Honda Ntv 650 Revere

The 52-degree V-twin pulls smoothly from about 2,500 rpm and feels genuinely relaxed cruising at motorway speeds, though push it past 140 km/h and vibration starts creeping through the bars. Shaft drive makes it a near-zero-maintenance mile-eater — no chain to fuss over, ever — and that 760mm seat height means shorter riders actually feel comfortable rather than just coping. The linked braking system is confidence-inspiring in the wet, but the anti-dive forks are a bit wooden over mid-corner bumps; they resist dive efficiently but kill feedback in the process. It won't excite you, but after 50,000 kilometres you'll still trust it completely, which counts for more than people admit.

I put nearly 18,000 kilometres on a '95 Revere over two years of daily commuting and weekend runs, and the thing that strikes you most is how relentlessly unfussy it is — that 52-degree V-twin pulls cleanly from 2,500 rpm and the shaft drive means you never think about chain lube in the rain. The carburetion tweak Honda made for Gen 2 smoothed out a mild flat spot around 4,000 rpm that owners complained about, though you still feel a slight hesitation if you crack the throttle hard from low revs in a high gear. At 232 kg it's genuinely heavy for a 650 and you'll feel that weight at slow-speed parking manoeuvres, but once rolling it carries itself well and the low seat makes most riders feel planted. It's not a bike that ever makes you grin uncontrollably, but it's one you'd trust implicitly on a wet Tuesday morning, which honestly counts for a lot.