Honda NC700X motorcycle: ABS, DSG, and a reasonable MSRP

Consumer Reports News: January 20, 2012 04:53 PM

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Honda showed their newest street bike at the New York International Motorcycle Show, one they say is targeted at new riders or former motorcyclists thinking about getting back to riding.

Already on sale in other markets, the NC700X has the rugged look of a dual-purpose motorcycle, and six inches of suspension travel front and rear to cushion bumps on back roads or city streets.

With a competitive price combined with an optional DSG automated manual transmission and antilock brakes. By not having to deal with a clutch or self regulate the front or rear brakes, Honda hopes the NC700X will rekindle riders' love of riding with reduced work load. A company spokesman said even the "NC" in its name was a nod to its intended buyer, the New Customer. But he may have been pulling our leg. Come to think of it, it could also mean "Not Complicated."

Powered by a liquid-cooled, 670cc two-cylinder engine paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission (for those not willing to give up the clutch), Honda says the NC700X will return more than 60 mpg in normal riding, giving it a theoretical 240-mile cruising range. What looks like a fuel tank is actually a storage compartment large enough to swallow up a full-face helmet; the real gas tank is mounted under the seat for a lower center of gravity and easier handling. Aerodynamic styling is intended to route air around the rider for increased comfort and less fatigue.

Honda plans a full line of matching accessories to customize the NC700X, from saddlebags to heated grips. Prices are set to start at $6,999 for the NC700X with a six-speed manual, but Honda has not announced the price for models equipped with DSG and ABS.

—Jim Travers