advice on buying a NTV650

[jensk]

Hi NTV650 owners.
I have sold my last CB550 and i am now looking for a new more touring like bike.
One of the bikes I am looking at is the NTV650's between 1989 - 1992. I think they have charm and from what i hear they should be nice to ride for prolonged tours >500 km a day for several days - I am 183 cm's (6 feet) high and 58 years old so the legs (knee joints)  aren't what the used to be.
 
As with all other bikes there are differences between the different production years - but are there any differences that are significant/to look out for?
The only major thing i have noticed is that somewhere between year 1991 and 1993 Honda changed the instrument cluster layout. On the 1991 model the small indicator lamps are between the two dials. On the 1993 the indicator lamps are underneath the dials. What year did Honda move the indicator lamps?
/jens

[De Graaf van Salland]

Hi Jens & welcome to our forum.

From you e-mail address, I think you live in Denmark, correct ?
It helps to state where you're from, because the situation differs a bit from country to country.

I have ridden an NTV650 for 10 years and it's a very nice & reliable bike.
But you do have to bend your knees a bit far to get your feet on the pegs.
This was one of the reasons why I switched from a NTV to a Suzuki V-strom (but then I have damaged one of my knees badly in a car accident).

You could attempt to put Deauville footpegs on it. Several members have done this; search the forum.

Good luck, GvS

[jensk]

Hi GvS.
Thanks for the reply. Yes i'm danish - i have edited the profile to reflect my location.
I will look into the possibility to mount deaville footpegs. How tall are you? and are you yourself using Deauville footpegs?

[brendan0]

Hi Jensk

I'm 6' tall too, a decade younger than you. I have a 93 NTV650P, it's very practical and reliable, quick enough and not thirsty. But I can get uncomfy on it even after 90 min. The seat isn't the widest, and I can also get sore neck and back. Have never worked out what's wrong...it may be that
I was spoiled before (CX500 Euro). I have been away multi day camping on the NTV, Airkawk inflatable seat helps.

For the record, I found both W650 and MT-03 so uncomfy I sold them, and I'm very thin. My bike has a Street Scene fairing so wind hits top of my head, this may or may not be a factor.

Be interested to see how you get on.

B

[De Graaf van Salland]

Mar 22, 2015 22:00:42 GMT 1 jensk said:

Hi GvS.
Thanks for the reply. Yes i'm danish - i have edited the profile to reflect my location.
I will look into the possibility to mount deaville footpegs. How tall are you? and are you yourself using Deauville footpegs?

I'm about 1,80 mtr. (Don't know what that is in feet).

I never switched to Deauville footpegs. I just bought a new bike

GvS