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Honda NC700 700x 700 CTX700 12 13 14 Engine Motor Complete Transmission Runs | eBay I think you may find the after market ones are more durable. Here's another skid plate for your future needs.
Nortwestrider
New Member
This one worked AWSOME !!
I lifted the bike off the ground at least 100 times over 5 days by hitting rocks as big as basketballs.
Live life,be yourself !!!!.
vman1313
New Member
The UNPROTECTED bottom of the NC definitely is just one huge rock away from NASTYNESS! If you are planning to off road an NC, I highly suggest some sort of armor...here is a not so good picture of my skid plate after a drop and a good pic of it from the Twisted Throttle website where I bought mine from. Notice mine protects the bottom as well as it wraps up and around to protect when laying her down.
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wildeone
I agree, I should get skid plate but it's freaking expensive and will lower the low ground clearance.
You just have to look where are you going.
Today, I was reminded that this 17 inch front wheel is too small for deep holes when I was catapulted over
the bike into sandy ditch. That's what can happen when front wheel gets caught
View attachment 25510
View attachment 25511
You just have to look where are you going.
Today, I was reminded that this 17 inch front wheel is too small for deep holes when I was catapulted over
the bike into sandy ditch. That's what can happen when front wheel gets caught
View attachment 25510
View attachment 25511
Nortwestrider
New Member
Price out a sump !!
The $200 skid plate will seem like a BARGIN !!!.
I lost about 3/4"of clearance with mine.
You only need ground clearance for going OVER obstacles ,if your going over obstacles and your worried about that 3/4-1" that you'll loose than you need a skid plate...
Live life,be yourself !!!!.
The $200 skid plate will seem like a BARGIN !!!.
I lost about 3/4"of clearance with mine.
You only need ground clearance for going OVER obstacles ,if your going over obstacles and your worried about that 3/4-1" that you'll loose than you need a skid plate...
Live life,be yourself !!!!.
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mtiberio
Member
since this is the "dirt bike" thread, I thought I'd add a tire discussion... I see a lot of folks putting "knobbie" type tires on the front of their bikes, but my experience is a narrow large diameter tire works best in the dirt.
Any one tried one of these in a 100/100-17 or 110/100-17 size
http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/irc-enduro-ve33-motorcycle-tire
yes I know it is a rear, it is a tube tire, and it is bias ply. regardless, a taller narrower tire would probably work much better than the bloated 120's and 130's folks are currently running due to our 3.5x17 front rims...
I figure it might be worth a try. The tube will make the bead flare out to match the rim. Spreading the rear tire on the wider front rim should improve the profile for cornering. Then of course the obvious benifit of a narrower and taller dirt tire.
what say yee?
Any one tried one of these in a 100/100-17 or 110/100-17 size
http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/irc-enduro-ve33-motorcycle-tire
yes I know it is a rear, it is a tube tire, and it is bias ply. regardless, a taller narrower tire would probably work much better than the bloated 120's and 130's folks are currently running due to our 3.5x17 front rims...
I figure it might be worth a try. The tube will make the bead flare out to match the rim. Spreading the rear tire on the wider front rim should improve the profile for cornering. Then of course the obvious benifit of a narrower and taller dirt tire.
what say yee?
bamamate
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I've thought about trying a 110/100 but the tube thing has stopped me. Been too lazy to mess with tubes. My opinion, the 100/100 would be too narrow for our rim. I'm ok with going up or down one size in width but 2 sizes usually pushes you out of the range for the rim.
mtiberio
Member
the good bad is the 110 is quite tall compared to the stock tire. fender would need a relo
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I agree narrower is better for off road of course, but in reality with an NC I would find it a point of diminishing returns.
For the street (especially highway use) I do not want a tube in my front tire, and the narrower and possibly tweaked profile tire on such a wide rim would surely make the handling rather awkward.
If I'm venturing into areas in the dirt where a narrower tire would make such a huge difference, that means the going will be pretty gnarly in the first place, and that presumes I will perforce, be going quite a bit slower and being pretty darned cautious. Comparing that scenario to my day to day street riding and any higher speed highway riding needed to get anywhere where the conditions are that good (or bad, lol, it's a perspective thing, eh?) then for me, the compromises are too slanted in the favour of potential hazards of a funky performing front street tire.
I'd rather crash slower in the dirt, with the conditions warning me I might be better off rethinking if I should be there with an NC, versus have a possible unfortunate higher speed street spill or constantly weird handling, for a higher majority of time spent riding.
I have zero arguments to back up this conjecture; I am just going with my gut feelings. If some other brave soul tries it out and reports awesome success, I will applaud and very strongly consider experimenting too.
For the street (especially highway use) I do not want a tube in my front tire, and the narrower and possibly tweaked profile tire on such a wide rim would surely make the handling rather awkward.
If I'm venturing into areas in the dirt where a narrower tire would make such a huge difference, that means the going will be pretty gnarly in the first place, and that presumes I will perforce, be going quite a bit slower and being pretty darned cautious. Comparing that scenario to my day to day street riding and any higher speed highway riding needed to get anywhere where the conditions are that good (or bad, lol, it's a perspective thing, eh?) then for me, the compromises are too slanted in the favour of potential hazards of a funky performing front street tire.
I'd rather crash slower in the dirt, with the conditions warning me I might be better off rethinking if I should be there with an NC, versus have a possible unfortunate higher speed street spill or constantly weird handling, for a higher majority of time spent riding.
I have zero arguments to back up this conjecture; I am just going with my gut feelings. If some other brave soul tries it out and reports awesome success, I will applaud and very strongly consider experimenting too.
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wildeone
not for all applications, I found riding on sand way better on wider stock size tyres.
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The curious thing is, you do often see paddle and wide flotation type tires on pure sand driven vehicles, but all the Paris Dakar motorcycle racers I've ever seen, always use the narrower "ordinary" tires. Same with all Motocross. I've never seen them use any tires wider than the usual.
I never ride in enough only sand to make going to wider tires worth the effort of effecting how the bike handles in the 99% of other conditions off road.
I suck at riding in sand on any width tire, lol
bamamate
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From 4x4 experience, my thought has always been that until you get a wide enough tire that will float on sand you are better off with a narrow front tire that can knife its way through the sand. The medium width tires tend to plow through sand.....but I'm no expert when it comes to sand.
Like LBS said I've always seen the sand riders on narrow fronts and I've read that you want to keep weight off the front so it doesn't dig in.
A lot of this also applies to mud.
Like LBS said I've always seen the sand riders on narrow fronts and I've read that you want to keep weight off the front so it doesn't dig in.
A lot of this also applies to mud.
Cigar Mike
Elite Member
There is a big difference between a 21" and 17" rim. A narrower tire on the 21 acts differently than on a 17. I think to narrow a tire on the NC might promote the dreaded highside at speed in the dirt. Especially on rough terrain. Where the 21 due to it's larger diameter doesn't get trapped in the depressions. But I don't know for sure. Let me know how it works out.
What size front tire do the supermoto guys use on their bikes? The bikes are much lighter but run 17s front and rear, I think.
What size front tire do the supermoto guys use on their bikes? The bikes are much lighter but run 17s front and rear, I think.
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wildeone
as you can see on my pics I love sand riding, I believe it's best school for safe riding on the tarmac.
There is sand and sand, many kinds really and all different. In Sahara desert for instance where I rode it was like fluff, very difficult to ride
wide or narrow tyres didn't matter much unless you ride at high speed, the racers you mentioned ride like that
with body weight far back to lift the front and not sink. That's why they can have narrow wheels
All other vehicles riding on desert had not big but wide tyres.
There is sand and sand, many kinds really and all different. In Sahara desert for instance where I rode it was like fluff, very difficult to ride
wide or narrow tyres didn't matter much unless you ride at high speed, the racers you mentioned ride like that
with body weight far back to lift the front and not sink. That's why they can have narrow wheels
All other vehicles riding on desert had not big but wide tyres.
Nortwestrider
New Member
I have been riding and racing off-road for over 45 years and I have NOT found anything that a 17" front tire does better than a 21" or even a 19".But I have found plenty that it does worst !!.
Live life,be yourself !!!!.
Live life,be yourself !!!!.
drdubb
Site Supporter
I think the theory on the 21 rim in sand is that its like a rudder, knifing through IF you keep the speed up. I've next to no experience in sand, I usually go down in the stuff if it gets deep. This was on my DR650, which I just sold.
I like FS roads, dirt roads and easy trails. If it gets knarly, I'm turning around. The NC is all I need. Heck, I was afraid to go fast in the dirt on the DR and I had a Cogent suspension and all the do dads.
When I took a hard look at how I ride, not how I WANT to ride, the NC was a logical choice. I hated to see my Nighthawk and DR go away, I liked those bikes, but the NC makes more sense. I imagine this will be my last motorcycle. I bought a new SL350 in 1971. The NC is only the second NEW motorcycle I've purchased. (I've still got an SL)
I will ride the local roads once or twice a week, take a 1500 to 2500 mile trip twice a year, and occasionally turn down a FS road in order to enjoy the woods. The NC should serve me fine.
I like FS roads, dirt roads and easy trails. If it gets knarly, I'm turning around. The NC is all I need. Heck, I was afraid to go fast in the dirt on the DR and I had a Cogent suspension and all the do dads.
When I took a hard look at how I ride, not how I WANT to ride, the NC was a logical choice. I hated to see my Nighthawk and DR go away, I liked those bikes, but the NC makes more sense. I imagine this will be my last motorcycle. I bought a new SL350 in 1971. The NC is only the second NEW motorcycle I've purchased. (I've still got an SL)
I will ride the local roads once or twice a week, take a 1500 to 2500 mile trip twice a year, and occasionally turn down a FS road in order to enjoy the woods. The NC should serve me fine.
Cigar Mike
Elite Member
The trick to riding in sand is to not steer with the handle bars to correct straight line corrections. Just weight the one peg or the other to correct your course. In turns always brake before the turn and hammer the gas in the turn. I spent my first thirty years riding and racing in the California desert and once you get used to it, it's not bad it is actually a lot of fun. Point and shoot type of riding. Now those big rocks hidden in the sand can make it exciting. Lower tire pressures in both tires makes a huge difference with dirt bikes. The worse surface I have encountered was very deep pea gravel. It is similar to sand but you fight the tire tracks. After a few miles you are happy to be out of the wash. When riding in sand, when in doubt give it gas.
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wildeone
exactly! you seldom use handle bars in real dirt.
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wildeone
I didn't say 17" can be any good for offroad, I just said I found the width of 17" tyre sometimes better on sand then thin 21" tyre. With thin tyre you have to slap your tank a lot to make a way but with my stock tyre I just swim over the sand easily. BTW what is maybe strange, for me the original stock tyres weer little bit better on sand then knobby TKC80.
I wish nc750x had at least 19" front wheel...
