Riding a motorcycle is a very personal affair. What one person loves, others will hate and vice versa. At first glance, the Honda NT650V - Deauville may not be everyones cup of tea. As more and more people get in to biking, or return to biking after many years away, the demand for stylish, high powered performance bikes is the driving force behind most of the major manufacturers.
For the last 8 years or so, the king of the large touring section has been the Honda Pan European (ST1100). This reliable, comfortable shaft drive bike has found its way in to the highly competitive market of big tourers, even dominating the market as the choice of most of British Police forces as their main traffic response bike.
However, many people have found the Pan to be too big and heavy for day to day commuting, with fuel effeciencies not that much better than a small car. It was here that Honda, in typical Japenese style, found the niche in the market. A mid-range tourer, with sporty ability, light enough to be easy to ride, yet sturdy enough for everyday use in all weathers. what the came up with was the Deauville.
In simplist terms, the Deauville is an adaptation of the now aging NTV600, a reliable V-twin shaft drive. The frame is nothing fancy, but its strong, light and predictable. The main and obvious differnce is the new body work that covers this frame, which includes a half fairing, with optional tall screen (Very similar to the Pan European), large panniers that are incorporated in to the tail section, and very aerodynamically shaped. The fairing has several little cubbies for storage of items, and the list of optional extras which includes a 6 CD multi-changer, 12v socket, and a Traffic Master system.
My own Deauville is a 1999 registered bike, in red, with the optional tall screen and handlebar wind deflectors. I took possesion of it in February 2002, with 17,000 miles on the clock.
Since then, I have taken a Honda MAC course (highly recommended) and my Institute of Advanced Motorists motorcycle test, as well as covering over 2000 miles of my own.
The first impression when sitting on the Deauville is its size. It "feels" like a big bike. And yet, just rolling it out of the garage, it shows that it is light and superbly balanced. It does not take a handful of steroids in the morning to manhandle it out of its parking space, and it wont need them once on the road either.
Controls are all typical Honda. Clear, concise and well placed. The 648cc V-twin is normally carburated with electronic ignition and the now standard H.I.S.S immobilizing system. Its starts and settles to idle without fuss or drama, with a deep yet refined exhaust note. The 5speed gearbox is smooth, positive and crisp. As one pulls away, the natural balance of the bike takes over within half a wheel rotation. Around town, the very torquey V-twin allows you to select 3rd gear which will pull u easily from a near standstill up to over 60mph without any distress. Its agile frame allows for easy filtering of busy traffic queues, with the confidence of knowing that there is the agility and exceptional braking available to you if the un-thinkable happens.
On open roads, the cornering ability is sturdy and sure footed. this is not a "get-your-knee-down-racing-bike" yet still handles smoothly and laps up bends like a cat with a saucer of cream. Again the torque from that v-twin makes for almost effortless riding, with gearshifting only required occaisionally, and not the constant up and down shifting required of many of the modern superbikes.
After 2 or 3 hours in the saddle, you are still comfortable, without the back breaking strains often encountered on sports bikes. And whilst it is conceeded that the power of this bike is no match for the likes of the CBR600's or ZX6R's of this world, do you really need that much raw power to enjoy a days touring? The power that the Deauville offers is refined, clean and usable, and will also give you fuel returns in the 50-55 mpg range, even on spirited rides.
In short, Honda have created a spot in the market that as yet, no-one else has tried to probe. Mid range touring, at the right price, with the advantages of big bike feel, but without the backache!
This is going to take a lot of beating.
More details
Purchase Price
Approx £5,000 new - From £3,000 used
Performance
Good
Reliability
Excellent
Customer service
Good
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