Any thoughts about Honda NTV 650 Revere or Suzuki VX 800?
Richard Lindner
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 $3K
plus rego etc - any VX's I've seen so far have done more like twice that
or above. And although an engine rebuild is well within my capability,
I'm not too keen on having to rebuild a gearbox.
Does anyone have any knowledge or advice about either of these bikes?
RL
Black Magoo
That much money will buy you plenty.
Magoo
On 18/5/05 7:18 PM, in article d6f17b$s6g$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au, "Richard
Richard Lindner
for the NTV is that much I wouldn't have thought .... but I'm ready to
be converted ... ;)
Black Magoo wrote:
> For that money forget buying a dog. Buy something that is already trick.
> That much money will buy you plenty.
> Magoo
>
>
> On 18/5/05 7:18 PM, in article d6f17b$s6g$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au, "Richard
> Lindner" <r...@riclin.com.au> wrote:
>
>
>>Am looking around for a "project" bike that will replace my Spada - not
>>that I can legally ride >260cc for a few months yet but with winter
>>beginning to happen, there's the opportunity to spend some time in the
>>shed doing something up for the better weather. I've narrowed down my
>>requirements to something like:
<SNIPPO>
Black Magoo
first and then smaller amounts as you need it? I think look for what you
want and wait, winter is coming
Magoo
On 18/5/05 7:33 PM, in article d6f22u$tev$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au, "Richard
Richard Lindner
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 $3500 on road
- perhaps a touch more if I put on new tyres which I tend to do as a
matter of course.
Do you reckon prices fall much as winter progresses??
RL
Black Magoo
buy a dog. Winter and sales are related provided someone wants to sell.
Winter, is colder so people will pay less. What is low kays for you?
Magoo
On 18/5/05 7:54 PM, in article d6f39t$vde$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au, "Richard
sharkey
>
> - not /that/ powerful - say at least 50hp and with decent torque
> - probably a water cooled vee twin
> - probably shaft drive
Honda CX650E.
> I'm considering at either a Honda NTV 650 Revere or a Suzuki VX 800 -
NTVs are good too, but fairly rare and you wouldn't want to be tall.
-----sharks
Knobdoodle
if that's a factor!)
--
Clem
"....and what the fuck is Pat on/about?"
"Richard Lindner" <r...@riclin.com.au> wrote in message
news:d6f17b$s6g$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au...
Richard Lindner
CX650E eh? - which may make parts a bit easier to get (at least Redwing
tell me that they're still available - although haven't asked about the
CX). But have found an NTV in reasonable nick for an OK price - and I'm
a bit of a shortarse really.
Ever ridden one? How did it handle? Much shaft reaction? Much power loss
through the shaft gears? What's the suspension like?
What about the VX800? - know anything about these?
RL
Respondeth sharkey:
Richard Lindner
> I loved my VX800 (and it'd have at least 20 more horses than a Revere...
> if that's a factor!)
Sure is! ;) The /only/ thing that's caused me second thoughts is the
1560mm wheelbase - did you find that detracted from its handling?
RL
sharkey
> Yep - the NTV's /are/ a bit rare - but also a bit more recent than the
> CX650E eh? - which may make parts a bit easier to get (at least Redwing
> tell me that they're still available - although haven't asked about the
> CX). But have found an NTV in reasonable nick for an OK price - and I'm
> a bit of a shortarse really.
Fair enough then. See it, like it, buy it.
Never rode a Revere myself, I was thinking of buying one but
it was a bit small so I got the CX instead ... but they're
a pretty similar engine to the Transalp I think, and that's
a good bike ...
-----sharks
Steve Wright
I have a friend with one, he loves it that much it is actually his second
one. The reason he changed was to get the one with a lower first gear
(silver wheels if I remember correctly), his first one had the white wheels.
He has used it as everyday transport, sport/fun Sunday rides, track days and
touring, has done it all ok in his opinion.
I rode it once and found it a bit lacking in power, but I had just gotten
off my VFR750.
Hope this helps
Steve
"Richard Lindner" <r...@riclin.com.au> wrote in message
news:d6f17b$s6g$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au...
Gary Woodman
@nnrp.waia.asn.au:
> Do you reckon prices fall much as winter progresses??
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
Gary Woodman
@nnrp.waia.asn.au:
> - 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
R-bike!
Nev..
>
> 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 $3500 on road
> - perhaps a touch more if I put on new tyres which I tend to do as a
> matter of course.
>
> Do you reckon prices fall much as winter progresses??
probably depends on the weather rather than the season. The past few winters
in Melbourne have been quite mild and (as far as new bikes prices go) there
haven't been the kind of pricing cycles that you would expect. The stores or
manufacturers seem just as likely to discount during the peak buying times in
summer as they are in winter.
Nev..
'03 ZX12R
Rod Bacon
Back in February this year, I found a couple, rode them then promptly
bought my Zephyr 750 instead (an inline 4, chain drive!).
In my opinion, the VX looks a treat. It's very long and narrow. Sitting
on it feels like 250 that's been stretched lengthways. They rode well,
but lacked to inspire any sort of excitement.
While I really do _love_ the feel of a V-Twin, particularly the
low-down torque, the VX really seemed to lack "bite". It felt a little
docile right through the rev range. I kept waiting for the power to
kick in... it never really did.
Perhaps some engine/exhaust mods could snap it up a little... I guess
it depends on what you're looking for. From all accounts, they're
relatively bullet proof.
House of Styles
found it great. It's a bit heavy (213Kg) and hasn't got a great deal of
power (~47kW @ 7000 rpm) but it's nicely progressive across the range, and
torque is not bad (70Nm @ 6000). On one trip I swapped bikes with my mate,
K100 for VX, and had trouble getting it back from him (I also had trouble
catching up with him!). The long wheelbase makes tight corners less than
brilliant, but otherwise I feel it handled well. It was utterly reliable
and fuel consumption was good (about 19 kms per ltr on a trip). The seat
was a bit narrow, but a sheepskin fixed that.
I also test rode a Revere and found it really lacking in power.
Jim Styles
"Richard Lindner" <r...@riclin.com.au> wrote in message
news:d6f17b$s6g$1...@nnrp.waia.asn.au...
> I'm considering at either a Honda NTV 650 Revere or a Suzuki VX 800 -
> Does anyone have any knowledge or advice about either of these bikes?
Richard Lindner
Richard Lindner
there was such a beast!!
G-S
What about a BMW R80?
G-S
sharkey
>
> What about a BMW R80?
180 degree V! (but I think he said watercooled)
-----sharks
Richard Lindner
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
J5
> 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 -
thats called lack of maintenance
>
> RL
>
Zebee Johnstone
Richard Lindner <r...@riclin.com.au> wrote:
> 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.
Or a smallblock GUzzi. V65s are about, although V75s are nowhere near
as common.
Zebee
Richard Lindner
Yeah - perhaps. Then again - temperature is better controlled in a water
cooled bike eh? - so lubricants last better/longer and clearances
between moving parts are more stable. Which maybe makes the motor a
little more tolerant to any lack of maintenance which may be patrt of a
used bikes history?
Speculating really ....
RL
Richard Lindner
Zebee Johnstone wrote:
<SNIP>
> Or a smallblock GUzzi. V65s are about, although V75s are nowhere near
> as common.
Ahh - OK now - yes - there's a thought! - something like the V65 Lario
might be just the ticket!
Thanks for the suggestion!
RL
Zebee Johnstone
Larios can have top end problems. Some do, some don't... Whoever you
buy from, talk them them about their experiences. I seem to recall it
was a cam material that was badly specified or something, google may
tell you. Or hop on to http://aigor.org, look in the parts and services
section and contact Pete Roper at Moto Moda or Mario at Thunderbikes or
Don Newell and ask them.
If you get a good one, they are very good.
Zebee
G-S
Yes, a V65 would work... although... based on my (limited) experience of
the 650 Lario I'd give at least the Lario a miss.
G-S
Zebee Johnstone
G-S <ge...@castbus.com.au> wrote:
> Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>>
>> Or a smallblock GUzzi. V65s are about, although V75s are nowhere near
>> as common.
>
> Yes, a V65 would work... although... based on my (limited) experience of
> the 650 Lario I'd give at least the Lario a miss.
I think larios are like the little girl with the curl upon her forehead.
When they are good they are very very good, when they are bad they are
absolute pigs.
I think Moto Ciclo has a V65 tourer in the shop, maybe contact them.
Zebee
J5
yep callerd lack of maintenance
oil has a harder job to do in air cooled bikes which is why it must be
changed
early gixxers and before were oil cooled and you still see the odd ones
about that
were murdered and crashed
were popular for couriers as they lived a long time even with little
maintenance
>
> Speculating really ....
>
> RL
G-S
I guess the ones I've seen have been going oink oink then :-)
G-S
Smee R1100s
wot a load of crock.
Have a look at how many r series bmw's are around.
oil/air cooled ffs.
Richard Lindner
Oi!! - back up a bit and read my earlier comments, where I noted that
the milage that BMs get out of an air cooled motor would overturn my
preference otherwise for a watercooling. But they're usually a
relatively lowly stressed, low revving motor compared to many others eh?
I don't think that you could suggest that the longevity of a BM motor is
typical of all air cooled donks. Wish it was!
RL
Smee R1100s
I wouldn't call them understressed
I call them overengineered.
As for other oil/aircooled motors have a look at the suzuki gs1100?they
last forever and Clem had a xj1000 or something like that that lasted
forever.
Remember it's not just aircooled
but oil/aircooled.
G-S
>
> Oi!! - back up a bit and read my earlier comments, where I noted that
> the milage that BMs get out of an air cooled motor would overturn my
> preference otherwise for a watercooling. But they're usually a
> relatively lowly stressed, low revving motor compared to many others eh?
> I don't think that you could suggest that the longevity of a BM motor is
> typical of all air cooled donks. Wish it was!
Most air cooled road bike motors are fairly low stressed, the Bandit
1200's, the Diversion 900's and similar bikes are all well known for
doing big kms without needing work.
If anything these days it's the highly tuned liquid cooled bikes that
don't last as long (not talking about bikes like the ST1100 or GTR1000)!).
G-S
sharkey
> Richard Lindner wrote:
> >
> > Oi!! - back up a bit and read my earlier comments, where I noted that
> > the milage that BMs get out of an air cooled motor would overturn my
> > preference otherwise for a watercooling.
>
> 1200's, the Diversion 900's and similar bikes are all well known for
> doing big kms without needing work.
I'd agree with that ... any of the big aircooleds should be fine.
Beemer don't have a monopoly on unstressed motors, y'know ...
-----sharks
Richard Lindner
Yeah... so the overengineering in design/fabrication results in reduced
stresses in operation
> As for other oil/aircooled motors have a look at the suzuki gs1100?they
> last forever and Clem had a xj1000 or something like that that lasted
> forever.
> Remember it's not just aircooled
> but oil/aircooled.
Yep. In my crazier days I used to build high performance VW's - so no
stranger to this.
RL
Zebee Johnstone
Richard Lindner <r...@riclin.com.au> wrote:
>
> Yep. In my crazier days I used to build high performance VW's - so no
> stranger to this.
So get a BMW r60 chassis, a more modern front end, a gearbox adaptor
plate and a VW motor.
Problem solved.
Zebee
Gary Woodman
news:slrnd8vi0s...@zeus.zipworld.com.au:
More's the pity... I really liked the 750 Breva on a brief test ride last
year.
Gary (ride report pending)
John
wrote:
Yeps, would have to agree to that statement. BMW make one of the best
overengineered Tractor motors going - bar none ;)
Johno
Beer mate?
Tim Moran
>
> Yeps, would have to agree to that statement. BMW make one of the best
> overengineered Tractor motors going - bar none ;)
>
>
> Johno
>
> Beer mate?
>
Too bad about the rest of the bike
Zebee Johnstone
Gary Woodman <u...@your.nose> wrote:
> Zebee Johnstone <ze...@zip.com.au> wrote in
> news:slrnd8vi0s...@zeus.zipworld.com.au:
>>
>> as common.
>
> More's the pity... I really liked the 750 Breva on a brief test ride last
> year.
The BReva is a different beastie to the older smallblocks.
Not hugely different, the way the V11 spineframes are different to the
older Tonti framed squarefins, but still different.
The main reason there aren't many 750s about is that they were much
slower than the opposition, and I think most folk were wary after the
Lario.
There are old style Nevadas about, but the styling is against them.
I doubt the OP could afford a new Breva, but if he could I think it
would be the perfect bike.
Zebee