Honda 2016 NC750X launch...

Honda 2016 NC750X launch
Honda’s NC750X has become a consistently big seller for the company and the new 2016 model improves on the outgoing model in almost every regard.

Key changes to the suspension, the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), front brakes, exhaust internals and silencer along with the styling all add up to a comprehensively improved bike that remains easy to ride yet quite a lot more fun to ride. It’s also better looking and fits in nicely with the rest of the Honda adventure bike range.

This bike isn’t designed to set your hair on fire in terms of performance but the new model works so much better in some ways than the old bike that the overall package is a lot more attractive.

Changes to the DCT see the same D mode which never feels that nice to ride as the bike instantly changes up the highest possible ratio to conserve fuel but there are now three S-modes too. S1 is mildly more sporty than D and is good around town. S2 is sportier still and suits a good cross country pace, holding onto the revs longer and downchanging earlier too. S3 is only really good for when you are pressing on and makes life very easy. It all works a lot better than the outgoing DCT set-up. The clutch set-up has now been changed to give a smoother take off from a standing start.

Honda maintain this is an adventure bike. It isn’t. It might have faux-adventure Bridgestone Battlewing tyres fitted but anything more than light gravel tracks is going to cause serious issues.

At the heart of the NC750 range is a mildly updated version of the 741cc parallel-twin motor which is a low-revving engine designed to produce easily accessible bottom-end torque and eke out the fuel as much as possible.

The main changes to the bike have been centred around the styling with a new ‘tougher’ adventure bike makeover aimed at bringing it more into line with the likes of the VFR800X Crossrunner, range-topping VFR1200X Crosstourer, CRF1000L Africa Twin and other like the CB500 range. Honda has gone all out to try and provide an ‘adventure bike’ for all sectors of the market.

Other key changes to the bike for 2016 is a new and larger windscreen, extra room in the front storage compartment which was already capacious enough to store a full-face crash helmet, LED lights front and rear, new full-colour dashboard and software changes to the optional Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

The NC700 (as it used to be) and newer NC750 range have been consistently big sellers for Honda across Europe with a mixture of riders owning them. Honda pitch the NC750 as a ‘fun, crossover commuter’ but, marketing spiel aside, this is a bike aimed at those who want a super-economical bike for commuting and everyday riding with a significant number owned by riders who have other bikes and simply use the NC as a weekday tool to get them to work, miss out the car-based traffic hold-ups and save cash on fuel or avoid the train.

The NC750X model makes up 50% of NC750 sales with the naked S model and scooter Integra splitting the rest between them. Total sales of the range since it was launched in 2012 as the NC700 now tops 130,000; 70,000 of which have been in Europe.

The changes to the NC750X make this a significantly better bike. It’s more fun, easier to ride, the DCT works much better now and the taller screen makes it more practical still. But it’s not a bike you can fall in love with; rather you can fall in love with the way it does everything so well.

MCN will bring more images later today once Honda hand them over to us.