Honda Varadero 1000?

**oldrider** · 28th January 2007, 20:24

I have to admit that this bike has to be one of the best "bang for your bucks" bargains available at the moment.

This is a pic from another forum of "owners bikes" I think this is a smart looking unit and at such a good price new in NZ!

Take a look at Janta's fuel statistics from the Chatto Creek 1000miler, impressive enough, these bikes are definately a bargain!

Cheers John.

**98tls** · 28th January 2007, 20:27

And a good looker to boot.......................

**Bytor** · 31st January 2007, 11:26

A major prob/oversight with the Honda is a lack of fuel guage

For what is essentially a touring bike this seems pretty stupid.

**oldrider** · 31st January 2007, 15:30

Originally Posted by Bytor

A major prob/oversight with the Honda is a lack of fuel guage

For what is essentially a touring bike this seems pretty stupid.

That was my first impression too but when you have lived with the weird TransAlp fuel gauge for a while you learn to use the trip meter in unison to tell you roughly where it is at.

At least the Varadero has got the computer readout information at the right end of it's tank range!!!!

I think I would just use the trip meter and wait for the light to come on.

John.

**Ruralman** · 1st February 2007, 16:23

Hi John - I notice in that KiwiRider article that Ross McKay only managaed 12km/litre !!! Thats a seriously thirsty beast. Jantar did 15km/litre but remember some of the speeds involved so I think thats pretty good. The 650 V Stroms apparently easily do 20km/litre and I usually get 18-20 on my Transalp.
You say the Varadero is good buying?? - what price is it?

**oldrider** · 1st February 2007, 23:04

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Hi John - I notice in that KiwiRider article that Ross McKay only managaed 12km/litre !!! Thats a seriously thirsty beast. Jantar did 15km/litre but remember some of the speeds involved so I think thats pretty good. The 650 V Stroms apparently easily do 20km/litre and I usually get 18-20 on my Transalp.
You say the Varadero is good buying?? - what price is it?

Bruce, if you look closely you will see that the bike I said was good buying is a V-Strom 1000 not a varadero!

I am still very interested in the varadero and will take a good hard look at it when it comes into the dealers, hopefully this month. Cheers John.

**zadok** · 2nd February 2007, 08:42

[QUOTE=oldrider; I will be concentrating on the Valaderos ability to provide, rider and passenger protection from the elements and comfort, as a long distance tourer, capable of handling whatever type of roads "I" decide to ride it on.[/QUOTE]

Protection from the elements! What! You love the elements John! Wetter the better......

25l tank, wow! Mind you, mine is 24l.

**oldrider** · 2nd February 2007, 21:47

Originally Posted by zadok

Protection from the elements! What! You love the elements John! Wetter the better......

Point noted and accepted Marty but I must have consideration for the welfare of her indoors, when on the back!

I am always rabbiting on about Honda reliability, well last night a friend and I rode around the block, from Otematata, Te Akatarawa Stn - Blackforest stn road, Haldon, Hakataramea Pass Kurow back to Otematata for me and to Oamaru for him.

The other guy was on an F650GS Paris Dakar and the inevitable happened, the BMW broke down!!!! I immediately thought, oh, oh, bloody BMW again!

But!

A rock must have gotten into the chain and flicked it off (could have happened to any brand of bike actually) but the chain got its self doubled up, wrapped all around the primary sprocket and jammed into any available space it could find.

This was at about 8:30pm and light was starting to fade so we had to get busy and fix it quick. It was "not" a good look believe me.

To the Beemers credit, the tool box was adequate and with the aid of suitable sized rocks, sticks, bits of wire etc we managed to get the chain back out and onto the bike again, adjusted and back on the road just as it was getting real dark.

I was impressed with the BMW's roadside fixability and rather than condemn the brand on this occasion I thought the incident left me feeling a whole lot better about the value of the bike than I had prior to this incident, in short, the bike impressed me.

It had good roadside fixability, the tool kit was up to the task, the bike performed well in the conditions, is quite fast on the gravel and the fuel economy was very good.

I now have a different opinion about the value of BMW, even though it broke down it came out on top when one takes into account the nature of the break down, the alternative to fixing it was going to take us a lot longer than the delay we did experience.

I have just been talking to the other rider and we both think we had a fantastic ride and really enjoyed our selves. We are going to do it all again, soon!

There are no real dud bikes these days (IMHO) Just a lot of good bikes to choose from. Cheers John.

**Highlander** · 11th February 2007, 21:02

Originally Posted by Jantar

Yeah, I did notice the similarity. I'm sure that if you asked him he'd tell you that he got just over 15 km/l and that the VStrom does have 6 gears.

As for where he lives? Well that could be a bit of a mystery as the editor has bet that the pic of Mt Cook was taken on the way home from the event, so it must be somewhere up north.

I once new a Gent with the same name as that mystery writer. Heard somewhere that he is riding a Vstrom these days and lives "somewhere near Alex". He was a bit glutton for punishment, I wouldn't put it past him to take the long way home after a mere 1600 Km day ride. Chatto Creek to Alex via Pukaki - not out of the question.

**Jantar** · 16th February 2007, 19:16

Originally Posted by Highlander

I once new a Gent with the same name as that mystery writer. Heard somewhere that he is riding a Vstrom these days and lives "somewhere near Alex". He was a bit glutton for punishment, I wouldn't put it past him to take the long way home after a mere 1600 Km day ride. Chatto Creek to Alex via Pukaki - not out of the question.

Well, I believe that today he did a short ride from Naseby to Alex via Tarras.

**oldrider** · 17th February 2007, 20:20

Originally Posted by Jantar

Well, I believe that today he did a short ride from Naseby to Alex via Tarras.

Actually I saw him today heading for Clydevale, I think he is lost and can't find his way home again after the Passes ride was completed on thursday.

On that deep red bike he is sort of the local Scarlet pimpernel, you see him here, you see him there, that V-Strom man is everywhere!

Cheers John.

**Petsar68** · 12th March 2007, 14:26

Guys,

I just enquired with my Honda dealer in Alexandra and he told me that the Varadero wont be coming with ABS??????

Anyone able to confirm this please?

**oldrider** · 12th March 2007, 21:30

Originally Posted by Petsar68

Guys,

I just enquired with my Honda dealer in Alexandra and he told me that the Varadero wont be coming with ABS??????

Anyone able to confirm this please?

Yep, I was told that as well. It pissed me off a bit so I bought a Triumph, it hasn't got ABS either but at least "I" made that decision, not Blue Wing bloody Honda!

They also told me that the Varadero wont be here for months yet, at least I am riding my new Triumph not waiting, waiting, waiting, for Honda.

Cheers John.