Modern Vespa

I test rode a Honda NC750 DCT last Saturday and it was a disappointment, the ergonomics didn't suit me at all and I was hoping for a back brake lever on the bars.

I saw the Honda X-ADV750 in the dealership and had a sit on it and decided that would be much more up my street as a two up touring machine.

Hopefully get a test ride at Motorcycle World in Northampton this weekend.

The Hodna NC 750 DCT is probably one of the dullest bikes ever built.

Best avoided.

However, my Crossrunner got sworn at this morning as it's week old battery was already dead.

Another new battery and we're away.

Honda have history in producing dull bikes, my mate had a Deauville and its reputation at being renamed Honda Dullville was well earned.


Like a lot of people without any originality, he chopped it in for a BMW GS

Have you ever ridden a GS ?

Nope, only BMW I've had is a F800 ST

Most of my bike riding pals now have the big GS so I suppose they must be good if they're so popular.

I'll be the first to admit that many a GS isn't ever used to its full potential but there's a reason that it's been the top selling Adventure Bike for years.

I don't think it's a case of lacking any amount of originality.

It's purely a pragmatic decision.

This is a very anonymous but oddly quirky bike to ride.

It's so easy to pilot compared to the 1200 RT which feels like a Supertanker.

I appreciate that no one really cares but the Crossrunner is a curious bike.

Its as if Honda had made too many VFR800's and needed to get rid of the chassis so they put some less sporty body work on it and called it something else to clear the shelves.

It does most things very well. The throttle is light, the gearbox is a peach and its engine delivers loads of grumbly torque low down but revs freely higher up when needed, because of the V - Tech thingy.

Because of how light and compliant the bike feels you tend to ride it with less reverence than the BMW and so you tend to end up riding it faster so overtakes are more frequent and brake distances, by default, become shorter.

The thing that prevents you from going faster is it's awful screen which doesn't really deflect the air but just mangles towards your helmet causing too much buffeting for comfort.

The seat is quite shallow so I'm not sure how useful it's going to be for any long distance riding and the fairing barely directs the airflow away from your legs, but it's easy to ride and if I treat it well it will probably last me forever as it's only done 31k.

However there is an issue.

It doesn't inspire. It doesn't generate any real desire to ride it because it doesn't really have a character and I think that's because it was designed as an afterthought rather than a specific genre like a Sports Bike.

It's also a Honda of course:-)

In many ways it reminds me of the Kawasaki KLV I used to have which was bulletproof but ultimately a passion free utensil.

Sounds like the perfect bike for practically no one.

Which of course is standard as there is no perfect bike.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is meant by 'SKOK'???

Before rolling your eyes and shaking your head, remember, I'm something of a backwoods doofus.

Thank y'all kindly.

Poke at this thread. It's a bit of an inside joke among those in the know.

I am not in the know, but having the full club title and a bit of reference, draw your own conclusions.

I think that every bike is aimed at someone but this Honda seems to be an after thought to produce a Touring version of a Sports Bike while not making too many changes or spending that much money on modifications.

Joking apart, I kind of like it and when the brakes are bled next week I'll probably have a bit more trust in it.

Some bikes play all the right notes—but not necessarily in the right order.

Yeah, it's just one of those bikes that I think they could have thought more about.

The good news is that it isn't ugly or ungainly.

The Crossrunner has had its front brakes re-bled, so I trust it a whole lot more now.

In other news my local Independent Dealer is talking about selling Qianjaing Motorcycles who own Benelli and are both part of the Geeley Group.

QJ Motor are the largest motorcycle manufacturer in China they say.

You won't see me dead on one. Just sayin.

Not sure where to post this so I'll put it here -

Edit - needs to be shared about methinks

Very fair.

They still hate us though.

If that was always the case, your 'adoption' would consist of..

Hang back
Give them space
Protect their bubble
Attempt to engage them in small talk

Hey, if you want to prevent people talking to you, go and buy a Honda.

Works like a charm.

amen to that..

I have never experienced another person coming up to me and saying

'hey, I see you have the new Honda Jazz'

You're parking outside the wrong bars.

Ha, The Honda Jazz really has become the retirement vehicle of choice.

Talking of Honda, there's a 1995 Pacific Coast with 59,000 miles on it just 15 miles from me for just over £1300.

Just sayin.

I saw the PC 800 a couple of days ago.

Sadly it was a sack of shit.

Moving on.

What a bloody awful day for weather in the UK.

Just sayin.

It will get worse before it gets better, both short term and long term.

6 Degrees today. Nice.

New tyres and pads today.

Whitewalls?

Currently unavailable.

Had to settle for Savas instead.

I quite enjoyed watching Antony Joshua break Jake Paul's jaw after the farce that was the Mike Tyson fight.

Certainly a better watch than the Cricket that's for sure.

That's two things to laugh about this weekend.

Is there any better feeling than having a new set of tyres fitted on your motorcycle and then appreciating just how small the contact patch has become on the way home ?

I do like the way that this bike now feels liberated after those tired old Bridgestones.

Dunlops this time.

I tend to stay loyal to Metzeler after they gave me a free set to try out on my old Street Triple.

I tend not to take bribes.

Michelin and Bridgestones work really well on the BMW's but they felt dead on the Honda.

I appreciate that Dunlops are a bit of a gamble but in for a penny.

However they turn out they'll be better than Avons that don't flex and they don't warm up either.

Nothing beats City Grips on a scooter. I don't know how they do it.

How do new tyres change the contact patch size?

Old tyres have a larger contact patch because the tyre's profile or tread, has worn down.

The depth of the tread has worn away so there's more rubber making contact with the road.

When a tyre is new there's more tread and therefore less of a contact patch.

This is why your steering feels light when you fit new tyres.

I remember an Ex Girlfriend having Metzellers fitted to her GT and she said it was like riding on a knife edge because the profile was so pointy.

Great for the curves, twitchy in straight line running, horrible on tarmac with lots of patches.

If memory serves I think that it was a Metzeler K61.

White lines also sent it squirreling around.

There's a misconception that the more rubber you have touching the road the more grip you have but unless it's a racing tyre (which is as sticky as hell as it will only last an hour ) it's not true.

Sure there are some sticky road tyres out there with large contact patches that have very few channels for the water but I'd much rather have a tyre that worked on both wet and dry roads.

Also new tyres can be lethal until they have scrubbed in properly so try to prevent loading them in any way until the "sheen" has worn off.

It's also worth noting that a bike with new tyres will run a little bit higher than before, albeit only by a few mm's