and another New member

[jonsan]

Hello I'm another NTV owner, just found and joined this site. I've had my 93 NTV650 over 2 yrs but for the last 18 months it's been laid up in my garage awaiting repairs following a small accident oops . Soon after the accident I bought another cheap bike a 91 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion and have ran that since.

However the NTV is now back on the road (MOT'd, taxed, insured) It's not cosmetically fully fixed, scratch on silencer (Motad type) and dent in tank...(I have a replacement tank from a Revere but its a different colour, eventually it'll get painted and fitted).

I'm finding it interesting comparing the NTV and the Divvy6 as they represent 2 very different approaches to a similar market segment bike. The divvy is an air cooled 4 cylinder 8 valve motor in a double cradle tubular steel frame with monoshock rear suspension (nothing hi tech there!) whereas the NTV has a water cooled 52 deg V twin 6 valve motor in a hexagonal section steel tube "deltabox" style frame, with single sided swingarm monoshock rear and shaft drive......(impressive stuff? at least when the NTV was new)

Last year I had a dabble in the RoundBritainRally, using the Divvy6(www.roundbritainrally.co.uk). I decided this year I'd use the NTV because I think its better suited, the Diversion feels like its working hard all the time (at any speed, even when cruising!) whereas the NTV's V twin motor with its wider torque band just gets on with the job in hand, unstrained.... no effort......OK I know, the boyracers will also say that it's unstrained and effortless cos its slow......but both it and the divvy6 are all day comfortable large commuters/small tourers not sports bikes.

John

PS live in Warwickshire

[jaz66]

Hi, Jonsan
Any new member is welcome!
the NTV crowd seems to be small but is very select.

Got family live in brum and once or twice they took me out to warwickshire, nice place!

Weird, i was torn between the divvy and the bandit when I was looking to get back into biking.
the yam for a newbie like me (20 years away) was looking the winner until my NTV became available, at a not to be repeated price and just around the corner as well !! ;D

I agree that as far as I can tell the NTV has got HUGE amounts of torque. the amount of times I have pulled away in 3 and just left it there while i ran around town (40Mph traffic) and it doesn't bother it at all!

How else did you rate the divvy. I am thinking that the ntv 2nd gear slippage is such a problem that once i've had her a year or two I might still graduate to a divvy just to pull away smoothly thru the gears.

is it as well balanced as the NTV and is the chain maintenance
really so much of a problem?

Sorry for the questions
like bikes and just want to know more than I already do
(too little, me thinks)

Welcome to the group.

[jonsan]

I went for a short ride on my NTV today, it only has 33000 miles on the clock from new, and in my opinion its a better bike than the Yamaha XJ600S. I did my direct access on a Kawasaki ER5 it's also a good "plodder" but I'd rate both the NTV and Divvy better than it.

The gearbox in my NTV is "normal", I'd describe the change as positive its certainly not slick, but it's not too bad, only minor gripe is sometimes a pain to find nuetral. When i got the divvy I thought its gearchange was worse than the NTV, but on the NTV you notice the direct shaft drive take up compared to the chain and cushdrive on the divvy6. I didn't ride the divvy in bad weather (I ride for pleasure so don't see the need to put up with icey roads or gale force winds) but will say chain maintenance is no hardship only a squirt with some aerosol lube once a month, however cleaning the splattered lube off the rear wheel is a pain..... The Divvy was fitted with a Scottoiler when i bought it, but it was disconnected, and I've not got round to re-connecting it, but to be honest there's been no need for the mileage I do. You just accept chain and sprockets are consumables similar to tyres brakes and clutches.

Riding comparisons: the Divvy6 turns in quicker/easier but consequently feels more nervous not "planted" like the NTV (both are on Bridestone BT45 tyres, although not common in size). Engine vibration on the Divvy6 is much better than the NTV (especially at low rpm) but not perfect theres an annoying resonance between 3750 & 4000rpm. Both have similar brake spec: a single disc front and rear, but the brakes on the divvy feel a lot better/sharper than the NTV.

have fun but stay safe
Jon

[jaz66]

Great to see your bikes back on the road and being
ridden, even if it still battle scarred. ;D

NTV/Divvy then ER5! Gotta say thats what I think from all the write ups and reviews i have read. the kwak is probably a good bike, but I just don't like the look and styling of it.
Unfair maybe but there you go, some things just don't appeal to everyone.

Had a Suzi 250 back in the late 70s early 80s and don't remember the chain being a real hassle, but all I keep hearing is how much hassle they are and how great shaft drive is. Guess it's too early to appreciate the benefits of low maintenance on a shafty!

Really like the sleek look of the yam plus the half fairing, but maybe for a born again the solid footprint of the NTV was a bonus until i really get my riding skills back. leans and lines are better but i still feel like a newbie in the wet and drizzle.

Not up to date on good wet tyres,
are BT45s any good? or would you recommend a site or any specific tyres?

Didn't ask earlier but what happened to you in your off?
still good to see your out riding the NTV again.

Ain't it vibey!! but the yam at 3.5 /4 k revs is where I'd do a lot of my driving so no difference for me there.

Put in few miles today (35) just for fun. weather bright and sunny but the wind was a bugger now and then. Made silly mistake tried to be clever and rode on elevated section of west way (3 laner) from centre of london, F*****g wind tried to take me out twice, nearly S**t my pants.
Slowed RIGHT down to 40!! and crawled to nearest exit. how dispatch boys do motorway journeys in winds like that i don't know, Brave buggars (or suicidal)

Hope your ride was as exciting without the skid marks!

Ride safe and enjoy
Jim