Deauville
 

Hi all,

I would appreciate some advice.... I ride a Deauville at present, and I'm getting slightly bored with it - I'm looking for something a bit more fun and a bit more reliable (yes, I am saying the Deau has not been bullet-proof! I've spent about GBP 800 on it last year alone).
However, I am really struggling to come up with what I should go for.
Here's what I do with the bike:
- commuting to work (86 mostly motorway miles a day, most days, unless the weather is really fowl)
- B-road fun
- trips to the Continent etc. with my wife as pillion
- running blood for SERV (this charity: SERV - Kent)
I've only got a budget of about 3k.
Oh, and ideally I'd want something shaft drive.

Any ideas, I'd be really grateful!

Deauville
 

Hi agfoxx - I thought I should reply to your question regarding the Deauville, as have had both the 650 and the 700. I too like shaft drives. I currently ride a BMW R1200R Classic. I like it's looks and it is lighter than most shaft drives with similar power.

I'm surpised you don't find the Deauville bullet-proof. It really is a reliable bike, so you must be unlucky. After my Deauville 650 I had a CBF1000ABS which was light and very fast. I rode that for 2 years, but missed the shaft-drive, so I went back to the Deauville 700 which was an imporovement on the 650. I rode the Deauville 700 for 2 years. It did the job, you know the story, it's a little underpowered (I understand from the Deauville users web site, a really good web site by the way, that Honda are planning to end production of the Deauville.) After that I had a PAN 1300ST, my pillion loved it and it is a great powerful tourer. It is heavy to move around, after learning a lesson I always took it off it's centre stand sitting astride the saddle for fear of dropping it. It is expensive, services every 4k miles and it has a special size front wheel making it's tyres more expensive. I rode the PAN from 2 years and part-exchanged it for a nearly new BMW R1200R Classic. The Boxer engine bike with great classic bike looks. I feel pleased every time I look at it and it is awesome for overtaking. I naked bike can often be more fun for generally running around; but for longer tours and all year round commuting you might find the protection of a tourer is needed.

I reckon: a) You should think about keeping your Deauville, I can't remember if it is a 650 or 700, if it is 650 consider upgrading to 700. b) Consider an older BMW with a shaft drive within your budget. c) Think about the older Honda PAN 1100. Owners of the older PAN 1100's swear by them. d) If you can afford it find a PAN ST1300, which will certainly do the job and has a great V4 engine. Personally I'd go for BMW R1200RT - which is like the PAN but perhaps a little lighter.

Hope that is helpful. Ride safe. Pete

p.s. Nothing to do with the bike, but consider completing an Advanced Rider's Course, like IAM. It is cheap and will give you heaps of confidence for the bigger bikes. I did my IAM test of the Deauville 650 then bought the new CBF1000. The IAM training was the best thing I ever did. The riders in your local IAM group can also advise you on the bikes.

I changed mine
 

I had a Deauville 650 and loved it. Reliable ( guess you were unlucky?) comfy 2up ( ish) Dry and warm just good good good.........apart from one thing. Pillion foot room was tight ! My wife "MADE" me change :(

I spent many nights on the net and forums trying to come up with a replacement, I was really quite concerned I wouldn't find anything I felt was as good. I did circa 18K in 18months on that Deauville mostly on trips around 5k a time and it was faultless.

Eventually settled for 2008 650 Vstrom (under your 3k budget )
I am so happy with it now after some initial fettling etc... it is great. Not done many miles on it yet, but already find its much more exciting than the Deauville (some say that aint hard ) more comfy I think. More economical and loads more practical for trips away. The paint finish is a bit crappy but that can be sorted with a brush and some hammerite!

Do I miss the shaft drive ? Well while I had the Deauville I would say I would miss it, but now, not really it doesn't take much to oil a chain and adjust it does it. 20K out of a set of sprockets and a chain would be what I would expect at worst, my trips don't get near that yet! Its only an issue if you make it an issue.