X with NC
700, Honda introduced a very special way to glimpse the trail
mid-displacement, economic rational … But what is the strategy address
the tenors, more conventional, category? First game here against the
V-Strom DL650 2012, before an upcoming duel to read very soon. Action!
Honda NC 700 X vs Suzuki DL650 V-Strom: The comparative
The arrival of the new
Honda NC 700 X
Will it revolutionize the category of mid-displacement trails? It’s
possible. This bike comes with also a step ahead if we take into account
its relevance to the future reform of the European who helped set a
limit to 35 kilowatts for beginners Category A2 from January 2013. The
NC700X opens the opportunity for a brand new engine block, which relies
on arguments unusual for the genre motorcyclist design taking into
account the reform of the permit, ultra low average fuel consumption,
driveability, accreditation-like current; performance general, often
rely forward in all arguments, then move into the background.
Orientation “motomaubile” would it intended to appeal especially …
“motomobilistes” or bikers as motorists? So, failing to find him a true
rival front that does not exist yet, we have chosen to oppose the Honda
NC700X neither more nor less than the reference time in mid-displacement
road trails: the new
Suzuki DL650 V-Strom 2012.
Ergonomics between the crossover from Honda is just
Honda NC 700 X is a motorcycle called
“cross over“
by Honda at the crossroads so. It resembles in some ways a trail, a
road by other … and it is verified once on board. With 830 mm seat
height to the shape cleverly worked, the new Honda Trail consumer proves
far more accessible than the 2012
Suzuki DL650,
which itself rises to just over 5 mm. The gap seems therefore once
installed. Honda gives pride to the relaxed, low footpegs, narrow
generally handle very high. The Suzuki has an equally relaxed
ergonomics, but the legs are more bent and the feeling of being away
from the direction betrays his older design, more voluminous.
The first laps are not less instructive: first, the more compact size,
the large handlebars, ultra easy direction, are of a Honda motorcycle
extremely intuitive. You’ll notice that it’s usually the sort of home,
but this facility fully meets the ambitions of the NC 700 X to apply to
“first-time buyers“.
If Suzuki can also be the first large displacement of many beginners,
its height and his size does not necessarily make a bike easier.
The City facilitates NC700X
After a few urban developments, we quickly notice that Honda was made to walk the boulevards: it shines even better than the
Suzuki DL650
V-Strom and has orders for greater sweetness. He was awarded 20/20 for
the city then? No, not quite. Firstly because the gearbox Honda does not
compete with the best of its kind – the Suzuki is then almost level on
this point – but also because its brand new engine, announced as very
docile at low revs, no ultimately proves no more flexible than the
excellent V-twin Suzuki.
650 on the DL, you can drive in the third city in almost no change of
speed, even by taking up to 2 000 r / min. While the Honda barely drop
below 2500 r / min without hitting … A highlight for this architecture
to 270 ° generally praised for its high mechanical flexibility (see
Yamaha TDM 900, the Triumph Bonneville). Nevertheless, between the
docility and the roundness of its engine, its ease of driving, his
helmet in the wrong tank
(great and certainly focusing on the long run!), The Honda does not lack for argument unless the appeal most of us everyday.
Suzuki expands on the road
In town or at the usual times on peri-urban highways,
Honda NC 700 X
shows so at ease. The throttle response is more immediate and it does
not feel like riding a motorized in spite of its power of only 47.5
horsepower
(to 670 cm3).
However, accelerating the interim reports, you find yourself quickly
reach the rev limiter … which makes the motorcycle jump to 6500 rev /
min! Then comes the moment
“to confront“
a hostile slope on the A4 just steps from Reims. With the headwind, the
Honda NC700 X then shows some difficulties in increasing the pace …
Suzuki DL650
V-Strom does not have this restraint and immediately made the cannons
and the extension very expressive of its 69 horses to more than 8500 r /
min … Unsurprisingly finally, there is a real gap between the two
trails of the same capacity, even during testing times. Whatever the
report and speed – even with the DL 650 in the sixth and fifth in NC700
X- Suzuki forget the Honda.
Honda changes your behavior
However, if one recalls the pleasure of driving – and is it not
important today? – The Honda is not dropped. The engine responds quickly
to commands and this, on occasions the county are far from being
ridiculous, cross just 4000 r / min to 130 km / h is a real pleasure
riding the serene NC 700 X. Simply, the engine requires a manual that
departs from the conventional schemes. We must shift gears quickly
enough because the extension is limited, and use the flexibility to
adjust its pace to better-looking legal … and finally common. We
discover a twin and then filled enough reagent. Certainly, next
accreditation, Suzuki and his “old” engine whose base was in 2002, arose
there.
Flexibility, torque, longer angry, few blows, obviously, this engine proves just as effective, even in 2012!
More roadster than trail, the X
Particular it is true for driving, the Honda does not require any
re-learning so far. With a low center of gravity, a pair of 17 inch
wheels like any roadster, road pavement tires Bridgestone BT 23, the NC
700 X reveals an excellent dynamic behavior: heading hold large curved
stability of the angle, neutrality in the great sinuous, she gives a
smile as soon as triangular panels announcing turns emerge. On the
efficiency of the cycle part, she did better than the Suzuki and it was
not a foregone conclusion given the potential of DL650. This requires
more involvement in the changes of direction and is less rigid when it
triggers a late shift. Rest assured, the
Suzuki DL650 V-Strom 2012 is none the less a piece of choice in the winding. We would like to find the best Suzuki gums series
(Bridgestone Trail Wing) or braking at the Honda
(despite
its single disc front brake while ABS Honda is more transparent,
resulting in very rare rebounds in the brake pedal for example).
But once again the Suzuki’s delay in step motorway over 170 km in one
go thanks to the comfort saddle and suspension, and his royal
protection.
Is it still trails … or something else?
Aboard the Honda NC 700 X and Suzuki DL650 V-Strom we could not
prevent us to draw straight into the campaign at the right time, just to
check if the appellation trail, with ergonomics that can drive up (that
are not enduro either, no exaggeration), was still valid … But a very
bold ground is quick to give us ideas in place. Once the sculptures of
his tires filled with mud trails, the Suzuki DL650 does almost no
advantage apart from a suitable ground clearance … And it will end flat
in the mud, probably too high for your servant. Certainly, these bikes
can walk paths rolling, but little else. The functionality of the trails
is a distant memory, these bikes are actually more comfortable on road.
Conclusion: Accreditation daily, price, performance, difficult to decide
The first match, which calls another (next week) … allowed us to
better understand the new Honda NC 700 X in a real context. Designed
primarily to meet the demands and needs of new customers from 2013
(because European license), it has something to finally look more
broadly. Taking into account its current accreditation-like, its easy to
drive, its consumption, its ingenious helmet, its very good handling,
the NC700 X has enough to meet the needs of more particularly those that
count. Displayed to € 6,490 with ABS as standard, this should leave
something to equip it with a bubble high to approach the comfort
provided by the Suzuki DL650 V Strom costing her € 8,199 with the ABS as
standard. Nevertheless, it is not wrong target. Because in that first
game, the recent Suzuki DL650 V Strom has played the role of “Mrs.
more”: more performance, more character, more comfort on long-term,
short, versatility undoubtedly even better, what it is here to dominate
the points … but not necessarily in the
hearts of everyone.
Honda NC 700 X
Suzuki DL650 V-Strom
