the Ferret
Daily rider since May 1965
I put 110,000 miles on my ST 1300 most of it 2 up. I then picked up a CB 1100 (still have with 70,000 miles on it and I love it!) but my wife refuses to ride on it. So I picked up an FJR and put 35,000 miles on it, some of it 2 up as my wife didn't like riding on it near as much as the ST. Finally she decided she was done riding so I traded the FJR in on a 21 NC750X for my solo riding. I have 27,000 miles on it. It's a nice bike, particularly for a solo ride and the occasional trip, but it's no cross-country tourer IMO, and I wouldn't consider it a two up bike unless you are both young and skinny. It does tour, but being chain drive (most bikes are these days) and only 58 hp, there is not a lot "in reserve" if you get my drift. The bags are expensive for it and it requires a new windshield and probably a new seat to be tour worthy...those seem to be big replacement items on the NC board. No cruise available. Some use cramp busters but those are not recommended for the DCT models. I have ridden mine through about 8 states I think, and headed from Ohio to Wisconsin at the end of the month, and another trip planned to Tennessee/North Carolina on it later in the year.. Riding solo however.
Although I'm not a cruiser guy, the new 1100 Rebel cruiser from Honda with DCT and batwing fairing and bags might be worth a look/test ride if you can find one, has the same motor as the Africa Twin ADV bike/NT 1100 sport tourer so should have close to 100 hp and lots of torque. Doesn't come with a passenger seat however, and certainly no rear rack/trunk. Suzuki is also coming out with a naked 800 that might be work a look. The Suzuki 1000GT certainly seems nice, as does the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 sport tourer but they are pretty sporty I think.
Really you need to assess what your REAL needs are in a motorcycle and shop from there.
The Enfields, Kaw W 650 and Moto Guzzi's (except for the Mandello) are really small physically for 2 people and have even less hp than the NC 750.
Its a mess. There really is a need for a mid-size 800-900cc touring motorcycle as so many of us aging riders are getting older, and need/want something smaller/ lighter but don't want to give up touring or the comforts that come with a true sport touring bike. The Yamaha 900 triple comes close but it's so tall and it's passenger accommodations are sparse. That bike with a 31" seat height would be "ok". Or the NT 1100 which Honda won't bring here, ...with a shorter seat height.
Best of luck in your search. It's a slim market out there for us.
Although I'm not a cruiser guy, the new 1100 Rebel cruiser from Honda with DCT and batwing fairing and bags might be worth a look/test ride if you can find one, has the same motor as the Africa Twin ADV bike/NT 1100 sport tourer so should have close to 100 hp and lots of torque. Doesn't come with a passenger seat however, and certainly no rear rack/trunk. Suzuki is also coming out with a naked 800 that might be work a look. The Suzuki 1000GT certainly seems nice, as does the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 sport tourer but they are pretty sporty I think.
Really you need to assess what your REAL needs are in a motorcycle and shop from there.
The Enfields, Kaw W 650 and Moto Guzzi's (except for the Mandello) are really small physically for 2 people and have even less hp than the NC 750.
Its a mess. There really is a need for a mid-size 800-900cc touring motorcycle as so many of us aging riders are getting older, and need/want something smaller/ lighter but don't want to give up touring or the comforts that come with a true sport touring bike. The Yamaha 900 triple comes close but it's so tall and it's passenger accommodations are sparse. That bike with a 31" seat height would be "ok". Or the NT 1100 which Honda won't bring here, ...with a shorter seat height.
Best of luck in your search. It's a slim market out there for us.
