‘Up to a quarter of a million miles and still going strong’
Steve Lee has ridden to the moon on his Honda NC750X...
Bike 2014 Honda NC750X Total miles Around 240,000 Rider Steve Lee
Age 62
Miles per year 40,000
“I’M NOT 100% sure how many miles the Honda has done — it’s on its third speedo — but my records say it is somewhere between 230,000 and 250,000 miles, which isn’t bad in six years.
“I set up my own courier firm, Concierge Couriers, in 2009 but after running two BMW R1150RTS and a Guzzi Breva, I needed something that wouldn’t let me down and could cover big miles. The BMWS started to get expensive with clutches, electrical issues and even a valve failure. I transport medical equipment, horse embryos and even horse semen amongst other things and can’t afford to be stuck at the side of the road, as the loads could be ruined.
“I did consider buying a Pan but the NC is light, agile, economical and also not too tempting to go fast on — my licence is my work. I went for the X as it is a bit more comfortable with its upright riding position and a conventional gearbox.
“During our time together the NC has only not started once, which was due to a wire corroding on the back of the ignition switch at around 150,000 miles and was a simple fix. I change the brake pads every 20,000 miles or so, the discs last about 80,000 miles, my Tutoro oiler sees the chain and sprockets last 25,000 miles (I buy quality items) and I rebuild and re-grease the suspension linkages regularly. My top tip is to use GT85, which has PTFE in it, to protect the switchgear from water and to lube the fork legs, which I reckon helps the seals last longer. I’ve only changed mine once, so it must be doing something.
“I’ve been knocked off a few times and the bike is actually a write-off, which I bought back from the insurance company in 2016. I’ve fitted Givi crash bars and luggage, which have protected the bike and it doesn’t look like it has been crashed, which is important as I don’t want to appear scruffy. And the exhaust is still standard, as I work with stables and don’t want to scare horses.
“Despite its mileage, I have no worries that the NC will let me down; it is just such an incredibly reliable machine and a true testament to Honda’s reputation for engineering excellence and building solid workhorses.”