Decision time; which do I keep, the Tmax or NC700X DCT

[Taipan]

I was struggling to cock my leg over the NC700X, as my left knee is, well, fooked! Pivoting on it takes me to a bad place where expletives fly! So I decided to go back to a Tmax as they are great comfy luxoscoots and a lot easier for me to get on.

Sadly from when it arrived I had a few problems with the Tmax, and I started to hate the thing! However, after some spannering the problems are all sorted now. The trouble was, when I had to use the NCX while I was fixing the Tmax I instantly preffered it, so I decided to keep it as backup bike and have it ready for when my knee was sorted. However, in the last week I've been told my knee being replaced within a few years is unlikely. So I decided I may as well choose one of the bikes and sell the other.

I've been back riding the Tmax, reliably, for a few weeks now, and started to really enjoy it for what it is. But today I had to take the NCX for its MOT, which it passed, but I was surprised to find I hated riding it. Compared to a CVT transmission the DCT is clunky, noisy, and has a very agricultural feel to it!

So I find myself surprisingly saying the Tmax stays and the NCX goes!

[weeksy]

It seemed like a question but you seem to have already decided

[Ditchfinder]

Why not get one of these strapped to your pillion and get a bike you want ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wham-Folding-F ... 5592&psc=1

[KungFooBob]

Sell both and buy something nice(er).

[Deadpool2]

Sell both and get the Honda x-adv. I think the dct is more fun than the cvt

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Just get that Harley you're lusting after, you can then get some use out of those tasselled chaps.

[Taipan]

Sell both and get the Honda x-adv. I think the dct is more fun than the cvt

I'd be kinda interested to see if the later DCT is better, but keeping hold of one of them is hard work! I'm quite happy with the Tmax as it fulfills its role well. Just as well as the normal riding position of a bike is what causes me problems as well as getting on and off of one, so I guess I'm kinda stuck with the Tmax!

[Yorick]

Stop being a puff and just buy a GSXR.


WIMP.

[Taipan]

Wouldn’t have one if they were free. About as much use to me as a hat stand is to a moose!

[Yorick]

Scaredy cat

[Scootabout]

I have pretty fond memories of my TMax. Even the mark 1 had very smooth CVT and clutch. I did think the (manual) NC700X had the edge on performance and handling, though. I'd consider going back to a TMax one day, although they are very pricey now. Have you considered the Integra, or the new Forza 750, or have you had it with DCT anyway?

[Skub]

Sell both a buy new knees.

[asmethurst99]

Latest NC dct reviewed on revzilla - interesting that he says they have improved the gear change as he thinks the 700 was clunky as you describe .

[Taipan]

I have pretty fond memories of my TMax. Even the mark 1 had very smooth CVT and clutch. I did think the (manual) NC700X had the edge on performance and handling, though. I'd consider going back to a TMax one day, although they are very pricey now. Have you considered the Integra, or the new Forza 750, or have you had it with DCT anyway?

Not had it with the DCT as I really like the idea of it, but none of those or on my radar, mainly because as with the NCX, the stumbling block for me is chain drive. I love my commuter bikes to be chain free or belt drive.

I think I probably went off the NCX when I rode it because I had no earplugs in and could hear all the clunking about that DCT does. I very rarely, if ever, ride without earplugs, and it's a strange and noisy environment when you're not used to it! But all said and done I prefer the smoothness of the Tmax, so it stays for now.

Ideally, I'd like to get a couple of years out of it then move on to an electric bike such as the zero. Mind you, I heard the other day that the rumour is non-electric bikes will get the congestion charge. I dismissed it as nothing more than a rumour, but I guess that step is ahead of us at some point. If it's sooner rather than later then I'll bite the bullet and get a leccy bike as I'd not want to use public transport for my commute.

[Scootabout]

Mind you, I heard the other day that the rumour is non-electric bikes will get the congestion charge. I dismissed it as nothing more than a rumour, but I guess that step is ahead of us at some point. If it's sooner rather than later then I'll bite the bullet and get a leccy bike as I'd not want to use public transport for my commute.

Actually, now that I know how good electrically assisted cycles are, and given what TfL have done to the roads in London to make them cycle friendly and motor-unfriendly, if I still commuted I'd use the e-cycle for a commute from within the M25 - well, up to, say, 15 miles each way.

[The Spin Doctor]

Actually, now that I know how good electrically assisted cycles are, and given what TfL have done to the roads in London to make them cycle friendly and motor-unfriendly, if I still commuted I'd use the e-cycle for a commute from within the M25 - well, up to, say, 15 miles each way.

Fancy trying one ON the M25? You'd still be moving faster than most of the traffic, most of the time

[Taipan]

I have pretty fond memories of my TMax. Even the mark 1 had very smooth CVT and clutch. I did think the (manual) NC700X had the edge on performance and handling, though. I'd consider going back to a TMax one day, although they are very pricey now. Have you considered the Integra, or the new Forza 750, or have you had it with DCT anyway?

Not had it with the DCT as I really like the idea of it, but none of those or on my radar, mainly because as with the NCX, the stumbling block for me is chain drive. I love my commuter bikes to be chain free or belt drive.

I think I probably went off the NCX when I rode it because I had no earplugs in and could hear all the clunking about that DCT does. I very rarely, if ever, ride without earplugs, and it's a strange and noisy environment when you're not used to it! But all said and done I prefer the smoothness of the Tmax, so it stays for now.

Ideally, I'd like to get a couple of years out of it then move on to an electric bike such as the zero. Mind you, I heard the other day that the rumour is non-electric bikes will get the congestion charge. I dismissed it as nothing more than a rumour, but I guess that step is ahead of us at some point. If it's sooner rather than later then I'll bite the bullet and get a leccy bike as I'd not want to use public transport for my commute.

Well, the clutch has gone in the Tmax, which is probably due to it having been fitted a race type variator so it revs (excessively) high when pulling away. I removed the variator and reverted everything to OEM, but looks like the damage was already done. Not the end of the world to replace clutch plates but I cba working on bikes in the cold.

So the trusty NCX was reinstated today. Of course I was fully kitted up and wearing ear plugs and it did indeed feel quiet and smooth! I might punt the Tmax out as broken, spares or repair type thing and see if I get any takers? Or just leave it until the new year and get into it then? Who knows!

The NCX feels very heavy on the steering, but it's got Pilots on and I hate them as they always make the front end feel heavy to me? So if I'm going to stick with it, I might bug a set of Contis or Bridgestones on there? It's actually been a number of years since I bought tyres, so not sure what is a good commuter/touring type tyre?

Riding in today I was mulling a few options over; sell them both and just get another sh300 as they really are the nads around London. Or maybe join the MT07 part whilst I still have some knee left! Or just use the NCX over winter and sort something out in spring? Again, who knows...

[weeksy]

Buy Couches

[The Spin Doctor]

The NCX feels very heavy on the steering, but it's got Pilots on and I hate them as they always make the front end feel heavy to me?

Try an extra 2psi in the front and see if that makes a difference.

[Scootabout]

The NCX feels very heavy on the steering, but it's got Pilots on and I hate them as they always make the front end feel heavy to me?

Try an extra 2psi in the front and see if that makes a difference.

Interestingly (for me, at least) upping the tyre pressure a little bit actually made the suspension feel better on the NC.
If they're PR4s, yes, they are quite 'sticky', making them feel a bit heavy. Lovely and grippy, though.

I thought the TMax clutch was supposed to be quite robust. Centrifugal clutches are also quite hard to abuse, I'd have thought, in that they do their own thing as it were - they engage when they're ready, whereas with a manual clutch you can rev them hard at the biting point and burn them out more easily. Mind you I'm not sure what the race-weight rollers might do. I used to use the 'sport' weight and that was racy enough for me