HONDA NT700V DEAUVILLE (2006 - 2015) Review

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £150

Bit top heavy, dropped mine once on a slow turn into a busy (pedestrians) car park. Good tank range and adequate power. Can plod along lazily or pick up her skirts and fly when necessary. Good protection, all you feel is a draft around the ankles. Plenty of storage, I rarely bother with the top box any more.

Buying experience: From a dealer, so price higher than I'd like, but many extras already fitted, heated grips, hand wind deflectors so swings and roundabouts. happy enough with the bike.

Version: VA

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £70

Originally purchased this bike for some distance cruising and as I'm not a major fan of 'sports' bikes, this fitted the bill very well. I bought it in 2020 and its a 2007 model registered in Late 2008, so it was already 13 years old when I had it, but had been cared for by its previous owner as was apparent by the amount of paperwork and service receipts that came with it. The clock showed c25K miles. Wonderfully comfortable, upright riding position, great bodywork protection, excellent storage with the built in panniers and top box all colour matched, not the biggest or most powerful engine but absolutely solid and definitely underrated motorcycle. The dash has everything you need, Odo, revs, fuel and water gauges, oil light, HISS light and ABS lights, Clock, trip counters and fuel computer, so it's very well equipped from that aspect. The bikes' weight makes it tricky to manoeuvre in tight spaces from off the ground, but the weight isn't noticed when aboard and riding. Very unfairly described as a Dullsville, probably by those who've never ridden one, these bikes are a really good, solid cruiser good on fuel, and ideal for touring.

Buying experience: Bought privately for just about 2.7k with 25k miles, not unhappy with the price or the bike at this point.

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £150

Very underated bike

Year: 2007

Brilliantly reliable shaft drive bike. Comfy cruising at 80 mph all day. Handles well for the weight. Major problems are mainly that it is quite heavy and not the quickest bike around (though still easy to pass lines of fast moving cars on single carriageway roads)

Buying experience: Bought from Hartgate in Mitcham back in 2007. Got a good price for my bike and they had the best price for the Deauville. Had the bike serviced there, even after they ceased to be a Honda dealer, until I moved too far away.

Version: Honda Deauville NT700VA (abs, and Linked Brakes)

Year: 2007

The best features for me are its superb V-Twin Engine capable of stonking high mileage’s, solid build quality, good wind protection, frugal with fuel, don’t think it deserves its Dull Lable, don’t like the pannier catches they are a let down.

Buying experience: My bike is truly like new, wherever I look, nuts, fasteners and absolutely everything is like new and it’s done 25000 miles which I know is nothing but it cost me £3999 two years ago from a dealer which I think was top penny. But it’s a gem with many years of life in it so I shouldn’t grumble

Year: 2010

I've owned the 2010 bike for almost three months and 3,000miles now and had zero issues,the bike came with extensive service records like you wouldn't believe with all old MOTs which was reassuring it really is in A1 condition needing nothing doing to at all.A gem!

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer(Arnolds Leicester) who were great to deal with I paid £3,400 for a 2010 model with 26,000miles on and a ton of extensive paperwork including a workshop manual and a spare clutch cable,there was a rear brake pads advisory on the one month old MOT and without any mention from me Arnold's replaced the pads in their PDI checkover. I'm very happy with the deal and the bike is proving to be a good choice.

Year: 2006

I have put the 700cc and 2006 whereas my bike is actually the 650cc version and is a 2002

Buying experience: I bought mine in 2017 from the leading Honda Dealership in Glasgow for £2,700

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £120

Good mid sized tourer shaft drive loads of storage

Buying experience: Brought from local dealer great deal on bike plus good deal on part exchange

Version: 650

Year: 2002

650 - Shaft drive…strong engine…linked brakes good…Wider pannier lids good …Honda touring screen good…riding position good…agile handling…ok on Motorway/Autovia…Pillion does not upset the ride…cheap to run…not fashionable = Cheap to buy. For me personally after many many bikes it’s a Sublimely capable budget tourer

Version: NT700 VA

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £600

Frugal, unflappably stable in bad conditions, and ultimately reliable, this is my much beloved all year commuter bike.

Buying experience: I bought privately when the market was low in December - not intentionally though, due to an accident I happened to be looking at that time. The bike was advertised at 2350, and I ended up getting it for 2250, with 30 K on the clock, heated grips, charger outlet, spare set of wide pannier lids, and some other parts. Apart from tyres, oil and filters it has needed no major spend despite piling the miles on.

Version: Non abs.

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £1

OK, but that's all. Too fat and heavy. Lazy design.

Version: 650

Year: 2004

I bought this bike to keep the miles off my 2015 MT09 Tracer, my Wife who also rides (GSR750) stated "people will throw things at you as you ride past, if you are seen on a Dulsville" Mmmmm I thought. So after wearing a different helmet and different kit I set off with my mate Mark to Mid Wales, hoping not to be seen or identified by anyone I know. We stopped at 3 different locations and I was greeted with "God she is in good nick" or " I had one of them, best bike I ever rode, took me and my mate and luggage all around Europe. Never missed a beat". My mate Mark was speechless, no one mentioned his R1200RT :-( I never get comments about the Tracer to that level. So to conclude,I see this as the best of both Worlds, MT09 Tracer for a weekend blast and 4500 miles round Europe on the Deauville (Trip planned in September) I owned a great BT1100 Bulldog I bought it. loved it and regretted getting rid of it. The reviews were written by sports bike riders, I never usually listen to reviews as they are heavily biased. The Deauville will NOT be everyone's cup of tea however as a second bike or winter hack....you can't beat it :-)

Buying experience: Private

I've not long bought the 650, a low mileage bike with fitted radio. My previous bike was a Fireblade, but I couldn't live with the uncomfortable riding position. I was also fed up with oiling the messy chain and trying to use any of the blades performance on our car-choked roads is an excercise in futility. The Deauvilles not got a great name with our performance oriented motorcycling press but it is a good bike nevertheless. I'm only a shorty, but the seat and suspension squash down quite a long way. The balance of the bike is good, so I never have a problem moving it around or at slow speeds. Once on the move the bike is a joy to ride, well balanced with enough power to cruise at 75-85 on the motorway. It's comfortable too, with it's upright riding position, and weather protection is good. The Brembo brakes on mine are also excellent and the bike steers well, although there is some harshness over bad surfaces. The engine needs winding up if you want to get some performance, or you can just let it chug away in its own time, and make use of the excellent mpg (personal best of 74.2mpg, average in the high 60s). On todays' traffic clogged roads I can't think of another bike I'd sooner be riding. Says it all really.

The title says it all really. I use mine for commuting (86 miles there and back). It's got great MPG, good weather protection, great stability, and it feels composed and confident. Reliability has been OK, but not as stellar as the reviews would have you believe. In the 14 months I've owned it, I've had to replace the exhaust (it rotted away), the fuel pump (it died), the alternator, front brake discs (potholes...) and the headrace bearings. So, about GBP800 all up! I'm now looking to trade up for something with a bit more oomph. Trouble is, there aren't many shaft drive bikes around for the sort of budget that I have!

Love riding the NT700V on the open road, where the comfort, ride quality, stability and wind protection are really appreciated. Brakes and grip from the Battlax BT020 tires are very good. However, the bike is relatively tall and top heavy, which requires considerable attention during lower speed maneuvering. Ride is plush enough that I only bother to stand over the worst railroad crossings and frost heaves. I can sit through a full tank (about 250 miles) in comfort, which is important here in the US since I live hundreds of miles from civilization in the corn belt. My lower rating on equipment reflects that only about a third of the options available in Europe are offered by Honda in the US, e.g. no over-size pannier lids, stereo, or GPS as dealer options. Build quality and fit and finish are generally good, however the pannier covers feel flimsy and a bit sloppy when closing. Had one replaced under warranty when the rivets came loose. The locks for the panniers and left glove-box are sticky, and the cover on the ignition lock is loose (rotates separately from the lock cylinder. The list price in the US is high due to the weak dollar, however very good deals can be had as dealers look to move inventory (my bike was built in October 2009 and purchased new with 0.6 miles on the clock in September 2011). Insurance is much less than for a 650cc "road sport" (e.g. Kawasaki Ninja 650) despite the NT700V being a couple of thousand dollars more expensive. Fuel economy is very good for such a heavy bike with shaft drive. Drive-line lash is acceptable, and fueling is generally good, which helps when riding in the rain or on gravel (we have lots of gravel roads here in Iowa). Only transmission issue is an occasional false neutral on the 2-3 up-shift. Engine flexibility is very good, with no lugging as long as one keeps revs over 2000 rpm, and decent power when revved above 5000 rpm. A sixth gear would be nice to reduce vibration at higher road speeds, however. Nice exhaust note, while quiet enough at idle and low speeds that I can go through residential neighborhoods at night without disturbing people. Only regret in purchasing is not getting ABS, dues to availability in my geographic location (i.e. middle of nowhere).

Ok long had problem with the thirst of this bike, which I have mentioned before, problem solved. To improve on the bikes performance and fuel consumption two things,firstly check the rear brake pistons as they get dirty very quick and cause the brake pads to touch a little on the disc, so clean this with care ensureing that the pistons are clean where it touches the pads as you will get rear wheel power lag. Secondly, the air filter from new is drenched in oil, I mean they soak that sucker something cronic, I found in my case by simply washing the filter off of most of the oil the bike performs much better, the breathing improves and the bike performs more like it should. If you live near a sandy or dusty location this is not a good idea to do and you will need to either change or clean the filter more regularly, but if you don't then you will notice a much better breathing machine. Oh and the air filters are made of a sturdy material good enough to be washed out. These bikes are so reliable but you do need to do regular maintenance such as servicing, and change that oil much sooner than recomended. One last thing, battery needs to be turned right side up from time to time and charged via a wall socket, but i'm still on original battery over 4 years this is a first.

Ok now had the bike for coming on 46 months now and in that time all I’ve had to do is general maintenance ie servicing. A few criticisms on the bike though it is a great machine it could do with an extra gear, there is a 6 gear version if you are thinking of buying one of these bikes you would be better off going for the 6 gear one. Also the handle bars are simply too low, the simple solution to this is to buy handle bar risers, I have been unable to find the correct shape risers for the 700 but the 650 ones will do just as good even though they don’t look as good as they should, a little bit of imagination could solve the look of the risers. To be perfectly honest the ride position of the bike using the risers has changed my bike into the bike I was looking for in the first place, the 25 mm risers make a huge difference to the handling of the bike in so much as to say it is so much better with them on while cruising along. Of course there is always a trade off for raising your bars; you feel the wind a little bit more, unless you raise the screen. But handling improves, where as with the bars in the old position you would get shoulder ache and arms aching, this simple solution seems to have solved this problem for me. Oh and because all the cables are long you don’t need to change anything, all parts remain standard and unchanged, but you do need to adjust the brake hose guide clip that connects to the top yoke, which is very easy to do. Another issue is the right hand pannier box which seems to become difficult to open unless regularly oiled and used, in order to gain access to it you have to take off the seat and release it under the seat then oil it up else it simply won’t open again, don’t force it else you might break the lever. Oh and the brake stopper bolt if you don’t ensure it is greased up, when you want to change your pads you will find it has rusted in tight which may be a problem. Other than these little issues a very good bike.

The Deau is a great long distance A road commuter. Quite large physically so less good in town where it is a little to wide sometimes to filter with ease. Engine and gearbox are well matched to its role although slightly thirsty compared to other 600s (think 5 mpg down so I get about 56mpg when I would get 63+ out of an ER6). Doesn't complain doing the same job day after day in the worst weather and when the mood takes you it can be hustled along quite quick and give you a grin. Finish is generally good (much better than my ER6) except for the gearlever which looks scruffy after only a few months! There is nothing to compare it too. Was thinking of buying a BMW R1200RT but they cost at least twice as much and although better will do the same job...

Ok MCN web site did it again and made my posting anonymous so I have posted it again. Not much new to report on this bike as it is still going strong with no major problems. Just one comfort issue with the bike, the throttle hand goes numb, you have to keep shaking out your hand to get the feeling back into your right hand, it is worse on a run but even with padded gloves on and riding gently I find my right hand keeps going numb. Now I have tried a few different things including riding as forward as possible but I keep getting the same problem. Apparently I’m not the only one as this has been reported on another web site about the Duauville making the rider’s hands go numb. It’s not vibration causing it; it feels more like the riding position. On the deauville you are sitting slightly leaning forward which makes you put quite a lot of your weight on to your arms, it’s never quite to the point of complete comfort, so the hands go numb. I suspect one solution would be for handle bars perhaps a little higher thus making it so you are not leaning and putting your weight on to your hands, I note you can purchase handle bar risers which enable you to affect a higher bar position than standard. Other than that the bike is still going strong, sailed through the MOT no problems at all. Oh I noted that my suggestion on keeping your down pipes clean lacked info so this is what I use to keep them sparkling clean. I mix ACF50 metal protection fluid with a chain lube and my down pipes never go that horrid dirty colour they are always shiny, if you use just one on its own it does not work but if you mix a little chain lube in with the acf 50 it works a treat, I use a silicon chain lube. Simply take the top cap off squirt some acf 50 into the cap then roughly the same amount of chain lube into the same cap and mix them together then just wipe them onto a cold exhaust pipe with a rag nice and thick, then wipe it off don’t polish it off just wipe it off, warm up the exhaust (it will smoke) then you are set, they will remain clean for a good two or more months. Either one on its own does not provide the best results the mixture works wonders, but be careful of splashes near your brakes as this stuff is really hard to get off, and if you get it on your brakes you will need lots of brake cleaner to get it off.

Not much new to report on this bike as it is still going strong with no major problems. Just one comfort issue with the bike, the throttle hand goes numb, you have to keep shaking out your hand to get the feeling back into your right hand, it is worse on a run but even with padded gloves on and riding gently I find my right hand keeps going numb. Now I have tried a few different things including riding as forward as possible but I keep getting the same problem. Apparently I’m not the only one as this has been reported on another web site about the Duauville making the rider’s hands go numb. It’s not vibration causing it; it feels more like the riding position. On the deauville you are sitting slightly leaning forward which makes you put quite a lot of your weight on to your arms, it’s never quite to the point of complete comfort, so the hands go numb. I suspect one solution would be for handle bars perhaps a little higher thus making it so you are not leaning and putting your weight on to your hands, I note you can purchase handle bar risers which enable you to affect a higher bar position than standard. Other than that the bike is still going strong, sailed through the MOT no problems at all. Oh I noted that my suggestion on keeping your down pipes clean lacked info so this is what I use to keep them sparkling clean. I mix ACF50 metal protection fluid with a chain lube and my down pipes never go that horrid dirty colour they are always shiny, if you use just one on its own it does not work but if you mix a little chain lube in with the acf 50 it works a treat, I use a silicon chain lube. Simply take the top cap off squirt some acf 50 into the cap then roughly the same amount of chain lube into the same cap and mix them together then just wipe them onto a cold exhaust pipe with a rag nice and thick, then wipe it off don’t polish it off just wipe it off, warm up the exhaust (it will smoke) then you are set, they will remain clean for a good two or more months. Either one on its own does not provide the best results the mixture works wonders, but be careful of splashes near your brakes as this stuff is really hard to get off, and if you get it on your brakes you will need lots of brake cleaner to get it off.

I've done 13K miles now and the bike has opened up and is running very smoothly. The buzzing at high speeds has gone and I'm getting 250 miles a tank, the weather protection is second to none and if you wanted to you could change gears(up)without the clutch. I can't really find a fault with this bike.

I've had a 2010 model(company bike)since the end of March and done 6k miles so far. In my opinion up to 65mph you can't fault it, it's not just a motorcycle, it's a proper vehicle but if you like cruising at 75-85mph it definitely needs another 10-20cc and a 6th gear then it'll be right behind bmw r12rt which is the best tourer on the market.

I've now had my '06 plate NT700 for four years. During that time, I've clocked up 45K miles. I've had to replace tyres, plugs, bulbs, brake pads ... everything you'd expect to have to replace on a regular basis, but nothing else! I use the bike for commuting - a 50 mile round trip daily in all weathers - I do draw the line at snow though! The salt on the roads has taken it's toll with almost all the exposed alloy showing either flaking paint or pitting. I don't have a garage, so it's open to the elements all the time. I regularly get 58mpg and insurance is cheap. I can get around 8K miles to a set of tyres. This is my second Deauville - the first was the original NT650 which had done a similar mileage when the '700 was released and, despite looking at Pans, BMWs FJR1300s and others, if I had to buy a new bike tomorrow, the Deauville would be a very strong contender ... shame Honda keeps bumping up the price.

I don't know why it says anonymous but there is my review again. Ok the bike is still going strong it is coming up to being 3 years old now and the only thing that has needed a change have been the tyres and one brake light bulb. At one stage the battery started to play up (around 26 months old), and would not hold a charge properly when charging from the bike, I noted that the battery is laid on its side while in the bike so took the battery out and stood it upright and charged it for a whole day then left it a day tested it then recharged it again two more times with layaway periods and standing over a period of approximately a week, this brought the battery back to life and seemed to correct the charging problem the battery exhibited. I then replaced the twin tail light bulbs with low power consuming LED bulbs later on and have since had no trouble with the battery at all, and remember this is the original battery supplied with the bike so is now coming up to 3 years old the same age as the bike. Cosmetics: the wheels corrode and the only way I managed to stop them from doing this is by coating them with a metal protection fluid, the right hand engine cover will also corrode on the front side, the foot rest painted plate, the paint blisters a little near the top and scratches easy, obtaining the right colour paint is virtually impossible. The exhaust centre rubber mounted clamp, the rubber always seems to split and the tool strap which is rubber also cracks. The new style tyres are much better than the old style tyres of the same make and type that ships with the bike which makes for better handling. The ABS modulator seems to be exposed to getting wet which makes it go rusty on the outer casing rather quick, likewise the bracket that holds it in place. Rear brake on new bikes; The brake stopper bolt needs to be removed cleaned and greased else it will seize as mine did and is a common known issue, if not done you will struggle to displace the calipper to remove the wheel. Over all a good bike still very reliable, but personally I would not leave the servicing at such long intervals as recommended in the servicing manual and would be more inclined to knock as much as 4000 miles off a recommended service of 9000 miles, however that is mainly for oil changes. This has been a personal experience review of my bike up to date which is near the 3 year mark I hope this helps anyone thinking of buying said bike. Just a quick note on this bike, I suspect this bike would be much better for the type of bike it is and the people that ride these types of bikes were it a diesel not only would it provide a much cheaper ride but a much longer distance between fill ups, performance wise I suspect could be made similar to that as it is now, as a town bike it drinks like a fish on a run its good but could be so much better were it diesel. I would buy a deauville diesel.

Ok the bike is still going strong it is coming up to being 3 years old now and the only thing that has needed a change have been the tyres and one brake light bulb. At one stage the battery started to play up (around 26 months old), and would not hold a charge properly when charging from the bike, I noted that the battery is laid on its side while in the bike so took the battery out and stood it upright and charged it for a whole day then left it a day tested it then recharged it again two more times with layaway periods and standing over a period of approximately a week, this brought the battery back to life and seemed to correct the charging problem the battery exhibited. I then replaced the twin tail light bulbs with low power consuming LED bulbs later on and have since had no trouble with the battery at all, and remember this is the original battery supplied with the bike so is now coming up to 3 years old the same age as the bike. Cosmetics: the wheels corrode and the only way I managed to stop them from doing this is by coating them with a metal protection fluid, the right hand engine cover will also corrode on the front side, the foot rest painted plate, the paint blisters a little near the top and scratches easy, obtaining the right colour paint is virtually impossible. The exhaust centre rubber mounted clamp, the rubber always seems to split and the tool strap which is rubber also cracks. The new style tyres are much better than the old style tyres of the same make and type that ships with the bike which makes for better handling. The ABS modulator seems to be exposed to getting wet which makes it go rusty on the outer casing rather quick, likewise the bracket that holds it in place. Rear brake on new bikes; The brake stopper bolt needs to be removed cleaned and greased else it will seize as mine did and is a common known issue, if not done you will struggle to displace the calipper to remove the wheel. Over all a good bike still very reliable, but personally I would not leave the servicing at such long intervals as recommended in the servicing manual and would be more inclined to knock as much as 4000 miles off a recommended service of 9000 miles, however that is mainly for oil changes. This has been a personal experience review of my bike up to date which is near the 3 year mark I hope this helps anyone thinking of buying said bike. Just a quick note on this bike, I suspect this bike would be much better for the type of bike it is and the people that ride these types of bikes were it a diesel not only would it provide a much cheaper ride but a much longer distance between fill ups, performance wise I suspect could be made similar to that as it is now, as a town bike it drinks like a fish on a run its good but could be so much better were it diesel. I would buy a deauville diesel.

Looking at the deauville you can first see it is small for a tourer, i quite like its looks and althought it no prize winner it still looks good, especially in deep green. It doesnt feel tacky at all considering its a budget tourer, and you can see everything has been thought out well, from little storage panels to qwerks like the digital clock. looking at the instruments presents a nice well laid out easy to understand set of clocks and indication lights. the buttons are all easy to access even with thicker gloves on. Once you have managed to get the key in the key hole (wich is quite a faff on) and start the engine you will immediately notice how quiet the engine is (and exhaust). There is something really reasurring about the quiet burble coming from the engine as it ticks over with no vibration or deviation from 1100RPM. Sitting on the bike gives a comfortable position that keeps you up right with arms relaxed on the bars, straight away you know its going to be comfy, with the big seat cushoning your bum. im 6'1" and i can place my feet flat on the floor when stationary so this gives added stability and reasurrance. Although the bikes heavy at 220KG it hides its weight well both stationary and on the move. It certainly doesnt strain when pulling away as the torque is phenominal for a 650 and its certainly improved by the fact it has shaft drive which has no slogger. Putting it into first gives a reasurring (and rather loud) clunk and slowly releasing the clutch lets you apply the right amount of torque really well! you can leave it in first and let it tickover at 1200RPM and the bikes moves at walking pace with out any chugging or jolting. Its unbelievable how smooth the bike is, and crazy to think its a V twin, there is no vibration or choppy power at all. Now maybe its just me being used to badly vibing ducs, but i dont think so, it has to be felt. its a strange feeling listening to the V twin as it delivers power more like a parrallel. Honda have really made an engine for exactly what its intedned to do. Getting it on the road you start to aprreciate niceties like tall screens, hand protectors, high bars, comfy seats and a strange authoritive feeling thats comes with sitting so 'royaly' in your 'chair'. The bikes pulls like crazy from tickover but peak torque is around 3-5000rpm, this is the best place to hold the revs for the type of bike it is, it keeps it smooth and composed. Thats another great thing about that shaft drive, each and every gear change is excactly the same.....sweet and positive. no banging or backlash of chains, you do need to make sure you are in the right rev range though because that slogger free shaft will also lock up if you downshift to quick, but for a V twin the bike has very very little engine braking wich adds to making it an even smoother ride for rider and passenger. once your in 5th tou can cruise at 70mph doing about 6000RPM, the red line is at 8500RPM so im guessing it will do about 120mph? Maybe its lacking a gear though, maybe a nice big 6th would be good for the long term high speed. but then again that wobble that starts to come in at about 85mph can be a little dishartening and the vibrations get a little intrusive at that point too. The wind catches the bike like a ship too, especially on the windy days we have had. this is made worse at higher speeds, however thats the price you pay for have lots of luggage capacity and top boxes, big screens ect. On the luggage front the panniers are modest but will hold enough for a long weekend (for men) or about 3 hours (for women) but with the added top box and tank bag which the big tank holds well, this could easily turn into a week long trip...... (for men) lol Thats about it for now, im loving the bike, cant fault it yet, will get back to you when i've had bigger miles out of it or been abroad.....

having bought the bike jan 2008 with 1,800 miles on the clock on a 57 plate and have now covered 6,800miles,the bike has been fantastic have read all the reports of people complaining of the consumption but i take mine out a couple of times a week for a run of about 40 miles plus use it a couple of times again to town of 5 to 6 miles and the bike is excellent on fuel averaging 58mpg.when I take it with me to France on a trailer I covered last summer 1,400 miles with me and the wife on it and the shopping most times and was still doing 50+,solo I did a long run in the south of france and got the best mpg to date of 62 mpg.this is actual mpg not what the computer is saying.It has been superb up to now and the wife who does not really like bikes loves it as it is so confortable

Bought my Deauville new on a 58'plate & use it for occasional commuting & leasure riding. Like- torquey V twin, big fuel tank, soft ride, riding position, reliability, good headlight, good weather protection, easy adjustable screen, maintenance free shaft drive, good pillion comfort, get a white bash hat & look like a cop. Dislike- rubbish ground clearance compared to chassis ability, top heavy & weighs as much as a narrow boat, chrome finish.. sorry, rust finish on gear lever, alloy wheels blow bubbles, engine unuseable below 2000 rpm due to rattles, badly needs a sixth gear.

Bought an NT700 with ABS in September 08 and have since clocked up 12k kms. I/m back on bikes for the first time in xx years!! And enjoying it. I use the bike mainly for commuting to work (80k round trip daily) on motorway and dual-carriage way - so I have square tyres!! I ride in all weather and the protection is second to none. Got rear-ended in January while stopped at a red-light (driver had dropped mobile phone!!). I survived and the Deauville is back on the road. Would eventually like to move up to the ST but for now, I can't recommend the Deauville hight enough. Sure there are more powerful, quicker bikes out there. The Deauville is a bit of a compromise but trust me - you won't regret it!

I decided to go back to a Deauville, but this time get the NT700 with ABS. In between Deauvilles I had CBF1000, which is also a good bike. I got this Deauville last October 2008 and have since clocked up over 5K miles. I just think its brilliant and so stable. I use it all the year round, in country side, urban locations and the occasional 300 mile round trip. I highly recommend this bike as a commuter bike for weekend use too. Great for nervous pillions too.

Got my first 700abs in 07 and completed 22,000 miles in 12 months throughout the winter. Competent communter/tourer. Runs well on Michelin P2s 8k miles back tyre double that front mixed roads. MPG improves after about 15k miles averaging 60+. Slight buzz in the bars particularly the accelerator at about cruising speed 60 mph - numb hand after an hour or so. Panniers a pain as they're fixed to the bike and often the release mechanism fails - removalable boxes would be great. A variable height screen would be nice too. This bike written off as I was rear-ended by a volvo. Got a GTR1400 but after 5 months too expensive to run on tyres 3k only and points just too easy to accumulate - autobahn cruiser really. Got No. 2 a couple of weeks ago and realised I missed the old one so, much lighter to filter in the traffic and the GTR only did 35 mpg tops and a bugger to handle around town, so easy to drop. The 700 was kicked over once and only the plastic cover of the crash bar needed replaced at £6. I heard of a GTR owner having to pay over £1200 to repair his bike having lost his footing! Keep an eye on the alloy and chrome, does not stand up well over the winter months. Overall though, a grand bike for what it is.

Owned my 08 NT700A Deauville for 7 months now. Covered 4K miles in all weather without any problem. Used almost exclusively for a 50 mile round trip commute, 90% of which is on the Motorway. The motorway i use is one of the busiest in europe and is regularly congested. The Deauville is excellent in heavy traffic. Slim enough to get in and out of traffic without problem. Cruises at an indicated 85 - 90mph without any problem and still returns approx 50mpg. Insurance this year £95 comp (with 9 points on my licence). It is very comfortable and has excellent weather protection. Came with a Honda winter kit (heated grips, top box and big panniers) which is good as it is used all year round. Only minus is handling can get a little flighty at high speed (probably the top box) but not to the point of feeling problematical. If you NEED a bike for work that is comfortable, economical, cheap to insure, with no chain to lube and has great weather protection this is the one. If you just want something to go fast on a sunday and look good parked on the pub car park this aint for you. Horses for courses i suppose.

Honda have produced a real touring machine. Having got the ABS model in March 2008 from a very short list of bikes you know built in lougage, shaft drive, big enough and powerful enough for two, low running costs and from a name you can trust and o yes I wanted all this for under £7000. So the Deauville was the only one on the list. In June took the Bike over the pond to France and fell in love with the bike all over again. I Knew I had got the right Bike for me and the Mrs but France just blew me away. 385 miles in one day and did not even feel it. The overall trip covered 2000 miles at an average of 60 mpg. Thats fully loaded TWO UP at a constant 60 to 80 mph (130 KPH) perfectly leagal on the French Motorways. It was not all sunshine we had some very heavy showers and wind but the Deauville just tok it all in its stride. As for power 3rd gear power range is from 30 to 70 when you reach max torch. This gives rapid mid range acceleration for overtaking on A roads. Also where I live is surrounded by some well know hills which the Deauville just laughs at and again TWO UP. The only thing better than the Deauville is proberbly its big brother The Pan or may be the BMW R1200RT however are they £6000 better than the Deauville is the question I would ask.

I am a novice (having come back to bikes recently after some X years) and had a 650 Deauville (04) for a few months that I used on my daily 60 mile each way commute. The commute includes A roads (some dual carriageway), B roads and filtering through traffic. On paper the bike seemed perfect but I had some difficulties with this machine: 1. It was not good in the 20-25mph winds which are very common around Cambridge. In stronger winds it really didn't feel safe. 2. It is rather tall, heavy and wide. You don't notice until you are either riding around roundabouts or filtering in traffic at slow speed. 3. I found it quite buzzy. Even at 60mph there was quite a buzz through the bars . 4. A petrol gauge would have been useful and I found it hard to believe that the machine didn't have fuel injection (The 700 now has this I believe). On the positive side the construction is excellent, I was getting about 55-60mpg (not thrashing it but keeping up with the traffic), the seat is really comfy, the shaft drive is really useful and at 40-70 mph it is easy to ride all day (in still conditions). For reference I have replaced it with an ER6F and this is much better in areas 1-3 - see seperate comments.

4200 miles in 7 months. Overall I am very happy with my decision to swap my Hornet for the Deauville. On long journeys it is excellent - fast, comfy, great handling and carries loads of kit (for when I take it to North Wales mountaineering). But on my 12 mile daily commute to London it is average. Size is not a problem, but a fuel consumption (38mpg) and 1st and 2nd gear are. The first two gears are too high meaning slipping the clutch on low speed riding (walking pace / stationary traffic filtering) and either revving hard in 1st or bogging problems in 2nd at 20-25mph. I didn't really notice this until a courier (and ex-DV650 rider asked me about 2nd gear - which he said was poor on the 650). The panniers worried me before I got the bike - would they be too wide for commuting? - but the front is the wide part. Get that through a gap and the rear will follow. I have a top box too and it gives me loads of luggage space. I can't understand why everyone one doesn't need a top box (if you actually use the bike rather than keep it for the occasional ride). Fuel consumption is really poor - I got 46 mpg from my Hornet on the same runs. I think that 38 mpg is really poor when Honda boasted the DV700 was really good on fuel. On a run to Wales I get aroun 60-65 mpg when taking it easy or 55 if I am in a hurry. Both 5-10mpg worse than my Hornet - though the pain in the rear (litterally) on the Hornet trip makes the DV much better. What I like - tank range of 140 miles commuting or 200 miles touring is good. Comfort is wonderful - I am getting older and my knees are not great. I love the twin engine feel too - I don't like the sewing machine feel of a straight four (V4s are great too though). The screen is great (though 10 minutes to change position is stupid). Up it gives great weather protection, down the bike looks like a sports tourer not a tourer (so I have it up in winter and down in summer). Handling is very good for a bike of this weight and size, especially when the bends flow rather than are really tight. I bought the DV in preference to a BMW F80ST, which I guess says how highly I rate it (I tested both for two hours on the same day, so this was not a whim). I really wanted to buy the BMW before I started, but the DV was much the better all round bike.

Duaville 2007 model around 2 months old. I’ve had my duaville for less than a thousand miles now (aprx 900 miles) and find it extremely gassy I only get around town between 120 miles to 140 miles to a full tank of fuel. On a run it is a bit better at around 170, over all I’m very disappointed with the bikes fuel consumption. I’m not a hard rider and the bike has only ever been above 4 thousand revs about 3 times. The engine pulls perfect and sounds good as it should for a new bike but for some reason it seems to use way more fuel than the MCN review suggests these bikes use, in fact this is the most fuel inefficient bike I have ever ridden and my first fuel injected bike. I bought this bike based on the reports I had read about how good they are on fuel and how reliable they were. I also note that the 2007 model has the main lights permanently fixed in the on position which I’m sure will nock out the electrics in no time at all. On top of this I have noted that some people that have bought the 2007 version don’t seem to keep them to long, I wonder could the reason be the high fuel consumption or is my bike unique? If anyone could offer any ideas as to why the 2007 duaville uses so much fuel it would be much appreciated as I say the bike runs perfect but drinks like a fish.

Followed up on a personal goal and got a full bike license last year. Why did I choose NT700 as my first bike? I was encouraged by what I heard of its reliability and now find it good on cost, comfort, economy and practicality. I'm not going to slam bike magazine reviews too much, but unless you've got flaming tatoos up your forearms and a liking for unsafe velocities, anything other than an ICBM on wheels between your legs isn't going to satisfy your needs. I tried those bikes... forget it. At 6k brand new, with honda reliability, Deauville is bargain. I got a matching top to go with the panniers and got grip heaters for year round riding and now use the bike for everything: daily ride to work; fill it with the weekly shopping; weekend trip; or 500 miles in a day to visit the family in Scotland. Yes, it's heavy, but that's why we've got balance. There's plenty of power for cruising, climbing, riding fast with sport bikes, or sticking it to Joe Cool in his sport convertible. Seat's so comfy that I don't ride it in a rush and I get rewarded with superb mpg (60-80 on the gauge, verified) on long motorway trips. Handling is benign and the breaks are full proof (so far). Any weaknesses? Just three: 1. like other owners say the transmission rattles a bit at low revs (< 2000="" -="" 2500)="" in="" low="" power="" situations="" -="" just="" change="" down="" a="" gear;="" 2.="" the="" front="" fender="" doesn't="" stop="" the="" muck="" -="" make="" a="" pretty="" diy="" extension="" 3.="" the="" windshield="" only="" has="" two="" positions="" and="" doesn't="" go="" quite="" high="" enough="" to="" stop="" a="" bit="" of="" buffeting="" on="" the="" helmet="" but,="" at="" 6ft,="" i="" find="" that="" all="" the="" rain="" and="" spray="" goes="" over="" my="" head="" keeping="" my="" visor="" clear="" so="" it's="" ok.="" 2000="" -="" 2500)="" in="" low="" power="" situations="" -="" just="" change="" down="" a="" gear;="" 2.="" the="" front="" fender="" doesn't="" stop="" the="" muck="" -="" make="" a="" pretty="" diy="" extension="" 3.="" the="" windshield="" only="" has="" two="" positions="" and="" doesn't="" go="" quite="" high="" enough="" to="" stop="" a="" bit="" of="" buffeting="" on="" the="" helmet="" but,="" at="" 6ft,="" i="" find="" that="" all="" the="" rain="" and="" spray="" goes="" over="" my="" head="" keeping="" my="" visor="" clear="" so="" it's="" ok.="">

Why not have a look at www.deauvilleuk.org ? A group of riders of (mostly) Deauvilles of every age (bike & rider). Loads of technical advice, ride outs, and lots more besides - a great forum for a great bike

Having riden sports bikes in the past. I find the deauville a more virsatile bike. It is a good all rounder.

Purchased 2006 model with 1500 on the clock. 3000 miles over the last 3 months, mainly 70 to 200 mile jouneys (a ride out once a week through the winter). Not ridden for 23 years (400 superdream) so it felt a big bike at first. A few rides and found it very comfortable, easy to handle wet or dry. Pulls reasonably well with two up. Don't really notice the pillion passenger in terms of handling. Averaged about 57 to the gallon which is better than the previous 400! Acceleration is fine for me, keeping up with 2 wheels and pulls away from most 4 wheelers. Tried high and low windscreen - high, no feeling of wind, engine sounds like a bag of nails at times, too short to see over windscreen so as soon as it gets dirty or wet visibility is lost, lower mpg, pillion rider gets a lot of buffeting, ok for winter protection : low, some wind noise but feels a lot better to ride, more economical and will keep for 9 months a year - shame there isn't a third position! Wide, low seat, very comfortable, including pillion. A little vibration through the seat above 5000 rpm but not a lot to worry about (not noticed handlebar vibration). Gearbox clunky, particularly into second. Doesn't like to run below 3000rpm. Seems well built for a 'poor mans' pan european. Doen't use any oil (never had a bilke like that before!). Most of the quirks are avoidable and a real pleasure to ride.

With the new Deauville, Honda have obviously put a great deal of thought into what high milage bikers want from their machine. There is no question about the differences between the old deaville and the new. Firstly it is quick. Whilst a Deaville rider is not going to burn a turbo Haybusa off the lights, it gets to 70 on the motorway quick enough to ensure that you can keep up with most other riders and way ahead of all but the fastest on 4 wheels and with 220 miles on the tank (confirmed last week, at 230 miles the tank refils 17.8 litres) you will probably pass the fast bikes when they stop to fuel up. The best part is the luggage. With a Honda Top Box and inner bags, I am able to load up for a weeks worth of staying away from home, together with carrying all the papers/ lap top etc that come with the job. Finally, it is still a town bike. What lets down most of the touring classes is lumpenness in town. The Deauville is a heavy bike, but is still nimble in town. Strengths: Versatility, It munches the autobahn at 130mph (confirmed on gps) whilst being nimble enough to get through towns, and fast enough to blip past long traffic queues. Weaknesses: Some of the build quality could be better, there is a rather temporary feel to the pan covers and some of the fairing is very wobbly. It could do with a 6th gear.

Collected bike new and have covered 1500mls in 8 days, my old divvy had covered 65000mls in 2.5 yrs with routine serving and no problems. The new one looks very nice in anchor grey and has far better mid range performance, other than that, sorry but its a pile of cr*p. Sounds like a tractor below 3000rpm (someone had the cheek to ask if it was a diesel !).Noiser at all other speeds although a bit more comfortable. Thank god&nbsp;I do not have to ride a lot in town as there is an annoying surge at 3200rpm, Honda said this is due to fuel emmissions from lean to rich. My advice would be buy a clean late old model and spend your savings on some goodies.Thank god this is a company purchase. Strengths: Mid range pull in top gear over old Divvy. Weaknesses: Every thing as old bike and some more.

Perhaps it was the onset of middle-age but, when I sat on the revamped Deauville at the NEC show last year, I found myself being seriously tempted. A comfy seat, relaxed riding position, shaft drive, built-in panniers all seemed like a good idea at the time, but could I take the shame and ridicule of owning a ?Dullsville?? I managed to get a test ride in April and was pleasantly surprised. Having never ridden a V-twin before, I was enjoying the mild culture shock from the low down (but slightly agricultural) grunt, so different to the smooth revvy fours I had ridden for the last 25 years. All power had gone by 8000 revs though, at which point my previous bikes had just started to take off. Half an hour later, I was impressed enough to put in an order for a metallic black bike (the least hideous colour in the brochure) complete with matching Honda top-box. So, after 3 months of ownership, here are my impressions. Firstly, the engine is a bit of a mixed bag. It pulls nicely from low revs, but we?re not talking arm-dislocating acceleration here. Apparently, it has 10bhp more than the old model, which must have been mind-numbingly slow. Ideally, it could do with yet another 10bhp. The bike will chug along happily for ever at about 4000?5000 revs making a friendly purring sound, however either side of this rev range there are problems. Lengthy motorway cruising at around 80?85mph produces hand numbing vibes through the bars which is slightly annoying as I bought the bike mainly for touring. At the other end of the rev range, it is almost impossible to hold the bike at a steady speed below 3000 revs without the engine lurching and making an awful clanking noise like a bag of spanners. I think this is due to the shaft drive, but it does make you wince a bit. On the whole, the riding experience is rather pleasant. The seat is roomy, wide and comfortable and, according to my wife, the pillion seat is even more so. The bars and footpegs are in exactly the right place for me, and the fairing is very effective. I have the screen set in the upper of the two positions which keeps off most of the wind blast, but does cause some helmet buffeting. I am six feet tall and look over the top of the screen when riding. A 5 foot 10 inch friend recently tried out my bike and said that the top of the screen was exactly in his line of sight which drove him nuts as it constantly wobbles at speed. The instruments are fine ? very car-like ? and I couldn?t want for anything more, except for perhaps a gear indicator if pushed. The fuel gauge is a touch pessimistic, though, reading completely empty with 3 litres remaining in the tank. The two glove boxes in the fairing (one is lockable) are surprisingly handy and I don?t know how I ever coped without them. The built-in panniers are good, but not detachable. This means that when you open the lids, the contents fall out. I have invested in a pannier inner bag set (approx £50 from Honda) which improves the situation. The ?baguette hole? is handy for stashing rolled up waterproofs. The genuine Honda top-box is expensive (£200) but superb quality and comes complete with a fitting kit/rack. It also has a pillion back rest and a removable soft rubber ?tray? in the bottom. It easily swallows two full-face helmets and I think the bike actually looks better when it is attached. The brakes are adequate, but it?s a heavy bike (especially when loaded up) so don?t expect to pull up in a hurry. My bike has ABS fitted but I haven?t actually managed to get it to cut in yet. The CBS combined braking system is fine for gentle braking if you?re feeling lazy but, for serious stopping power, you really need to use your right hand as well. Handling is also adequate but a bit soft and wallowy, but then what do you expect? The bike is built for comfort not speed. In conclusion I would say that the bike is well thought out and a very practical and useable tool with a few minor faults. So far, I am very happy that I bought it. It still doesn't stop my mates taking the piss, though. Strengths: So easy to live with. Shaft drive saves a fortune in chain lube. Comfort for both rider and pillion. 200 mile tank range. Cubby holes. Weaknesses: Vibes through the bars at high revs. 'Clanky' engine at low revs. Could do with another 10 bhp. Ability to attract ridicule from fellow bikers.

With ease of handling and manoeuvrability that should apppeal to everyone, the Deauville has enough power for all but the motorcycle-press-influenced racing wannabees. It'll get you from A-B or even Z in comfort, economically and with enough protection from the elements to allow you to grin in the face of most weather conditions. Build quality is up to Honda's usual high standards. Strengths: Price, reliability, ease of handling, build quality, fuel economy, ABS, storage capacity, accessory range, all the instruments and gizmos that you'll ever need. Weaknesses: If you ride a Deauville be prepared to be judged by a sportsbike biased press as being a little dull. Other than that, no weaknesses.

Honda Deauville NT700V ABS I have now owned and ridden the new 2006 Deauville for 3 months and put some 5500 miles on the clock so feel well informed about the bike to comment. My purchase was driven by a house move that resulted in a need to commute just over 100 miles a day. I own a nice bike and did not want to wreck that. I was deliberating and torn between the usual type of bike I buy, as a second machine, and the sensible approach that I should take to keep the cost down. Also being fully aware that I will be doing this in all winds and weathers as the wife?s 2 year old Audi was not to be used for that journey to work! After many hours on the net and kicking my heels in show rooms I decided to test ride the new Deauville. Admittedly in the past I had never given a bike like this type of bike a second glance. This was mainly due to comments from some that high mileage users often use them such as curriers. One storey was that a currier who trots between the home counties. Strengths: Light and nimble. 200 miles from a full tank. Excellent breaks. Weaknesses: Shaft drive sounds like a second world war lorry below 30mph. Have to twist the handle bars to get at storage pockets. Nightmare to get to the air filter.

Smooth, effortless, reliable. Got enough power for me. Love the sound of the v-twin, the dashboard conveys all the information and the weather protection is great. Strengths: Reliability, shaft drive, storage capacity, weather protection, cheap insurance, fuel economy, looks, ABS brakes. Weaknesses: Be careful in strong side winds - can catch you out passing gateways.

It has everything and more than the Beemer had but is lighter to handle and with similar performance, a real delight. It has ample go and is less thirsty, lighter and half the price. Quality seems close to BMW levels although time will tell. Vibration is low and V twin in character, ie.not intrusive. Strengths: Fully equipped, luggage, fully instrumented, Euro3 catalyser, ABS ,hazard warning switch, ample real world performance, easy to ride, light controls and slick gearchange. Economical. Weaknesses: Belly pan should be standard, not an extra.

I had the Demo for a day whilst my cbf600 was having a service. I'm not old enough yet. This is a very nice machine in all but urge. Strengths: Excellent road manners. Weaknesses: Short of oomph.

My dad had bought the bike in March 2005 (x police) and done the usual to get it to a normal Deauville. Toured Scotland for 10 days with no problems. I now have got it after the Summer and as 17 and just passed the test have it restricted. I do a 30 mile commute rain or shine each day to college. And a few longer ones for the road races all over the show. Has really no problems with it only to get it to netural can take some finding. Strengths: The wind and weather protection as I have the hand guards and feet plastics on and high screen also had hand warmer but found them to much for even winter with the hand guards. Weaknesses: Being restricted means&nbsp;you can really get much oomph out of it but still nice to ride. Two up is a bit cramped as&nbsp;I am 6ft4. Can be a bit noisy on the buffering as of high screen, but getting small one for summer so hope will be better.

I wanted a Pan after passing my test last year but thought that it would be too big and heavy for a beginner so I opted for the Deauville, mine had 86,000 on the clock last September and now has about 95,000, I took a chance on this bike as it was so cheap and didn't come with any service history! Apart from the odd consumable it has only had a new rectifier &amp; fuel pump. Mileage would no longer put me off of any Honda because they appear to be bulletproof. I have added an MRA Vario screen which is superb and lets me do 100MPH before&nbsp;I get any buffeting, also added leg fairings and heated grips (a must).Also have a 45 litre top box which is indespensable for commuting. I only get 150 miles to the tank but I put this down to its age. Because of its tame power the tyres tend to last quite a while (done about 9,000 on the rear, and there's still plenty left). Am now considering the new 680 instead of a Pan. Good bike even if snobby sports bike riders do look down their nose at you. Strengths: Reliable and Cheap to run, excellent for commuting and the odd short weekend away. Superb for winter riding as it has good protection once you upgrade the fairing. Weaknesses: Bad styling to the front end, excessive vibration, possibly due to its age.

Does what it says on the tin. Daily commute from Brentwood area to Westend (NW1/W1) &amp; Several 300 mile + trips. Good weather protection. Easy to ride, and comfortable. Not ideal for high speed long journeys, a bit "buzzy" and underpowered especially when two up, (second bike being sought). Gearbox appears to have come from an old van, first gear selection awful. That said for a daily round trip of 65 miles commuting on lanes, A roads, M'way and through City traffic hard to better.

Pros - handling, breaking, city commuter, cheaper insurance &amp; road tax. Cons - less power, original wind screen too low, no fuel gauge, no temperature gauge, unable to notice signal indicator during sunny day. *I just down grade from ST1100 to Deauville.

Excellent all round bike, shame the image has been knocked by the media... I have been riding for over 12 years and owned all types of bikes from Blades, Triumph 900's, VFR's and XV yams but have never been quite so content with everything, yes the acceleration might be slightly lacking and the style a tad slippers n pipes, but overall for everyday and weekend riding you cant beat it... Strengths Weaknesses