First Impressions

Integra impressions.

Well, I finally managed to get a test ride on an Integra today, I had to travel 80 miles for it, but as I was taking my daughter back to Uni as well, I killed 2 birds with one stone! Happily, it was a bright, sunny day, chilly with a strong breeze. The Red machine I rode looks nice and feels well put together, as Honda's should

First thoughts on seeing the bike for the first time was how compact and dinky it is, no hassle whatsoever slinging my right leg over and plonking myself down on the ... “Geez, that’s hard”, seat! Happily it seemed Ok after 40mins  All the controls as they say, came easily to hand apart from the stupid horn and indicator combination, with a massive switch for the horn above the indicator switch that is tucked away underneath. Not good until you have used the bike for quite a few miles I would suggest...

Firing the bike up and straight away a surprise as the engine felt more V-twin like than I thought it could, in spite of all the stuff in the brochures about the crank layout etc, and pulling away after I sorted out the drive switch it felt a lot like my old Transalp! Nice. It pulled away with a nice throbbing motion and straight away the DCT was saving fuel..... 20mph and I was in 4th!

For the first few miles, I left the bike in “Drive” auto and let the bike do the work while I sorted out how the bike felt and what have you. Urban use and you would slap in in auto and leave it there all day, until you started “stop’n go” and then “sports” mode was useful as it meant a better getaway in the traffic lights grand prix. Once I got the feel of the bike, I left the bike in drive on auto and used the DCT manual switch to drop a gear when needed for acceleration and latterly, for dropping into a bend or an overtake.

Ride was OK, nothing to set the world alight on the short ride I had, and I can see why some have criticised Honda’s budget suspension,but nothing new there, but the front end can be easily sorted, the back... again can be sorted, but after spending £7500, should you have to?? I would question that the bike would tour 2-up with luggage without some work too. I only did very modest bend swinging, but it was enough to tell me that it knocks spots off the Swing, suspension is better and those big wheels win out...

Performance was fine, not a sports bike, but that wasn’t what I wanted, enough low end power to pull away strongly and 80 was easily reached on the M’way I found, where it was stable and well planted. The protection was disappointing from the screen and I suspect most will go for a Givi aftermarket screen with “wings” to keep wind and rain off their mitts PDQ. The fairing lowers will disappoint any scooter rider as they really need the deflectors to keep the legs out of the wind blast.

The big killer to my placing my expected order down on my return from the ride was the ergonomics of the bike. I am 6ft and there is simply not enough room downstairs for my 31” legs, and size 10 feet! My knees knock the rear of the fairing and the footrest at the front is way too small to put your foot on in a proper “feet first” manner. So your feet are pretty well constrained in the same way as a footpeg, possibly OK for a motorcyclist, but any scooter rider will laugh at it  Try tucking your feet to the back of the foorboard, and your knees are chattering against the plastics!

‘I think the Integra will suit a shorter rider, say 5’8” and as I said to my SO on my return, if she passed her test and wanted a first proper tourer, it would be about perfect. For me, not a hope.

Personally,I think Honda have cocked up and missed a chance with the Integra. Anyone moving from a Burgman or Silverwing will find far too many compromises as will bikers looking for a commuter type machine. I wanted the positive areas of a compromise that the Integra seemed to offer, but it wasn’t to be. Put the engine/gearbox technology which is superb, into a better form factor, maybe I will look again.

Thanks to Hunts of Manchester for the ride out and hospitality on their Open Day.

Sad the weather protection is not there. Probably won't show up on US market anyway. One advantage of scooters has always been dry feet for daily riders.

I buy at least one new bike/scooter each year, because I can and it is fun. Right now SillverWing/Burgman ring my chimes, if Vespa had good national dealer network and parts service in N America a new 4 stroke might be fun.

Thanks for the review Steve, although the Integra has never been on a wish list of mine your comments have confirmed my initial thoughts on ergonomics. The weather protection too looks mighty disappointing.

Waspie wrote:

Thanks for the review Steve, although the Integra has never been on a wish list of mine your comments have confirmed my initial thoughts on ergonomics. The weather protection too looks mighty disappointing.

The weather protection aspects could be sorted easily enough Doug, albeit for a few quid, but the "sizing" of the bike escapes me to be quite honest. Who is the Integra for??

As the evening has gone on, I am realising that I am desperately disappointed with with the reality of the Integra, and I really, really wanted it to be right for me...

I guess I am too old and cynical now to be taken in by glossy plastic and pretty girls. well pretty girls still do it ...

john grinsel wrote:

Sad the weather protection is not there. Probably won't show up on US market anyway. One advantage of scooters has always been dry feet for daily riders.

I buy at least one new bike/scooter each year, because I can and it is fun. Right now SillverWing/Burgman ring my chimes, if Vespa had good national dealer network and parts service in N America a new 4 stroke might be fun.

I cannot see why it would show up either as it is not a machine for the US, I suspect from my conversations here....

Handling wise, I reckon it'll knock any maxiscoot into the weeds including the T-Max, with a corresponding shot of FUN. I think if the rider will fit the Integra, they will be delighted with their purchase

Steve,

Thanks for the nice write up. I was hoping it would have at least as much room as the SWing but knew it would have less storage and looked a lot thinner. But it almost sounds like it is the size of the Reflex (U.S.) or Forza I think in Europe and Japan.

I will try the NX700c , MC, version of this bike and see how it fits. I hear others really like it and it gets great mpg's.

JeffR_ wrote:

Steve,

Thanks for the nice write up. I was hoping it would have at least as much room as the SWing but knew it would have less storage and looked a lot thinner. But it almost sounds like it is the size of the Reflex (U.S.) or Forza I think in Europe and Japan.

I will try the NX700c , MC, version of this bike and see how it fits. I hear others really like it and it gets great mpg's.

I joined the UK NC700 forum and as you say, reports back on the 700x are pretty positive. I found it small though when I sat on it, but I am used to trail bikes being...bigger.

Also, the Integra is very slim after the Swing!! No bad thing at all and the ride really was nice, if only it was bigger or more sensibly, they had thought more about the front fairing which is for me, the cause of the problems i (and any other person over 5'8 will have with the bike.

I am totally agree with you that First Impressions are creates a good impact on the mindset of customers. It is very necessary for every customers to have a likeness at first time seen towards all types of bikes.

Thanks for the review! Before I did 1,700mi last year and didn't know the SW was a good tourer; this bike would have appealed to me. But now you have killed my interest (good thing) by saying it is not for taller riders. I'm 6'3" and the SW pushes my tolerance for cramped.

Still..if it were an 800...I'd still be interested :D Maybe the Aprilia

Thanks again

I had a test ride 2 weeks ago on an integra and I also was quite dissapointed, the gearbox although very clever, just got on my nerves, all you really need is auto mode, I found the different modes just too fiddly . its not as comfy as the s/wing, not as much weather protection as the s/wing, nowhere as much luggage capacity as the s/wing, chain drive, not a step through so you have to cock your leg over like a motorbike, not as easy to clean as the s/wing, the rear shock is left wide open to muck spinning off the back wheel while the exhaust downpipe will get showered by the front wheel.Its also 1000 pounds more than the s/wing.
The MPG figures on the integra are impressive but thats the only plus in my book, thats why I bought a new silverwing, and I know I wont regret it.

marco wrote:

Its also 1000 pounds more than the s/wing.

I hope it has a car engine then.

Indeed it does. It basically has a Honda Fit engine, snapped in half.

My local Honda dealer told me that recently two people had come in, independently, thinking about buying an Integra and both being unimpressed, ended up buying Silver Wings

I was the third...!!

Atrick wrote:

My local Honda dealer told me that recently two people had come in, independently, thinking about buying an Integra and both being unimpressed, ended up buying Silver Wings

I was the third...!!

I think I have seen one Integra in the wild since the launch, so I would be VERY interested to hear what the sales figures have been like in Europe??

The NC700x on the other hand is a real success, lots about and some very happy owners too, both DCT and manual box.