My biggest gripe with the NT...

NewTo700V

Joined
Jun 16, 2019
Messages
663
Bike
2010 NT700V
Not the latches, not the sunfading plastic, not the lack of 6th..

The kickstand. I'm always fumbling with that damn kickstand. On my other bike, the little grab point for your heel is in front of the footpeg. Without looking, it's simply a matter of moving my foot forward a bit and I've got it. Quick movement down and it's deployed.

With the NT, the little notch is behind the peg. So I do this awkward in saddle pivot to bring my heel behind the peg. Then I have to thread my boot between the peg and center stand. Once I've found the kickstand I then have to work my leg around the footpeg to deploy it. Often with the peg wanting to grab the pants leg. Why you do this Honda? :confused:
 
Best to look its fully deployed before you start to lay over. Twice in 10 years, almost went ALL way down. Visual check before laying the weight over
 
LOL! I understand what you're talking about. For some reason, when I got off Dudley and onto Horse in Spokane, I could NOT find the kickstand. By the next day, no problem. But Friday when I got to Westcliffe and was stopped on loose gravel, I couldn't find it again. It's one of life's mysteries.
 
Hmmm... Every bike that I currently own has the kickstand arm behind the footpeg. I always use the back of the heel of my boot with my foot nearly perpendicular to the bike. I've never had an issue with my pant leg catching on the footpeg.
 
Agreed, but a bigger problem: center stand. Ever try and raise a BMW center stand? A lot easier. Other NTr's claim to use the foot on, then rock back while grabbing rear rail. Only problem - all those have been 200 lbs plus. If you are 150 it is a bitch

Russ Foster
 
Russ Foster said:
Agreed, but a bigger problem: center stand. Ever try and raise a BMW center stand? A lot easier. Other NTr's claim to use the foot on, then rock back while grabbing rear rail. Only problem - all those have been 200 lbs plus. If you are 150 it is a bitch

Russ Foster
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I agree. I am 160 and I have to concentrate on all my bikes as I did on the NT. My balance isnt the best. There is no way I would attempt to roll a bike around the garage , walking at its side. There is no reason in the world other than lawyers why you cant have an adjustable reach center stand. My Kawasaki Concours C10 would go right up on the centerstand once I rolled the rear wheel up on a 3/8 in board. Otherwise, forget about it.
 
NewTo700V said:
Not the latches, not the sunfading plastic, not the lack of 6th..

The kickstand. I'm always fumbling with that damn kickstand. On my other bike, the little grab point for your heel is in front of the footpeg. Without looking, it's simply a matter of moving my foot forward a bit and I've got it. Quick movement down and it's deployed.

With the NT, the little notch is behind the peg. So I do this awkward in saddle pivot to bring my heel behind the peg. Then I have to thread my boot between the peg and center stand. Once I've found the kickstand I then have to work my leg around the footpeg to deploy it. Often with the peg wanting to grab the pants leg. Why you do this Honda? :confused:
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Odd....I dont remember having any issues...someone post a pick looking down from the saddle at the side stand pin.
 
I doubt if I can get my NT onto the center stand. After I had knee replacement # 6 in 2016, I had the bike lowered. My next-door neighbor made me a helper from a couple of 2x6s nailed together (so about 1 3/4" thickness) tapered it one end so I could roll the bike up onto it. But I'm fearful about balancing the bike while I try to put onto the centerstand. Between my right knee not bending as much as it did before knee replacement # 5 and left knee (#6) not having as much strength, I won't be trying to put the bike on the centerstand. Good thing I don't have to do chain maintenance!
 
I have decently strong legs, so deploying the center stand isn't really an issue. I'm also used to 500+lb Hondas, and I don't find the NT that much more difficult in comparison.

Rocking the bike doesn't sound like good technique. It's just a matter of having the leg strength to straighten yourself out. Right arm and back should lock and not really be involved. Someone who finds center stand deployment difficult could work on dumbbell lunges to increase leg strength.
 
NewTo700V - as regards the sidestand tab being difficult to find, was your previous bike a cruiser?
 
I don't have trouble finding it but i do have to make sure it gets fully extended. Not sure why but I have trouble 'feeling' that and have to look each time. Never had that on a bike before. Once in my garage [ before i learned to look] the bike fell on as i got off since it wasn't out all the way. Dented the exhaust on my cx500t that was next to it, which made me mad since those are hard to find.
 
One thing I dislike about my Versys 650 is it has no center stand. All of a sudden maintenance gets complicated. There are some aftermarket center stands with mixed reviews. Other options is a rear swingarm stand and also a front stand. That just seems overkill to have 2 stands that are only used for maintenance and take up space the rest of the time. Jacking the front end under the engine is a bit difficult also, exhaust and stuff in way.

I don't recall issues with the NT's stands. The center stand is a bit heavy in use.

Brad
 
Yep, center stands are awesome. Basically any maintenance I can think of can be accomplished with just a center stand.

I just did fork seals and bushings on the above bike. Deployed center stand and strapped some finds in the garden shed (bags of play sand and driveway melt) to the pillion to raise the front wheel off the ground. No issues with the fork maintenance.
 
NewTo700V said:
... Right arm and back should lock and not really be involved. Someone who finds center stand deployment difficult could work on dumbbell lunges to increase leg strength.
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After lowering the NT without changing the center stand and adding a center stand to a Triumph 900 Low Ride Height (LRH). (Not an option on a LRH model.) Leg strength to put these bikes on the center stand is less important then upper body strength. I stand and push on the center stand while lifting/rotating the frame. My VFR800 goes on/off the center stand very easily.

YMMV. Put a 2x4 or a full 1 " board under the center stand and try it just using your legs.

:unsure: How long your legs are also determine how much you can use them.
 
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Frosty said:
After lowering the NT without changing the center stand and adding a center stand to a Triumph 900 Low Ride Height (LRH). (Not an option on a LRH model.) Leg strength to put these bikes on the center stand is less important then upper body strength. You stand and push on the center stand while lifting/rotating the frame. My VFR800 goes on/off the center stand very easily.

YMMV. Put a 2x4 or a full 1 " board under the center stand and try it just using you legs.
Click to expand...

MMDV. [My Mileage Does Vary]. I haven't been able to put either Dudley or Horse onto the center stand since knee replacement # 6. I'll keep trying.

And what "keeping trying" may mean is that one of these days, I'll drop the bike. :-(
 
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The lowered NT takes some grunt to put it on the center stand. Good stiff boots were also necessary for me.
 
Tyre profiles and pressures, and suspension preload, will all make a difference to the centre stand’s ease of use. The higher the starting point, the better the angle of the stand before the real effort need be applied.
 
I was expecting to see another complaint about getting the key in and out. That’s my main frustration. I have a gps mounted down there, so that doesn’t help things. I’m 150 lbs with a pocket full of change. I use the stand, pull and lift technique. Pops right up unless I try it with bare feet.
 
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