Honda NTV600/650 (1988-1997)

As the title suggests, if you see an NTV with high mileage don't be put off! I recently bought my neighbours old bike off him and it has 151,000 YES 151,000 miles. Considering most of these are commuter/courier bikes and thus are a source someones income although weathered on the outside they are probably well looked after. I brought mine as a hack to work and back as upcoming roadworks/traffic and fuel costs tempted me to buy it. As other reviews have stated 50+mpg is easy on one of these. In real money that mean £18 will get you 200ish miles before you flick to reserve. As for the ride, although a little tired everything is still there and if it aint been replaced once its been replaced twice. Very good brakes although the front on mine is a little week, a gearbox from a Combine Harvester requires technique to shift quickly but as MCN stated its built to last! its begging for a 6th gear as 80mph = 5,000rpm in 5th. The Engine is rock solid with smooth power right up to the r'line and has a little induction roar to boot too! For Commuting and filtering its superb, its far easier then my 1998 Firestorm. So to wrap it up... the NTV will never be able to step to a Bandit6 or Hornet in terms of out-an-out ability, (i had a Bandit6 as my first bike). However New to biking...want a V Twin... can't yet afford an SV, try one you'll be suprised. Insurance is cheap too i'm 22 and pay £250 with euro cover + breakdown + ride any bike. But most importantly it will take anything you can throw at it + you don't see many on the hard shoulder awaitng the revoery men! Safe biking!

The NTV650 is part of a bike family that includes the Revere, the Bros 650/400, and the US Hawk GT (essentially the Bros 650; very popular in the US as a base for modifications). They're some of the best-handling, best-made bikes ever to come out of the Honda stable; probably neglected a little at the time because they weren't cheap, but then quality isn't -- single-sided swingarm, beautiful cast wheels, twin-spark, 3-valve cylinders, lovely stainless exhaust system (especially the 'stubby' one on the Broses), and a chassis that has a lot in common with Honda's 1980s two-stroke racers. Find any of these bikes in good nick, keep on top of maintenance (though to be honest it's easy) and you'll have a bike that'll make you very happy for a long time.

my ntv is a 1996 with 73000 on the clock i use it every day,starts first time and runs lovely,i get about 210 miles before i have to swich on reserve,if i get another bike it will have to be a ntv650 01-05.i buy my bike on ebay for £551,just pure luck.

A reliable dependable Honda with "character" complete with shaft drive housed in a single sided swinging arm which makes rear wheel removal easy. "character" = good engine sound; just enough engine vibration for you to notice; gearbox design by Honda's agricultural machinery division; decent sized fuel tank and fuel economy to give a good range; 57bhp & a "flat" 38ftlbs torque output, OK off the mark but runs out of steam and gears too soon. Can Honda san design me a modern styled 1000cc version using a tuned for touring/economy/torquey VTR motor, and a similar single sided shaft drive rear? NOT the latest derivative automatic 700cc plastic fantastic Honda DNA!

great fun to ride, power when needed, great as my hack & touring bike

I've ridden a couple of NTV650s, but prefer my smaller, alloy framed, chain driven version. Plus points: amazing reliability (I've completed 119,000 km on it since 1996, and have replaced: Fuel Pump, front and rear discs (the front's are very large and eventually warp, either standard or EBC). Currently running ABE front disc. Oh, and the petrol tank rusted through on the right hand side, which I repaired with putty. Rear fairing has cracks in it, which don't appear to be getting worse. Minus points: the chain is out of line with the swing arm which makes adjusting slightly tricky, and requires a special tool. Some of the nuts and bolts are rusting a bit, but this bike is 20 years old and lives on the street. Goes onto reserve wit little warning, which can cause the occasional stall at traffic lights. Equipment a bit spartan; have added Daytona heated grips which are ace. Handling is very good (not quite on par with my old NC30), but very precise and forgiving. The motor is fun, and breathes through K&Ns, dynojet and Supertrapp exhaust, which gives it a rorty note and enables the bike to fire away from junctions faster than almost any other bike on my daily commute. As a pillion bike it's a little cramped, though we made it out to the Czech republic two up in 1996. Overall, fun bike to own, and I look forward to clocking up 100,000 miles in a couple of years. Humbug