Honda, customers have purchased more than 12,500 units with DCT since the technology was first made available on a production motorcycle with the VFR1200F in 2010.

The Japanese manufacturer now offers four models in Europe with optional DCT: the VFR1200F, the NC700X, the NC700S, and the Crosstourer. Honda also produces the Integra scooter (which shares the same platform as the NC models) but it is only available with DCT as standard. But for the models where Honda offers a choice, more and more consumers are choosing to go with the DCT system. Continue Reading »

The big news from Honda last week was the introduction of the new CTX700 and CTX700N cruisers. Flying a little under the radar however was a change to American Honda‘s pricing structure for the 2013 NC700X which sees a price increase for the base model but a price cut for combined anti-lock brakes and a dual clutch transmission

Honda introduced the NC700X last year at an impressively low price of $6999 for the base model and $8999 with ABS and DCT. The low price point was one key advantage we awarded the 2012 NC700X over the $7899 Kawasaki Versys in our recent Middleweight Multi-Tool Shootout.

For 2013 however, American Honda is increasing the NC700X’s price to $7499. That’s still less expensive than the 2013 Versys which also saw a price increase to $7999, but the difference is now $500 rather than the $900 gap last year. The NC700X is unchanged from last year, and Honda did not explain the reason for the price increase. One reason might be the addition of the CB500X to the lineup; American Honda has yet to announce a price for the CB500X, but some of the NC700X’s price increase may be to create a bigger price difference between Honda’s two adventure-style models. Continue Reading »

Honda pulled the covers off a new streetbike series aimed at younger, shorter riders. The Honda CTX700 represents the first in a new series from Honda combining the three tenets of Comfort, Technology and Experience. It’s a platform “specifically engineered to make motorcycling more approachable, affordable and fun than ever before.”

Our own Troy Siahaan is at the CTX700 models’ launch in Chicago and will have a full first-hand report next week, but for now here’s a quick look at Honda’s new streetbikes.

The Honda CTX700 and CTX700N are powered by the 670cc parallel-Twin engine introduced in the NC series and are available with Honda’s second-generation dual-clutch transmission (DCT) technology. DCT is standard on the 700N and optional on the NC700. Both will be available with ABS on the DCT versions, but not on the standard transmission models. Vertically challenged riders will appreciate the CTX’s low seat of just 28.3 inches.

The CTX700N (pictured above) is the naked version, sharing a similar front end as the NC700S. The CTX700 adds a fairing and windscreen to make it better equipped for longer trips. It’s somewhat reminiscent of the ill-fated DN-01 but looks, thankfully, more subdued.

Continue Reading »

Honda reported a 1.8% increase in motorcycle sales in the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2012, including a 13.2% increase in North America.

According to the company’s second quarter report for its 2012-2013 fiscal year, Honda sold 3.879 million motorcycles over those three months, up slightly from 3.811 million units from the same period last year. Unit sales were up in Asia and North America, though much of those gains were reduced by decreased sales in Europe, Japan and Brazil.

North American consumers scooped up 60,000 units in the quarter, an increase from 53,000 units in the same quarter last year. Honda attributes the increase to the introduction of the NC700X, the CRF250L and the Metropolitan scooter. Sales were down however for some models such as the Gold Wing as well as the Four Trax Rancher ATV. Continue Reading »

As we expected, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall on the 2012 Honda NC700X. The recall announcement comes a week after the NC700X and the NC700S were recalled in Canada.

As with the Transport Canada recall, the problem is a lack of proper heat treatment on the Honda NC700X’s  drive chain. The outer plates on some chains did not get the right heat treatment and, as a result, the plate may exceed its hardness limits and may fracture during use.

According to documents released by NHTSA, Honda received its first report of an NC700 model’s drive chain breaking on March 27 in Belgium. Honda sent the chain from the initial claim to supplier RK and in investigation was opened. Meanwhile, more reports came in to Honda’s subsidiaries in Germany, Spain, France and the U.K. Continue Reading »

Honda announced it is following up on its NC700 series with a new large-sized model, with sales expected to begin in North America in 2013. Honda first announced plans for its NC700 models in at the 2010 EICMA show with a concept it called the “New Mid“, so it really shouldn’t be a surprise Honda would follow it up with a “New Large” series.

The new models were announced in a presentation by Honda Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito alongside plans to develop a new MotoGP-derived sportbike. The larger NC models won’t be nearly as exotic as the new V4 sportbike, but more of an extension of the NC700 series’ philosophy of a practical, efficient motorcycle.

Like the NC700 series, Ito says the new models will be designed for daily commuting and weekend touring. Ito also says the new models will also offer low seat heights and “torqueful” engines with a focus on ease of handling and comfort with high stability in maneuvering. Continue Reading »

Transport Canada has announced a recall for the 2012 Honda NC700X and (Edit: the recall now includes the NC700S, which is also available in Canada). At this point, the recall is only for the X model and only in Canada, but a similar recall may come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the U.S.-spec Honda NC700X.

According to Transport Canada, the outer plates on the links of the drive chain may not have received proper heat treatment. As a result, the drive chain may break during use. Should this happen while the motorcycle is in motion, the motorcycle would suddenly lose drive force, potentially leading to a crash.

Honda Canada dealers will inspect the drive chains on NC700X units and, if necessary, replace the drive chains with ones that received the proper heat treatment. The Transport Canada recall affects 440 units. Continue Reading »

Honda reports a 12.5% increase in motorcycle sales over its first quarter ended June 30, 2012. The quarter represents a return to form following last year’s opening quarter which faced the financial fallout from last March’s earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.

The difference is most apparent when looking at the company’s bottom line. Honda reported a net income of 131.7 billion yen (US$1.69 billion) in the first quarter of 2012 compared to a net income of 31.7 billion reported for the same quarter of 2011.

Honda sold 3.91 million motorcycles (including 29,000 ATVs) over the first quarter, compared to only 3.48 million units in the quarter the previous year. Continue Reading »

There are no plans yet to bring either model to the U.S., but Honda is bringing its new NC700S and NC700X models to Canada for the summer of 2012. American Honda will however, likely be keeping a close eye on how the new models do with its northern neighbor (or perhaps “neighbour”) before deciding whether to import the NC700 models stateside.

Making their North American debuts at the 2011 Toronto Motorcycle Show, the naked standard NC700S and the more adventure-touring styled NC700X represent a new product family for Honda, sharing the same frame and 670cc parallel Twin engine with each other and the Honda Integra scooter-motorcycle crossover (speaking of which, there are no plans for the Integra to come to either the U.S. or Canada yet). Canadian pricing is still to be determined, but Honda tells us they are aiming for a sub-$9000 (Canadian) MSRP. Continue Reading »

American Honda has not included the recently revealed NC700S and NC700X models in its 2012 list of offerings, but it looks like the two motorcycles will be available in Canada.

Honda Canada has not made an official announcement but a dealership in Kelowna, B.C., has published a press release that appears to have come directly from Honda Canada saying the two models will be available in Canada in the summer of 2012.

(EDIT: Honda Canada has confirmed the NC700 models will be at the Toronto Motorcycle Show Dec. 9-11 for what will be the North American debut for the two models.)

Honda unveiled NC700S standard and NC700X adventure bike debuted earlier this month at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, but were absent from a list of 2012 models announced by American Honda. That doesn’t mean they won’t  still be announced at a later date however. Continue Reading »