Having already thrown caution to prospective owners regarding my NTV650 Deauville experience I happened to spend some unschedulled time at the Honda dealers (getting rid of the crappy 021 that near killed me) and hawking around the 700s.
There are several updates to the 650 format, which included most of my criticisms; seat, screen, POWER, lighting, instrumentation, fuel guage, aerodynamics, and quality of build.
It's going for a ?7k figure; so I could buy a chain drive racing bike for the same but didn't chains go out with Grandfather clocks? 2k more and there's the CB1300, a couple less and a naked hooligan CBR1000 that I can certainly list a page of negatives on!
All in all, I'd be prepared to chew some humble pie. The bike is a good step away from the old Deauville and left me only wondering why the thin handlebars remain and why the quality of foot control material seems to have diminished (though likley a weight saving).
Also there were the fully-faired with bolt on full luggage CB600s; certainly price and volume competitors. I rode the naked version and found it far more lively than it's commuter format suggested. It was somewhat cheaper but the riding position would loose in an argument with the 700. It has a chain, too. How quaint. The gearing on the 600s is a nightmare and designed to 'drag' up to 50mph (....) whereas the 700 Deauville remains touring geared- much more sensible touring or commuting.
No, I have to accept the 700 is likely worth the premium. Check out fuel ecconomies in the literature, too but remember how the bikes will be ridden to achieve the figures. Lastly, I know of 2 700s on my commute- they're no slouch in traffic still and can out manouever the ST around flagging lines of cars. (although I still munch 'em up in the open
in summary, think hard and see where the extra costs lie. You'll quickly accept them, I'm sure.
Robert-07-ST
