Any thoughts about Honda NTV 650 Revere or Suzuki VX 800?

Am looking around for a "project" bike that will replace my Spada - not
that I can legally ride >260cc for a few months yet but with winter
beginning to happen, there's the opportunity to spend some time in the
shed doing something up for the better weather. I've narrowed down my
requirements to something like:

- naked bike
- suitable for touring and some city riding
- somewhere around 750cc - give or take a bit
- reasonable pillion space
- not excessively heavy - say 200-ish kg tops
- not /that/ powerful - say at least 50hp and with decent torque
- probably a water cooled vee twin
- probably shaft drive
- maintainable by me - which probably means carbs rather than EFI
- spares available
- preferably not over $5K for initial purchase and restoration

I'm considering at either a Honda NTV 650 Revere or a Suzuki VX 800 -
either of which seem to fit the bill - both of which are 10-15 years
old. Have seen a Revere in pretty good nick with ~30000km for about $3K
plus rego etc - any VX's I've seen so far have done more like twice that
or above. And although an engine rebuild is well within my capability,
I'm not too keen on having to rebuild a gearbox.

Does anyone have any knowledge or advice about either of these bikes?

RL

 

For that money forget buying a dog. Buy something that is already trick.
That much money will buy you plenty.
Magoo

 

fair enough - but any suggestions that match my criteria? (not that $3k
for the NTV is that much I wouldn't have thought .... but I'm ready to
be converted ...

<SNIPPO>

 

Ahh, your total outlay is 5 thousand. Is this all at once or 3 thousand
first and then smaller amounts as you need it? I think look for what you
want and wait, winter is coming
Magoo

 

Yeah - $3K is what I'm considering now - with an absolute max of $5K if
work is needed - although the NTV is pretty much fine as it is so
probably doesn't need much - is clean, tidy, low clicks, sounds
mechanically OK and has RWC etc. May need fork seals and pads, but
that's about all, so in that case, can probably budget on $3500 on road
- perhaps a touch more if I put on new tyres which I tend to do as a
matter of course.

Do you reckon prices fall much as winter progresses??

RL

 

I thought you were wanting to pull the bike down that is why I said don't
buy a dog. Winter and sales are related provided someone wants to sell.
Winter, is colder so people will pay less. What is low kays for you?
Magoo

 

Honda CX650E.

NTVs are good too, but fairly rare and you wouldn't want to be tall.

-----sharks

 

Yep - the NTV's /are/ a bit rare - but also a bit more recent than the
CX650E eh? - which may make parts a bit easier to get (at least Redwing
tell me that they're still available - although haven't asked about the
CX). But have found an NTV in reasonable nick for an OK price - and I'm
a bit of a shortarse really.

Ever ridden one? How did it handle? Much shaft reaction? Much power loss
through the shaft gears? What's the suspension like?

What about the VX800? - know anything about these?

RL


Respondeth sharkey:

 

Sure is! The /only/ thing that's caused me second thoughts is the
1560mm wheelbase - did you find that detracted from its handling?

RL

 

Fair enough then. See it, like it, buy it.

Never rode a Revere myself, I was thinking of buying one but
it was a bit small so I got the CX instead ... but they're
a pretty similar engine to the Transalp I think, and that's
a good bike ...

-----sharks

 

Hi

I have a friend with one, he loves it that much it is actually his second
one. The reason he changed was to get the one with a lower first gear
(silver wheels if I remember correctly), his first one had the white wheels.

He has used it as everyday transport, sport/fun Sunday rides, track days and
touring, has done it all ok in his opinion.

I rode it once and found it a bit lacking in power, but I had just gotten
off my VFR750.

Hope this helps
Steve

 

No, people aren't much interested in buying a bike during winter.

Gary

--

"As the Bush White House desperately maneuvers in Iraq to prevent the new
government from being run according to the dictates of religious
fundamentalists, it desperately maneuvers here to pander to religious
fundamentalists who want to dictate how the government should be run."

Maureen Dowd, the New York Times

 

R-bike!

Gary

--

"As the Bush White House desperately maneuvers in Iraq to prevent the new
government from being run according to the dictates of religious
fundamentalists, it desperately maneuvers here to pander to religious
fundamentalists who want to dictate how the government should be run."

Maureen Dowd, the New York Times

 

Being an ex-CXian, loving shafties and twins, I always wanted a VX800.
Back in February this year, I found a couple, rode them then promptly
bought my Zephyr 750 instead (an inline 4, chain drive!).

In my opinion, the VX looks a treat. It's very long and narrow. Sitting
on it feels like 250 that's been stretched lengthways. They rode well,
but lacked to inspire any sort of excitement.

While I really do _love_ the feel of a V-Twin, particularly the
low-down torque, the VX really seemed to lack "bite". It felt a little
docile right through the rev range. I kept waiting for the power to
kick in... it never really did.

Perhaps some engine/exhaust mods could snap it up a little... I guess
it depends on what you're looking for. From all accounts, they're
relatively bullet proof.

 

Umm - is it the NTV650 or the VX 800 that your friend loves?

 

Hmm - so I guess that might mean I'm really looking for an NTV 800 - if
there was such a beast!!

 

Richard Lindner wrote:

What about a BMW R80?


G-S

 

180 degree V! (but I think he said watercooled)

-----sharks

 

Hmm - the R850R caught my eye - even though aircooled - but more than I
want to spend.

Watercooled isn't an "essential" on my want list - but by and large it
seems that aircooled bikes don't have the as good a longevity - so I
kind of lean towards water cooling for an older bike. But that wouldn't
bew as much of an issue with a BM.

RL

 

thats called lack of maintenance