(update) First long trip with 2010 NT700V

[cliffh]

I purchased my bike late last fall and wasn't able to ride until recently. I've managed to put a little over 4,000 miles on the bike this spring, including a 2,000+ mile week long trip with my son across West Virginia, down the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Smoky Mountains and back. He rode my old GoldWing that I had put 114,000 miles on. It was just getting a little to heavy to me to really enjoy.

I REALLY enjoy this bike. It performed beautifully. Surprisingly comfortable! My only complaints are that there is more drive line slop than I am used to and the little bit of an annoying whine on deceleration. I can live with both. I'm loving this bike.

Now it is time for a new rear tire. I've got the tire, just need to install.....then go wear it out.

Cliff

 

[Phil Tarman]

Cliff, I don't know about driveline slop, but almost all NTs have the whine on deceleration. Wear earplugs! How many miles are on your bike? Do you know its maintenance history?

I'm glad you enjoyed it on your trip. They are good bikes and most people have very little trouble

 

[ColoradoRod]

I sure love my NT700. I've owned a couple of Goldwings and a couple of BMW KxxxLTs along with a dozen others in between and the NT700 is my favorite of all time. I've accepted the fact that I won't accumulate more than 2-3000 miles per summer season of riding until after I retire, but I enjoy every mile and it's nice to have a smaller capital investment sitting in my garage as compared to watching a big BMW or Goldwing depreciate with minimal usage.

Perfect on many fronts as far as I'm concerned!

 

[cliffh]

Cliff, I don't know about driveline slop, but almost all NTs have the whine on deceleration. Wear earplugs! How many miles are on your bike? Do you know its maintenance history?

I'm glad you enjoyed it on your trip. They are good bikes and most people have very little trouble

I don't know the maintenance history, but my son and I have performed all the service for the mileage on the bike. Bought it with 21,500 miles and now it has 25,500 mile. It appears to have been very well cared for.

I don't expect any troubles.

Cliff

 

[DirtFlier]

Several years ago, I changed the rubber dampers in the rear wheel and I honestly couldn't feel any difference.

The NT is a reliable mount as many high-mileage riders will attest with the only weak spot being the internal latching mechanism for the integral saddlebags which many have resolved with external latches.

 

[mikesim]

About five or six years ago I bought a set of rubber dampers to have on hand if needed during periodic tire replacements. I am now at 11 years and 133K on the OE dampers and they still look in good shape. Not degraded and still pliable.

YMMV,

Mike

 

[cliffh]

About five or six years ago I bought a set of rubber dampers to have on hand if needed during periodic tire replacements. I am now at 11 years and 133K on the OE dampers and they still look in good shape. Not degraded and still pliable.

YMMV,

Mike

Thanks for both of you for mentioning the rubber dampers. I was suspecting them.....I'll check them anyhow during the tire change tomorrow. I can live with the drive train slop....it isn't that bad.

Oh, I did install saddlebag latches as soon as I purchased the bike.

 

[rc_heli_nut]

For the driveline whine, I've had good luck with reducing it using Lucas 75w-90 gear lube in the final drive.

To make shifting easier and to overall smooth out the NT, use Rotella T6 5w-40 synthetic oil in the engine.

You can significantly reduce driveline lash by greasing the u-joint splines with Lucas X-tra heavy duty grease, this is quite a bit of work so maybe try the other things first. The u-joint can be removed without removing the swingarm through the gap at the front but it's a bit like a puzzle, PM me if you need help.

As others have noted, check the hub dampers, mine never wore out so unless it's been abused you may not find a problem there.

+1 for riding with earplugs I found it actually increased my awareness by reducing extraneous noise.

 

[WVRider]

Several years ago, I changed the rubber dampers in the rear wheel and I honestly couldn't feel any difference.

The NT is a reliable mount as many high-mileage riders will attest with the only weak spot being the internal latching mechanism for the integral saddlebags which many have resolved with external latches.

Glad you had a great ride. I live it WV and make the trip to the Blue Ridge and into GA, TN, KY, OH often. Sounds like you picked some great routes.

Like DirtFlier, I also changed the rubber dampers just the end of last year because I noticed, when changing my tire, they were getting really sloppy. However that's after 81 thousand miles. I never really notice the "slop" because I seldom go to deceleration without pulling the clutch and easing it out. Just a habit I've gotten into riding Honda shaft drives since back in 1979. The gear whine is normal. The bike is so quiet is just sounds loud. You will get used to it. I kinda like the sound as you coast down the long mountain roads. Especially out west.

I'm ready to roll 83K and will likely be over 84K after my trip down into the Blue Ridge in a couple weeks. Still totally love the NT. It's an amazing motorcycle. Enjoy ! !

 

[ST1100Y]

The slag in the drive-line of my GF's NT700 origins in the side gear, a 90° drive output, #8 in the fiche (the price you pay for having a transverse mounted engine going onto a shaft drive), the fact that it runs in the pretty runny engine oil doesn't help either...

The final drive on the swing-arm is a Hypoid gear (pinion and ring) which operates pretty silently, plus its filled with heavy API GL-5 oil...
(if that shows slag and start to emit weird noises I'd be alarmed though... )

Worn hub dampers however lead to clunky shifting, and a very odd throttle to road connection ...
(my torque ST1100 eats them like bonbons, I replace them + the aluminum bushings like every 24~36Tkm/15~22Kmiles...)

 

[rc_heli_nut]

I was surprised how much difference greasing the u-joint splines made, see my previous post. It wasn't even my idea, I found it mentioned in an online NT review years ago.

By the time I was done doing all this stuff the NT was a real sweetheart, quite smooth.

 

[cliffh]

I'm the original poster. Last week my son, who is an excellent mechanic, replaced my rear tire for me. What a good kid ;-) Anyhow, I mentioned to him about the noise and gear lash. He found that the final drive had an improper spacer and things were not assembled correctly. After reassembly and replacing the spacer, the whine is 90% GONE and now sounds like a normal shaft drive bike. Also the same with the drive line lash.

I've put over a thousand miles on the bike since the changes including a great 750 mile 2 day trip on the back roads of West Virginal last weekend. What a joy to ride now. I'm an old guy with over 58 years of riding various bikes and just knew that Honda didn't make a bike that sounded like that. I am now a VERY happy NT700V owner.

Cliff

 

[Mellow]

I'm the original poster. Last week my son, who is an excellent mechanic, replaced my rear tire for me. What a good kid ;-) Anyhow, I mentioned to him about the noise and gear lash. He found that the final drive had an improper spacer and things were not assembled correctly. After reassembly and replacing the spacer, the whine is 90% GONE and now sounds like a normal shaft drive bike. Also the same with the drive line lash.

I've put over a thousand miles on the bike since the changes including a great 750 mile 2 day trip on the back roads of West Virginal last weekend. What a joy to ride now. I'm an old guy with over 58 years of riding various bikes and just knew that Honda didn't make a bike that sounded like that. I am now a VERY happy NT700V owner.

Cliff

Wow, glad he found the issue..

 

[rc_heli_nut]

I'm the original poster. Last week my son, who is an excellent mechanic, replaced my rear tire for me. What a good kid ;-) Anyhow, I mentioned to him about the noise and gear lash. He found that the final drive had an improper spacer and things were not assembled correctly. After reassembly and replacing the spacer, the whine is 90% GONE and now sounds like a normal shaft drive bike. Also the same with the drive line lash.

I've put over a thousand miles on the bike since the changes including a great 750 mile 2 day trip on the back roads of West Virginal last weekend. What a joy to ride now. I'm an old guy with over 58 years of riding various bikes and just knew that Honda didn't make a bike that sounded like that. I am now a VERY happy NT700V owner.

Cliff

As Cliff's post shows, proper assembly of the final drive components, driven flange and all the spacers is critical. Me and others here have dealt with failed components due to mistakes made during rear wheel servicing.