People were buying NTV650s for years and using them as commuters, for dispatch riding (150,000 miles before stripping the engine is common) or bolting on luggage and going touring. So big H decided to build the bike it thought the masses wanted and introduced the Deauville in '98.
This upmarket version of the NTV650 is essentially a long-distance commuter that can handle touring holidays with the same aplomb. It's comfortable, thanks to roomy seating and compliant suspension, and the fairing keeps the worst of British weather at bay.
Built-in detachable panniers will carry 34l of luggage, and optional deeper lids (costing around £240 the pair) expand this to a more useful 56l. Slinky smooth bodywork means strapping a briefcase to the seat is not easy.
Don't expect acceleration that'll rip your arms off. The 647cc 52-degree V-twin is lifted straight from the stock NTV, so there's only 55bhp at the end of the wire. Not a lot for a bike with a power-sapping shaft-drive. Colour options are equally bland - black, brown or beige.
But the lazy V will cruise all day in the 80s and return 50mpg. Who wants to spend their weekends messing about with oily chains anyway?
The Deauville handles better than you'd expect, and the Brembo brakes on this Spanish-built Honda are surprisingly good.
But like every bike built for Every Man or Woman, the Deauville is too damned pleasant for most people. Build quality isn't up to Honda's usual standard either, and rusty fasteners appear to be the norm on bikes used all year round. Use it as a bargaining tool when you buy second-hand - beauty on this bike is more than skin deep.
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