Deauville 650

[hazza]

Going to test ride one tomorrow. What should I look for? Any known issues or problems?

Really don't know what to think of them. My head says its going to be a great commuter and practical with built in panniers but its also darn ugly and has 50 hp. Have a bandit 6 at the minute (now fixed, it was just dirt in carbs) but I just want a change. Almost all of my riding is ontthe commute to work so deau would make sense, can't help feel its a grandma bike.

Also looking at an er6n which is the bike my heart wants, but has zero protection and no storage.

Thanks

Harry.
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3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[Cheeseybeaner]

[nowhere.elysium]

Cheap, reliable, boring. They've also got an even flatter power delivery than an SV 650, so don't expect it to ever excite you. However, like the Divvy 600, they're perfectly capable bikes, just not something that would be classed as 'fun'.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[hazza]

[nowhere.elysium]

Shaft drive bikes are lovely to ride; I'm a definite convert.

I wouldn't say that they're too boring/slow; after all, the ride is only as fun as the rider makes it (unless you're on some kind of properly loony bike). Having usable torque available throughout the rev range is certainly nice, but it's not your most obvious example of a hooning machine.

It'll do big miles with no problems from what I've heard, and it'll be dependable, although if it's anything like my mate's NTV it'll want the calipers cleaning every 8-12 months or so. That said, that's the only complaint he's had about it.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[hazza]

This year apparently has the linked braking system which I've heard good and bad about. Diff calipers to the NTV I believe as they are 3 piston units!
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3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[funmonkee]

[Cunnington]

Having had a bandit 600 after my first NTV, I hated having to swap gears to get it into the power band, to be able to pass something as quickly, when the same manoeuvre could be achieved with a simple twist of my right hand on the NTV - it just seemed more useable than the Bandit (having subsequently had a torquier IL4, I now put it down to the tuning of the Bandit).

I like the fact that it maxes out before you get into serious licence losing territory, am glad to not be in scotoiler / chain lube / adjustment territory, and like the reputation of having a softly tuned / under-stressed engine that should last far beyond anything I would put on it.

I appreciate that not everyone likes the laziness of the V-twin, preferring to be more involved in "keeping it on the boil", but reckon you should have a test ride with an open mind - it all depends on what you are looking for and where you have come from in terms of biking experience.
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'82 C50, '81 CB100, '84 GS125, '95 NTV650, '00 Bandit 600, '06 SV650, '56 Z1000, '89 NTV600
The Shaggy D.A. wrote: "You are invisible. Those who can see you are trying to kill you."

[Polarbear]

Went round europe with a mate, 3000 or so miles. Me on a Goldwing, him on his 650 Deauville. It never missed a beat, was fast enough and comfy enough. To be honest, it couldn't be faulted.

https://img833.imageshack.us/img833/8721/p1140293.jpg

Somewhere in Germany!
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[darthbuttchin]

Friend of the family had one for quite a while - he liked it a fair bit.

It's favoured by couriers, so it's gotta be fairly reliable. Easily does big mileage. It's not the quickest of bikes, from what my dad said, it's most comfortable around 60-65 mph, but that's ample enough, and it will go a bit faster.

At the end of the day, 70 is the legal limit, and there aren't a great deal of times you'll go over that - especially if you're mostly filtering on your morning commute.

My Grandad tried one out - said it was gutless.

However, he always has a negative opinion of a motorcycle until someone he knows gets one - then it's suddenly the best bike in the world.
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CG125-K1 (1978) - 35 years old and (mostly) going strong! (Restored and rebuilt by my own fair hands).
Call me Tomsk - I am the Flying Womble after all.

[Derivative]

The '50hp is shit' attitude is a bit ignorant IMO.

Yes, if you already have a car and purely use the bike for fun, maybe it is.

But who even entertains the concept of buying a small twin for that?

I want a bike that gets me from A to B with no bullshit. The Deauville looks pretty much perfect for that. I'm considering getting one if the CB's limitations (lack of proper weather protection) ever bug me enough.

My Grandad rode bikes for half of his lifetime and while he's not around any more to ask, I'm fairly sure he never got near anything with 50 horsepower. This is a guy that rode from Yorkshire to Cornwall at least once a year, often with family in tow (sidecar or pillion seat).

A machine that can do 115mph is not a 'grandma bike'.

Why is it that people are perfectly content with the idea of a small car, yet small bikes have to be 'boring' or 'gutless'?

[sickpup]

I've got a Deauville and an ER6F and they are very different bikes. The ER6 revs high and the Deauville only revs 2/3rds as high. 50bhp sounds low but I can pretty much guarantee you would struggle to keep up with a well ridden one on your Bandit.

They feel slow because they rev low but they aren't slow really.

The Deauville is a very relaxed very capable bike compared to the ER6 which is rather frantic most of the time.

[Easter Bunny]

Deauvilles are excellent everyday bikes, I had 4 with each one doing around the 130k miles before they became uneconomical to get through mot, used to sit happily at 80-85 for several hours, (Scotland non stop a few times)
The 650's (MK1) have had linked brakes for a while

Its the rider that makes the ride boring not the bike
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[hazza]

[Easter Bunny]

if you're commuting you will be glad you picked the dully when you see the huge screens they do for them
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[hazza]

Ha yes it has one of those fitted along with the heated grips!

As you have had a lot of experience with them, what should i look out for?

Thanks

Harry.
____________________
3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[Easter Bunny]

History, the speedo clocks round at 100K, I had an insurance assor look at the bike and take it as 77K when in fact it was a replacement speedo, the bike had 120K, he never asked I never lied !!

The radiators suffer from corrosion, the head bearings didn't seem to last that long (maybe as it was always motorway) and I suppose watch out for a noisy shaft (but I never had a problem with any of mine) but apart from that I had very few problems
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[Cunnington]

I would assume the Deuville is the same as the NTV with stainless downpipes into a mild steel collector box just in front of the centrestand, then into a stainless tailpipe. Both of mine suffered from rotten collector boxes - allow a couple of hundred quid for a motrax end can which bypasses the collector box.

Mine is 24 years old and now suffers from the usual electrical gremlins a bike of that vintage is prone to. Gearboxes are agricultural, but decent oil makes an appreciable difference. Have a look on https://www.hondantv.co.uk/.
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'82 C50, '81 CB100, '84 GS125, '95 NTV650, '00 Bandit 600, '06 SV650, '56 Z1000, '89 NTV600
The Shaggy D.A. wrote: "You are invisible. Those who can see you are trying to kill you."

[awicks]

Have a look at this very useful buyers guide: https://homepage.ntlworld.com/phil_cooper/PhilsBikes94.html

There is also a very good forum https://www.deauvilleuk.org/forum/.

I have had my 2001 Deauville 640 since September and am really pleased with it.

Andy[/url]

[c_dug]

I'm not sure any bike can be really boring to be honest. I had reservations about moving from my CBR to my Divvy but it hasn't been that bad to be honest.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Spudly]

The Deauville is one of five bikes I'm choosing from when I finally get this damn DAS completed this year.

The bikes are:

ST1100 Pan European;
Honda Deauville 650;
BMW K75RT/K100RT (Two bikes there I know, but either will suit me, provided its the right year;
Diversion 900 - has to be a good one though;
BMW R1100RT.

Of all of them, the Deauville is the most sensible choice for a newly licenced rider, but any of them will do for me. Practical, cheap to insure, capable of covering awesome distances and relatively economical for fuel.

Out of that list, my two favourites are the Deauville and the ST1100. I went and sat on a Deauville 650 and the first thing I noticed was that it is bigger than you expect it to be. It was really, really comfortable. Now I'm a poofteenth under 6 feet tall with a 29 inch inseam. Long fat body, short legs, I'm not built for speed.
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The Old Apprentice

[Clive L]

Nothing wrong with the Deauville, but I'd go for the 700 rather than the 650 if you can afford it. The Pan 1100 is a lovely bike to ride as well, don't be put off by the old fashioned looks.

[kawashima]

As far as I read owner's blogs, normal panniers of deauville are not so big compared to GIVI side panniers.
By attaching wide pannier lids you can make them bigger and wider.
I think if the bike had them you are lucky cause they are not so cheap.
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own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[Amreet]

Give it the beans in 2nd to make sure it doesn't jump out, other than that, as long as it rides and doesn't vomit oil out of every orrifice it'll be absolutely fine!


If you're worried about it being a grandma bike look at the NTV600/650 all the positives, can get good screens for them and aftermarket luggage/pannier racks but look a bit better, way lighter, slightly longer gearing. Ample bike to have fun on and always returns 65mpg.

K75 Beemers seem to be worryingly cheap at the moment, if I ever had to consider a change of bike, the k75 is probably the first thing i'd look at.

[hazza]

Hi,

To update the thread i went for the test ride today. What first surprised me as i pulled away from the shop was how stable the bike is at low speed. It was very easy to control at slow speeds and the bike was quite happy with no throttle, just using the clutch. As I pulled onto the dual carriage way i gave it a healthy amount of throttle and was a little disappointed. That was until i looked at the speedo and saw how fast i was actually going. Having a big screen and a slow revving v twin under you really does hide just how fast you were going. The bikes handling was much better than i thought it was going to be, remaining light and flick-able with a bit of counter steering. I scanned the road for for some potholes (didn't take long) to try out the ride and again I was pleasantly surprised, not half as harsh as the bandit. Im not sure if it is a Deauville thing, or the after market screen but the screen was rather counter-effective. Whilst it was great at keeping the blast off you from ahead, all the time i was riding above 60 it felt as though i was in a vacuum. Very strange feeling indeed something i could probably put down to only riding naked bikes perhaps!. The linked brakes were great and inspired a lot of confidence whilst riding. storage was great, two cubby holes on the dash and a top box and two small panniers (wider lids are available to increase the side capacity)

All in all it was a nice bike.......although there is a but....

The gearbox was very clunky and i was struggling to get a smooth change, even clutch-less changes were jerky. The seat was comfortable, but the bars were not comfortable at all for me and made me ache after 30 minutes (N.B i am 5 foot 5, so maybe too far a reach for a shorty?) Something i would without doubt get used to, but every time i looked in the mirrors i kept mistaking the top box for a car up my rear. On the subject of the mirrors i was unable to get them in to a position where i could see clearly behind me without moving position on the bike. Staying with reflections i didn't much like mine in shop windows. I admit 100% vanity when i say this is not a cool bike in the slightest. On the test ride I took the bike up Bridgnorth and with the fine weather today there were lots of bikes about. Seeing others riders on their bikes i could not help but feel I wish I was riding something different. The point at which I decided the Honda was not for me was when a kawasaki (yep, you guessed it) ER6-n came bombing past. I really, really wanted to be riding that.

When i got back to the shop i decided to inspect the bike fully anyway ( when i first viewed it the bike had not been valeted and was covered in grime)

The chrome on the underside of the exhaust was pitted along with the headers. The collector box looked solid, ,if a little tired.

Either the previous owner or triumph had painted over a multitude of sins with silver paint, including the shock, swing arm and gear linkages.

The most shocking thing for me on a 30,000 mile 2005 bike was that the stanchions were very pitted indeed, something that was not at first apparent as the pitting was under the fairing. Under hard braking im sure the pitting would reach the seals and cause all sorts of problems. All in all it dosen't seem as though Honda's are built as they used to be......My bandit was in much much better condition with less tarnished fasteners and its done more miles and is older, without mentioning Suzuki's reputation on build quality and winter riding!


Overall, if I had the opportunity of owning two bikes i would not hesitate to purchase a Honda Deauville (although not this example) as my commuter. It offered good protection, good storage, great fuel economy, a clock!, and low maintenence shaft drive. Unfortunately I don't have the means to own two bikes and i didn't feel it was as good of a 'do everything' bike as the bandit is.


Next test ride will be (hopefully) the Kawasaki.


Thanks for all help,

sorry for the long post (not really)



Ta

Harry.
____________________
3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)