OK direct comparison-
I have DL650 k6
the old man has a Deauville NT700VA 2007
I get off my loverly handling, comfy, quick off the mark Strom and get on the Deauville.
I feel 'at one with' the strom and like part off it, OK I ride it allot, but got on the Deauville and sat down on it, yes it's lower, but has a wider seat.
feels comfy but a I'm a little more hunched forward than on the strom, feet flat on the ground on both bikes but my knees are more bent and more tucked under me on the Do'h.
Clutch, gearbox and engine are both slick, smooth, but the Doh's didn't want to rev anywhere near how freely the strom does. the Doh does pull from very low revs, where the strom stutters.
Accelerating seemed to take a long time and cornering needed some manhandling of the bars to get her to turn.
my strom had OEM top box and pannier rails with hard top box and soft panniers fitted, the Doh had it fixed panniers and Honda top box, but I found the Doh a handful in the wind. Doh's boxes are well made and strong. the newer 700's (680cc) have the Honda 'french stick' tube connecting the two panniers.
The strom as we know is a little top heavy when full of fuel but the Doh is unwieldy and feel awkward at low speed. when on Honeymoon with the Mrs and tones of luggage and tank bags the strom felt as one-balanced as I do on the Doh. but then again I ride the Strom allot and not the Doh.
Shaft dive is great for low maintenance but they are known to have issues with worn drive splines, need checking regular. Fuel economy is approx. the same as the strom for the DL650 model- K6 and earlier strom paired with the NT650 and Twin Spark K7+ with the fuel injected NT700.
I'd happily have one but my freinds have told me they'd laugh at me every time they saw me on a Dullville. And I'm too young to ride one!
But I'm not going to swap from the best all round bike on the market to a bike that does comfy touring well but little else. if I had the space and money I'd buy the old mans Doh but I'd rather have a Bonnie as a second bike. which is funny cos I'm trying to sell the old mans Doh and get him a Bonnie!