2010 Honda NT700V

The 2010 Honda NT700V sport-tourer was previously known in Europe as the Honda Deauville. Billed as the “only true lightweight touring bike on the market”, the NT700V comes outfitted with interlinked saddlebags, a five-position windscreen and Honda’s combined braking system with ABS as an available option.

The NT700V is powered by a DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder 680cc (81 x 66mm) liquid-cooled, 52-degree, V-Twin, with Honda’s programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) system. Power from the Twin is transmitted through a five-speed gearbox to a shaft final drive. This is largely the same mill as in the DN-01 introduced to the U.S. earlier this year.

As used in the Deauville the middleweight Twin claims 65 hp at 8,000 rpm with 49 ft-lbs at 6,500 rpm. With the 5.2-gallon fuel tank filled, the standard NT700V claims a 562 lbs ready-to-ride curb weight. The Euro-model non-ABS Deauville’s claimed dry weight tips the scales at 520 lbs, so we expect no significant difference in fully fueled weights between the Deauville and NT700V.

The single-shock rear suspension features a remote adjuster for preload tweaking while a 41mm telescopic fork provides suspension up front.

We’re eager to ride this new tourer, as it seems to strike a nice balance between Honda’s venerable, long-standing VFR800 and ST1300. Available in metallic red or metallic silver, the 2010 NT700V retails for $9,999. The ABS version is only available in Metallic Silver with an MSRP of $10,999.