F700 vs NX700

[Sooty09]

My wife still has not changed from her beloved F650gs. Now 38000 miles and going strong. You could not want a better reference for a bike so it was logical the F700 would replace it.

We took a new F700 for a long test ride and she was comfy with it at once. So she should have been because it is 95% the same bike. The style has been altered and the gearing changed etc. The problem is the changes have been made to things which did not need changing, some things are for the worse, the problem is things which should have been changed have been left alone.
These are the seat, its the original no change at all. Screen, just the same.
Fuel gauge, BM must have given up because it stops at half full, an arrow pointing up says its more than half full. From reserve it start counting up so you know how many miles you have ridden. No indicated range is displayed.
Things for the worse, the indicator switch is the same twiddly delicate left hand assembly which has been very unreliable on the rest if the range.
Finally the price is now £7600 without the toys. This used to be a bargain bike but the forced ABS puts the price too high. £8105 with stand and grips.

Next ride - the Honda NX700. Wow, we both had a go over a 75 mile mixed route. Its so smooth and vice free, its a basic package but works so well. The helmet fits in the tank storage area, the suspension soaks up the bumps, the brakes (abs included) work well. The seat is comfy and foot pegs well placed. The engine is a real Gem pulling hard from 2000 to 6000 with no fuelling flat spots. 60 mph in top at 3000 with no vibration.
It has no toys, just a basic machine. Future options will be grips,stand and higher screen but with a basic price of £5800 its a good buy.
Its also a fun thing to ride, I was tempted to chip in my 1200GS its better in many areas and my wife preferred it to the F700, partly because she thinks BMW have failed in their update.
So why have we not swapped yet, its good, very very good, so was my Kawasaki Versys but after 18 months it was just another bike and failed to get me like the F800gs did and the R1200GS is starting to.
Off to France for two weeks camping, a problem with either bike may see a trip to the Honda dealer when we return.

 

[StumpyFingers]

Honda Do make some nice bikes.
I had a Transalp for a few years, it never let me down, only problem was the cost of service parts, with the old engine it had a problem with getting the Valves set right but once done were perfect.
If dealer service was required then it could cost £400 for a standard service, my 6000 mile service on the F800GS was £193. The finish on bikes have become less robust and corrosion sets in rather too quick for my liking.
I changed to my current F800GS because it felt lighter than the Honda and I have no intention of changing until the cost of keeping the bike on the road costs more than it is worth.
It is nice to have a new bike once in a while but if your current models are working well then keep them.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Thanks for the interesting posting.

I presume you are referring to the NC700X ?

I also was interested in this bike and a test ride was pleasant. However once I had ridden the F650GS it was no competition.

You are comparing a 47 bhp 700 with a 71bhp 800 and the differences are very apparent. The availability of toys and extras on the f650, instruments, the luggage and the riding experience are all superior.

The only reason to buy the Honda would be price, the BMW is around £8,500 - £9,000 fully spec'd, so if you are unwilling/ unable to fund the Beemer I would agree the Honda is an alternative.

Re: the seat, unlike the f650, on the f700 the upgrade to the comfort seat is a £100 and I would highly recommend taking it.

I don't know about the gearing but everything else on the 700 has changed for the better. Well done BMW

 

[freelancer2011]

Sooty,

Do you know if the ABS on the F700 is switchable?

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Yes, ABS is switchable on all of the BMW GS range.

 

[Cobweb]

The NC700x is a good budget bike and if I wanted a commuter bike just for hacking to work and back then that's the bike I'd choose but it's boring. I had real trouble staying awake on the test ride and it seemed to run out of steam really quickly but it's purely a matter of choice. For me it's got to be the 700GS and to hell with the extra cost.

 

[rickyxsara]

Sooty 09, I haved owned 1150 and 1200 gs. I have just purchased a 2012 new model 650 V Strom. I am chuffed to bits with the bike and ABS is as standard. You should try one and you may be pleasantly surprised. 65-70mpg is easily achievable, it is very responsive and smooth, and very comfortable. I managed 260 miles out of a full tank with 2 litres still left. Try one and let me know how you get on. I got 3 yrs warranty and AA breakdown as well. Bog standard full list is £6500. Good luck.

 

[Sooty09]

We tried the V strom just after its introduction. Its nice but not to her liking.
Our Saturday riding crew have four V stroms between them, some are on their 2nd bikes, not novices as these riders are all in their 60s and ride all weathers on and off road (gentle green lanes)
A truly under rated bike for a great price.
However it takes a while to realise how good it is, the Honda feels good instantly.

 

[Sooty09]

Looks like a 4 way race now,
The Triumph Tiger 800 is the current winner, if only it was a bit better on fuel.

Followed by the F700GS which is a direct replacement for her F650.

Although the Honda NX700 is very good its a bit average, except for the price and engine, it also looks good and has very handy storage.

The G650 is an upate of her first 2 modern bikes and is also a contender.

We were hoping to descide and trade the old bike in. She may have to surrender her licence for 6 months to a year (Medical) and it would have been nice to know a new bike is ready for collection in 2013. Now we will wait and see if anything new comes along. I just noticed every bike she considers has to have a beak.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

If you truly can't decide - go for the cheapest one ( ie the Honda)

A lot depends on your speed range, if you tend to pootle around keeping mainly to all the speed limits even a 250 scooter can do that, so the Honda will be more than capable. If you ride with faster bikes / hit the autobahns sometimes you would need the 700.

After 1000 miles on my SE I'm realising that it's a great bike but not really at it's best at "higher" (shall we say) motorway speeds and that's where the 1200 GS and GSA are more planted/comfortable/safe. Between 0 & 70+ the f650 is unbeatable but, again, at the higher speeds the f650's legendary economy drops off quite alarmingly.

Isn't it amazing how much more one finds out about these bikes as an owner rather than mere test rides?

 

[Dean]

They seem such different bikes and costs, decisions decisions


I like the Red one not the far eastern ones

I'm suprised you never tested the Triumph Tiger 8 (not XC) same engine and they supply a beak if you want one the extra saving would buy a fair amount of Petrol

 

[Elle]

Good thread.
Whilst I only recently purchased the F650GS twin, it wasn't an ideal bike and there are various bits of it I don't like (or haven't got used to).

I wouldn't buy a new bike again due to the big reduction in value a year later.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Elle, would you mind telling us what you liked and what you didn't like about the 650?

Do you still have the bike? If not, did you replace it with something ease?