Reminiscent of the old Pacific...
Reminiscent of the old Pacific Coast model (now with 50 percent less Tupperware!), Honda's NT700V is advertised as a "lightweight tourer." A low, 31.6-inch seat height and 5.2-gallon fuel capacity help fill that bill.
Honda makes plenty of cool, practical motorcycles exclusively for the European market, including the CB1000R and CB1300S super-standards and the Transalp and Varadero adventure-tourers, all of which are unavailable in the U.S. Honda will bring one of its best-selling European bikes stateside for 2010; unfortunately, it's none of the above. We're getting the NT700V lightweight tourer instead.
Perhaps inspired by the success...
Perhaps inspired by the success of Harley-Davidson's "Dark Custom" line, Honda has released a blacked-out bobber of its own: the 750cc Shadow Phantom.
Sold overseas since 1998 as the Deauville (better known to some as the "Dullville"), the NT is enormously popular with police departments and other utilitarian-minded users looking for a versatile, reliable mount for commuting or light-duty touring. Powered by the same 680cc, SOHC, four-valve, 52-degree V-twin as the DN-01, the 566-pound machine claims similarly modest performance, to the tune of 65 horsepower and 49 lb.-ft. of torque. The chassis is low-tech conventional, consisting of a steel frame and non-adjustable 41mm fork, though the shock boasts a remote preload adjuster to accommodate occasional two-up riding. Shaft drive will be a huge selling point for the intended market.
The only change to Honda's...
The only change to Honda's CBR600RR this year is extra-bold new graphics, at least in the case of the "Leyla" model shown here. A slightly more conservative pearl orange/black option is the other choice; the Combined-ABS model is available in red/black only. The CBR1000RR is similarly unchanged for 2010, excepting colors and minor tuning changes said to provide even smoother power delivery.
Convenience features abound. The generous windscreen features five-position adjustability, and the integrated, locking hard saddlebags feature a novel "pass-thru" connection that accommodates long, skinny items. Linked brakes are standard, and ABS is an available option. The base model will sell for $9999, and the ABS version will cost $1000 more. The NT700V should prove to be a solid platform for practical-minded riders, but with a price tag $2000 to $2500 above the comparable Kawasaki Versys and Suzuki V-Strom 650s-and roughly equal to BMW's F800ST-it will face stiff competition in the marketplace.
Middleweight cruiser fans, meanwhile, will look forward to the Phantom. This is the latest variation of Honda's venerable Shadow, now with stripped-down, bobber-inspired styling. Available only in black, with a flat-black drag bar and a rear fender that looks like it was lifted directly from the Fury chopper, the Phantom also features a blacked-out motor and matte-silver trim that reinforces the backstreet-chopper look. The 745cc V-twin gets an upgraded version of Honda's Programmed Fuel Injection for improved performance, and the price remains well within a beginner's reach at just $7999.