Had one for 7 years, used through scottish winters as well as summers (marginally colder in winter!). Fantastic fun on the B roads. Excellent at soaking up the bumps, handles very well for a traillie!. Avon Gripsters (or Distanzia's) are a must!. Pity they only last 5000(rear) & 12000(front) miles. Suppose you cant have excellent grip / feel etc. & mileage. Be very, very particular about checking the oil & use good brand stuff. Pay particular attention to the oil feed pipe exiting the frame down-tube where the strainer is. If you kink this braided hose when re-fitting, after cleaning the frame mounted strainer, you'll knacker the top end very, very quickly (within a dozen miles) due to oil starvation. This'll cost you £300 to sort. first time I've had cause to slate Honda in 23 years of biking - who's stupid idea was it to not fit an oil pressure warning light to a bike with only 2 litres of oil in it! (maybe it's a marketing ploy to get the extra £300 out of owners every now and then !). Otherwise, recommended to anyone if you stay away from motorways.
A brilliant bike that will do all you ask of it. Only limited by its owners lack of ability. Brings a big smile to your face when out riding on tarmac or green lanes. Good riding position, nice weight, well balanced fun machine. val gore. [Log in to view email]
Have only had my dominator for a few months and love it, I,m a 29 year old female rider [started on a lambretter 1961 one owner from new] but over the years have progressed to a much bigger bike due to the amount of travelling i have to do, and with a cross country holiday coming up in spain with dominator have found it most helpful to see how others have made improvements. i have no trouble riding the bike it,s been lowered slightly for me and am keen to know more and to ride more now the summers here for fun notjust for work. [Log in to view email]
It's a good bike! petrol in ...and go! the good think it's that you go every where with the Dominator. Mine is from Italy, and because it's not a bike for the motorway, we did the Alpine OFF ROAD!!! then country side to Calais.It's not for pure speed, it's for pure fun!In London doesn't stop for traffic, rain or parking space, still goes everywhere!
change the seat and drive around the world! if you dont then see your kidney doctor like I did!! Look it's a big single and what do we expect? mpg and vibration' o.k. but with a bit of common sense it's a bloody great bike and I would reccommend it to any experienced biker who knows the score go for it folks it's great and with a scottoiler it don't eat chains either. After I got over the seat probs (by replacing it with a padded item of my own creation) I use this bike even more than I used my old Goldwing......not many lurid wheelies with a Goldwing!!!! it may be old tech but I like it
Owned for 4 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2004.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
I had 18 bikes since 30 years. It's my last one and I must say: The best trail I never drove in my life.
Be careful with oil, put the best one U can find and check it up often. The oil level could suddenly go down, as all big monocylenders...
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed August 2003.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
Solid. I bought a 97 model with 11000 kms. Have added another 12000kms in South Africa and around the UK. The bike will go almost anywhere in any conditions. Rain, snow, sand and heat. The bike is cheap and easy to ride. Handles well off road and is great along back roads. The bike will commute well and having a passenger/luggage has little effect on performance/handling. Will cruise at 80mph on the motorway although the fairing offers little protection and the seat is not the most comfortable. Still, a good reason to rest every 2 hours. An excellent all rounder. Unless you want to compete in racing, motorcross or posing this bike is highly recommended. It will also take you around the world.
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed February 2003.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
Fantastic machine. The best big trailie I have ever owned. Reliable, easily 55mpg, wheelies, looks ace.
I have added some goodies to the package to suit my riding requirements. A K&N air filter is a must; A full Givi wingrack and top rack plate along with E360 panniers and topbox for long distance hauls. A givi screen; A Scottoiler to lengthen chain life; A powerbronze lens cover; Philips 50% uprated lamp bulb; A chrome horn (Uprated for more bite and looks real; cool); Honda log valve caps; Honda logo barpad; a 1309 section rear tyre as recommended by Honda over the standard 120; EBC front HH rated sintered brake pads;
Make sure you regularly have the valve clearances checked and the oil level correct and replaced.
Mine is an Italian made feb 1999 model in Magenta red. It looks fantastic anmd I often embarrass many a sportsbike rider with it's agility and roadholding.
The seats a plank, but no worse than my old KLE 500. Repadding costs about £100 done professionally. Try a Splitfire plug, they claim they are good and I've had no complaints so far.
Anybody know of engine bars for a late Dommie? Can't locate any. A hugger would also be nice to keep the rear clean. FEnda extenda, anybody know of one? [Log in to view email]
Owned for 4 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed February 2003.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
they cant make a better all round bike and what great 4th gear wheelies
Owned for 5 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2003.
Performance
Reliability
-
-
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
-
-
Must have!! Reliable as Harley, though as XLV. Piece of masterwork from Honda!
-
Owned for 5 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2003.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
Best motorcycle drived ever!!!! Must have it! Raliable as Harley, tough as XLV!
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed October 2001.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
A great all rounder, I find I use it on the road in preference to my 1200 Bandit as it is so easy to ride. No good for long distances though as your bum can't stand more than an hour at a time. Mine is used mainly off road and is a bit heavy in some situations but is surprisingly competant and keeps up with my freinds on their XR 400's and 600's without too much trouble. Chews up rear tyres but I believe all big singles are hard on tyres, and I do use quite aggresive knobblies which tarmac does no good at all too. I looked recently at buying a new DR650 but my '89 Dominator is almost as good and fits me better anyway, so I kept it.
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed June 2001.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
Well what can I say. This is one of the most underrated machines on the market today, and remember this bike has been on the market for almost 13 years. Not the fastest bike in the world, but then we don't buy it for it's speed. Huge wheelies, good tyre wear, great around town, good touring bike.
However chain and sprockets don't last, probably due to the wheelies, rubbish on long motorway journeys.
Owned for 4 years.
Showing reviews 1
to 13
of
13.
Important Note
All ratings and reviews are submitted by visitors to this web site, and represent their own personal opinion. They do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Preloved.
You use this information at your own risk. Preloved can not be held responsible for any damages or loss resulting from the use of this site. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more details.
