Firstly, I was aware of a little mechanical harshness in the transmission, it maybe a tight chain, but I didn’t check, anyway, this bike was very new with only 20 miles or so on it so maybe it would subside, but its worth being aware of.
Secondly, the suspension. Mostly it seemed fine, that was until I rode over a short rough section of tarmac, helped by a very firm seat the vibrations from the back wheel drove up my spine and literally rocked my head, blurring my vision, it was very close to being painful! Not nice! Dave on his DN01 was aware of the bit of rough road but it had been no problem to him and my RT would have rolled over it like it was hardly there.
Mostly I was very impressed; the engine has loads of low end power and is astonishingly fast away from the lights with a good twist of the right wrist in S mode, from my short ride I only felt the rear suspension lets it down really.
Rode Dave’s DN01 almost straight after. This is a Honda automatic too, same size engine give or take, but fluid drive rather than gears. Personally, I prefer the DN01’s fluid drive, its a little smoother and the suspension is much better, altogether it’s a better built machine but as it was originally near twice the price the NC700X is now, it should be. Only down side of the DN01 is wind blast, I didn’t notice it so much on the NC700X, but then again, I didn’t go that fast.
