Reprinted from BMF Motorcycle Rider magazine: www.bmf.co.uk

Get this. The latest Motorcycle Industry Association figures show that the Honda Deauville is the top-seller in the touring category, shifting more units than the legendary Pan European (Police sales aside) or BMW's R1100 RT. But where are they all? I certainly haven't seen many on the road and neither has anyone else I've asked.

Could it be that the majority of Deauvilles are purchased inside the M25 to urban commuters, sold on its good looks and reasonable price tag? Not likely – the styling couldn't be any more bland and the £6,349 asking price is rather optimistic when you consider that Kawasaki's ZR-7, complete with a half fairing and a set of throwovers, would cost you approximately £2,600 less. Maybe London's couriers are snapping up the Deauville in droves, safe in the knowledge that the bullet proof engine, shaft drive, weather protection and luggage carrying capacity will help them make more deliveries, with less maintenance required? That's unlikely also, as all those shiny fairing panels cost money to replace and the panniers, although nicely integrated into the general design, don't really hold much more than an A to Z and a couple of sandwiches. It's heavy too and at 223kg, slicing through city traffic all day would take its toll.

Showing the stylish panniers

Would it suit those with further to travel then? Quite possibly, I thought as I filled up the 19.5 litre tank and set off on the most boring motorway in the world – the M180 – in the direction of the Peak District National Park. Cruising at an indicated 80mph suited the Deauville perfectly, with the fairing taking the edge off the wind. Winding it up a bit further made things slightly uncomfortable happy at cruising speeds. The panniers are just too small to be taken seriously though, although there are larger ones available as an option. In fact, it is the lids that are larger, rather than the panniers, because they are integrated into the general design. A CD stacking system is also available and for extra load carrying, there is a luggage and so I backed off, knowing that travelling at this speed would be more tiring, use more petrol and would need an extra fuel stop as a result, making the journey longer in real terms. That's why you sometimes pass the same truck two or three times on a long journey. How they must chuckle!

I didn't catch any car or lorry drivers chuckling at this bike though, or envying my freedom, as they often seem to when I'm riding something more exotic. It was then that I realised why I hadn't noticed any other Honda Deauvilles on the road – there aren't really any redeeming features to speak of and as a consequence, it just blends into the background as another motorcycle. You know when a BMW Boxer or Triumph Speed Triple is looming up behind you, but not an NT650V Deauville.

It was refreshing to leave the motorways behind and take the A619 to Chesterfield, where I hit rush hour traffic. I was glad to have a chance to use the slick five-speed gearbox and usable V-twin engine. It's the same one that powers the NTV650 and worked well around town, with the slim profile allowing safe filtering through stationary traffic and the upright riding position aiding all-round visibility.

The real fun started when town turned to countryside and traffic became almost non-existent. I took the excellent B6012 past Chatsworth House to Rowsley and discovered to my pleasure that the Deauville actually responds well to being hustled around. Maybe it was because my initial expectations weren't that high, but I certainly wasn't disappointed. The power delivery wasn't exactly what you would call exciting, but it was relaxing and enjoyable to ride without the fear of the rear wheel spinning up half way around a bend under hard acceleration. Likewise, it wasn't necessary to constantly keep one eye on the speedometer, as is often the case on more powerful machines, where a slight twist of the wrist can be the difference between 30 and 50mph. This was particularly relevant on the busy A6 which cuts right through the Peak District and has many speed restricted areas.

After stopping for lunch at Matlock Bath, a favourite destination for motorcyclists, I pondered on the growing merits of the Deauville. Usually, when testing motorcycles, the first aches and pains are in the left wrist from constantly changing up and down the gearbox, followed by numbus bumus syndrome. However, after half-a-day's riding, I felt as fresh as a daisy and wouldn't have even stopped if the bike hadn’t gone onto reserve. On refueling, I discovered that the Deauville was returning in excess of 50mpg, which was pretty good considering the type of riding undertaken. This could result in a possible tank range of over 200 miles, which puts the NT650V firmly in contention as a long-distance tourer.

Smooth performance and streamlined looks and that's no bull

So I needed to see how the relatively small engine would cope with carrying a passenger and luggage. However, no sooner was the passenger on board than I realised that things would be a tad cramped with luggage as well. Either my pillion had extremely large feet (sorry Vic!) or the rider and passenger footpegs were positioned a little too close for comfort. With the additional weight of a pillion, the 650cc engine struggled while accelerating.

The best way to explore the Peak District, or anywhere by motorcycle, is to stay off the beaten track and just take the roads that seem interesting, without really caring where you end up. This is exactly what we did, staying away from A roads that were filled with lorries and caravans, and taking the smaller tracks where the only traffic jams were of the four legged variety. The Peak scenery is spectacular and so accessible that it can't be more than a couple of hour's drive from most places in England. Impressive in a wild, bleak kind of way.

But it was the Deauville that impressed me most. On the journey home it started to pour with rain, but I stayed dry behind the fairing. The panniers also kept the rain out and on my return, I was a lot less tired than I usually am battling against the elements. I decided that Continental touring definitely wouldn't be out of bounds on the Deauville – the weather protection, tank range and comfort is all there and it seems rather clever of Honda to have adapted the old NTV in this fashion. True, it's no Pan European, but it doesn't need to be – they've already got one! The Deauville fills a gap in the market and comes close to being – dare I say it – an extremely competent all-rounder. What it doesn't do however, is excite, or inspire, and that's why so many of us started riding motorcycles in the first place. If you're one of the many people who have helped the Deauville become the best selling touring machine of 2000, please write and let me know what it was that made you part with your hard earned cash, because I keep searching, but can't find the answer.