Honda NTV Revere - any good?

[Arfa__]

Currently looking at options for a cheap commuter bike for my wife. Needs to be reliable, not too pricey and suitable for a short person. Not after some crazy fast, or super swish, just something easy to ride, solid and good to get confidence back after a long break in riding. Her last bike was a Honda VT250 import, so really just a sensible upgrade from that. CB500 is first choice, but also come across the old NTV 600 and 650's. Are they any good as a CB500 alternative, or just too old now and will inevitable be a money pit?

I liked the idea of the NTV, as it's about same height, weight, power as CB500. Still a twin, so not too wide (I'm guessing). but with shaft drive, alloy frame, not overly tuned engine, it appears they just keep on going. And of course, there's quite a few about for under a grand. But with most around 20 years old, will they be a money pit of maintenance, compared to a 10-15 years old CB/CBF500? i.e. will the extra cost of a CBF500 likely outway the cost of maintaining an older NTV?

I know many were fav'd by couriers, but the same is true for CB500's/CBF500's, so same problem really.
____________________
Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Matt B]

The Revere was basic, but well built and reliable. They are all knocking on a bit now so a good example may be hard to find. They got good reviews when compared to the competition at the time.

I rode one a few years back and they seemed to be a better balanced bike that the GS500 and CB500 that were being used for DAS work.

All the bikes you mention are of a similar breed and any of them could be money pits unless you find a low mileage, well maintained example. I would concentrate more on that aspect rather than going brand/bike specific.

Just another suggestion, what about an SV650?
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[map]

NTV has been around from the ark. It was one of the machines I was looking at/for when I started. Ended up with a Kawasaki GT550. I like shaft drive. However, my current commuter is a 1994 CB500.

The NTV evolved into the NT650V Deauville, so that's another (newer) option for a commuter.

IIRC there was a variant of the NTV that was chain driven, not shaft. Grey import perhaps, memory fails me atm.

Hope you get sorted
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Arfa__]

[Clanger]

The NTV is a bike widely used by the bike courier community. A good sturdy, reliable bike. Parts easy to come by. Another bike in a similar vein is the Honda Bros 400 or 650 (shaft drive).

I owned and rode the Honda Bros 400cc (chain drive, V-twin), I loved it as my first road-legal 'big bike'.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Teflon-Mike]

It would depend utterly on condition vs price. BUT...
NVT? Is probably the nicer bike.
CB5 is probably the easier to live with.
If it goes wrong, who gotta get the spanners out?
Who got to pay the bill?
Who gonna get the pleasure of riding it?
Does that help you decide your dilemah?
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[c_dug]

A few years back I was supposed to be starting a job in Tunbridge Wells, 45 miles away from home. I can't remember the reason but the GPZ500 I had at the time became unusable about a week before I was due to start. If I remember correctly it was the day before I started that I spotted a 1989 Revere with about 70,000 miles on the clocks still at it's starting price on ebay of £300. I put a bid on it and won it for the £300.

I rode that NTV 90 miles a day, 5 or 6 days a week for about 6 months. I crashed it at least once on ice, I think twice maybe. I ran the poor thing out of oil twice. It lived outside in the rain and ice and snow. It just kept on going. It suffered a bit with carb icing in the coldest weather but other than that it really did the job perfectly.

In the end I replaced it with a ZZR600, the NTV sat in my garden for over a year. When it sold (shamefully for £50!) the guy had it running again with just a charge of the battery and some fresh petrol.

Based on my experience I would declare it a properly bomb proof bike.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[-Monty-]

[Marmalade]

Good reliable bike. they will do the miles and basic servicing is simple.

Oil and filters are an easy swap, brake pads take minutes and they crash well.

One courier wrote his off (by insurance standards) 3 times.
the last one was especially brutal but it did take the car to the scrapyard in the sky in the process.
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Atomic Punk]

I used them for Despatching during the late 80's Bullet proof, shafty and a single sided swinging arm for ease of puncture repair, tire change.
____________________
I may have lost my way but I'm way ahead of schedule.

[Cunnington]

I've had a couple, and my only negative is that the gearbox belongs in a tractor. There's a good NTV forum, which recommends using a specific oil, which does make a difference.

David Silver are pretty good for spares, and I've had to do little above minimal maintenance to either.
____________________
'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."