Dave wrote on 04/11/16 at 14:13:52:




that's IS funny ... maybe one day the engineers and verticals will get the hint and offer these MODS from the get go on stock models ...

Enough about the forum, how about the bike?    

Best regards,

old.indian wrote on 04/11/16 at 17:21:00:

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Not sure the engineers had our best interests in mind when they designed the bike with a 100# muffler/exhaust.

Nor a rear pillion that is 12" high.

Nor a vacuum fed carb.

Nor a cam chain adjuster that gives out at 1/4 - 1/2 life of the timing chain.

Nor leaky nuts and bolts and head plugs.

Nor the faulty carb jets.

Nor all the other MODS we HAVE to do in order to ride a proper bike  

all these planned obsolescence engineered designs, straight off the showroom floor, are meant for one thing: PROFITS

don't take my rant sideways, I love the S40 ... but if I had bought this bike new off the showroom floor with these issues I'd be all over the dealer ... and our forum is FILLED with posts from people with brand f#@cKi#g new bikes with all the above mentioned "issues" ...  

thank g*d I ain't skeer'd to wrench on s#!t ...
or I'd be one of the folks listing a new bike on craigslist for pennies ...

engineer wrote on 04/11/16 at 19:09:02:


The NT700 and the new CXT700 are completely different bikes.  The NT700 is a V-twin, shaft drive, mid-set foot pegs, 5 speed, luggage built in.....the CXT is a parallel twin, chain drive, forward set footpegs, 6 speed, luggage at considerable extra expense.  I don't know how similarly they ride or how the engines behave....the NT700 appealed to me for the shaft drive and mid set footpegs - and it appeared the seating position and rear trunk made the bike much more comfortable for my wife when riding double.

Like any bike it has a few issues.  It could use a 6th gear for more friendly interstate use.....the motor does start to sound a bit buzzy over 60 - however some of the forum members ride theirs at 75 and are over 150,000 miles with no problems.  The bike was only sold in the US in 2010 and 2011 - however it was sold in other parts of the word from 1998 to 2011 - however the engine was first built as a 650 in 1988.  The luggage capacity is expandable with larger case covers - they are only available by ordering the parts from the UK, and it is fairly easy to get those parts shipped to the US.

So far the weather has been crappy and I have only been able to rid the bike for about 20 miles in very cold/windy weather.  It seems that it will be a very nice bike for me and my wife to ride.  It is much lighter than the ST1100, has a much better seat height for my 30" inseam, and just fits my wife and I a lot better than the big ST1100 did.  I do need to get a slightly wider windscreen as the deflected air comes around the windshield and me, and hits my wife in the shoulders.  The V-Stream windshield is supposed to be the cure for that problem.

Very nice, low mileage used NT700's are available for $ 4,000 - $ 5,000 - which is half what they cost new.    

Thanks Dave for pointing out the differences.  When I first looked at the picture you posted I thought it was an earlier and better looking version of the current CTX700N.

Dave, I checked the specs, and the engines are totally different. 45 compared to 52 degree twins. 4 valve per cylinder compared to 3, and FI inside of carbs. But I am still think they are related concept wise.