Saddlebags

Got the Honda OEM saddlebags installed and they are very nice. Got lucky with the dealer and was able to get a set of red panels installed at less than cost. They look good and are very functional. I was surprised to find that they add a degree of stability from wind blast on the highway when passing large trucks. They are lockable and are easily removed from the bike. Overall great addition to the bike.

SW-Motech Handguards

I purchased the SW-Motech Kobra handguards from twistedthrottle.com with the LED lights and extensions. Not only are they good looking, but very functional. Having the extra turn signals adds more visibility and with the extensions, it adds some great protection from the wind.

NC700X Fuel Economy

Just an update to my comments about how awesome the gas mileage is. Right now I have just under 1800 miles on the bike and still averaging 70.2 mpg.

Givi Windshield

I did replace the stock NC windshield with a Givi. It's a bit higher and a bit wider than the stock windshield and has greatly improved the dynamics of how the bike rides at higher speeds. It uses the existing mounting holes and seems to work best on the higher setting. The only problem is when you turn the handlebars to the full left position, the front brake fluid reservoir does touch the windshield a bit, but it's not a major problem. As a side note, I did consider getting a tinted or smoked windshield and glad that I didn't because the clear windshield is not noticeable at all which looks better on the bike in my opinion. Here is a link to the product if you are interested: http://www.twistedthrottle.com/givi-windscreen-for-honda-nc700x

Shad Seat for the NC700X

I have commented about the poor comfort of the stock NC seat. I have been searching for a replacement and I did find a really nice seat from shad USA. Now for the story... Because I have the 2013 NC in red, I wanted the red stiching option on the seat. I placed my order on-line, received a system based conformation e-mail and then received another e-mail from a person at the company asking me to confirm the order. At that point I noticed that the grey stiching was identified, not the red as I had ordered. I replied stating that I ordered the red not grey stiching and did receive a corrected invoice. About a week later received the wrong seat and placed a call to the company. They apologized and said they would send out the correct seat. Another week goes by and UPS delivers the wrong seat again, now I have two black and grey seats with no red stiching. Another call to the company and they say that they will send the correct seat, we will wait and see... Bottom line, even though the seat is the wrong color scheme, it does perform excellent! My non stop rides have been greatly extended from about 50 miles to 150 miles. Very comfortable seat! Once I get the correct seat, I will post some pictures so you can see the fit and finish.

Initial thoughts on my new 2013 NC700X

In May, I purchased a red 2013 NC700X (non-DCT).  I did a ton of research before pulling the trigger and was hard pressed to find anything negative about the bike.  I am not new to motorcycles, I have been riding for 35 years, but it has been a few years since I have owned a bike and I knew it would be smart to ease back into this activity.  So running out and buying a Harley was not on my agenda.  In fact, I have rented a bunch of Harley's over the years and I find them to be uncomfortable, front heavy and not smooth at highway speeds. I put a bunch of thought into what I wanted to do with a bike, how I was going to use it and what would it cost to own.  I have owned several Honda's over the years and one thing has always been true, they are reliable.  My first consideration was the ST1300, but I thought it may be too much bike, so when I discovered the NC700X it went to the top of my list. If you are considering an NC, hopefully my review will help in your decision making process.  In my opinion this is a very good overall bike.  It's not a rocket, nor a highway cruiser, but a ton of fun on a winding country roads. This bike is for the person who generally goes on short rides that are between 50 and 75 miles at speeds between 45 and 60 mph, let me explain... At about 50 miles into my rides, my ass and legs start to get uncomfortable, the stock seat is not the best, ok it sucks!  I like the upright riding position, but again this is not a highway cruiser and the wind blast can tire you out on long rides.  I am experimenting with windshield alternatives now to help cut down on the wind blast and will let you know what the results are soon. Because of this, running at 70+mph can be challenging.  The bike is so light, which is great on the twisty country roads, but not so great on the interstate. Outside of that, the NC is fun to ride.  It is very easy to get comfortable with because of its low center of gravity.  I really like the storage where the tank should be and gas mileage is off the carts!!!  In the 900 miles I have put on my bike so far, I average just over 70 mpg. Challenges, there are a few, starting with: - I wish ABS would of been available with the manual transmission as I understand it to be in Europe. - It would be nice to have the the dash show you what gear your in, just like the DCT model does. I find that I forget if I am in 5th or 6th gear sometimes and it would be nice to just see your current gear number on the LCD display. - As I mentioned the stock seat is very uncomfortable, so consider additional cost to replace it. - wind blast is a problem, the stock windshield is basically worthless. Feel free to post your questions and comments, more to come...