Honda Varadero 1000?

[oldrider]

Anybody on here ridden, owned, know anything, about Honda Varadero'?

Are they suitable for gravel roads etc?

Curious.

Cheers John.

[merv]

You hardly ever see them here but basically they are Honda's equivalent of the DL1000 and should be OK on gravel. Here's the first site I found on Google http://www.motorbikestoday.com/revie...n_varadero.htm. All I vaguely heard a few years ago is that Clive Cooper-Smith from Blue Wing got one for himself at the time.

Have you found one to buy John?

[Crisis management]

The feb issue of Kiwi rider has a review of a new Varadero if thats of any help. Unfortunatley Big Dave didn't do the review but you may be able to get some info from him???

Good luck..

[oldrider]

You hardly ever see them here but basically they are Honda's equivalent of the DL1000 and should be OK on gravel. Here's the first site I found on Google http://www.motorbikestoday.com/revie...n_varadero.htm. All I vaguely heard a few years ago is that Clive Cooper-Smith from Blue Wing got one for himself at the time.

Have you found one to buy John?

The local Honda agent told me he is getting a new Varadero on stock any day and I didn't know anything about them so I started looking around the Internet to see what they are about.

Surprisingly enough there is much more information that is favourable than there is negative, nearly all the reviews have been consistant with the one you have posted Merv!

The feb issue of Kiwi rider has a review of a new Varadero if thats of any help. Unfortunatley Big Dave didn't do the review but you may be able to get some info from him???

Good luck..

Yes Big Dave does a very good and honest review on the bikes he has tested, it would be good to have had his opinion on one of these.

We have not got the February issue of KR down here yet but I will start looking seriously again from tomorrow.

Frankly I will be very surprised if KR give the Honda Varadero a good review but we shall see soon wont we!.

I have been wondering about a new TransAlp but would like a bit more tit again, old habits die hard and bigger motors push so much better on the longer versions of our rides.

The TransAlp is an extremely good bike, understated and underated but there is no substitute for cubes I am afraid.

The bigger V-Strom is currently very good value for money in my opinion but I find it hard to break away from Honda! (Simply because they have served me well)

My second son is a farm manager and will probably always live at the end of a long gravel road so the Varadero would seem a better type of bike for us than say an ST1300 or the like. (one of my favourite bikes)

All the information I have read so far points to the Varadero being a very comfortable long distance tourer with reasonable gravel road manners.

I shall take a good long hard look at this bike when it comes to the local shop.

It does seem that they are quite a big bike but unfortunately I am fast becoming a very little old man, this could get tricky! Cheers John.

[98tls]

Just out of interest john why dont you think KR will give it a good write up.......?

[merv]

We haven't got Feb KR issue either so from what you say it sounds like after what seems like about 4 or 5 years Blue Wing are finally going to import them.

You've heard me going on about my XR250L, well I had an issue with Blue Wing from 1996 that they wouldn't import the electric start XR and chased Clive directly even and in 2004 when I bought the WR asked again would they import me one because they had brought a few in for the Police, but no way would they do it. Then low and behold out of the blue in 2005 they bring them here anyway.

The Varadero is a bit the same, I heard of people asking about them - no way were they coming to NZ they said, then we hear Clive got himself one, and now finally if they are importing them - what is the deal.

It always strikes me with Blue Wing they just have their approach to marketing totally screwed in this internet age - they should bring models in when they are fresh and therefore desirable in everyone's minds, but no they wait until the model has just about expired its life and then they bring them here. With internet we all know what's out there, its not like its the new surprise model.

[oldrider]

Just out of interest john why dont you think KR will give it a good write up.......?

Hard to explain clearly, It's not just KR.
A lot of Honda bikes are so good at doing what they were designed and manufactured, for that they appear, sterile and bland in their performance.
Bike magazine writers,(IMO), seem incapable of rising above that and pander to BMW and Harley Davidson lifestyle "brand bullshit" to waffle on about because that is what they think customers want, it makes them feel good.
Yamaha and Suzuki etc back their brands up in similar but different ways too.

I think Big Dave is a breath of fresh air as a bike review writer, full of personal integrety in his opinion.

We haven't got Feb KR issue either so from what you say it sounds like after what seems like about 4 or 5 years Blue Wing are finally going to import them.

You've heard me going on about my XR250L, well I had an issue with Blue Wing from 1996 that they wouldn't import the electric start XR and chased Clive directly even and in 2004 when I bought the WR asked again would they import me one because they had brought a few in for the Police, but no way would they do it. Then low and behold out of the blue in 2005 they bring them here anyway.

The Varadero is a bit the same, I heard of people asking about them - no way were they coming to NZ they said, then we hear Clive got himself one, and now finally if they are importing them - what is the deal.

It always strikes me with Blue Wing they just have their approach to marketing totally screwed in this internet age - they should bring models in when they are fresh and therefore desirable in everyone's minds, but no they wait until the model has just about expired its life and then they bring them here. With internet we all know what's out there, its not like its the new surprise model.

To me, something appears wrong with Blue Wing Honda and their perception of "customer value" and I think that it also plays a part in how bike mag journalists relate to Honda products in their reviews.
That is "my" perception and my perception is of course my reality, I would feel better about my choice of bike if it were a BMW, Harley Davidson, Suzuki or a Yamaha because those companies make sure their customers feel good about themselves and their choice of bike, not so Blue wing Honda (or even Honda) I am afraid!
I myself feel good when I choose Honda because I know it will be bland but reliable and serve me well for a long time, Honda do nothing for me as a loyal customer in promoting and backing up my choice in their product, the way that the other bike manufacturers do for their customers.
BMW, Harley Davidson, Yamaha and Suzuki sell a feel good factor with their motorcycles that I would love to have when I buy a Honda but what do Honda sell with their bikes?
Sterile perfection, the way they want you to have it, they know best what you need and you should just be thankfull that they are manufacturing it for you! Customer feel good factor, don't think they ever heard of it. (IMHO) Cheers John.

[98tls]

Good post John.............entirely agree.........the success to a degree of a bike can rest upon a journos write up.......never understood it to be honest.........case in point was the bike i ride........i am pretty sure i have just about every motorcycle mags review.....well in english anyway.....from the launch in 97 to the present day........the rotary damper recieved and still does the most criticism off all..........funny how at the launch in florida it recieved none........KB magazine way back said they had had more slapperish behaviour from a GSXr750.......hardly an ill handling bike.........but people read and believe this stuff.......can remember listening to a VTR rider telling me all about his mates TLS that had attempted to kill him so many times.......i have replaced the rotary on mine but can say that never did it give me any more of a fright than any other bike when i have given it the big handful out of a tight corner or anywere else........a journos opinion of a bike is quite simply that.........one persons opinion........often to be ignored in my opinion.........

[What?]

The Varadero was released in 98. Aussie got them then or shortly after.
They are BIG bikes, but then again the V-Strom ain't little.
It looks like the price tag will be ~19 grand. That makes it 4 grand more than a V-Strom, but the Honda's standard of finish is vastly superior.
I have not ridden one in gravel, but I would be surprised if it is much different to the Suzuki (your Transalp will eat it)

[Bonez]

I think Big Dave is a breath of fresh air as a bike review writer, full of personal integrety in his opinion.

Cheers John.

Ever heard BDs opion about the W650? He tows the Trumpy party line every time .

As for "feel good" factor, isn't it up to the rider to feel good about what they ride, like you have, not some marketing bullshit (I pesonnally like Triumphs current slogon- Go your own way) the tells them how they should feel?

[Edbear]

Good post John....one persons opinion........often to be ignored in my opinion.........

Quite correct, 98tls! Kiwi Rider's Jonathan Bentman reckoned the TL was a great ride and huge fun! It seemed to start in Pommieland when someone, supposedly an experienced, mature rider, killed himself on one and they tested the damper on a machine which apparently proved it to be inconsistent and contributed to massive tankslappers when powering on out of a corner.

A young friend, Classic_Z's son-in-law was looking at buying a V-twin and asked my opinion on the TL-R among a couple of others. I said he'd absolutely love it and only need to change the damper if he was planning some hard track days. He subsequently bought the TL-R and yep, loves it!

Sorry, off topic, Oldrider! Only negatives I've heard of the Varadero are its sheer size and some weaving at higher speeds. An ideal competitor for the V-Strom in NZ!

[Crisis management]

Can I sell my copy of Kiwi Rider??? $50.00??? Anyone?

Having actually read the review (By Ross McKay) it's very positive, the summary is:
Heavy, 238 Kg, more V-strom than BMW GS and more capable on sealed roads than gravel. Liked the engine, ergonomics and handling but wasn't so convinced of the linked braking. Only negative was a lack of centre stand.

No price listed but Honda should have that.....

[Oscar]

Ever heard BDs opion about the W650? He tows the Trumpy party line every time .

So what?
The Trumpy (assuming you're talking of the Scrambler) is a better bike.

[Bonez]

So what?
The Trumpy (assuming you're talking of the Scrambler) is a better bike.

Shit the fish are biting early this morning. No, I was no talking about the scrambler btw.
Have they fixed the fuel cap problems yes?

[Oscar]

Shit the fish are biting early this morning. No, I was no talking about the scrambler btw.
Have they fixed the fuel cap problems yes?

I didn't have any problems with the fuel cap.
The Scrambler is a fine adventure bike.