Honda NTV 650

I bought my Honda NTV 650 brand new in May 1993 (£3200) and it is still in daily use now, with over 104,000 miles on the clock!

It has been main-dealer serviced at the proper intervals throughout its life and is exceptionally reliable, starting every time, except when it needed a new battery after about 10 years. I also broke the throttle cable after about 65k.

The shaft drive took a bit of getting used to, especially on slippery roads, as shutting the throttle is equivalent to applying the rear brake and I lost it once on some black ice, back in 1996!

Although I don't tear around, I seem to get through the (tubeless) tyres about every 4500 miles, although I blame some of that on the state of the roads, since the tyres 'scuff' when you go over a bump. Also I seem to get through a lot of brake pads and discs; discs are expensive, especially the Honda patterned ones, in fact, a lot of replacement parts are quite expensive.

I bought some separate extra large(non-Honda)panniers, which are great for touring (you can actually get your helmets in them!) but I leave them off for general use, (commuting, mainly) because they increase air-resistance and hence petrol consumption, which is normally about 60mpg (rural) and about 52mpg in town.

The torque seems to really come in at about 6000 revs. I did once take it up to 105mph, just to see what it would do (years ago!) and that was at about 7500 revs (the red line is about 8500). These days, I spend most of my time at about 60mph - a disadvantage of getting both older and a family for which I have responsibility!

I don't want to have to replace the bike at this time, because I don't like the fairing of the new Deauvilles as it increases the labour costs for servicing every time, when they have to take it off.

All in all, an excellent bike - I am hoping to get 200k out of it, as long as I can keep the inevitable rust at bay!

Bought my Honda NTV 650 as a stop gap in dec 06.Joined owners forum almost immediately. seems gear box is common problem.Bike goes real well, very solid and dependable.worked out that mpg is over 50+ with city driving and motorway as well. Needs a fairing/screen to take wind off for extended m/way driving.Real good ones will go for around £1200 - £1400 depending on condition and location.Could easily get a bargain at around £500- £800 if you check around.NB not a great deal of difference across range in quality.Honda made the Revere 600cc / NTV 650ccRevere was the early NTV, cc was then increased to 650cc to make the NTV. Both very fine bikes in their own rightSumming up, like most owners on the forum i would buy a new one tomorrow if they still made them.