The mid-cubed V-twin tourer
Extinct in 2026
Deauville's role — sub-700cc V-twin shaft-drive commuter-tourer with integrated panniers — is essentially extinct in 2026. BMW R1200CL went 2010, Yamaha XJ900 Diversion went 2003. The category got squeezed: bigger riders went to ADV bikes (Africa Twin, GS), smaller riders went to A2-friendly nakeds (MT-07, CB650R). Nobody makes the in-between any more.
NTV650 → NT700V transition
+33cc, FI, 2006
2006 NT700V update: 647cc → 680cc, carb-to-FI, optional ABS, integrated hard panniers (better than NTV650's bolt-on bags), revised half-fairing. Same 52° V-twin layout, modernised. NT700V is the better bike — find clean used examples for £2.5-4.5k in 2026.
Why it ended 2012
Sales decline + Euro 4 cost
Deauville sales never recovered after 2008 financial crisis. Euro 4 emissions in 2017 would have required engine redesign; Honda chose not to fund it. Same fate as Yamaha's XJ900 Diversion (gone 2003) and BMW's K1200LT (gone 2009). The category's customer base aged out.
Real cost trajectory (vs NT1100)
+15% real
£6,500 NT700V in 2006 (£10,900 today) → £12,499 NT1100 in 2026. Slight real-terms increase. NT1100 has more rider aids (cornering ABS, traction, ride modes), bigger engine (1084 vs 680cc), heavier (240kg wet vs 246kg wet — comparable), and is a different category (full tourer not commuter-tourer).
Rider aids count (1998 → 2026)
0 → 8
NTV650 had nothing. NT700V added FI and optional ABS. 2026 NT1100 has cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes, DCT auto-clutch option, cruise control, full LCD, heated grips standard, smartphone connect. The mid-tour class has gone from minimum-viable to fully electronic.
Cheapest way in
£1.8k
A clean NTV650 Deauville from 1998-2005. 56bhp 52° V-twin, shaft drive, integrated panniers, comfortable upright ergos. The cheapest path to a Honda V-twin commuter-tourer. Pay attention to final drive splines, reg/rec, carb sync. Honda dealer network is strong for older bikes.
Why riders miss it
Mid-cubed simplicity
The Deauville fitted a specific rider need — sub-£10k commuter-tourer with shaft drive, panniers, comfortable ergos, modest power. Modern alternatives are either bigger (NT1100, R1300RT) or smaller (CB650R, MT-07 with luggage). The Deauville's sweet-spot of capability vs cost is uniquely missing in 2026 showrooms.
