CARB Certifies 2015 Honda NC700X – Still No 750 Engine in Sight

American consumers hoping Honda would replace its NC700X with the larger-displacement NC750X will be disappointed to know they might have to wait until the 2016 model year to get the 75cc engine upgrade.

The California Air Resources Board has granted an executive for the 2015 Honda NC700X, certifying the motorcycle for sale in the state with the same 670cc engine displacement it had since being introduced in the 2012 model year. Now, this doesn’t mean Honda won’t decide to certify the 745cc engine after all; manufacturers resubmit and recertify models all the time, often replacing models are adding additional model using the same engine. Unless that happens here however, it looks like American Honda will again offer the 700 model for 2015.

Outside the U.S., meanwhile, Honda offers the NC750X which uses a 745cc engine introduced in 2014. The larger displacement was achieved by increasing the cylinder bore by 4mm to 77mm while keeping the same 80mm stroke. Honda also added a second balancer shaft to further reduce vibrations at high rpms. Honda claims the larger engine offers more power and torque across the rev range, peaking at 54 hp and 50 ft-lb. compared to 51 hp and 45 ft-lb. from the 670cc powerplant.

The NC700X won’t be the only U.S. Honda model using the 670cc engine. The 2015 Honda NM4 uses a similar 670cc engine in the U.S. while in Europe (where it is known as the NM4 Vultus) it will use the larger powerplant.

CARB has yet to release documents certifying the Honda CTX700 and CTX700N, which also use the NC powerplant, for 2015. For 2014, CARB released a single executive order certifying the CTX and NC models together but the 2015 document only lists the NC700X. Again, Honda may still certify the CTX700 with the same engine for 2015, but until it does, we can hold out hope for a 2015 CTX750.

[Source: CARB]

By Dennis Chung