Honda Varadero 1000?

[Petsar68]

[QUOTE=NordieBoy;973059]Have a look top right on his post [/QUO

Stupid me.......................

[Catweazle]

Hi - I bought a Varadero in 2000 in Oz and it is on the boat to Tauranga right now. Did about 50000 kms in 2000/2003 after which it has been stored following my return to NZ early 2004. I picked it up a fortnight ago and its arrives on Monday.

Some impressions:

It is a big bike, it is also tall - slightly too tall for my 5 foot 11 inches.

I did a lot of commuting with it in the Sydney CBD - not ideal.

Is very lumpy to ride at the speed limit but it is seriously nice at higher speed on winding roads.

Long travel suspension is great on rough surfaces.

Goes very well in the gravel, including at high speed if you know what you are doing.

I tow a trailer with it (its on the boat too) to keep all the weight off the bike. A great combination, ride the bike as fast as you like and the trailer just follows you.

Has a big wide seat but I find a sheepskin is also needed for all day riding.

Has dual combined brakes - front lever is 2/3 front and 1/3 rear. Rear pedal is 2/3 rear and 1/3 front.

Hard to pick up it it falls over with 25 litres of fuel on board. Done it twice (left and right) and still not smashed the fairings.

With screen, tank indents, hand guards and warm clothes you can ride in sub-zero temperatures in comfort. (Drove into Orange, NSW at 9:00PM one night when it was minus 2 degrees.)

I upgraded the dual 45W headlights to dual 65W - you can see everything.

No centre stand is a hassle - I use a trolley jack when removing the the rear wheel.

I did the shims at 50,000 kms - only half of them needed minor adjustment.

Cheers.

[oldrider]

Thanks for the post Catweazle very informative.

The reason for this thread was to find out about the Varadero as Blue Wing Honda are about (could be years away the rate they are going) to start importing them soon and they are somewhat an unknown quantity in NZ.

I have meantime bought a Triumph Tiger and am very pleased with it.

It's the first non Honda in my shed since 1970, feels strange! Cheers John.

[vifferman]

Yes, that is fine on seal. But the concern was how it would be on gravel, which is a whole different story. I certainly would not want to ride on gravel or dirt without an independant back brake. And ABS ditto (I have experience of it). It is wonderful on seal, on gravel, you CAN lock up the rear but it is much too unpredictable.

Well (whelp) last Easter I did about 60km or so on gravel, and the linked brakes worked fine. The advantage is that you can stomp fairly hard on the brake pedal, and it offers more retardation than if just the back brake was working and doesn't lock up as readily, because there's little weight transfer.

I know what you guys mean, but I've found now that I've used linked braking for a while (nearly two and a half years), I prefer it.
Except for the extra weight and complexity, especially with bleeding the brakes...

[Jantar]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but Dave Britten is riding the latest Varadero in this year's Chatto Creek 1000. He is usually one of the quickest riders in this event, so it will be interesting to see how he goes on an adventure bike.

[Daffyd]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but Dave Britten is riding the latest Varadero in this year's Chatto Creek 1000. He is usually one of the quickest riders in this event, so it will be interesting to see how he goes on an adventure bike.

What colour is it? I may have seen it passing.

[Jantar]

What colour is it? I may have seen it passing.

Typical Honda colours - Red, blue and White. It would have been one of the first bikes past you.

[Daffyd]

Typical Honda colours - Red, blue and White. It would have been one of the first bikes past you.

No, I didn't see that one. Didn't wake up till afew had passed. Did see something either light silver/grey or white with matching panniers and topbox disappearing down the road. Didn't have time to see what it was but it sure as hell sounded sweet!

[PeteJ]

I bought one in late May this year, and it is just what I expected: basically, a superb allroad all-weather tourer. It is most definitely a road bike. I've just clocked over 10,000km.

Gravel roads covered include most of the roads at the north of Coromandel, a lot of inland Northland, west coast Waikato as far as Awakino, and the Gentle Annie in the snow and ice of midwinter.

My dear spouse finds it the most comfortable pillion machine we have ever had, no small matter as she is 6ft tall. We have had over 90 machines over the years, and there are still 12 in the shed.

The Vara has a bigger tank and better range than the big Strom. The fuel light comes on at 340-360km, and I've never had to put in more than 19l. It has a 25l fuel tank.

Mechanicals were important to me, and as I also have a VTR 1000 I have confidence in the Vara's engine and trans. In asking around some of the shops, the Honda big twins are regarded as more reliable than the Suzuki equivalents - or anything European branded - judged by warranty claims here and in other countries.

Being made at the Montesa factory in Spain, the Vara these days is not rated as well-finished as a Japanese-made machine (which the first ones were). Nevertheless, not bad finish at all.

They are unbelievably popular in Europe, and so you can farkle them to death because the things have been around so long. Because it's now up to Mk III, and there are various changes all the time, you need to be very careful in ordering eg pannier racks to ensure you get the stuff that fits.

Riding: yep, good on gravel, which is about 40% of my riding on mine, but the Bridgestone standard tyres are deathwish stuff on damp roads, ice, or mud. However, the tyres right now still have plenty tread on them and have got better as they have worn.

Good and quick - and did I mention super comfortable? - on seal.

The machine is very heavy and large. The VTR looks tiny next to it. If I were not moderately tall and weighty myself - 6'2" and 195lb - I would probably go for the new TransAlp instead.

Though I take mine across some farm tracks when going fishing, that's obviously not what it's for. If you are looking for something to do mainly tight gravel roads and any offroad, buy a smaller bike without so much plastic on it.

Oh, and my Vara'll do 210km/hr on gravel by the GPS, so it ain't all bad.

[FJRider]

Dave Britten got home UNDER 24 hours. (well under) Buy Kiwi Rider and read the report when its published.Try to copy his achievements at your own risk. GOOD LUCK. (Life insurance RECOMENDED)

[PLUG]

Dave Britten got home UNDER 24 hours. (well under)

... how much under ??? ... in 2005 (my one & only crack at it) the first bikes were home in 13hrs 45min & he was a couple of mins behind them ... i made it in 17hrs & 25min ...

[FJRider]

He took an extra hour and thirty five mins this year.

[oldrider]

He took an extra hour and thirty five mins this year.

So it "is" a race then! John.

[FJRider]

So it "is" a race then! John.

no... just a personal "challenge" to be 1st home.I think its his 1st, to be 1st. Never (before) the bride,but always the bridesmaid. Weather played a BIG part in his "slower" time this year. NOT bike performance / capability.