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I purchased a DV in October 1999 and I have been very pleased to date. I have ridden a Revere and I feel that the DV is a much better machine. The fairing offers good protection from the weather and I have supplemented the standard fairing with handle bar mounted wind deflectors and fairing lowerers.
The gear box does not give false neutrals and I have not found any problems with it dropping out of second gear.
The built in panniers are not large but they come in useful I have also equipped my machine with a 45 litre top box which comes with a back rest, which the wife states is very comfortable. The DV also has glove boxes built into the front fairing and the Honda Ignition Security System which requiries a chipped key to start the machine.
The DV is very lively if you keep it in the 3000 - 7000 rpm band and blows the tin cans into the weeds away from the lights. It cruises easily at 80, 2 up and returns over 50 mpg unless you are a very enthusiastic rider; in any case the 19.5l tank gives you a 200 mile range.
The built in engine guards work and protect the fairing i= f you drop the DV.
Instrumentation is OK but there is no temperature guage; instead you get a warning light where the side stand indicator usually is. There isn't a side stand indicator, but you do get the usual Honda cut off system if you try to put the machine in gear with the stand down.
The DV has a comfortable seat, good pillion grips and well placed foot pegs. Head lights are fine and the built in clock is useful.
Quite a heavy machine - 223kg dry weight - and perhaps not the most manoeuvrable at low speed, e.g U turns, especially with the top box on. The DV is slim enough however to make filtering through traffic fairly easy but you still need to watch the width. The Deauville has in my opinion an indispensable centre stand, a reasonable tool kit, and enough space under the seat to hide a U lock. You can get a disc lock, etc, in the locking right hand glove box easily. The seat is a bit of a pain to remove until you get the hang and you have to remove the side panels to adjust the suspension or get at the coolant expansion bottle. The brakes twin disc at the front and single at the rear are very effective though nowhere near as ferocious as those found on a sports bike.
In summary I would have no hesitation in recommending the DV for commuting and a spot of touring.
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