Talk me out of it

Usmc1968

Usmc1968

Joined
Oct 18, 2024
Messages
10
Location
Maryland, USA
Bike
Looking 4 one
Howdy folks, possible new owner here. I have been out of riding for about 10 years after I sold my 2009 Connie and wanted to get back into it. I recently found the bike pictured. It comes with the regular panniers AND the, "Big lids". Also included 2 helmets with BT comms, heated handgrips, extra windshield, trickle charger and tire repair kit (CO2). Garage kept and in mint condition. About 14,500 miles. It needs new tires though.
Would this be a good bike to get back into riding? Mostly will be used for commuting around town, Runs to Lowes, etc. He is asking $2,900 US
Kinda seems like a no brainer but I am a little concerned about folks' comments on all the plastic being difficult to source in case of a drop or something as well as crappy latches on the saddle bags. I have also read comments on other forums from people stating they would not buy it again, hindsight being 20-20.

Thank you
NT700_1.jpg
 
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Your last bike was a Concours? The NT is going to feel incredibly anemic, like jumping on a Shadow 750. The only thing remotely sporty is the good handling.

Most black plastic with the exception of the instrument surround and inner luggage carcass is prone to sunbleaching. Lids require closing with utmost care.
 
NewTo700V said:
Your last bike was a Concours? The NT is going to feel incredibly anemic, like jumping on a Shadow 750. The only thing remotely sporty is the good handling.

Most black plastic with the exception of the instrument surround and inner luggage carcass is prone to sunbleaching. Lids require closing with utmost care.
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Well it has been 10 years since I sold the Concours and I have not gotten any younger :) so maybe a little tamer would be a good thing.
 
Dunno... my GF loves and rides her `07 NT700VA to bits... Feb till Nov... comfy, protected riding position, long distance ready stance, precise handling, excellent brakes, enough omph to outrun pretty much any car at a traffic light...
Best method to close the lids is to slightly lift them on the bottom edge while closing, then apply equal pressure on the center top edge and watch the release lever to pop back in (otherwise you won't be able to rotate & retrieve the key!)...
No issues yet, unless she gets hectic... like managing to bring one catch/hook into the closed position whilst the other remains open, hence the strikers won't lock in...
Grab a thin object (like an ignition key), flip the offending catch back to "open"... retry, click!
I shimmed the strikers with some nylon washers so the process won't require so much force anymore (in the OEM config you'd rather tip the bike over then getting the lids to lock... ;) )
Enforcing the mounting posts of strikers and stopper bands with some 5 minute epoxy is also advisable...
So is cleaning and lubing the cables plus kinematic under the seat with some non sticky stuff like silicone spray...
And yes, she dropped it a couple of times, mostly by herself, latest due getting rear ended by a cab... a few scratches, banged engine guard covers, scratched belly pan (aftermarket) nothing serious...
(except the broken tip of the front mudguard that she snapped off while rear ending my ST1100 at an intersection in Scotland... šŸ¤£ Sourced a replacement in France, the [combined ABS] stickers on eBay Germany, awaiting installation...)
 
ST1100Y said:
Dunno... my GF loves and rides her `07 NT700VA to bits... Feb till Nov... comfy, protected riding position, long distance ready stance, precise handling, excellent brakes, enough omph to outrun pretty much any car at a traffic light...
Best method to close the lids is to slightly lift them on the bottom edge while closing, then apply equal pressure on the center top edge and watch the release lever to pop back in (otherwise you won't be able to rotate & retrieve the key!)...
No issues yet, unless she gets hectic... like managing to bring one catch/hook into the closed position whilst the other remains open, hence the strikers won't lock in...
Grab a thin object (like an ignition key), flip the offending catch back to "open"... retry, click!
I shimmed the strikers with some nylon washers so the process won't require so much force anymore (in the OEM config you'd rather tip the bike over then getting the lids to lock... ;) )
Enforcing the mounting posts of strikers and stopper bands with some 5 minute epoxy is also advisable...
So is cleaning and lubing the cables plus kinematic under the seat with some non sticky stuff like silicone spray...
And yes, she dropped it a couple of times, mostly by herself, latest due getting rear ended by a cab... a few scratches, banged engine guard covers, scratched belly pan (aftermarket) nothing serious...
(except the broken tip of the front mudguard that she snapped off while rear ending my ST1100 at an intersection in Scotland... šŸ¤£ Sourced a replacement in France, the [combined ABS] stickers on eBay Germany, awaiting installation...
ST1100Y said:
Dunno... my GF loves and rides her `07 NT700VA to bits... Feb till Nov... comfy, protected riding position, long distance ready stance, precise handling, excellent brakes, enough omph to outrun pretty much any car at a traffic light...
Best method to close the lids is to slightly lift them on the bottom edge while closing, then apply equal pressure on the center top edge and watch the release lever to pop back in (otherwise you won't be able to rotate & retrieve the key!)...
No issues yet, unless she gets hectic... like managing to bring one catch/hook into the closed position whilst the other remains open, hence the strikers won't lock in...
Grab a thin object (like an ignition key), flip the offending catch back to "open"... retry, click!
I shimmed the strikers with some nylon washers so the process won't require so much force anymore (in the OEM config you'd rather tip the bike over then getting the lids to lock... ;) )
Enforcing the mounting posts of strikers and stopper bands with some 5 minute epoxy is also advisable...
So is cleaning and lubing the cables plus kinematic under the seat with some non sticky stuff like silicone spray...
And yes, she dropped it a couple of times, mostly by herself, latest due getting rear ended by a cab... a few scratches, banged engine guard covers, scratched belly pan (aftermarket) nothing serious...
(except the broken tip of the front mudguard that she snapped off while rear ending my ST1100 at an intersection in Scotland... šŸ¤£ Sourced a replacement in France, the [combined ABS] stickers on eBay Germany, awaiting installation...)
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Hope she was OK, thank you for the response.
 
Usmc1968 said:
so maybe a little tamer would be a good thing.
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A CTX1300 is a "little tamer". A NT might as well be a Honda Metropolitan compared to a Concours. All kidding aside, when I shop for bikes nowadays I'm looking in the neighborhood of 100hp for riding on public roads. I don't need to go 150, but I like overtakes to happen quick when needed.

You ask the NT to perform a pass, it's reply will be "Nnnnnnnnnn...come on.... Really? šŸ˜’"
 
Itā€™s a gr8 bike to have. I would call it a sleeper bike, i.e. people mis-judge its nimbleness and acceleration, my friends used to pull my leg calling it granddaddy bike due to the storage .... From 0 - 70 it is pretty good , 85 happens with a lil more effort , highest I have touched is 105 with throttle to spare.

It has enough space and with the top box it is awesome for grocery runs ... easy to park, ride etc...

very easy in traffic ... you wonā€™t cut lanes due to the panniers, but very easy to ride ..

Gear shifting is easy, you can use sneakers too and your toes will be fine ... and the best part is the gr8 mileage 55+ typically ...

The seat is wide and very comfy.

Maintenance needs are fewer and easy to do.

NOTE: few years down the line, now most of my friends have boxes bigger than mine on their bikes.. so, the jokes on them ...

I would say get it, most probably you will enjoy it .... I have been thinking of selling mine for quite some time, but every time I ride my NT, that thought goes out of the window ...

Only negative is that there is a very limited market for re-sale as not many peoepl are aware of thsi bike or how good it is. Its like a mini-goldwing.
 
Sunny said:
Itā€™s a gr8 bike to have. I would call it a sleeper bike, i.e. people mis-judge its nimbleness and acceleration, my friends used to pull my leg calling it granddaddy bike due to the storage .... From 0 - 70 it is pretty good , 85 happens with a lil more effort , highest I have touched is 105 with throttle to spare.

It has enough space and with the top box it is awesome for grocery runs ... easy to park, ride etc...

very easy in traffic ... you wonā€™t cut lanes due to the panniers, but very easy to ride ..

Gear shifting is easy, you can use sneakers too and your toes will be fine ... and the best part is the gr8 mileage 55+ typically ...

The seat is wide and very comfy.

Maintenance needs are fewer and easy to do.

NOTE: few years down the line, now most of my friends have boxes bigger than mine on their bikes.. so, the jokes on them ...

I would say get it, most probably you will enjoy it .... I have been thinking of selling mine for quite some time, but every time I ride my NT, that thought goes out of the window ...

Only negative is that there is a very limited market for re-sale as not many peoepl are aware of thsi bike or how good it is. Its like a mini-goldw
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Thank you. That, "grandaddy" comment is funny. When I first bought my old 7.3- F250 Diesel it came with a cap that is tall and goes above the roofline. Folks made fun saying, "old man truck", but they were the first ones to ask to borrow it because they had tall items to move and had increased covered cargo capacity, lol.
 
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I will respectfully disagree with those who feel the NT's performance is anemic. IMHO, it is pleasantly peppy. It will cruise all day long at 85mph and normal passing only requires rolling on the throttle. I have about 140K miles on my NT (Traveller) and have enjoyed every mile. The plastic woes are a PITA but it is still a wonderful bike to own and ride.

Mike
 
I agree with mikesim! I recently sold off my Honda Sabre 700. That puppy would get up and go! I am not all let down by the performance of this NT700. I've been behind slow pokes a couple of times and the bike accelerated from 60 mph to 85 mph by the time I was around the car. It sings at 65-70 mph. Very fun, stable ride.
 
For that price I don't see how you could get hurt even if you hate it and resell it. You should be able to get $2000 for it all day/ every day.

The NT was a great commuter bike for me and it still has a place for pleasure rides. With the big lids and Honda top box even Costco runs are possible. They even sell straps, so nothing is too big!

My NT has been dropped after hitting a deer. The left big lid was cracked I epoxied the cracks and still use it. The scratches are a reminder to stay alert. All that and my latches still work fine, just be gentle.

All the weather protection keeps me riding an extra couple months every year, so that's a big plus. It's sorta my truck of motorcycles, comfortable to sit in/on and ride, hauls plenty.

I don't know if it will give you the thrill of a high performance m'cycle, but it's more fun than a car.
 
NewTo700V said:
No it's not. I'm speaking from an ergonomic standpoint here. The CTX1300 is the "mini-goldwing". The NT is a mini-ST1300 on Benzos.
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Well it a personal perspective ... My GW is powerful, smooth and very comfy ... eats miles without any issue and can keep up with my friends gixers and rocket ... NT on the other hand is much more flickable, a tad more fun, and still pretty comfortable.

Both have loads of storage, weather protection, reliable, smooth engines, good mileage...

But yes NT does look like a mini ST1300
 
Sunny said:
But yes NT does look like a mini ST1300
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Looks yes, but more importantly is riding position which is why I said ergonomics.

Head over to cycle-ergo.com

Pull up the NT700, ST1300, Goldwing, and CTX1300. Riding position on NT and ST is near identical. CTX is much closer to Goldwing riding posture.
 
In 2010 I had ridden two C10 Concours a total of 165K when I decided they were getting too heavy for me. I was 67 and had had 3 total knee replacements. I was aware of the NT700V and had even seen and sat on a 2008 Deauville in Germany. I started looking and found a good deal on an NT and bought it in March of 2010. When I picked it up, I was 80 miles from home and for about the first 30 miles, I thought I might have made a mistake. But by the time I got to the house, I was pretty sure it was going to work OK.

I was right. I made several additions and changes: big lids, driving lights, cruise control, top box, Russell Day-Long saddle. I retired on '13 and did my "Epic Post-Retirement Ride to Alaska, the Four Corners of the US, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador." 80 days and 21K miles. The bike worked fine for that and everything else I've done with it. I did have two final drive units replaced at no cost to me after Honda techs neglected to lube the splines.

I rode my 1st NT 139K miles before trading for one that was 16 serial numbers older that only had 22K miles in 2020. I havent ridden that bike as much because my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimers and then died of it about a year ago. I'm 81 now and have had six knee replacements. I'm still hoping to get back on the bike, but don't know if I'll do it or not.

Both of my bikes were lowered and that made them easier to ride, but I can't get the bike onto the centerstand now.

Finally Almost Done.jpg

This is #2. As you can see, it's also got gaiters (from a '13 Triumph Bonneville), and the OEM undercowl. You can't see that it's got all LED lights, an McCruise electrically actuated cruise control, heated grips, and that the saddle is a Russell Sport Saddle.

I'v ridden my NTs in temps from 13F-113F. My fuel consumption checked by actual consumption not the avg indicated by the bike, has been about 48. Riding on Interstates out here in the west, I've cruised at 80-90mph to keep up with traffic. I've been comfortable and haven't missed the extra acceleration of the Concours (well, not too much or too often).
 
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Thank you all for your comments / suggestions / advice. I hesitated too long researching and it was sold :-( I will keep this advice and continue my search for another Unicorn! Safe riding
 
Usmc1968 said:
Thank you all for your comments / suggestions / advice. I hesitated too long researching and it was sold :-( I will keep this advice and continue my search for another Unicorn! Safe riding
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Semper Fi!

Mike
 
Usmc1968 said:
Well it has been 10 years since I sold the Concours and I have not gotten any younger :) so maybe a little tamer would be a good thing.
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MANY of us had concours....dont worry about it. Phil and I and Jungle jim had them and loved them and wouldnt pay a nickel to have them back.
 
Usmc1968 said:
Thank you all for your comments / suggestions / advice. I hesitated too long researching and it was sold :-( I will keep this advice and continue my search for another Unicorn! Safe riding
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Yeah, thats a tough one...it has happened to me with guns.....he who hesitates is lost.
 
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