Honda NTV 650 anygood

[rcbikeracer]

I'm going to look at a 96 NTV650 on Sunday, 57 thousand on the clock and just passed MOT, Cheapish, will this be a good bike for my sons first "big" bike.

[Itchy]

I owned two of them in the mid 00s. They're like a heavier CB500.

Mostly reliable and v good mpg and in twisty roads can mostly keep up with many bikes. Very pleasant to ride. Easy maintenance I maintained (sort of) mine with the tool kit under one of the side panels.

Headlamp is pretty poor.

Things to watch out for:

Collector box rot.

Jumping out of gears.

Sub frame rot they really rot under the seat.

Fuel tank rot.

Starter relay rot (more of an age issue than specific part issue).

Clock plastic damage. I had trouble finding parts 13 years ago let alone now.

Same thing with radiators many are bent but water tight. VFR radiators fit though.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Courier265]

From what I remember about the NTV's, good reliable workhorses for
courier use, they were very popular back in the day. Not many floating
about now but if it's a tidy looking bike then grab it.

[secretagentmo...]

Bloody lovely bikes!
Got one!

[Courier265]

[kgm]

I followed a bloke on one whilst test riding a tracer 900. I had to work to keep up in the corners, he was rapid. They can handle in the right hands, well balanced.

[Copyhat]

I had an NTV as my first bike back in 2014/15. Really sturdy and reliable, although I had to replace the collector and end can with a new set from Fuel Exhausts. Great V-twin sound though. Pretty easy to maintain, although you'd need the original spark plug tool to get at the deepest plug, the engine has two plugs per cylinder. Shaft drive was great for me and it handled much better than the CB500 and GS500 I tried.
____________________
Past: '91 Honda NTV650, '93 Kawasaki GPZ 500S
Current: '91 Honda VFR750F, '83 Suzuki GSX400F

[c_dug]

I had the 600 when I was 19 and was very happy with it. I killed it in the end, but honestly it took a supernatural level of teenage abuse to do so.

As an example, I ran it out of oil on the m25 and it heat seized. It still did another 5000 odd miles once I'd nursed it home and topped it up.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[qarka]

I have one for a winter hack/shopping bike. Bit heavy and the brakes are a bit wooden but for getting around on the cheap I can't fault it. 57k is barely run in for that engine. Also very nice not having a chain to worry about.
____________________
Previous - Sinnis Apache - Honda Bros 400 - Yamaha SR500 - Honda Transalp - Kawasaki ZX-7R - Honda CB-1 - Honda 929 Fireblade - Honda NTV650 [b]Current[\b] Honda CB500

[sickpup]

[Courier265]

[sickpup]