There is something very interesting lurking beneath the Honda NC700S, NC700X and Integra
Well if you didn’t get it from the pictures – then we would help you. All three bikes are sharing the very same platform, something that is happening for the first time in the motorcycling industry. Yes, manufacturer were using same engines, components and frames to interchange between their model range, but none of them went as far as Honda. So, the off-road-adventure bike, city-B-road bike and maxi-scooter are all but the same motorcycle!
Take a look at this frame. It belongs to NC700X model – the adventure-off-road one, and it has slightly higher suspension that the others. Other than that, everything else is pretty much the same as NC700S and Integra, they just look kinda different. Integra lost the foot pegs and gained some fancy bodywork with details that would lead us to think that it has a aluminum perimeter frame, but that’s just an esthetics.
Let’s be honest. Something is happening with motorcycling industry – whether it’s the global crisis, or the fact that people would rather spend their money on thousands of electronic gadgets (unlike before), we don’t know. The “objects of desire” are changing quickly in this fast moving world. What we know is that Honda is heavily preparing for the rough times ahead, creating the most extensive usage of the “platform-sharing” idea so widely used in automotive industry.
All said and done – the Integra, and NC700S and NC700X are nice looking bikes. We would probably opt for Integra than all maxi-scoters on the market…so it’s all good for the “H” people of Japan.
Source: MotoBlog.it and Honda
Tags: City, frame, Honda, maxi scooter, NC700, NC700S, NC700X, off road, platform
This means; if you get the different parts and have the time you can make 3 bikes from one! For sure we need to see the pricing…
wrong, not honda for the 1st.. megelli has develop for such thing but in smaller cc. please get your fact straight.
It’s a 125cc engine in Megelli…haven’t heard about this brand until now mentioned. We are sure there are a lot’s of “first’s” before the huge corporations get their hand on, but that’s the whole point – Honda is The first big corporation to do such a thing.
Cheers
Ahhhh . . . what about Buell’s XB range.
Same core engine/frame unit but different bodywork and suspension setups. Maybe they were the “first big corporation to do such a thing”?
Captain, you’re right about Buell…I never liked them, but you’re right..
What about the FLSTF, FXSTS,FXSTC,FLSTC, FLHR, FLHRI FLHT,FLHTC,FLHTCI, FLHTCUI…etc. Harley has been building the same motorcycle for decades and calling it a different model based on the tire’s valve stem length.
Dave you are incredibly astute… although some of those valve stems are actually the same length – just set at a slightly different angle.
Thank you for a right good laugh.
I wonder how far Honda will expand the model selection… 2013 NC700X Adventure – wire wheels with 19″ or 21″ up front, wilburesque suspension with a tad more travel and hand guards.