engineer wrote on 04/11/16 at 19:09:02: I've been considering the Honda 700 line with thoughts of replacing my 750 Guzzi. The salesman at the local dealership who knows my preferences and love of low end torque suggested the 700 series.
I thought they might be a little too heavy but he sited the low center of gravity. They don't have any in stock so I'm looking forward to your assessment of the bike.
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.