Talent Agency 411

I purchased this bike as a second bike. I already had the SLR
650 that I love, but on those occasions it needs attention it
leaves me with no 2-wheeld transport. I’ve always liked the NTV
range of bikes because they are known for their reliability and
ease of maintenance. Initially I was looking at the much newer
Deauville but the few dealers with second hand machines would
not deal on the price. Searching through the biketrader I
spotted this bike for £1300.

I went to look at it in the shop and it immediately struck me as
a genuine bike. It had a large screen fitted, was clean but not
polished, had been dropped but no serious damage and did not
look like it had been “bodged” by some cowboy such as myself. A
deal was struck and a few days later I rode my purchase home.

First impressions were good. Acceleration is acceptable below
6000rpm then becomes quite brisk above, running out of steam
1000rpm short of the 9500rpm redline. Handling is not fast but
very solid after riding the twitchy SLR for so long. Comfort
remains to be seen but the riding position is very sporty for a
bike designed for hard-working long-distance couriers and other
mile eaters.

Let’s start with comfort. Before I tell you about this I ask you
to bear in mind I had a motorcycle accident 3 years ago which
left me with a stiff left knee and hip. I am 5 feet 9 inches
tall, which is considered about average for my country. The
riding position has the knees quite bent and a fair lean forward
across the long large tank is required. At town speed this makes
getting my feet on and off the pegs a chore and my wrists can
ache. The lean forward comes into its own at motorway speeds,
but then my backside goes numb.

This is not a comfy long distance bike, for myself. I suspect it
might be me and not the bike as countless couriers travelling
millions of miles cannot be wrong. I talked about this to
another biker once and he agreed, the seat is too low and the
pegs too high and the bars too far away. It may suit a smaller
rider. He suggested placing a cushion on the seat, I have tried
this and it is a great improvement. I am now trying to work out
how to lift the seat 1 inch without making the bike look silly.
If you plan to use the bike for long trips, try to get a long
ride in before you buy to see if the ergonomics suit you.

Handling. This is spot on for me. I don’t ride like a racer but
I do press on and the bike is solid, stable and reassuring
through the bends. I use Bridgestone BT45 tyres that provide
good grip in both wet and dry, and should last a long time. I’ve
used these tyres before on other bikes and did not like them,
but they are perfectly suited to the NTV. The whole chassis
inspires confidence.

Power. This comes in at 50 something bhp, not a great deal in
modern motorcycling, but more than the SLR I normally ride. It
is quick enough for myself, will beat general traffic and
surprises the sport bikes by keeping up with them. The power is
smooth but really comes in above 6000rpm. It will also run down
to 1800rpm, any lower than that and the shaft starts to rattle.
It’s and easy power and flexible.

Maintenance. Shaft drive, what more can I say. Use it, forget
it, change a tiny bit of oil whenever you remember that it’s
there then forget it again. As for the rest it’s difficult to
describe really, not had to do anything to it! Removing the back
wheel takes 2 minutes due to the single sided swingarm. Changing
the oil and filter is a doddle as everything is easy to reach.
Cleaning is easy. Even adjusting the shock is done with ease.
There is a preload adjusting knob behind one of the panels and
the damping adjuster screw is no problem. It’s so easy. I know
from previous ownership of an NT400 Bros that any carburettor
work will be a nightmare, changing the plugs will be fiddly and
getting to rocker covers is challenging. But hey, it’s not a
problem as they never need this kind of work…I hope. I’ll keep
on changing the oil every 3 to 4 thousand miles.

Loading the bike is easy, as you can see above. It takes load
like a lorry and I always worry about not having enough space,
with this bike I always have spare space. The bike takes it in
its stride. With this lot on the suspension was a bit soft but
it took 1 minute to stiffen the shock by clicking the knob.
Except at slow speeds I did not even notice a difference with
the load.

Costs. If ridden hard this bike returns 45mpg. The best I have
managed is 59mpg but I had to ride like an old lady. Normally
fuel runs at 50 to 53mpg being used for commuting. Most people
tell me this is good or at least acceptable, but I don’t like
spending money. I am looking for 150mpg, haven’t found it yet.
Tyres should last 8000 miles rear, god only knows how many at
the front. BT45’s are cheaper than super sport tyres. Parts will
be standard Honda prices, expensive. There is quite a good
aftermarket choice due to the bike being popular with the
couriers. No chain to replace.

Can I recommend this bike? Yes. Everyday use is a pleasure and
it should last forever, mine is already 14 years old with 35,000
miles and I’ve seen these with over 100,00 miles, looking tired
but still running strong. If you plan long distance riding then
either try one first or be prepared to alter the riding position
somehow. If you are looking for speed then look elsewhere or
look at the NTV650 Bros and all the American tuning companies.
Many of the tuning add-ons will fit the Revere too. It’s not a
sports bike but can be made to move and handle really well.