Honda Dominator / NX650 : Winter / 30 Year Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ธ.ค. 2018
- Honda Dominator / NX650 : Winter and 30 Year Review!
2020 update : • Honda Dominator / NX65...
Probably my last video for a bit (I've run out of bikes), so here's a review / update on my 1988 Honda Dominator. I've personally had the bike for 18 months now - originally I bought it as a winter hack, but I'm finding myself using more and more, simply because it's a fun, messing around kind of bike. And I love the noise.
Yes, the ramp is a poor effort :-)
Mostly shot in Northumberland, however, please note the little tower a few minutes in is in The Scottish Borders and is called Greenknowe Tower. The other castle is Bamburgh Castle.
Oh and a slip on the tongue : it’s a 17” rear wheel 😇 - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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I bought my Dominator 650 in 1996 when i was 20 years old,i still use it! it's the only bike i ever had!
Go Paris! I wish I could say the same! I’ve always liked them but got tied up with various flavours of GPZ/VFR/CBR instead. If only I’d known 😄 thanks for stopping by - good to hear from another owner, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I thank you! and keep up with the good work!
I've been discovering more and more of your stunning vids recently and am speechless about the brilliant cinematography which reminds the shots of some of my favourite filmmakers. What I enjoy even more is your sense of humour ("scary monsters"). Please don't ever stop making videos on motorcycles.
Greetings from a German rider of a baby GS (F700)
Hey Thomas, that’s really kind of you to say and it’s great to know the work is appreciated. I’m going to double my efforts now as I think I’ve got a bit lazy recently - more due to lack of time than anything else!
As for humour, ha ha, well I’d call it rank stupidity to be honest 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I have this exact model and have owned it since i first got my license, about 16 years now. Still love taking it out on forest roads and exploring. Haven't had a single problem with it. Love it.
Good morning, thanks for stopping by. Yes the Dominator is a cracking bike…Sounds good, looks good and goes well. As you say, a brilliant bike for exploring. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
This is, frankly speaking, one of the best videos on YT. period.
Thanks - what an amazing comment! I’m almost blushing ☺️ Thanks for watching! You’ve made my day! Cheers, Phil.
my first bike with road homologation and this view with sound omg ( 3:50 - 4:05 )the best moment in your review
Thanks - yeah...it’s a fabulous sound 😀 thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Lovely and beautiful little review! Thank you.
Thanks Gabriel, glad you enjoyed it. Hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.
Fantastic content as always. Very well edited, concise commentary and grand views of the coast (recently watched a clip from The Tube where Jools Holland and Bryan Ferry appears to be walking on the very same beach). The bike wasn’t bad either. I had a 70’s XL(?) 250 that kept Quinn’s Motorcycles in Gateshead bust on a regular basis. Best wishes.
Thanks Steve - good to know the visuals and editing are appreciated. Bryan Ferry (possibly) on Bamburgh Beach, now there’s a thing - I’m off to do some searching after this! I wonder if that’s why I was humming Virginia Plain while filming? XL 250...Quite possibly...I had the CB variant & even with rose tinted spectacles I’d possibly rather poke my eye out than own one again. The Dominator is lovely though, slow but charming. Must dash, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
As a german SLR 650 Rider I must say that this English Bike Review is absolutely fantastic. My favourite Part is the Noise! Keep it going.
Good morning Markus - thanks for stopping by - yes, there’s nothing like the sound of a gently tuned, big single is there? Glad you enjoyed the review, cheers, Phil.
Please keep making motorcycle reviews! I really enjoy yours :)
Thanks - good to know! I’ll try but I’ve run out of bikes now! Cheers, Phil.
Biscuit review coming up....
why? he knows nothing!!! 17'' rear wheel...not 18''
Two years ago i sold my Kawasaki Z800 and bought a 1988 Honda Dominator - just like yours! - and i have to say it, it's one of the best decisions i've ever made as a motorcyclist! Despite having less than half of the power of the Kawasaki, for me it's more than double the fun! It's the best bike you can buy in your twenties, it's economical to buy, run and maintain, it's reliable and it allows you to go everywhere: in fact, i'm planning to go to Sardinia this summer on holiday with it. Long live the old enduro bikes!
Hey Alessio, great to hear from you and I couldn't agree more! They are brilliant bikes, great fun to ride, sound great, smell great and will take you anywhere! Your trip to Sardinia sounds fabulous - I've been there a couple of times (not on a bike) and thoroughly enjoyed it and there's some great roads and trails to explore. Let me know how you get on, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Wonderful bike, Phil, and great video. Many thanks
Evening David, thanks for your kind comments - much appreciated! Cheers, Phil.
Just got my licence and my first bike (CB500 pc32) but I think i'm becoming a sucker for single cylinder engines, as I found myself coming back to this video every couple of months to ear that beautiful sound. Must be fun riding something that sounds like a machine gun firing.
Great video btw
Good evening, thanks for taking the time to comment and good to know you enjoyed the video. Yes, the Dominator does make a really beautiful sound, it’s not loud from a db perspective but has a kind of mellow bass bark, just lovely. And it is great fun!
Thanks for watching and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Nice. The dominators here go for about 2200 to 2900 quid. They were only available for two years in the u.s. due to poor sales. We were late to appreciate this type of bike. The u.s. finally caught on to how wonderful dual purpose bikes are and great used ones like this are fetching higher prices.
Hey Duane, hope you’re doing well and thanks for stopping by. The Dominator is a cracking bike as you say. It sounds fabulous, looks great and can do so much. Smells nice also 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I love big bores! I Just got my XR600R running today after a rebuild.
Now there’s a bike I wish I had never sold...even worse I flogged it for a Rotax engined CCM, which was a very bad decision. But yeah, big singles are brilliant, couldn’t agree more. Anyway, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil
This has to be one of the coolest looking retro bike designs. And obviously built as good as it looks... and sounds 👍🦻. And ironic its currently being spoke of as another comeback design from Honda. Beautiful scenery in this episode. Those castles 🏰 were amazing.
Morning - yeah, loved that bike - the looks, smell and sound. I’ve had many a RFVC Honda single down the years…XR’s and the like and while they are not the most powerful the torque profile is just so lovely and characterful.
Comeback design? Let me join the queue!
As for the Castles, yes I’m very lucky as there are loads round here - none quite as magnificent as Bamburgh though. Beach side it’s like something out of GoT.
Hope you’re well! Talk later, cheers, Phil.
Nice review! This bikes really growing on me. Thinking of this or the DR650RS
Morning! Must admit I have a soft-spot DR's - the DR650RS in blue was just lovely and I'd imagine very similar to the Dominator. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Hola!!Excelent review&film& bso&sound. Here in Barcelona It was a very common bike in the 90's. I have one 91' and the bike feelings, sound and quality building is not more available with the current ones. Is my little treasure in the garage. Congrats for your work.also thinking to add a CRF 300L to my collection following your recomendations. Cheers!!!!
Hey Carlos, hola! Great to hear from you and hope all is well in Barcelona. That's a perfect description = 'my little treasure' - it certainly is and I loved everything about mine - the sound, the lazy engine and the lovely smell!
You'll love the CRF for it's trail riding abilities - though compared to the mighty NX650, it's a tool to be used not something to cherish. But that's OK :-)
Anyway, it's great to know you enjoy the videos, thanks again, salud, Phil.
I agree with you. I got a '99 Dominator as my first ever bike. I couldn't have chosen any better
Good morning Armando, yes it’s a fun, characterful and dependable bike. Mine is a keeper for sure. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Getting a 1988 dominator soon . cant wait to ride it
Hello Isaac...I know that feeling...I get it every day / you’ll have a blast, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
I just adore my Dominator !!!
It's my best friend ! :D
Btw, lovely video !
Cheers from Romania !
It’s mine too 😀 I wouldn’t be without it! Thanks for watching & cheers from the UK, Phil.
Salut! Ce mai face dominatorul tau? Tot un dominator vreau și eu prin august sa îmi iau. Care îs bubele ei majore?
Noroc! Cum se prezinta? Defecte majore?
Ce inaltime/greutate ai?
Love the video, ive been thinking of buying one and now i am going go(:
Thanks for stopping by Jonathan and hope you're doing well. And yeah, do it!! It's a brilliant bike! Cheers, Phil.
Just bought a 1999 model for use around Northumberland. Wish I had the earlier model. So much better looking and always prefer a kickstart. Great video and including 'Psychomania' finished it off nicely! Made me want to get out onto the wet muddy lanes.
Good morning, happy New Year and happy new Dominator! Fabulous bike! Great to know you enjoyed the video and of course “Psychomania” with the late, great Beryl Reid! If you’re out and about in Northumberland I might see you around but just so you know I don’t partake in any satanic rituals 😀
Let me know how you get on if you go green laning - I’d recommend some of the easier ones…
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Great review. I have been riding this beast for more than 10 years. I have got two of them actually ('88 and '91). Only one small correction of your description - the rear wheel is not 18, it is 17 inch.
Thanks! Kinda wish I had two also! Yeah, the 18” was a slip of the tongue 😀 Good spot! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
And this again! 0:50 a young Phil? I would like an XR600 now. 1:48 Beautiful shot. 2:40 Stunning beach.
Morning Nick, good to see the back catalog is getting some appreciation 😀 Yes, that’s me in Egypt on an XR600R, overland from the UK - great trip! Glad you like the other shots, Bamburgh Castle and the NE coast are just beautiful, if not particularly warm 😀
Hope all is well, cheers, Phil.
1988 owner here. I bought the bike used 2 years ago and it had some problems - was eating a lot of oil. Before I can get it fixed it got stolen october 2017 but dumb luck police found it 1 month later and i got it back. It was even more beat up, the bastards sold all electronics and decorations before the police found it. I managed to buy electronics again and it worked as before. This winter I had the engine rebuilt and I hope to have a jam this summer riding the shit out of it :) on road and dirt. Anyway great review of a great oldschool bike :)
Good morning! Great story! 88’s are the best 😀 Hope you have a good summer and thanks for watching and taking the time to stop by, cheers, Phil.
Great stuff. I’d love one of these. 👍🏻
Thanks DervMan! Glad you enjoyed the video..If you can find one, go for it! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
The starting its a part of me forever 😂 i have a domi too and the starte sound its unique
Hey Massimo, once heard, never forgotten....And I’ve just sold mine which is actually making me a little 😔. Oh well, gotta move on! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Great Bike, and great video👍
Thanks Tim, felt I had to do a lovely little bike justice this time around! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Brilliant video....Love the Honda dominator.....I’ve owned two....the only niggle I had was they both used to occasionally cut out at traffic lights or junctions, strange as my mates slr650 never did. Much preferred this to the bmw F650Gs, this had such a lumpy engine.
Currently running a y reg Honda 650 transalp.......a classic just like the dominator......and the v twin sounds great too.
Funnily enough, mine does that also - it usually happens when the revs drop on a closed throttle and the clutch is in - almost as if the lack of flywheel weight stops it dead. On tickover at the same rpm it will idle forever though. Still, it’s easy enough to deal with 😀 Quite like the old transalps - when they first came out they looked like nothing else and those engines go on forever. Anyway, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.
Hey, we are bike brothers. Own an NX and always wanted a Transalp. My '89 NX650 has done that strange cutout thing since it was almost new. Sometimes annoying, but I've just accepted it as an unexplainable personality quirk and tell people my bike gets the hiccups often. :) The bike also teaches you to be a master at setting and very slowly feathering off the choke as it slowly warms up. Each stoplight/sign requires just the right amount of choke for the first 5 minutes. Otherwise a fabulous, under-appreciated Swiss army knife of a bike. It's amazing to me that 32 years later, no one can make a dual-sport bike that's anywhere near this 335 lb lightness that is this capable, comfortable, and sharp looking. They are all fat, ugly, overweight pigs these days. The great engineers and designers of 80's bikes and cars have not been replaced. I don't see the point of taking a 450-550 lb bike offroad. It just defies logic.
Man, what a beautiful bike, I saw it sitting there (before the "monsters" came ) and thought, how cool it would be to have this in 1988, I was born in 1985 so I was to young but if I find a time machine I wont need to take any of these new bikes back with me because we already perfected off road bike at that point. It looks great and I'd truly love to have one. I have a 1994 XR250L and I love it but it has no balls on the highway so this something like this is what I'm looking at. Honestly I want a Beta 500 RRS rally build to fill this gap but I do love Honda's RFVC bikes they are very reliable.
Hey James, great to hear from you and it’s good to know someone much younger than I has a love for those old Honda singles! They are such fabulous characterful engines and they sound (and smell) great! The last one I had was an XR400R which was such a perfect balance of simplicity, capability and looks. Just like your XR250 - everyone had one of those back in the days.
My favourite would be the XR600R / and I was a big fan of the US off road rider - Scott Summers who could do amazing things on the bike. I’d also like an XBR500 😃
Anyway, thanks for stopping by James, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Absolutely brilliant bikes.. I had four of its smaller bros...xl250 s..xl 250 r ..xl 250. .rvfc engine ...missed out on buying dommie that I refurbished for someone amazing quality ..and simple sadly missing this sort of bike nowadays best wishes from dave..ps love your channel..
Hey Dave / yes, there’s a kind of lovely simplicity with bikes such as these - not much more than an engine, wheels and chassis. What keeps amazing me is that it rides brilliantly and the engine is absolutely spot on and so responsive. There’s a lovely organic feel to a carb fed single..Maybe the SWM’s have a similar vibe? Anyway, thanks for the kind comments - next bike video will be some time away as I’ve got nothing else to review now...The new Triumph 1200 scrambler might tempt me next year though! Cheers, Phil.
Cheers for response .like your goodself there is a channel called 'gs vintage ' the french version of you I think ..!!brillant filming if you havnt already seen Dom's utube site. ... cheers from dave
I bought my 1988 Dominator in 2002. It's beautifully finished so still looks great and goes very nicely indeed. By the way, it should have a 17" rear wheel, not an 18.
Good afternoon! I totally agree - the ‘88 bikes had particularly lovely paintwork and were ruggedly lovely to look at.
And yes, I got my 17’s and 18’s a little mixed up 😀 All the best & thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great video!
Afternoon Trevor - Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers, Phil.
I 'm on my second dominator , first one went from UK to congo overland and it was so good I brought another but sadly thinking about selling as age is creeping up .
Hey Tony, thanks for dropping by, great story and what an indestructible bike! Fingers crossed you do t sell it....Cheers, Phil.
Ough, i might be getting a old nx650 ... a beginner rider and Maybe in the future a project, i Think They Can also look quite cool build like a super motard kind ish. Very Nice review, I Will be considering This now more then any. They go fairly cheap for a Nice example
You’re right - they are very cool and make a great platform for a project. Would love to turn mine into some sort of flat tracker but I’m rubbish with a hack saw 😄 But yes, even good ones can be got for a good price. Good luck in finding one and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Beautiful, beautiful bike, exspecially in that red dress... Lovely video too. I ask: in corners (even if is not a GP bike of course...) is it stable? Is it possible to go down many degrees safely?Also: I had in past an anduro, and I found the 21" front wheel oversteering at high speed, because of taking a lot of air . What can you tell me? After riding street bikes for years, I don't know if I would accept this behaviour lol BUT I am really attracted by the NX and I'm seriously thinking to buy one. Thanks
Good afternoon! The bike handles very well - as it’s a dual-sport bike, there’s more weight over the front than you would get with a full on enduro bike, therefore it feels planted and stable in most situations on the road. It’s only got skinny tyres but it leans over very well and upright to leant over is smooth and progressive. It doesn’t have pin point accuracy of course and it is very bouncy - but that’s part of the fun 😄 Of course it’s not very powerful so on 80 mph + bends it’s not going to feel very exciting. Below 65 mph it’s an absolute hoot! Hope that helps! Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Good evening, and many thanks for the quick and detailed answer! I got it, that bike is a great choice sure ;) I have in mind to let it as it is, or I could try a couple of modifications that came in my perverse mind :)) but I will start searching for a good one :D Thank you so much for your help. Good rides, Marco
Excellent! This is a bike I lusted after in the 80s. Mind you, I had an XT500 then, so I wasn't doing too badly.
Did you sell the MT-01 and the B-King?
Thanks! Yeah, sold both the MT and the B-King...The MT wasn’t getting used, mainly because a 600lb bike on the roads round here isn’t exactly ideal. As for the B-King, I found myself doing some very naughty things on it and having no will power, figured it was only a matter of time before something happened. A few years back I hit a deer on my bandit, closely followed by a seagull...So I avoid the big roads these days...Anyway, both were brilliant, distinctive bikes though. If I had a warm, heated garage with carpets I would have kept them both. Fact is I have a dark cave with no electricity so it’s not very good for even looking at them 😀 I’d love an XT! Thanks for stopping by (again) cheers, Phil.
Excellent
Thanks Pete! Cheers, Phil.
Agree with everything & it looks even compare with today's new adventure bikes. They are Very rare to find in good shape & almost impossible in North America.
Morning, thanks for stopping by. Agree with all your points and also it seems the world is waking up to the charms of single cylinder bikes if the new BSA, Royal Enfield and Triumph 400 is anything to go by. The Dominator though….So lovely and the sound! Hope all is well, cheers, Phil.
Nice review.
I’m currently riding a 1290 SuperDuke but would love one of these for cold, damp and bumpy roads. What are the major service intervals like?
Evening Jim, well, I’ve had it for two years now and all I’ve done is change the oil / filter twice, serviced the brakes and that’s about it. I had an XR600 years ago (basically the same engine) that I used a commuter, enduro bike and trail bike and in 15,000 miles was spot on. Oil changes are all it needs and an eye kept on the level. It’s a simple, cheap thing to run. If you find one that clunks a bit though, run away! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews what do you mean with clunks?
Like e inscrito. Sou apaixonado por essa moto. Uma pena ela não ter sido fabricada no Brasil. Abcs!
Thanks! Er, yeah! Cheers, Phil.
I've watched several Dominator reviews lately as I'm looking for one to do some European touring. Yours was by far one of the most informative and enjoyable! Do you still have the bike and is it still running just as well, even after all its dunking?! Cheers.
Hey Simon, glad you enjoyed the video. I no longer have the Dominator as I wanted to do more trail riding (hence the CRF) and as I’ve only got space for 3 bikes, it had to go. If I had the space I would have kept it as it was glorious! It was still running beautifully when I sold it - although the cycle parts were starting to take hammering from the British winters and the shocks really needed rebuilding - still it was over 30 years old and all fixable.
A lovely, lovely bike - I enjoyed every minute of it. Hope that helps and good luck in finding a good one for your trip,
Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Great stuff, thanks Phil. I'll keep you updated!
My son has a xr650 L .. I love riding with him ..He finds that bike a little big for single track with his friends in the woods and a bit agricultural on A roads . My first bike when I got back to riding in 2015 was a really inexspensive 2007 Yamaha 1700 Midnight Star with only 1800 miles on the clock .. A 750 pound arm chair that was not meant for the riding I know we both love... Ben took me up a dirt road that beacame lets say less cared for but was a great connector to where we were going .. He was worried about how I would do but with a little "commitment" the big old girl did just fine on the rutted washed out gravel.. It is better having a bike that suits the riding you put to it though .. 15K miles or two years later I got the Street Scambler and am ver happy with her .. I have not seen the Dominator here in New England. I will have to ask Ben if he knows the bike ... .
Morning Guy, it’s a shame you didn’t have a GoPro affixed to your “750 pound armchair” while traversing the washed out gravel road - I sense the footage may have very well gone viral. Of course I’m hoping you had constructed a banjo carrier for the bike also. I think your statement “better to have a bike that suits the riding you put it to” is a bit of an understatement though! Dual sport on 1700cc cruiser? As it’s the same engine as my old MT-01 in a bike probably 2 metres longer, it’s not something I’d fancy. Actually, I have a recurring nightmare of being transported to an icy rocky incline, halfway up on a GPZ900R, usually with a crowd of people watching me who are expecting great things....
We never got the XR650L here - it’s got the same engine as the Dominator basically but tons better suspension and of course, minimal plastic. It would be perfect around here. And yes, it’s a pretty basic bike - the like of which just isn’t made anymore - certainly not in Europe. In other news I’ll check out the Robson Greene series...We’re a bit behind the US so are just part way through “Devs” which is a very compelling dystopian view of big tech and the theory of determination. Right 05:53 here - time for bagel + marmite. Have a good day Guy! Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I would love to try a clip showing my countryside ..I hear the GOPRO 5 is a little less problimatc then the later ones ..I think I would want to gab while riding so an adapter and helmet mike seem to be what people try . I have the Zoom q8 but Ithink it is a bit large for the bike :)
Wire in The Blood is an older show. We like Robson Green but it is a very messy show ...Messy as in Texas Chainsaw Massacre messy ...
Hey Guy, yes, GoPros can be a little idiosyncratic to say the least & I'm never quite happy with the quality of the footage. I've just looked up the Zoom Q8 - never seen one before and it looks like a very interesting device. XLR inputs also? Brilliant! Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews SO I just strapped the camera to my chest and went for a ride .. and added Voiceover ..Since I had speaking on the mail reel I had to drop the original audio ..I may try just riding and motor sound and overdub at home till I find a "Pink Panda " helmet mike ... I put the Zoom on my chest and just hoped for the best .I want to get the camera closer to my neck next time .AT least I got some shots of the farmland here .. The content is more interesting than the production for sure ..Thznks for the inspiration ..YOurs guy
Hello and thank you for this review!
Would you recommend to buy a 1991 NX650, in spite of it has 30+ years.. ?
Thanks!
Good evening! Well, if you can get a good one (listen to the engine carefully / don’t worry about the cosmetics too much) then absolutely. While it’s not exactly fast, it handles beautifully on the road, can deal with gentle trails and will cruise at 120 kph easily. Also it sounds just lovely. To be honest if it was my only bike I might crave a little more speed, but overall if you’re happy with the relative lack of performance it’s a great bike to simply have fun on. If the engine has been looked after (regular oil changes and not over rev’ed) it will go forever. It’s simple and refreshing. Hope that helps and happy New Year! Cheers, Phil.
I had one a while back. I previously had a bmw f650 and id say the dommie was the better machine. Neither were great off road , being bit too heavy (for me anyway). I found it quite fast up to about 50-60. Very reliable and quite tough. Did make a good noise too!
Hello! Yes, it’s a great little bike - as you say it’s not great off road - the front end in particular is way to heavy so tends to plough through stuff as opposed to float on the throttle. Still it’s good enough for slow gentle and scenic stuff + as you say, it makes a great noise! Anyway thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews pleasure. Got a bit of time on my hands at the moment lol. Take care.
Yeah, me too....
The Honda Dominator is probably the best bike of its kind dependable good looking. Simple to
work on that’s why you very rarely see them for sale If Honda rereleased them today unchanged
They would probably sell out in minutes
Hey Geoff, I totally agree with everything you say…even if I did sell mine. Which I’m having regrets about to be honest! Cracking bike & thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Nice Video, i like it.
I Drive a Dominator from 1996 :)
Thanks Jo! 1996 = great year, cheers, Phil.
I‘m looking forward to little tours in the summer, my Domi is running great.
Greetings from Germany.
Jo
Me too my friend! i got one from March 1996!
Great ol skool bike
Hello Stephen, thanks for stopping by and yes, very true! It also smells very nice also 😀 All the best, cheers, Phil.
Possuo sua irmã menor a NX 200 94, infelizmente a dominator não chegou no brasil por definitivo, apenas algumas versões foram importadas oque a torna quase impossível de ser achada!! top!!!
The Doug! Good morning! Not sure what you’re say but yeah! Top! Great bikes all and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Thanks for the video. I will be a beginner rider starting this summer. I am looking to get a Honda dominator from 1999. Thanks again.
And thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment - much appreciated. You’ll love the Dominator I’m sure! Cheers, Phil.
Enjoyed that, thx! A Dommie or a F650GS Dakar, big difference? And what if I'd prefer a Garibaldi biscuit?
Evening Arthur, well, you’re asking some very deep, philosophical questions there. On the biscuit situation, while I can’t possibly comment on the merits of individual biscuit types, I’d suggest that an Aprilia Pegaso would be a suitable equivalent? As for the F650 / let’s face it...just not as cool as the Honda and isn’t that what it’s all about? That probably didn’t help at all!
Sorry. Thanks for stopping by! Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Guess what Phil; I bought one! No not the biscuit, a Dommie. And much like yours, all red, gold wheels. Just no kickstart, I think a my92. Was nearly swayed by a Kawa KLE500, but it lacks torque. And gold wheels. See if I can actually learn to ride a bit and stay alive after getting a license last month aged 53. The kids already calling me 'Organ donor'. Cheeky. Anyway, enjoyed your video, again. All the best for 2021!
Excellent news Arthur! I had a KLE when they first came out and yeah that first variant of the Gpz500 engine wasn’t that great. And as you say, you’ve gotta have gold wheels 😀 Organ donor ha ha ha, hope all is good where you are, just about to open the Christmas biscuits here, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Would you recommend this bike for a tall rider? I'm about 6'4 and looking into ADV bikes :)
Good afternoon - yeah, I think you will be fine on it. It's not the tallest trail/ADV bike but like all of them it's very roomy and the seat to peg length is nice and generous. My super tall friend (big Mike) has ridden it (he's 6'4 also) and has no issues with it. Given the age of the bike, the suspension is likely to be a bit tired and saggy, but that can be fixed.
Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Since you made a big trip on the XR600, how did you experience the difference with a NX650?
Morning! Well, there was a quite a time gap between me owning the XR and the Dominator but the differences were that the XR is much lighter, has much better suspension and was much better on sand and rocks.
The downside of the XR is comfort, it's very basic (but easy to fix) and you have to modify it for long trips - I fitted the big Acerbic tank, changed the gearing and had a rack custom made for it. Power wise both bikes are probably the same.
Having said all that, the Dominator would have been able to do exactly the same trip (UK to Egypt and back, around 7500 miles in total) with no problems - assuming it was a well maintained machine. The XR was great though - I had to nail it across the Sinai in a convoy and aside from heat induced fuel starvation it never missed a beat and ran on all sorts of horrible smelling fuel!
Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Honda is the Toyota of the motorcycle world.....F**ckin* Bullet Proof!
Hey Marc, they certainly are...I took an XR600R overland to Egypt years ago...Never missed a beat, changed the oil in Luxor with some dodgy moped oil, got home, raced it...Brilliant! Cheers, Phil.
I think that's the best bike honda made
Hey Marcus, thanks for stopping by and yes, I’d totally agree with that. Great bike, cheers, Phil.
Great review and filming. What camera are you using?
Good morning! Thanks! Main camera is a Canon C200 - pieces to camera are MP4, while all other shots are raw - either 10 or 12 bit. A few of the shots are taken with a Sony RX100V (the kickstart shot for example) and all grading via DaVinci Resolve. Hope that helps and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Thanks for that.
I have Honda Dominator 1991 very very good motorcycle
Morning! Yes you’re correct - it is a very good motorcycle, good to know others feel the same. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Is there a currently available comparable?
Hey Vigo, thanks for stopping by. In Europe at least, I don’t think there is anything still available which is comparable to the Dominator. Mash do the X Ride which uses a copy of the Honda engine, while I think in the US you can get bikes like the XR650L? It’s a shame as I’m sure there is still a market for simple, fun bikes like the Dominator.
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Dominator has amazing sound, How would you compare it to xr600r?
Good evening! Sound wise exactly the same! I think the biggest difference, aside from suspension (the XR had great for its time CR suspension essentially) is the weight and gearing...My memory of the XR is that it used jump strongly on the throttle in the first three gears, the Dominator on the other hand just sort of pulls away nicely. Given both engines probably make the same power, it must be weight and gearing. Certainly the Dominator feels fine at 80mph...But I would never have said that about the XR! Ultimately the Dominator is 70% road biased...While the XR is 95% off road. And for what I want, that’s just fine. Would still love an XR though! Hope that helps, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Thank you for response, yes it helps. I just got xr600r thats in very good condition, Im planing to use it mostly dirt roads with some highways getting there, but I'm kind of worried wearing off knobies tires for on 2-3 hours highway , i guess 50/50 tires would be the best. I do like dominator too
Hope you are still enjoying the old thumper.
Well, I have to admit that I sold it! Yeah I know and it was a cracker - the reason for selling it was that it got me back into trail riding and while it's a great bike, it's not the best for ruts and mud so I got a CRF to replace it. If my garage was bigger and I had the funds I would have definitely kept it as it was just a brilliant thumpy and charismatic bike to ride. All the best, Phil.
Hi, been looking for a NX for a while now, what are the common problems you would advise I look at when buying one? Can you still get parts?
Evening Ian - well, touch wood - I’ve had no problems aside from the usual consumables & the cycle parts rusting like crazy. With this and similar RFVC engines if you don’t over-rev them and change/check the oil frequently the engines go forever. If they do go - it’s cams and bottom ends. If it rattles or knocks, run away - a good engine is mechanically quiet. In the UK David Silver stocks a lot spares - things that are unobtainable as new parts are the body work and bigger cycle parts like the swing arm - so it’s breakers or fleabay for those. For all the normal stuff availability is fine. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Hi Phil, thank you so much for the reply and advise, im going to look at one at the weekend if its still for sale by then. It smokes a bit on start up but then it clears so im hoping its just valve stem seals as the bike has been off the road sitting for a number of years
Hey Ian, no worries and hope the viewing goes well - let me know how you get on, cheers, Phil.
I wanted one of these so bad. In Canada we only got the NX250
That’s a shame Lew! The 650 is a proper thing! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I got to ride one in the USA. I should have imported one . Great bike
Yeah... but what is the bike's relevance to the Dalek in the intro? I mean, if the headlight was out there on a stalk, I could understand.
Evening Mike, funny you should ask that - my previous 3 bike reviews all featured intro’s that had nothing to do with the bike in question / I basically just spoofed the intro of some of my favourite movies 😄 this time around I was thinking about time passing...time travel...generally messing around, etc, and as I happened to have the Dalek, figured it sort of fitted. Maybe. Main reason though was that I just fancied doing it 😄 Anyway, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Sounds like a good enough reason to me. I remember your homage to "Lawrence of Arabia" (which I remember being more than just at the start), and thought it was awesome. Between "Lawrence" (one of my favourite films), and "Doctor Who" (my favourite series), you are checking all of my boxes ;-) Not sure which the third one was, so I'll have to re-watch your videos and see if I can figure it out.
Ha ha....Thanks Mike! What do you make of the new Doctor then? Personally I think she’s great but the stories are letting the side down...Mainly because there’s a distinct lack of monsters and alien tech...As for the other videos, well, there’s a few clues 😀 Good luck and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I haven't seen any of the newest Doctors with Jodie behind the TARDIS helm, but she will have some big shoes to fill since Peter was my all time favourite. BBC releases the new Doctors slower to us in the States, but I think later this winter I'll catch up and see what I think. As you say, the writing can sometimes let things down.
Hey Mike, ah ok! No spoilers then 😀 Of the new era Doctors I thought Christopher Eccleston was fabulous. He had an interesting combination of machismo, frailty, charm and edginess....Cheers, Phil.
Looks fun. Engine doesn't sound particular good, but what single does? Can't believe how cheap bikes are there.
Morning, thanks for stopping by - yeah the Dominator is a great fun bike. Doesn’t sound good? I think it sounds brilliant to be honest! Yes, the bikes are relatively cheap if you can find one for sale privately but I’ve seen some recent dealer advertised bikes that are going for crazy money. As always, it’s another bike I should have kept arrgrgrgrgrggggg….All the best, cheers, Phil.
I would love to camp ride all up England
Hmmm...if you’re English that could mean something rather more ambiguous, still, you know what - that’s fine and I totally agree, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
the hawkwind machine
Ha ha - you’re the first to notice the reference 😀 Spirit of the Age? Absolutely!
Cheers, Phil.
hawklords 25 years on,PSI POWER,greetings from birkenhead town near tramere rovers football stadium
OFCOUSE@@80eightReviews
spirit of the age amazing song@@80eightReviews
Circle, square, triangle, wave...Psi vibes are obviously strong in Birkenhead. I think I'll now drop lyrics in all my videos, particularly those penned by the legendary Bob Calvert.
sounds like old atv hahah I love it. 1 big ol cylinder
True, the sound is the best! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Dicking About! HaHa! Love the English language! Great Vid mate! Greetings from Sydney, Oztralia....
Hey Marc, glad you enjoyed the video...Well, dicking about - you kinda have to right? And more to come soon! Hope all is OK in Oz and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Can I travel my Suzuki A100 motorcycle?
in eg🇪🇬
Is it possible to travel by it or difficult
Hello from the UK, travel on a A100? Well, they are quite old now, but if yours is reliable, you’ve got plenty of two stroke oil and take it easy, then why not. I think there are probably some better choices though - any four stroke might be a good starting point. My first bike was a Suzuki GP100 - next model along from the A100 I think...Must admit I didn’t like it too much but it was very reliable.
Hope all is well is in Egypt, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I welcome you to Egypt
Are these bikes good for learners?
Hey Thomas, well it's light, not very fast and easy to ride so I guess it could be. Of course being old, it has none of the niceties that you get from a modern learner bike - ABS, slipper / light pull clutch, field injection - all of which will make the learning experience easier and a better introduction to the world of modern bikes. But you know, it's not going to leap out of your hands at a sniff of throttle and it's robust / can stand up to being dropped and abused. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
How much for the castle ?
Ha ha well, I think, with castles, you don’t so much buy them, as put them under siege for a year and chuck boulders at them.
You’ll need a trebuchet I think.
Good luck! Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I will check rightmove
Just set the price to ‘max’
#sinnagagghiri
...if not more relevant the right combo of simple rugged reliable Are maybe a little less on par they were back in the haydays of the dominator XR'S XL'S Africa twin en its V twin 650 little bro. 🤟😁
Do you still have it???????
Hey Martin, good to hear from you - and no I don’t have it anymore. I sold it as it got me back into trail riding again so I bought a CRF as that’s much more suited to off road even if it’s nowhere near as lovely as the Dominator. Great bike, all the best, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews oooh... how sad.... anyways uf your happy then all is forgiven
Thanks!
You even look like Plug 👍
Клёвый обзор!
Thanks! I think! Cheers, Phil.
17'' rear tyre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wake up
Yeah I know / correction noted in the comments 😀 Cheers, Phil.
Ну как надёжный аппарат?
Hello! Er....? Thanks for stopping by! Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Hello! My from Belarus. I've got Honda Dominator!!! It's LIKE,1995,MODE JAPEN.
LOOOOOOOOOOL
Yeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Cheers, Phil.
Funny how it sounds exactly like the NX250
Hello! Does it? Dunno...never heard the 250, but I’d imagine the 650 has rather more basso profundo and kinda thumps you in the kidneys, compared to the 250. Maybe? Either way, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews i can imagine it sounding deeper in real life yes.
But its very similair, maybe because the 250 has a single exhaust.
Dual silencers, well, silence the sound more i suppose.
NX250 was my first motorcycle, listening to this soundclip reminds me so much of it :)
I too regret selling my xr600r.
Morning David....What a bike the XR was. I fitted mine with a big tank, rode it to Egypt and back (took five weeks) then a week after getting home competed in an 8 hour enduro event. No problems ever and an extremely handsome machine. I was also a bit of a Scott Summers fanboy, although I had approximately 0.5% of his skill 😀 Can’t believe I chopped it in for a CCM 😪 Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I now have a Versys 650 that I really love. Great for Chicago!
Hang on, isnt it a twin? Not a single
Hello! It’s definitely a single! Hand on heart! It’s got two exhaust manifolds though and of course the Norton Dominator was a twin...Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews ah, youre right it is, those two exausts had me fooled