It was a let down.
I rather spend money on a new KLR650 and still have money left for luggage.
Just me 2012 KLR
I know their not the same kind of bike but I dont need a heavy commuter and I dont see it as a weekend fast bike andthe off road use does not look all that good due to weight/HP issues.
Maybe a long range commuter bike Ok.. I will give you that but I rather try to do more with less. just me.
__________________
Learning how to go fast is more important to me then doing it. That is why I ride a cbr250r.
I ride 95% in a city (Philadelphia). When I moved to Philly, I sold my Harley and went to a scooter. It was a mistake- way to weak. So I stepped up to a PCX which was an absolute blast! But After 1.5 years, I wanted more so I ditched the scooter idea and bought the CBR250 because it weighs nothing. But the reality is that for city riding, I really don't want a manual transmission. I know- bring on the laughter. But 1st 2nd 1st 2nd UCH! When I saw the nc700x, I was impressed but its not my style. Then I saw then nc700s! Unfortunately it's not available in the states. But when it is, or when Honda puts the DCT on the 250, I'm sold!
From the economic point of view, you can't beat spending $4000 on a bike that gets 70-80 MPG.
Cheers,
Financially speaking you can do a lot better than buying a brand new $5000 bike with all it's premiums by buying a $1500 used Ninja, You'll get the same relative performance, a little less mileage but the difference of $3500 ( OTD cost is more likely $5000 on the CBR) will pay for your gas for the next 8 years.
Last edited by Goyble; 10-13-2012 at 11:00 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to Goyble For This Useful Post:
Good comments highflyer, Jme250RA, doctor, r100, Bullseye, MotoMike, Michael, george c, Hooplah, mototorq, Top, Luke, and others with these thoughts.
Do you choose a Toyota Yaris with the intention to upgrade later for a Lexus? Most people don’t! A CBR250R, CBR600F, CBR600RR, or a Fireblade, just to stick with the same brand, are different motorcycles. Everyone has it’s ad- and disadvantages. The main thing is: you have to know what you want and so decide for a bike. My last motorcycle was a V-Strom 650, a good bike, but for my requirements the CBR250R is better. Now I have two bikes, the CBR250R and a SV650S, bought the second one to make some driving tests. In some months I will decide which to keep. To 95 % I will choose the CBR250R. By now the CBR250R seems to be the best motorcycle on the market, for me of course. This summer I will also test the NC700S, CBR500R, Gladius and ER6F. I suppose they won’t be compatible to the CBR250R, but let’s wait until the tests and comparisons will be finished.
Ride safe!
Last edited by PAUL the MOTORCYCLIST; 01-04-2013 at 09:04 PM.
It was a let down.
I rather spend money on a new KLR650 and still have money left for luggage.
Just me 2012 KLR
I know their not the same kind of bike but I dont need a heavy commuter and I dont see it as a weekend fast bike andthe off road use does not look all that good due to weight/HP issues.
Maybe a long range commuter bike Ok.. I will give you that but I rather try to do more with less. just me.
AND thats what I did !!! Don't get me wrong I am a Honda guy through and through !!! But looked at the NC700....liked some stuff ....didn't other stuff!! Honda is trying to sell it as an adventure bike ....really ?? To me its more 75%-on-road and 25% off road, if that !! The newer Cb500x is really in the same boat.....but maybe a bit better because of the more traditional motor set-up !! Both bikes would be good for traveling and SOME gravel roads (maybe)!!
I wanted something abit more than that !!!! More 60%-on road... 40% offroad or even 50/50 !!! What does Honda have ?? I wanted something in addition to my CBR (cause I love that crazy bike) so what do I do ???
Well a buddy bought a KLR in the fall, he put 700 kms on it before STUPID WINTER came !!! He loved every mile and loved that he could go down ANY road he wished !! So after alot of research and thought ......I just bought one (Dec. 31)...a new 2011 KLR. Black and silver !! Just like my CBR !!! It's my first Kawasaki...so we will see how I like it ???
But we have winter for at least another 3 months !!!! (Maybe I am stupid). Pretty furustrating .....2 cool bikes and 3 ft of snow !!!!!!
Advantages and disadvantages of the NC700 compared to the CBR250R
Advantages and disadvantages of the NC700 compared to the CBR250R
I write about the NC700S and the NC700X.
Advantages:
- More power and torque
- Boot in the place where usually the reservoir is
Disadvantages:
- more expensive then the CBR250R, but still a very cheap bike compared to other bikes with about 600 cc
- you pay more tax, in Germany the tax payment depends on the size of the engine, the bigger the engine, the more you pay
- you pay more insurance, in Germany the payment for the insurance depends on the power of the motorcycle, the more kW a bicycle has, the more you pay for it
- the NC700 is a very economic bike compared to others, but it needs about half a liter more on 100 km then the CBR250R does
- The reservoir is under the back seat; many people who travel have their luggage mounted on the back seat, me too. And it must be really annoying to unmount and again mount your luggage every time you want to fill up. On a longer trip you will have to do it 2 to 4 times a day, depends on how far you drive.
- the intervals of adjusting the valve clearance: on the CBR250R you have to do it every 24.000 km on the NC700 every 12.000 km, so you have to do it twice as common as on the cbr250r, or you go to a garage and pay after 24.000 km twice as much for the NC700 as for the CBR250R. (But: the valve clearance on a NC700 is adjusted by screws, on a CBR250R by shims. It is a little bit easier to do it with screws and you don't have to interrupt your work and buy other shims to replace the old ones, if some shims have to be changed.)
- Wind protection: the wind protection on the NC700X is not so good a on the CBR250R, the NC700S has almost no wind protection, the small windscreen protects only the dashboard. Driving on longer trips can be uncomfortable without wind protection. (But there is also a small advantage on the NC700 according the wind protection: if you want do work on your bike it is sometimes easier and faster, because you don’t have to put off all the fairings.) You can buy a bigger windscreen for a NC700, which will protect the upper part of your body.
- the boot, the place where the reservoir generally is, is made from plastic, so you can’t mount a magnet tank rucksack on it. Of course you can use the place inside the boot, this will be about 25 liters, but in a big tank rucksack you get about 40 liters. If you don’t take a magnet tank rucksack and choose one with belts you can have the same as I described with the luggage on the back seat. It is annoying to mount and unmount this belts, when you want to open the boot. At least you will have to mount an unmount this belt when you start and when you finish your daily trip, if you don’t want the tank rucksack to be stolen or damaged while parking it in a public place.
- the weight: the NC700 weights about 215 kg, the CBR250R 165 kg, you won’t recognize this difference while driving, but if you have to push the bike, for example while parking, it definitely makes a difference. The V-Strom 650 has almost the same weight as the NC700 and I am really glad to push the ca. 50 kg less. It is not so important if your are a hobby rider and use the bike occasionally, but when you use it ever day, especially a lot in town it is definitely better to have a light motorcycle.
BUT: both bikes are VERY GOOD! Just try a NC700, maybe you can first rent it (form a dealer) and try if it fits your demands. A running test for about half an hour, for which you often get a bike from a dealer for free, is to less for me to get a funded opinion of it, but it can be a first impression.
Whatever motorcycle you will use,
Drive safe!
Last edited by PAUL the MOTORCYCLIST; 01-07-2013 at 07:52 AM.
The nc700x was dead square in my sites until the recent announcement of the cb500 triplets. now I am actually down to just the CBR250R or the cb500f, come tax time next month i will decide.
The height is the least of the issues. It's over priced, heavy, and although pocesses more oomph than the 250, IMO it is not worth it. A 600rr is a good 50 lbs lighter, better balanced, similar seat height as the 700; in which case a lowering kit can fix that issue; and way more torque and fun factor. Not too mention the bike is ugly
I've got one and it is not too heavy I don't think.
Price was right.
The balancing on the 700x is near as balanced as a bike can get.
Slanted engine, gas under the seat.....
The 700x has tons of torque.
I've gotten plenty of compliments on it and never did anyone say
it is ugly.
The only negative I would say is the rev limiter. Takes "some" fun out but it is not that kind of bike. I am liking it just fine.
1989 Honda NX250
2009 Honda CRF230L
It's my first Kawasaki...so we will see how I like it ??? 
