Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
Sat, 07/07/2012 - 22:51
I have just read Kev's review of the NC700S and it basically seems to be living up to the standards of the X and C as would be expected of course. As I have said before I think that there is a lot to commend Honda for this range of bikes and the direction that they are going in.
Then I read the review posted on the same day on the Piaggio X10 and it kind of strikes me that maybe Piaggio have shown that a big scooter is more than capable of taking on the target market every bit as well as the Honda range can and in some ways, it could be argued, bettering them.
There are those who would never touch a scooter with a barge pole. Our good friend Rocker66 being one and absolutely fair play to them. Each to their owm and amen to that, I say. Taking those aside then there surely is a powerful string argument that the X10 beats the Honda NC machines accross a wide swathe of any imagined remit. It is cheaper, returns plus or minus similar fuel economy, has longer gaps between service intervals, offers great practicalities such as the huge storage areas mentioned, can be used around town or out on the open road with ease etc etc
I am not venturing a preference one way or another as I have ridden neither but the posting of the reviews of these machines at the same time, showed two different types answering the main question that is being asked, with a fairly similar numerical result. The difference and choice between the two will thus be very much subjective.
Sun, 08/07/2012 - 03:53
#2
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
I know where you're coming from Shuggie. Having owned a Honda Silverwing scooter for a few years a year or two back I found it to be the most useful 'Bike' I've ever owned. It's biggest failing was it's fuel economy which was between 45-52 Mpg.
The X10 does get around the consumption problem however I'd be curious to see just what 'Legs' it's got. How comfortable would one be on a dual carriageway or motorway I wonder. That's going to be the make or break of this particular debate - For me at least. The NC700 has shown that whilst not fast per se it can tackle the motorway stuff with reasonable confidence.
Sun, 08/07/2012 - 09:36
#3
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
And the scooter comparison for the NCs is Honda's very own Integra in the same family / same chassis+engine. That's 2 grand more than the X/S. I think the X10 is more of a challenger for bigger engined superscoots rather than bikes. It would cope with motorways, especially during rush hours. But not with much in hand. For a superscoot with fun I suspect a T max woud be a better - albeit expensive - choice.
Mon, 09/07/2012 - 12:06
#4
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
Good points all Shuggie,
The X10 is definitely on my 'give it a go' list.
At sub 400cc, cheaper to tax - in the UK - too.
How many of us have already adapted our riding style to ever-rising petrol costs? I have mine, certainly.
Mon, 09/07/2012 - 17:04
#5
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
...Fuel costs and ease-of-use for commuting...hency my just run-in BV350.. (same engine as X10?).... leaving the option for something more uneconomical for leisure riding.
+ the Turning cirle on the BV is like that of a regular vespa IMO....but with a better underseat storage...Full face + gloves_ waterproofs etc.
Mon, 09/07/2012 - 21:35
#6
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
Gjw - I don't have the figures to hand but I am not correct in thinking that the Integra is actually or expensive than the NC700C/X/S ? If so then I don't think that it stacks up too well against the X10, if we look at the pretence of the main part of the remit being about cheap and economical transport.
I would agree that in certain circumstances a 'bike' style machine is preferable. I am not in any way talking a pop at the Honda's, far from it as I am actually very much impressed and in favour of what they have done. I am just raisng the option that given the main selling feature of the niche that the Piaggio may have given an equal or arguably better option.
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 08:04
#7
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
From what I can see - And this was certainly the case with the Honda Silverwing - is that the scooter argument starts to unravel when one gets past the 400cc level.
From that point onwards the initial purchase price goes up to the point where the competition from other non-scooter machines becomes a lot stiffer. In addition the fuel consumption figures start to look no better than other machines in their price range, they are heavier and not much cheaper to run.
I'm assuming that the X10's engine is single cylinder. Once above 400 the engines tend to be more twins which seems, to me at least, to add to the cost without helping the running costs side of the equation an awful lot.
Am I looking at this too simplistically? Thoughts?
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 10:10
#8
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
I've got a Vespa 300 GTS, which is fabulous for nipping about town, but can be a little disconcerting on the M25 in a crosswind...fortunately I do more of the former than the latter. My 2 minute spreadsheet on the rationale for owning it looks something like this, with some of the scores entirely subjective (and now I look at the attachment, I'm not sure what I meant by 'owning enjoyment')...which kind of goes back to the OP, all of the options are better than public transport!
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 10:46
#9
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
Interesting spreadsheet Suddsy! You've formalised what most of us tend to do in our heads I guess. I like the 'Owning enjoyment' column as it means that you include the invisible, but still entirely relevant, 'X' factor.
My Silverwing didn't have too much of the 'X' factor about it and it certainly wasn't any better on fuel than my Harley or the Triumphs I had at the time however I did enjoy it and the looks it got from some people.
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 10:48
#10
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
I've got a Honda SH300i - about 20% less power than the X10 or BV350, but still capable of 75+ on the motorway even with my weight/bulk. At the time of purchase the reasons were fairly precise - the xjr1300 I had while lovely was rotting (looked good - but underused and seals etc steadily failing - ie reliability nightmare looming), I wanted something that got me the 40 or so miles into London, around London easily, and of course out again - mainly in the evening or weekends. ABS, easy maintenance, some weather protection, new, good mileage and as cheap as possible. I got the SH at £3500 + good trade in / 0 finance - that was 2009, now it's around £4800. Confidence in a BV would be higher than I might have had then. But now my needs are slightly different.
Actually working in London for the last year means a rail season ticket, the service is fairly reliable (into Euston) - and not using that even on a scooter costs me. So I'm thinking more of a general purpose bike - even a real car replacement. The bike NCs would suit. The integra is ridiculously priced, and more of a bike in scooter clothing anyway. The X10 might have better storage than an SH or BV. But might not be a big enough step. I need to be clearer on what would suit me now.
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:37
#11
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
Interesting spreadsheet Suddsy! You've formalised what most of us tend to do in our heads I guess. I like the 'Owning enjoyment' column as it means that you include the invisible, but still entirely relevant, 'X' factor.
My Silverwing didn't have too much of the 'X' factor about it and it certainly wasn't any better on fuel than my Harley or the Triumphs I had at the time however I did enjoy it and the looks it got from some people.
Interesting spreadsheet Suddsy! You've formalised what most of us tend to do in our heads I guess. I like the 'Owning enjoyment' column as it means that you include the invisible, but still entirely relevant, 'X' factor.
My Silverwing didn't have too much of the 'X' factor about it and it certainly wasn't any better on fuel than my Harley or the Triumphs I had at the time however I did enjoy it and the looks it got from some people.
Have I given the impression that I knock up a quick spreadsheet to help me decide which cereal to eat for breakfast each morning...?
Fri, 27/07/2012 - 21:12
#12
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
As a matter of interest what are the service intervals on the X10?
Before anyone asks no I'm not considering buying one :) :)
Thu, 16/08/2012 - 20:47
#13
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
X10 Service interval is 20,000km and oil change every 10,000km
Mon, 22/10/2012 - 16:33
#14
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
Same as my BV350, think it is the same engine too. I have posted a 7 thou Kilometer review in the scooter bit of the forum. Very happy with the BV.
Thu, 06/12/2012 - 21:49
#15
Re: Honda NC Range v's Piaggio X10
My fourpenneth is that the first time I saw the X10 at Cheeky Tom's in Lowestoft I thought how much road presence the front seems to have - quite wide looking.
I saw it again at the NEC bike show recently and really like the swooping lines when viewed side on.
I once had an X9 500 which I really enjoyed then an MP3 400 which I really liked until it suffered from expensive to put right problems, amongst which was the dreaded steering bearings replacement problem.
I am happy with my Yamaha T-MAX but if I were in the market for a smaller capacity scooter then I would be tempted but I now see Honda may be bringing in a 300cc Forza soon, so would want to see that first
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I have just read Kev's review of the NC700S and it basically seems to be living up to the standards of the X and C as would be expected of course. As I have said before I think that there is a lot to commend Honda for this range of bikes and the direction that they are going in.
Then I read the review posted on the same day on the Piaggio X10 and it kind of strikes me that maybe Piaggio have shown that a big scooter is more than capable of taking on the target market every bit as well as the Honda range can and in some ways, it could be argued, bettering them.
There are those who would never touch a scooter with a barge pole. Our good friend Rocker66 being one and absolutely fair play to them. Each to their owm and amen to that, I say. Taking those aside then there surely is a powerful string argument that the X10 beats the Honda NC machines accross a wide swathe of any imagined remit. It is cheaper, returns plus or minus similar fuel economy, has longer gaps between service intervals, offers great practicalities such as the huge storage areas mentioned, can be used around town or out on the open road with ease etc etc
I am not venturing a preference one way or another as I have ridden neither but the posting of the reviews of these machines at the same time, showed two different types answering the main question that is being asked, with a fairly similar numerical result. The difference and choice between the two will thus be very much subjective.