New 2012 Honda NC700X 700cc Parallel Twin!

[PacificPT]

My bike is the white KLR. The Honda belongs to one of my employees. The Honda is his first bike, he is now using it to commute, saving a ton of money in gas as his other vehicle is a 4 wheel drive P/U.

[dduelin]

Originally Posted by ridewv

Sure riders can deal with it. Nevertheless Honda did make a silly mistake hiding the gas cap under the seat, rather than positioning on the right side. Don't you think?

Honda designed the tank to meet their own standard of crashworthiness which required metal construction instead of plastic and a secure cap with the entire tank inside of the frame. Similar under seat plastic tanks have sponsons that protrude outside of the perimeter of the frame and have plastic gas fills that are the first thing to take a hit in a crash or a fall on that side. This design did not meet Honda's standard. It is what it is. No bike is perfect.

Speaking of silly mistakes manufacturers make ...... what do you think of the plastic quick disconnects for the fuel lines on your GS? Nothing like a $20,000 bike filling your boot with gas while riding down the road. Replace yours yet?

[turbodieseli4i6]

Originally Posted by dduelin;20317324[B

]Honda designed the tank to meet their own standard of crashworthiness which required metal construction[/B] instead of plastic and a secure cap with the entire tank inside of the frame. Similar under seat plastic tanks have sponsons that protrude outside of the perimeter of the frame and have plastic gas fills that are the first thing to take a hit in a crash or a fall on that side. This design did not meet Honda's standard. It is what it is. No bike is perfect.

Speaking of silly mistakes manufacturers make ...... what do you think of the plastic quick disconnects for the fuel lines on your GS? Nothing like a $20,000 bike filling your boot with gas while riding down the road. Replace yours yet?

I thought I wouldn't like the tank under the seat, but now I like it a lot. No one has access to my tank unless they have a key.

[JustKip]

Originally Posted by dduelin

Somehow I knew you didn't really want to discuss how owners solve how to strap a dry bag across the seat.

Um...No. that was a serious question. At the show in Long Beach there were quite a few people who wanted to see under the seat, but no key available.
I'm wondering; Did you "know" this in the same way you know about "a fussy gas filler on the GS"? I ride up to the pump, take the key from the ignition and put it in the tank lock and turn. Then take the card from my sleeve pocket and slide it, and pump gas, unless I dismount, start the pump and walk into the minimart. Doesn't everybody on a modern bike do it that way? Oh! That's right. You have to get off the bike and take it apart. Sorry.

Originally Posted by turbodieseli4i6

I thought I wouldn't like the tank under the seat, but now I like it a lot. No one has access to my tank unless they have a key.

Um...most modern bikes have a locking tank. I don't think hiding the filler cap under the seat was a good idea at all, but it's the ideal location for centralizing mass. It makes the bike feel lighter and helps it corner better. I just struggle with the idea of digging for it. Is that pillion seat required to protect anything from the weather, or can you "loose it"?

[ridewv]

Originally Posted by dduelin

Honda designed the tank to meet their own standard of crashworthiness which required metal construction instead of plastic and a secure cap with the entire tank inside of the frame..............

Speaking of silly mistakes manufacturers make ...... what do you think of the plastic quick disconnects for the fuel lines on your GS? Nothing like a $20,000 bike filling your boot with gas while riding down the road. Replace yours yet?

Honda for crashworthinness is now insisting all their gas tanks will now be made from metal and located inside a frame? Are you sure about that? Their all new 2013 CRF250L doesn’t.





Thanks for the heads up (I’m serious). I didn’t realize my 2009 GS1200 had plastic quick disconnects that are problematic? I’ve not had any leaks, but I’ll look in to it.

[oldenuf]

I think if you find something you really don't like about the NC700X almost all of the owners think that is fine. To try and convince owners to agree with you just doesn't make sense. There is a forum of owners that you can google and look through to get some ideas about the issues they are having with the NC. Typically the big grips are the usual, seat, wind protection, just like every machine. Some think it buzzes and vibrates to much.

Art

[dduelin]

Originally Posted by ridewv

Honda for crashworthinness is now insisting all their gas tanks will now be made from metal and located inside a frame? Are you sure about that? Their all new 2013 CRF250L doesn’t.





Thanks for the heads up (I’m serious). I didn’t realize my 2009 GS1200 had plastic quick disconnects that are problematic? I’ve not had any leaks, but I’ll look in to it.

I did not say that at all. I said for the NC700 Honda designed the tank for crashworthiness.

[dduelin]

Originally Posted by JustKip

I'm wondering; Did you "know" this in the same way you know about "a fussy gas filler on the GS"?

I know it because my closest riding partner has a 2005 GS like yours. We have ridden many miles on many trips together. The fill or neck of the tank is such that fuel bubbles or spills out if you don't hold the nozzle at the right angle with the correct velocity of fill. You don't just open the fill and pump - that would be too easy. I have waited for him enough times to know. I am also a member of a BMWMOA club with 300+ members and have ridden thousands of miles with fellow BMW owners. We talk like all owners do.

[Davidc83]

Originally Posted by ridewv

Honda for crashworthinness is now insisting all their gas tanks will now be made from metal and located inside a frame? Are you sure about that? Their all new 2013 CRF250L doesn’t.





Thanks for the heads up (I’m serious). I didn’t realize my 2009 GS1200 had plastic quick disconnects that are problematic? I’ve not had any leaks, but I’ll look in to it.

I have an 07 Suzuki C50 which has quick disconnects for the big gas tank, and I love them. Trying to hold up that rhino gas tank and trying to loosen gas lines would be a PITA. By the way, the bike has 58,000+ miles on it (bought new with 1 mile on the odo) with 0 problems from the quick disconnects.

[gqelements]

.... so has anyone figured how to put a set of solid USD forks on this bike yet, or are we all busy deflecting complaints about gas caps and 'weenie bike' insults?

Really hoping someone figures the fork swap over the winter so I could pick up one of these for the '13 riding season....

[ridewv]

Originally Posted by dduelin

I know it because my closest riding partner has a 2005 GS like yours. We have ridden many miles on many trips together. The fill or neck of the tank is such that fuel bubbles or spills out if you don't hold the nozzle at the right angle with the correct velocity of fill. ....

You're right, a PIA it was. If I'm recalling correctly it is a plastic "restrictor" at the neck in the opening that if you remove makes it much easier to fill. It's probably there to keep the tank from being overfilled on US spec'd bikes with the charcoal evap canister.

[rowbear2]

not only do have watch the quick disconnects . the plastic plate that
holds the fuel pump in the tanks also leak . how do i know had both
break and leaked on my r1200r . you need to watch the bmw forums
closer .

[dduelin]

Originally Posted by JustKip

Um...most modern bikes have a locking tank. I don't think hiding the filler cap under the seat was a good idea at all, but it's the ideal location for centralizing mass. It makes the bike feel lighter and helps it corner better. I just struggle with the idea of digging for it. Is that pillion seat required to protect anything from the weather, or can you "loose it"?

Look here, I don't like the direction I took this thread and I don't feel good about it. Please accept my apology for any snide insults I sent your way. I hope you find the right bikes for your South America trip and we should all be so lucky to have a girlfriend or wife that rides and has such an interest in wheeled conveyances in general.

If I can, let me show you what the tank fill looks like. The seat is hinged at the rear and has a prop rod that falls into place when the seat is unlocked and lifted. I don't judge the hinge and rod to be strong enough to leave my dry bag strapped to it and still lift and prop the seat. By having the entire tank between the subframe tubes the haunches of the bike are very slim. The F and G series BMW's are not at all bulky in this area but with the two bikes side by side the size difference is very apparent.

For someone that wanted to do it would not be a stretch to fabricate another fill off to the side or something and build a flat rack in place of the seat. The area under the seat is not waterproofed by the seat itself but the pillion seat does provide some weather protection. About 2500 of my 8000+ miles on the NC on what I call regional tours where I ride one day about 400-450 miles to get to the mountains three states away so the dry bag is on the seat just for the ride up and back. About two gas stops is all. All the rest of the time there is no reason to have anything on the seat.

[100mpg]

so....you make less then your employees? or you just like to spend less!

Originally Posted by PacificPT

My bike is the white KLR. The Honda belongs to one of my employees. The Honda is his first bike, he is now using it to commute, saving a ton of money in gas as his other vehicle is a 4 wheel drive P/U.

[Bugz]

Originally Posted by 100mpg

so....you make less then your employees? or you just like to spend less!

Wealth is defined by what you need, not wat you have isn't it?