So why did I buy one ?

At the end of the 1999, I'd just accepted a new job that was going to mean a longer commute. A trial run in the car one morning took over an hour, with much sitting in stationary traffic on the M25. Fortunately, my new job was with my previous employer's biggest competitor, and they had asked me to take a month's "Gardening Leave" instead of working my notice. Life can be hard, eh ?

So I took my Direct Access test with the intention of getting a bike I could use for riding to work. Having passed, the next problem was to choose a bike, but what to buy ? My list of required features was roughly as follows:

  1. Easy to use as an inexperienced rider
  2. Not too wildly expensive to buy new
  3. Cheap to insure and run
  4. Low maintenance requirements
  5. Enough performance for A roads/motorways
  6. A fairing with good wind protection
  7. Manoeuvrable and narrow enough for filtering
  8. Comfortable for a tall rider (I'm 6'4)

I found most of the mid-range 600s (e.g. SV650, Fazer, Divvy) uncomfortable as my legs ended up wrapped round the widest part of the tank. The insurance and running costs tended to discount full-on sports bikes. So the Deauville was an obvious choice.

I bought the bike new from Lloyd Cooper in Watford, after getting a test ride on a second hand machine that they had in stock. So far I've found them to be extremely helpful, and I'd recommend their service. I ordered the taller windscreen, which I think looks a bit naff, but does provide pretty good wind protection, even for someone of my height.

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