2014–2019 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Anime-Born Street Cruiser
The NM4 Vultus is Honda at its most daring. Its styling takes its cue from the anime film Akira: a massive front fairing, sharp angular panels and a cockpit that wraps around you like a fighter jet's. Park it anywhere and people walk over to ask what it is. Under that bodywork is proven hardware from the NC750 family. The 745 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin makes 55 hp and 50 lb-ft, and it comes standard with Honda's Dual Clutch Transmission. That pairing explains the whole bike. The look is radical, while the mechanicals are calm and sorted.
It rides the way a long, low cruiser should. The 64.7 in (1,643 mm) wheelbase keeps it planted at highway speed, and the 25.6 in (650 mm) seat lets almost anyone put both feet flat. The DCT does the shifting, so a returning rider has very little to learn. Running costs are low and reliability is strong. There is one known issue to check: the shift drum center bolt inside the DCT can work loose and make the 2nd-to-3rd shift difficult. This bike is for riders who care more about presence than pace. At 562 lb (255 kg) with a 3.1 gal (11.6 L) tank, it is neither a sprinter nor a long-legged tourer.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 55 hp (40 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) |
| Displacement | 745 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-18 |
| Rear tire | 200/50-17 |
| Wheelbase | 64.7 in (1643 mm) |
| Seat height | 25.6 in (650 mm) |
| Wet weight | 562 lb (255 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.1 gal (11.6 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
Over the years I've listened to what NM4 owners say: in the paddock, at club nights, in chats at gas stops, and in the messages riders send me directly. The pattern is clear. Owners find it rides better than its looks suggest, and their gripes are about taste, choice and cost.
Riders consistently describe the NM4 as plush and relaxed over a full day, easy to live with on a commute or a long day trip. Many are surprised by how it handles. Owners report more lean angle and ground clearance than the low bodywork implies, enough for some spirited riding before the feelers touch down. Once rolling, some say it feels lighter than expected and changes direction easily.
The styling splits riders. Traditional cruiser fans often call it overdone, and almost nobody is indifferent. A recurring complaint is the lack of choice: the NM4 only came with the DCT, so riders who like working a clutch have no alternative. Some owners also question the money. It cost more at launch than the closely related NC750 and CTX, and its exclusivity keeps used prices relatively high, which not everyone finds justified.
Shift drum center bolt may loosen
The shift drum center bolt inside the DCT can loosen over time, causing difficulty shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear and, in one documented case (2016 model), the bike to pop out of gear. A Honda service bulletin exists, and the fix involves replacing the bolt with thread-locking compound. The problem appears rare and is not an official recall.
Where this Honda NM4 Vultus pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the NM4 Vultus is actually built for.
If riding is part of who you are and you want to be noticed at a big rally, this bike will get you noticed. Just know it swaps the classic cruiser look and sound for a futuristic statement.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Your passenger will like the flip-up backrest, and the bike stays calm on the open highway. But a 3.1 gal tank and no cruise control mean more stops than a true big-mile tourer wants.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
It is at home at a relaxed pace through small towns and scenic byways. If classic style is what draws you, be honest with yourself: this bike looks forward, not back.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
