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Rider magazine April 2017 NC700X review

dduelin

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Editor Mark Tuttle reviewed a 2016 DCT in the April issue. It's nice to see a widely read magazine review the bike again. This might be the third Rider article IIRC, the first coming in 2012 as a first ride quickie and later a comprehensive test comparison with the 2012 Versys and 650 V-Strom.

This time around Tuttle used the bike in a light tourer role on a three day trip in the desert Southwest. Even though he got the brake system wrong (Linked C-ABS disappeared in 2014) the review was very positive. Reviews on the DCT and the NC700X in general have been all over the place since the intro. Nice to see a good one on a bike that is well into product maturity. After 5 years in production not a lot of bikes get another look in print.
 
Anyone else think most of those magazine reviews skew way too positive? It's almost like they don't want to alienate their advertisers, right? The only negative reviews I can recall were for Royal Enfields, which did help me decide to steer clear of the brand.

I looked at Guzzis, Triumphs, and lots of Japanese bikes, and the reviews were all upbeat. I found some more realistic reviews on Youtube.
 
I scoured the web looking for reviews and write-ups the past month or so, looking for information both good and bad on the NC700X (and comparing to the Wee Strom and Versys 650, which were the other two I was looking at). Not much out there, other than fluff pieces, "reviews" that looked like they were put together by marketing departments, and a couple head to head video reviews that were decent but pretty short in length and lacking in good details. Found a couple of amateur YouTube user reviews using helmet cams and voice commentary as they rode home from the dealership that were decent. I got more, better information by going to a dealer that sold all three brands under one roof and talking to a couple guys who've ridden them. Also happened upon another customer at one shop who rode in on an NC700X and was looking to trade in and up. Got to pick his brain for a few minutes, too, which was invaluable.
 
My guess is that most owners who buy an NC700X and sell it quickly are unhappy with the low RPM, low HP engine but it was never designed to break lap records at the Isle of Man!

For me, it does everything I want plus I wanted to experience the DCT first-hand. I'm happy with both the engine and the DCT. :)
 
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Every day the DCT is more impressive. Yesterday, when going down a very steep incline, the bike down shifted at the perfect time. How it knew to do this, I have no idea.
 
My guess is that most owners who buy an NC700X and sell it quickly are unhappy with the low RPM, low HP engine but it was never designed to break lap records at the Isle of Man!

For me, it does everything I want plus I wanted to experience the DCT first-hand. I'm happy with both the engine and the DCT. :)

I'm guessing those folks were not allowed to take the bike out for a test ride. When I was looking for a test ride I found dealers only too happy to let me ride the bike so long as I signed the Purchase and Sales agreement. No ride, no deal. My dealer, Land Air VT, let me take an NC manual bike and a CTX700 DCT bike for 8 mile test rides.
 
I'm guessing those folks were not allowed to take the bike out for a test ride. When I was looking for a test ride I found dealers only too happy to let me ride the bike so long as I signed the Purchase and Sales agreement. No ride, no deal. My dealer, Land Air VT, let me take an NC manual bike and a CTX700 DCT bike for 8 mile test rides.
The only dealers I have found around here to give test rides on bikes is BMW and HD. The Japanese bike dealers will not (Louisville/Southern Indiana). C&C powersports will give test rides on Indian and Triump bikes when those bike's Corporations have bike days. When I bought the NC700x, my buddy had already bought one and allowed be to ride it. I traded in a 2009 BMW G650GS for it; when I bought the BMW, it was between that and a v-strom 650 and the deciding factor- no Suzuki dealer would allow me a test ride; the bmw dealer threw me the keys and said don't make us call the cops (took the BMW for a 45 minute test ride)-bought it and rode it home.
 
The only dealers I have found around here to give test rides on bikes is BMW and HD. The Japanese bike dealers will not (Louisville/Southern Indiana). C&C powersports will give test rides on Indian and Triump bikes when those bike's Corporations have bike days. When I bought the NC700x, my buddy had already bought one and allowed be to ride it. I traded in a 2009 BMW G650GS for it; when I bought the BMW, it was between that and a v-strom 650 and the deciding factor- no Suzuki dealer would allow me a test ride; the bmw dealer threw me the keys and said don't make us call the cops (took the BMW for a 45 minute test ride)-bought it and rode it home.

Have not had that issue at our two local Honda dealers - I test rode the NC700 at both Hillsboro and Beaverton OR. They were short (3 miles or so) but I did it twice before I pulled the trigger.
 
Have not had that issue at our two local Honda dealers - I test rode the NC700 at both Hillsboro and Beaverton OR. They were short (3 miles or so) but I did it twice before I pulled the trigger.

Interesting on the Hillsboro bit. Pretty much got snubbed by them. No return calls or emails (both to the individual salesperson I talked to when I stopped in while starting my search and to their generic sales address), even when telling them I wanted to buy a bike, cash in hand, that they had in inventory. Went to Beaverton and they were awesome. Bent over backwards to help me, make sure that the bike was a good fit for me (including letting me know multiple times that I was aware this wasn't a high-revving bike), and even had a follow-up call from the salesman a while after I got home making sure I arrived safely.

Was told that, due to my inexperience (or complete lack of) riding hours, I would only be able to test ride a bike after the sales agreement was written up. If I didn't like it, they'd tear up the paperwork, no harm, no foul. Not sure how standard that is, though.
 
When I started looking for my 2016 NC w/DCT, I literally went to ten dealerships. I got snubbed at the first eight and they didn't even have the bike. The ninth and tenth didn't have the bike but the tenth offered me a test ride if they got one in. Had to buy the bike out of state but that tenth dealer is where I buy my parts and get my maintenance done.

I did wonder how the first eight ever made any money by snubbing potential customers until last week I drove past and one of them and it is now a daycare.
 
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Interesting on the Hillsboro bit. Pretty much got snubbed by them. No return calls or emails (both to the individual salesperson I talked to when I stopped in while starting my search and to their generic sales address), even when telling them I wanted to buy a bike, cash in hand, that they had in inventory. Went to Beaverton and they were awesome. Bent over backwards to help me, make sure that the bike was a good fit for me (including letting me know multiple times that I was aware this wasn't a high-revving bike), and even had a follow-up call from the salesman a while after I got home making sure I arrived safely.

Was told that, due to my inexperience (or complete lack of) riding hours, I would only be able to test ride a bike after the sales agreement was written up. If I didn't like it, they'd tear up the paperwork, no harm, no foul. Not sure how standard that is, though.

I called ahead, saying I wanted to ride a DCT model and if that was not possible, then no problem, I'll call other dealerships... Got a "no problem at all" and then I made them promise that if I drove all the way out there, they would change their minds. I had to sign a waiver, provide proof of insurance and my motorcycle license and I was all set. I was shadowed during the Hillsboro ride, but went off solo in Beaverton. I ended up buying a used one, but wrote nice letters to both dealership managers, calling out the sales person and complimented them on the good service (I hope they don't compare letters....grin!).

Hillsboro just did the 8000 mile service on my bike and the next one goes to Beaverton. The fact that I had 40+ years of riding experience may have helped.
 
Hillsboro just did the 8000 mile service on my bike and the next one goes to Beaverton. The fact that I had 40+ years of riding experience may have helped.

The experience was probably the big sticking point. Another guy was in (rode in on an NC700X) and was looking at a Super Duke. He test rode it while I was there looking. Think it was the same with him, just license, insurance, waiver. Since he showed up on another bike it probably helped, or he was a known customer/rider.

Girlfriend's oldest son worked at Ducati and said he'd be happy to toss me a set of keys for a test ride. Unfortunately, he's down in Austin, TX (and not there anymore, at an HD dealership now, I think).

Heh, just got an email from the salesperson at Hillsboro, finally. Too bad I went elsewhere... Maybe next time.
 
My guess is that most owners who buy an NC700X and sell it quickly are unhappy with the low RPM, low HP engine but it was never designed to break lap records at the Isle of Man!

Those were selling points for me. Those and the frunk. I got a good deal because of someone who was expecting a 700CC sport bike. They traded it in with less miles than I would expect to see on a "new" demo bike.
 
I actually used information from this site and then had my dealer order the dct.
Love it and a big thanks to this site.
Traded my Goldwing f6b in on it.
Fun always trumps power in my book. {no Donald pun intended}.
 
The Honda dealer in Panama City, FL would not let me test ride anything unless I bought it [if I didn't like it they would tear up the contract b.s.] They even had a used 700x and I've been riding since I was 15. I found a used one locally, had a test ride , and saved over 1k on the one with more miles the dealer had. buying a motorcycle without trying it out is like buying shoes without trying them on, how do you know it will fit?
 
My local Ducati (duc pond Motorsports) dealer was all eager to let me take a bike out, i think he has two demo bikes.

I think the guy who runs it used to be a factory rider or something along those lines. All i know is, that when i was there he had in stock the Desmosedici D16RR. $74k... i did not touch.
 
Try Motorcycle Consumer News.

Anyone else think most of those magazine reviews skew way too positive? It's almost like they don't want to alienate their advertisers, right? The only negative reviews I can recall were for Royal Enfields, which did help me decide to steer clear of the brand.

I looked at Guzzis, Triumphs, and lots of Japanese bikes, and the reviews were all upbeat. I found some more realistic reviews on Youtube.
 

Some factual errors in that article, the 2016 NC700X DCT does not have C-ABS, only two pistons on the front and one brake line as you can clearly see in the picture that describes it as a 3 piston combined ABS. :)
I've also never gotten MPG in the 40's, even with fully loaded with Trekker Outbacks 80mph on the freeway for 6 hours. 55-59ish yeah, but never seen 40, look at my Fuelly. :) When I flog it on the Interstate I see 60mpg.
 
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