Honda NC 750S

The naked NC700S - launched two years ago as a brand new model and part of a 3-bike platform - aimed to provide a user-friendly motorcycle that was both affordable to buy and run while proving an attractive, enjoyable proposition for a wide variety of riders.

Its concept was New Concept - Fun Naked and the combination of innovative, torquey parallel twin-cylinder engine, low centre of gravity and nimble, confidence inspiring chassis - plus exceptional fuel economy - has made it a favourite with many riders stepping up from smaller machines looking equally for performance, practicality and pleasure from their first 'big' bike.

For 2014, the NC750S is the next evolution - a bike designed to offer more of what every rider liked about the original NC700S, with the addition of an extra 75cc. With more power and torque, which requires a full A licence, as well as twin balancer shafts, new exhaust muffler and taller gearing, optional DCT gearbox - plus a host of detail upgrades including ABS now fitted as standard, the 2014 NC750S is one of the most affordable, useful and fun naked motorcycles available.

Honda upgrades its NC700X platform for 2014 with two new models slated for European markets, the NC750S and NC750X. In addition to the bump in displacement, the two mounts receive ABS standard, taller gearing, exhaust upgrades and other options for the upcoming model-year.

The liquid-cooled SOHC eight-valve Parallel Twin is bored out an extra 4mm for a gain of 75cc over the 670cc NC700X . Honda added an extra balancer shaft as well to help counteract vibrations at higher rpms. The internals of the muffler were redesigned to deal with the added backpressure created by the capacity increase, a change that Honda asserts gives the new NC750s “an improved beat and exhaust note.”

Overall gearing is 6% taller, increasing the NC750 top-speed and adding more usable power through the rev range. PGM-FI fuel injection is tuned to provide efficient air/fuel mixture and is aided by an O2 sensor in the exhaust.

Both NC750s have Honda’s optional Dual Clutch Transmission available. DCT changes the height of the gears slightly, with gears one through five remaining 6% taller than the previous model, but reducing gains in sixth gear to 3%. Honda first introduced its DCT gearbox in the 2010 VFR1200F - with the feature subsequently being offered on several of Big Red’s designs. There are three modes of operation in the DCT system: full manual that allows “the rider to shift with the handlebar trigger control buttons, Automatic D mode for city and highway riding and Automatic S mode. In S mode the ECU allows the engine to rev higher before shifting, allowing for a “sportier” ride.

Both NC750 versions come with a 41mm telescopic fork and Pro-Link swingarm with monoshock damper. They also come with a single 320mm disc, two-piston caliper brake out front and a 240mm disc with single-piston caliper out back. Brake levers are six-position adjustable and two-channel ABS comes standard on both NC750s as well.

The differences between the NC750S and NC750X come by way of dimensions, with the NC750S measured at a length of 86.4 inches, width of 30.7 inches and height of 44.5 inches. The NC750X is 87 inches long, 33 inches wide and 50.6 inches tall.

The NC750X is marketed as the “adventure” option of the two, and has more suspension travel than the NC750S (6 inches in front and 5.9 inches out back while the NC750S has 4.2 inches of travel in both the front and rear). The NC750X also comes with “off-road pattern tires.” Seat height is different, with the NC750S at 31.1 inches and the NC750X at 32.6 inches as is curb weight, with the NC750S manual transmission version tipping the scales at a claimed 476.1 pounds and the NC750X at 482.8 pounds. The NC750S also has a slightly more stripped-down look than the NC750X, most noticeable in the absence of the small beak underneath the front headlight.

A full roster of accessories will be available for both models. The NC750S comes in Graphite Black, Matte Pearl Glare White and Candy Arcadian Red colorways while the NC750X will be offered in Sword Silver Metallic, Graphite Black, Matte Pearl Glare White and Candy Arcadian Red. No MSRP is listed for either model.