Varadero 1000,any good?

[cessnacycletrucker]

My brother passed his test this week,and he's thinking about buying a used Varaderpinions please,(I know absolutely nothing about 'em),as a first bike/reliability/handling etc.He's a mature,careful,rider, 6'4"....and too tight fisted to buy a GS...yet

 

[IainMac]

Never ridden one but mate at work has one. Its always struck me as the couch potato of the big adventure bike market.. big fat and ugly. its a honda what can go wrong? I think it was bike mag that had a recent guide on buying second hand, nothing scary from memory though I think they recommended the revamp (FI model) over the early carb bike? and I think eary engines may have a risk of cam tensioner issues. Too lacking in character for me.

 

[Zippy]

I had one before the GS. On a Y plate. Swapped a VFR800 for it. More usable for commuting / better riding position to see what's happening in the queing traffic.

Liked it alot - but it lacked 'character'. I only replaced it with the GS as I used to swap bikes every two years - commuting and needed piece of mind from warranty cover etc. (But I'm now into my 4th year on the 1150 GS!)

I put a MRA vario screen on it which solved buffeting at higher speeds. I liked the v-twin engine - oodles of torque. Certainly swift enough and comfy for long periods.

Like the GS - tyre choice was a big factor on usability - hated the standard dunlops!

Stonking headlights - riding a GS afterwards was a shock!

Slight flex from the handle bars (no cross bracing bar).
Watch for the rear shock - mine was replace under warranty after the remote adjuster seized. Could go a bit soft over time (dont they all)
Also linked brakes were a bit of a pain in slow traffic - not sure if the new models have fixed that but rear pedal used to apply one of the pots on the fronts?
Tendency to dive quite a bit under heavy braking .

The Honda luggage was expensive by shaped around the exhausts provides loads of room.

I did have one low speed spill on it < 15 mph on slippery crossroads. The plastic fairing (cracked) and top box (scuffed) took most of the impact but the brake pedal bent and snapped - best part of £500 to fix !! Watch out for the plastics or better still - stay upright!

Sold it to a family member who still has it. He's about 6'4 - 6'5. and commutes (motorways) / tours two up with no probs.
He even used the rear luggage racking to rip the front wing off an over eager Ford Escort trying to knock him off at a crossroads - he kept the bike upright and only a couple of scratches on the tubing!!

Steve

 

[cessnacycletrucker]

Thanks,Gentlemen.Looks like I'll be test riding one shortly,( on his behalf).
Big and ugly?..will suit him down to the ground....

 

[SilverFish]

I had the carbed Varadero as a first bike, and agree with what Zippy has said before.

For a first timer, the only real problem I had was the overall size and weight of the thing, which coming from a 500cc would be a bit of a shock. But you do get used to it, and then appreciate it over what you would suffer from a sports bike.

After that its a very forgiving bike, with plenty of every day power and torque to really enjoy yourself. The exhaust note from the twin high exhausts is also very nice, much better than what we get from the boxer.

In many ways I miss it, and would put down a deposit just as soon as Honda announce a new shaft driven version!

Mike

 

[wessie]

Thanks,Gentlemen.Looks like I'll be test riding one shortly,( on his behalf).
Big and ugly?..will suit him down to the ground....

I test rode an early Varadero and an Africa Twin back to back. I much preferred the AT. The main reason was that the Varadero seemed a bit vague in the road holding dept. I also preferred the ergonomics of the AT: just fitted my particualr shape better.

I've met a number of happy Varadero owners and from a reliability point of view it should be fine. It all comes down to personal preference and expectations.

So, by all means test ride the bike for your brother as you might be better experienced to detect a "fault" that gives scope for negotiation on price. However, your brother really needs to have a go himself if possible: it's a big heavy beast for a first bike and he needs to see if this daunts him. Some people adapt to big bikes quickly but many riders would benefit from some sort of probationary period on a mid-size bike.

If you are buying the bike privately then insurance for a test ride is going to be an issue. In this case send your brother along to a Honda dealer and blag a ride on a demo bike covered by dealer insurance.

 

[cessnacycletrucker]

I test rode an early Varadero and an Africa Twin back to back. I much preferred the AT. The main reason was that the Varadero seemed a bit vague in the road holding dept. I also preferred the ergonomics of the AT: just fitted my particualr shape better.

I've met a number of happy Varadero owners and from a reliability point of view it should be fine. It all comes down to personal preference and expectations.

So, by all means test ride the bike for your brother as you might be better experienced to detect a "fault" that gives scope for negotiation on price. However, your brother really needs to have a go himself if possible: it's a big heavy beast for a first bike and he needs to see if this daunts him. Some people adapt to big bikes quickly but many riders would benefit from some sort of probationary period on a mid-size bike.

If you are buying the bike privately then insurance for a test ride is going to be an issue. In this case send your brother along to a Honda dealer and blag a ride on a demo bike covered by dealer insurance.

Hmmm...never thought about the size/weight really,having ridden big and heavy bikes most of me life it never occurred to me.He's a big lad though,I think he'd get very bored with the performance of a blandola 500/600,(disregarding sports bikes 'cos he aint got the physique for that).The bike in question has only covered 1200 miles from new,and the geezer assures me the warranty has 11 months transferable to go.As I've hinted previously,he likes the idea/style/riding position etc of my Adventure,he's just not too enamoured with the purchase price.And he's had a quote for a Varadero for £300 fully comp.
Sooo...I better have a serious chat with him about it before we go any further.Thanks Guys,for the help and advice.
Lance

 

[oddball]

I had a Y plate carbd Varadero before the GS.

It was a great bike and the engine was truly fantastic. Its Honda built in Spain and the finish was not as bomb proof as you would expect (corrosion on rear subframe) but no real major problems with it.

The suspension goes off after a couple of years, noticeable by how the bike wallows through fast bends. Its relatively cheap to fix and there are people like Maxton who will build you a shock to suit your weight.

Its a heavy bike, so drop it on the floor get some help picking it up. Fit Givi engine bars as you will drop it and these save the plastics and expensive side mounted radiators.

Other top tips, get a hugger, fenda extenda and the MRA Vario screen. The MRA is 110% better than the stock screen - 60mph+ visor up no problem.

The newer fuel injected bikes have a six speed box and the bike really needed it, I was always hunting for an extra cog.

I swopped as the suspension on mine was at the end of its life, I was fed up with lubeing and adjusting the chain then cleaning all the fling off the bike after riding it. Also it ate T66 rears for a past time and chuncked one on the motorway at 100+ once (I think the T66 was replaced with the Anakee). Michelin paid for the tyre and the damage to the bike but not a happy experience.

Furthest I took mine was Assen to watch MOTOGP. Never missed a beat but got blown round like a big sail on the Dutch motorways - I know why they have so many wind farms now.