Lowering the NC700X

[@MajorHazzard]

Just found this. Thank You for sharing. A concise, clear and fully explained video, without having to strain to hear the voice over pointless background music. I hope you are still biking. Ride Safe.

[@MTMiser]

Thanks Blackie. Yep, still riding. Well, I will be when it starts getting warmer again. :-)

[@RANhxcCORE]

Maynard thank you so much for posting this! I just bought this bike (used 2012 model), and while I'm not the shortest person at 5'9", I was very uncomfortable with the size. I ordered the links literally the second day of owning the bike. Out of the box, the Soupy's lowering kit drops the bike about an inch at the rear, and then I dropped the front half an inch. The difference is night and day! If you feel like you're having trouble with the size of the bike, do not hesitate to get the kit. I haven't shortened the kick stand as of yet, but testing it out with the drop I currently have, it doesn't seem necessary, may just do it for peace of mind. But once again, thank you for taking the time to make this video and making me fall in love with this bike even more!

[@MTMiser]

I agree, it was a big difference for me as well. Glad it's working out for you.

[@dylan7lb]

Maynard, You own a nc700x! You arent a miser! Thanks for the video! I'm in L.A. (where I would love to have this bike because biders can split lanes here when everyone is going at a snails pace) but as soon as I get back to Washington, I'll be able to lower my bike so I'm not on my tip toes when I stop. Thanks for the bonus torque specks too! John

[@MTMiser]

Thanks John, hope this makes the ride a little more enjoyable for you.

[@steve1962]

That is a great video. I have a BMWR1100R but am looking at the 700 NCX or 750 version - I spoke to a lady rider who has the 750 and she had hers lowered by 40mm - I got to sit on this bike and it was fine for me too. If I get one I'll be sure to use this video to help me lower the bike. Thanks.

[@MTMiser]

Thanks Steve.

[@pedromotepeque3727]

Four years later I come across what I exactly was looking for, how to do the front suspension! Thank you very much sir! You’ve helped me a LOT!

[@MTMiser]

Glad to hear it helped you, Pedro. Ride safe.

[@Ainsworth-Rider]

Great advice I didn't know I had to do the forks as well I thank you :)

[@MTMiser]

Glad it helped, James. Good luck.

[@TheMaxf1959]

Thanks Maynard for your help. Bravo :)

[@MTMiser]

You're welcome, Massimo.

[@markk5944]

Hey Thanks for the video instructions, Maynard. I'm thinking about doing the same for my NC700XD.

[@MTMiser]

You're welcome, Mark. If you're having difficulties flat footing it I think you'll like the change. It made a noticeable difference for me.

[@davidgraf8222]

Did you have to cut/modify the kickstand due to the lowering of the bike? Thank you

[@davidgraf8222]

Thanks for quick reply! Any pictures of the modified kickstand? I want to lower mine 25-30mm and drop the front about 3/4" to accommodate for the lowered rear. Thank you for posting your video!

[@MTMiser]

Yes. I cut the bottom part of it off up to the lever and then welded a new (bigger) plate on the bottom of it. Photo here: i188.photobucket.com/albums/z310/simplygib/Kickstand%20Mod_zpsemg3ze6l.jpg

[@louisdufresne3634]

Tank you Maynard for the video. How to calculate the adjustment of dog bone ( screw or unscrew the eyelets ) to reduce the height of the motorcycle. I yould like to reduce roughly an inch. I have a same dog bone as yours. Sorry for my English Louis / Montreal / Quebec /Canada

[@PNH750]

After nearly 4 years of kicking the seat while trying to climb aboard I finally found the answer. Thanks for such an easy to follow video plus the torque settings were a real bonus. QUESTION....how do I get the bike on its mainstand now?

[@MTMiser]

Like I did in the video - roll the rear wheel up on to a small block of wood. That will raise it up enough to make it possible to get it on the center stand. Some people cut the center stand down a little but I never did. I did cut my side stand down some.

[@LanciaD50]

very underexposed but very useful..thank you

[@MTMiser]

Dan - yes, sorry about that. I shot this 4 years ago with an old 720p GoPro. I've got a different camera now that is much better in low light. Sorry it's so difficult to see.

[@bertusnolte512]

Good day, just bought this bike for my wife a tad bit high for her, what is the distance between the holes of the lowering ''bones'' if I want to lower the bikes seat by 40mm, I see Soupy's selling 22mm, 30mm and 40mm kits, but they do not say what the length is and do not ship to South Africa, I will lower the front as you did by 12mm. Thank you for the great video.

[@MTMiser]

Good question. I don't know. I am away from home right now but if you can wait a few days I'll be back and measure the distance between the holes, although mine is lowered about 19 mm (3/4 of an inch). So that won't tell you how long yours should be, but undoubtedly they would need to be longer than mine.

[@MTMiser]

Looks like the distance between the holes is 155 mm. But that's for a 19mm drop. You might be able to figure out what length to get if you measure the mm distance between the holes on the stock bones and subtract that from 155, then roughly double that to get the distance needed for a 40mm drop (I guess?). If you can find adjustable ones like the ones in this video that would probably be best.

[@danielwillison3251]

Thanks brother very nice video

[@p.santos6644]

Very nice👍👍👍

[@MTMiser]

Thanks Pedro.

[@T-Bone-Grizzle]

Nice job. I just wish you showed a before and after to see how much different it looks.

[@MTMiser]

Hi Thomas - I really didn't drop it far enough to make much of a difference by sight. It still looks the same to me, but it's very different when I sit on it and also when I ride it. That low center of gravity is even lower now and feels great on the road.

[@T-Bone-Grizzle]

Cool. I sat on one in the dealership and can reach the ground on both sides but not by a lot. I'm thinking of buying one in the spring. Seems like an awesome bike. It's good to know you can drop it an inch. I'm not going to go off-roading so I don't need the full suspension.

[@MTMiser]

I don't off road with it either, although others do. I prefer asphalt. I think it's a great bike. It gets phenomenal gas mileage and is fun to ride. It's no racer, and is worthless to the wheelie/stoppie crowd, but that's fine with me. I'm too old for such things anymore. I like practicality, dependability and efficiency, and this bike has all of those in spades. If you're going to buy "new," 2018 is the first year the 750 version of this bike will be available in the U.S. (assuming you're from the U.S.). It's been out there since 2014 but for some reason Honda never sold it in the U.S. before.

[@Jojikiba]

Originally the seat height is 32.7 inches (830 mm) on the NC700X (2016). I believe you can lower it 1.5 inches (40 mm). That would make it 31.2 inches. Can you flat foot it then with a 29.5 inch inseam? Thanks

[@MTMiser]

I think it would be close. My inseam is 30" and dropping it 1 inch gets me just about there. If it doesn't quite make it you could look for some boots with thicker soles which could be enough to get you there.

[@lstanich1]

Very useful video! Am wondering though what did you need to do, if anything, to shorten the kickstand? Thanks.

[@MTMiser]

Good question. After I lowered the bike and made this video I could still use the stock kickstand, but just barely. I was afraid a gust of wind would be enough to knock it over, so cut about an inch out of the kickstand and then welded the bottom plate back on to it. That has worked, but honestly I wish I'd taken a little more off - like maybe an inch and a half.

[@ianwhite9872]

Maynard, fantastic video. Thanks. Was wondering... if you lower, would it make it much harder to use a centre stand ?

[@MTMiser]

Yes it absolutely does, and you may have to cut down your side stand as well. I did not cut my center stand down but to use it I first have to roll the back wheel up on to a block of wood (1-1/2" or about 37mm thick) and then get it up on the stand. It's impossible otherwise.

[@Eldariooirad]

Thank you! If you have a chance to answer a question: Did you notice any difference at all in the handling of the motorcycle after lowering it? Even a subtle difference?

[@Eldariooirad]

Never mind, I just so your reply to my question answered below in another post!

[@Eldariooirad]

I believe the motorcycle may behave more lively and agile at lower speeds, due to shortening its wheelbase. In the same token, slightly less stable, or "calm" at higher speeds. Theoretically. I doubt that by moving the forks one inch would make any noticeable difference. Thank you again!

[@Eldariooirad]

I keep answering my questions, sorry! Another unintended consequence of shortening the suspension is that one is actually pre-loading the spring (reducing its travel distance), which may make a little harsher ride, especially for lightweight riders, considering that the seat of a 2019 CN750 is just about as soft as a brick with thin fabric covering.... May be the solution for shorter riders would be to wear high heels:):):):):). I think the solution would be a compromise in between reducing the motorcycle's height the least possible amount that would result in comfortably reaching the ground with the ball of both feet, rather than both feet flat on the ground. Of course, not two riders are alike. It is amazing how many unintended consequences such a small change in the suspension brings. Cheerio to all and thank you again Maynard.

[@MTMiser]

Yes, I did notice a difference - the handling got better. I think the lower center of gravity made the bike seem a little more nimble and a little easier to handle. As far as a harsher ride, yes that's possible, but it wasn't really noticeable for me. The roads around here are quite smooth so the only place I can usually test that is on my bumpy, gravel driveway and I'm traveling pretty slowly on that. At higher speeds (I've only had it up to 80 mph after the lowering) I haven't noticed any loss of stability at all.

[@p.santos6644]

Thank you for sharing. Was wondering, should you lower the same the front suspension to keep the bike balanced ?

[@MTMiser]

Yes, that's what I did. That part starts at 5:15 in the video. It turned out that I could only lower the front a half inch (12 mm) though, because any more than that and the fender extender would contact the plastic below the radiator during hard braking or when hitting a big pothole.

[@mitch4719]

Thanks for the very helpful video! Off-topic question, though. That looks like the Puig Touring windscreen. What hand guards are you using? Any interference at full lock? Thanks!

[@MTMiser]

They are 'Tusk D-Flex Handguards Black" - amzn.to/3cuiaXA . If I remember correctly they contacted the Puig at full lock but just barely. I did have to mess with the handguards a bit to get them to fit correctly. I've since replaced the Puig with a home made windshield so just going by memory. Those handguards come with white writing on them but I blacked it out.

[@gerardoantonio9001]

excellent budy,,,,.. how is suspension now?. to Tiff?

[@MTMiser]

It's great. But I don't ride off road and the asphalt is very smooth where I live. If you ride off road it will no doubt be too stiff.

[@igorrahuba1253]

Hello, can you explain how rear shock behaves after lowering the bike? Riding quality has changed (except height)? i mean control accuracy etc What about maximum load kg? the length of the chain is enough?

[@MTMiser]

I haven't noticed any difference in rear shock performance, and I don't know about maximum load changes. I don't usually carry much weight and I don't ride offroad except for my 1/4 mile rough gravel driveway. I have no issues with the chain length at all, still plenty of room for adjustment. The overall feel of the bike is much better for me though, I suspect mostly due to the center of gravity being even lower than it was before. It seems more nimble now.

[@igorrahuba1253]

Even wobbling or may be other negative effects? did you ride with second number?

[@MTMiser]

No wobbling at all. Like I said, I think it rides better than it did originally. No, I don't ride 2-up. You may need to experiment with it to get it right where you want it.

[@YesitisDex]

Awesome video BTW!

[@MTMiser]

Thanks!

[@KR-fn6sd]

Hi, me and my brother just bought this bike and find it high for us, we only have a side stand? How do we go about shortening that one the drop is done?

[@MTMiser]

I cut mine down. I cut the base plate off and then removed about one inch of the bottom of the arm, then welded the plate back on it. I have also heard (but haven't verified) that the side stand for the Honda NC700S works and is shorter, but I don't know how much shorter it is. A third option is to look on eBay for an adjustable side stand.

[@genoapb]

Do you have any still pics of this bike lowered? I'm seriously considering selling or trading my sportster 48 for one but would like it lower.

[@MTMiser]

See if this works: www.dropbox.com/s/xh6ef7ytx870kpf/FrontRightLow1.jpg?dl=0

[@gregs3032]

i put those lowering links on my crf250l and found that i lost some spring effect when lowering with this method

[@MTMiser]

That makes sense. I didn't really notice it on mine because I don't ride offroad and the asphalt is in good shape here.

[@jeremysoo1901]

Nice video,do you have difficulty putting it on main stand after lowering the bike?

[@MTMiser]

If you mean the center stand, yes. I can't get it on that stand anymore unless I roll the rear wheel up on a 2x4 block first. I just carry that small block in my side case in case I need it on the road.

[@jeremysoo1901]

+Maynard the Miser Thanks for the reply. I heard you can either cut the center stand or change it to a NC700S / NC750S center stand to work

[@MTMiser]

Yes, that's true.

[@TheMproton62]

Thanks.

[@davidortiz9859]

I’m in the market for a 2018 nc750x what is the max you can lower the bike for a short rider. I feel this bike will fit all my needs but I need it between 2 to 3 inches lower than factory

[@MTMiser]

Hi David - mine is a 2014 and I know there are differences between the new ones and those 2015 and older. So I don't really know. I'm reasonably sure mine could be lowered 2 inches without any problem, but I'm not sure about going lower than that. I read somewhere that Soupy's lowering links could lower the bike up to 4 inches, but I have no idea what kind of consequences that would have. Would it bottom out? Would the rear wheel hit the fender? There could be problems with the front wheel/fender hitting the radiator with that much drop as well, if it would even be possible to get it that low. Do you live in an area where the NC750S is sold? I think that has a factory seat height about an inch and a half lower than the X. Sorry I don't have more info for you.

[@briancooper1773]

Hi Maynard, thanks for the video as its the only in depth one I can find so far. I have a 29" inseam with tennis shoes on. Would 3/4" work for me on the balls of my feet close to flat footin it? And how high is your ground clearance now? No one can answer this for me on forums and Facebook yet. Thanks again.

[@MTMiser]

Hi Brian. Do you have one of these bikes now? Or are you asking to get an idea of how it would be? I've lowered the bike a little more than what this video shows after I added a Sit & Fly seat cover which raised me up a little more. It's hard to say what your experience would be but if I had to guess I'd say you'd be able to get the balls of your feet down with the bike lowered 3/4", especially if you've got the OEM seat. All bets are off with an aftermarket seat though. Most of those raise you up more. I'm not home but will try to get you a ground clearance measurement in the next couple of days.

[@briancooper1773]

Thanks Maynard, I don't have one atm, but looking to buy either the NC-X or CTX for mostly road use but frequent one gravel road (driveway and road in front of home) so looking forward to a mostly road bike with some ground clearance. If ground clearance is roughly the same as the stock CTX, I'll get the more comfortable seat on the CTX. I do love the style of the NC-X though and would prefer it. I just ordered a set of motorcycle boots too with 1.75" heels (yes for men) that may help. Will straddle one when I get them and can find a NC-X close by. I'd appreciate the ground clearance as I think to lower it 1" maybe necessary for me being so short legged.

[@MTMiser]

Sorry for the delay, Brian. I measured it this morning and it's about 4-3/4 inches. The lowest point seems to be the part that the lowering links bolt to. Since I've lowered it several times I'm not exactly sure how much I've taken off the OEM seat height anymore, but maybe something like 1-1/4 inches. I don't have the OEM seat anymore so can't measure that. For what it's worth, I also have a gravel driveway and it's pretty rutted, about a quarter mile long. No issues at all with clearance problems.

[@briancooper1773]

Thank you Maynard. Clearance sounds ok still for my needs. Guess it will have to do.

[@CreativeGeniusNow]

Hi, question - Is it possible to lower the bike 3" & still have the bike handle properly? I'm looking at getting the NC700X, but would want lower it 3 inches ideally. Looks like the kit will let you lower that much, but not sure if the bike geometry does? Thanks!

[@MTMiser]

I really don't know. You might be able to get it down that low in the rear but I don't know how the suspension would be affected. Would the rear wheel hit the bottom of the seat over bumps? I seriously doubt the front could be lowered that much. The front fender would probably be hitting the plastic around the radiator. You might take a look at the CTX700, which has the same engine but is quite a bit lower.

[@hendroan0312]

maynard thanks for your video. i am a beginner , pardon me for my question...i have tried to adjust the preload to softer position, from 3 to 1 and lowered the front fork as well, but not enough for flat footed. i just got alowered link kits from lust racing. please tell me how i detrmine how much to lower the front fork comparing to the rear lowered distance >>? thanks.

[@MTMiser]

After measuring the bike and the angle of the front forks it appeared to me that for every inch it is lowered in the rear the front forks must be raised 1.3 inches in order to keep the bike at the same angle front to rear as when it was stock. But I couldn't raise my front forks that much, because the front fender extender would contact the plastic below the radiator during full compression of the forks. So I ended up raising the forks a half an inch and left it at that. I have had no ill effects from that, but I didn't change my preload either, so your situation may be different.

[@luck758]

your vídeo very intersted thank you

[@namelessfriend5680]

I’m 5’3 and a beginner . Thinking about getting the Nc700xDct . Will I be able to lower it enough so I can flat foot? And how heavy is it ?

[@MTMiser]

I believe the DCT version is about 500 pounds, the X is about 475. Stock seat height is 32.7 inches. Your inseam is the most important measurement when it comes to flat footing. Mine is 30 inches, and I had to drop the bike about an inch to be able to flat foot it. I can't say whether you'll be able to or not. If not, you could possibly try a combination of things - lowering the bike, getting some thick soled boots, and a lower seat. Or look at a bike with a lower seat height, such as the Honda CTX700 DCT, with a stock seat height of 28.3 inches.

[@namelessfriend5680]

Maynard the Miser thanks

[@zxer46northrider95]

hi, don´t u know if doing this just back , can we get better driving position? because original positin push driver to front every brake time.

[@MTMiser]

Well, not sure I'd do it that way. Many people raise the front of the seat to get rid of that slope toward the front.

[@robertfeliciano2043]

I presume to raise it you would need shorter bones and to do the opposite than you do ?

[@MTMiser]

Yes, that's correct. But I've never done that so I don't know what the potential pitfalls are (if there are any).

[@TheMproton62]

any idea where to buy the 2 links for the rear absorber?

[@MTMiser]

You can get them at amzn.to/3tOTfDn (this link is specific to the NC700X). I get a small commission if you use this link, but there is no increased cost to you.

[@snakeyes556]

If i only lower the rear 1in is it necessary to lower the front as well?

[@MTMiser]

Some don't, especially when they're only lowering the rear an inch or so. But lowering the front a half inch worked out well for me. It seems to handle better than it did at the original height.

[@impermeabledude3111]

You should tighten and loctite after adjustment

[@robertfeliciano2043]

Can I lift the motorcycle 1-2 inches with this links?? How can I do that?

[@MTMiser]

I would think so but I'm not sure how much you could raise it. You'd just need to turn the hex piece in the middle of the Soupy's links to make the overall length shorter than the OEM links. Shortening the links raises the bike, lengthening them lowers it. I'm just not sure if you can shorten these enough to get the bike 2" taller. Then you would have to see if you could raise the front up to match. You would do that by lowering the front forks. If I remember correctly, those were already about flush with the top clamps that hold them, so lowering them may not be possible.

[@mars9313]

If you don’t mind me asking how tall are you?

[@MTMiser]

5' 7", 30-inch inseam.

[@andyreisch6755]

I lowered my NC750X and found I could not get it onto the centre stand anymore. In fact I used to challenge people to get it on the main stand and never found anyone who could do it on their own. I ended up removing it.

[@MTMiser]

Very true, Andy. I can't get mine on to the center stand either, unless I roll the rear wheel up onto a small 2x4 block first, as shown in the video at 0:52. I carry that block with me in case I need to put it on the center stand out on the road somewhere. At some point I'll probably cut that stand down some. I did cut my side stand down about an inch.

[@TyStyckify]

No headlight adj needed?

[@MTMiser]

No, it wasn't necessary on my bike. There wasn't that much of a difference in the angle that the bike sat at. But I could see how that could be affected, if the rear was dropped quite a bit more.

[@junmaximo]

How many millimeters it goes down from the original seat height?

[@MTMiser]

I lowered it about 25 mm.

[@junmaximo]

@@MTMiser didn't affect the performance upon lowering? I watched some negative reviews cause of lowering bikes. What can you say about your experience mate...

[@MTMiser]

@@junmaximo I believe it rides better than it did before. I think the lowered center of gravity is what made it feel even better.

[@YesitisDex]

I'm 5'3..is there any hope? :/

[@MTMiser]

As far as flat footing inseam is more important than total height. Soupy's lowering links claim to be able to lower the bike up to 4 inches which would make the seat height of the NC700 around 28 inches. But as I said earlier I'd be afraid to lower it that much due to the rear wheel hitting the bottom side of the seat, etc. You might be better off with a cruiser type bike. As far as I know the CTX700 comes with the same engine and transmission options but has a seat height of 28.3 inches from the factory, and I don't know for sure but maybe it could be lowered further as well. Something to look into anyway. Edit - according to Soupy's the CTX700 can also be lowered up to 4 inches (which I'd also be wary of but it's a good sign anyway). See here: soupysperformance.com/honda-ctx700-ctx700n-all-years.html

[@YesitisDex]

Maynard the Miser thank you for the quick response! Deffinetly not looking in a cruiser or sports bike anytime soon haha

[@Vinnymaximum]

how tall are you sir?

[@MTMiser]

5 foot 7. (170 cm). 30 inch (76 cm) inseam.

[@RetiredAdventurers]

Thanks for the video, I'm thinking of getting that bike but I'm 5'6" , What is your new seat height now that you installed the lowering kit, thx

[@MTMiser]

Steve - my seat height is 30.5 inches with the bike level and no weight on it. But I only lowered it as much as I needed to flat foot it, which was about one inch. I could have lowered it much more than that with these lowering links, which are adjustable. They claim they can bring it down 4 inches, but I'd be worried about the rear wheel bottoming out and scraping all kinds of things in turns going down that far. Also, the stock seat height for this bike is listed at 32.7 inches, so it might appear that I lowered it over 2 inches, but I have a Seat Concepts "low" seat on it - not the OEM seat, so that's why the numbers don't add up. Note on this particular aftermarket seat - although it's lower than the OEM seat, I did not notice any difference in my ability to flat foot the bike from the OEM seat.. I believe this is due to the new seat being a bit flatter and wider at the point where my legs go over the edge of it, so my legs are a bit more spread out. Comfort wise it's a huge improvement over the OEM seat.

[@RetiredAdventurers]

Ok thanks, I saw your Seat Video too, I'm also looking at the CTX 700 too, thanks for all the info and help

[@Claudio_perches]

CB 500x lowering ????

[@MTMiser]

No idea. I don't have one of those.

[@OperationFoxley19441]

What would possess someone to want to lower this bike, if anything I would want to raise my Nc750x by 5mm......

[@MTMiser]

Short legs.

[@markrichards2634]

29 inch inseam, 5-8 ft and the bike is too high at rest. The stock seat height is wayyy up there, over 32 inches the highest of about any stock street bike. So lower it to get a useable safe position at rest and stopped.

[@PaintHerWhite]

I can't understand why Honda felt these bikes needed so much suspension travel. These are not dirt bikes.

[@MTMiser]

They were aiming for the "adventure bike" market. Many do use these for dirt touring. The consensus, from what I can tell, is that they really aren't that good off road with the stock suspension and many buy aftermarket suspension products to beef them up. The only dirt I ride on is my quarter-mile long gravel driveway, so the stock suspension works fine for my purposes.

[@markrichards2634]

Soupy's - soupysperformance.com/honda/nc700x.html

[@luck758]

Hi bro I living in south Brasil , KZbin have some vídeos about my nc700x You can see and coment please. luck75motovlog

[@dylan7lb]

bikers can split lanes, as well as biders Ha - oops, John

[@camilovelasquez4578]

Not the smartest thing to do completely affects the handling

[@MTMiser]

Yes, it did affect the handling. It made it better!

[@camilovelasquez4578]

@@MTMiser oh nice maybe the shock is harder and helps cornering, some bikes get jumpy if you feel it good is all that matters, ride safe I also own a nc700x