last Wednesday I got my new Ride for the coming months and its a Honda NC700XA!
Having done just over a 100mls commuting since than I decided today I would run her in properly.
my starting mileage was:

and the tank was still more than half full.
First I went around Berkshire towards West Berks and than headed to Basingstoke, Hampshire. The roads were pretty wet still and greasy, but the NC is very planted and with ABS on-board I can brake whenever, wherever...

soon I found myself on even smaller road, with no traffic and the little NC purred along nicely.

Hampshire is very pretty and picturesque and with some many old churches and house I stopped a view times to took photos...here is a nice one

I than tried a couple of "green" lanes or better mud lanes to see what the NC is like on the rougher stuff and it coped well. Tyres are an obvious limitation compare to the knobblies on my XR400 but I had trouble and the ABS and smooth power delivery made it easy to ride through. Bike got nice and filthy too.


I thank stopped for quick cuppa and also chatted to a fellow rider on his 12er BMW GSA - he could not believe that I took the 4 days old machine off-road for a bit! but well there is a first for everything....

i guess the bike looked pretty dirty at that stage

this was the only bit of blue sky I had all day, but I did not mind

I also tried a bit of the faster roads and the bike is also fully at home at higher speeds..

the fuel gauge started showing reserve at 176 miles and I push on as I wanted to get to 200+. luckely these bikes are so fuel efficient that I made the 200 mark with no problems at all

the Bike took 12.11 liters which give me 75mpg (UK) = 3.75l/100km = very good considering its been off-road, high speed etc.

there you have it - first Tank successfully emptied and replenished. I rode another 60mls before getting home
after almost doing 170 miles - I took one last picture before heading home.

The bike ran perfect all day ( I did not expect anything else...). I was comfy, light, handled very well, sure footed and economical. I found myself cruising mainly in 5th or 6th gear on the lanes at speeds between 50-70mph. Overtakes are easy. my SLR camera together with my rucksack fitted nicely in the luggage space - very clever that!
Anyway, that it for now.
Thanks and Greetings.
Lars