Varadero

[Red]

Hi all,

Over here on parole from the Varadero UK forum.
No I haven't come over to the dark side!

One of our members raised the following question:

"What do the GS crowd think of the Varadero?"

Someone suggested asking here, so I have, enjoy!

 

[notadrop]

Hi Red
I can't be very objective as I haven't ridden one. Personally I don't like the styling as much as the Africa Twin it replaces - it seems blander [not that the GS can be called drop dead gorgeous to other bike owners - it was the oddity of its looks I liked]
When I fell over to the darkside in '96 [after owning a Super Tenere] I became a a converted shaftie........ so now I dont like chains [lazy bastard me - all that fiddling]. A friend has ridden one and was impressed by the performance.
Conclusion? No lover of its styling or drive chain but respect the performance and its in the right class/type of bike for my liking [ ParisDakar/trailie for the road/ adventure type bike.

NOW what do YOU think of the Varadero........so we can understand your choice?

 

[Timolgra]

"What do the GS crowd think of the Varadero?"

Someone suggested asking here, so I have, enjoy!

 

[Dahoum]

translation: this is the number of Varadero owners Tim has had

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

It doesn't look hard... a bit too plasticity to make it look as if it could go off road... not that it ever will

A bit the way an Transalps looks compared to an Africa twin


and what do you think of the 1100 the 1150 and the 1200?

 

[Steptoe]

What is a varadero - i thought it was an old TV western series, you remember, the one with the half breed who played the guiter, and they all lived together on a ranch " The Varadero" .

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

What is a varadero - i thought it was an old TV western series, you remember, the one with the half breed who played the guiter, and they all lived together on a ranch " The Varadero" .

wasn't that the Virginian

 

[Red]

Hi Red
I can't be very objective as I haven't ridden one. Personally I don't like the styling as much as the Africa Twin it replaces - it seems blander [not that the GS can be called drop dead gorgeous to other bike owners - it was the oddity of its looks I liked]
When I fell over to the darkside in '96 [after owning a Super Tenere] I became a a converted shaftie........ so now I dont like chains [lazy bastard me - all that fiddling]. A friend has ridden one and was impressed by the performance.
Conclusion? No lover of its styling or drive chain but respect the performance and its in the right class/type of bike for my liking [ ParisDakar/trailie for the road/ adventure type bike.

NOW what do YOU think of the Varadero........so we can understand your choice?

I bought mine for one reason.

I wanted a big comfy armchair with a nice high seating position for mile munching through Europe 2 up fully loaded. Gets 5 stars for this. Done Poland, France, Spain, Austria, Italy and Germany. 100% reliable, never used a drop of oil between services. 200 mile range at autobahn speeds and around 8K from Tourances. Not interested in off-road.

So the Varadero fits the bill 100%

 

[Timolgra]

100%

 

[shuck raider]

Varadero's not a bad old bus, my mate has one and we swap bikes occasionally on runs. Comfy big thing all right, but I can't be doing with all that pogo-ing about after being used to me Telelever

 

[Snooky]

One is a big touring bike made to look like an off roader, the other is a dual purose bike that most tend to only use on the road. So designed and geared differently, we know that quite a few on here use theirs off road, but how many of the Vara boys do the same.

Oh and as a slight dig, the bike meets for the Tossers normally involve tents and a field as opposed to Hotels and when really roughing it a B&B...

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

One is a big touring bike made to look like an off roader, the other is a dual purose bike that most tend to only use on the road. So designed and geared differently, we know that quite a few on here use theirs off road, but how many of the Vara boys do the same.

Oh and as a slight dig, the bike meets for the Tossers normally involve tents and a field as opposed to Hotels and when really roughing it a B&B...

how dare you say that.. I'll have you know the a bunch(i think thats the proper name for a group of Vara boys) in NI were slumming it here last year. what a dive I think Schwarz baron or Charles went there with them

 

[SilverFish]

I've had both and can appreciate both bikes as being essentially the same with only some minor differences.

Varadero.

Loves: Comfort, build quality (better than BMW), great engine
Hates: Chain, suspension, a bit top heavy, Journos constantly putting it down.

GS

Loves: Handling, shaft drive
Hates: Reliability, high cost of ownership (both based on high mileage)

Mike

 

[Harv]

Having owned both a Varadero and a GSA I must say its an interesting question!
The Varadero is a lardy old bus ... and the GSA is a slow lardy old bus ... I now run a 950 KTM.....

 

[Bikeboar]

Well hello for a start

Philip from the Varadero site here - would be Silver Fox but you already have one of those

I posed the question to begin with, so prompted by Red I thought I would come across and say Hi, and check out the responses.

Firstly I really do like the GS to look at although I have never ridden one. That must change.

For me the GS set the scene as that RTW look and you certainly get a lot of good air play - sadly not the same for the Vara.

Look forward to more posts

You asked Why the Vara?

Have had two and done nearly 90,000 miles over the two. I ride every day and am on my 5th winter. Been to Poland and back and survived three weeks with missus on back...including hairdryer. Its a great comfy tourer with a bit of off road looks and. Its also cheap, fast with lots of grunt and easy to get serviced.

Philip

 

[Butler]

I have had 2 Varaderos and they are superb.

 

[Deadskin]

Hi Philip
I've never ridden one or even seen one up close,
my honda dealer sucks so i doubt i ever will

Enjoy your ride

 

[Timolgra]

VARA!!

 

[luke scott]

My first "big" bike was an africa twin... then I got a Varadero. I have to admit I loved it. Fast and super build quality. But life moves on and the GS called. Now on my third GS and still love it but the servicing costs of GS's here in Ireland is very scary . I think that both bikes are like a pint of Guinness..... an aquired taste

 

[Deleted Member GC]

Following my baby vara, I wanted something similar.....so got the 650gs... logical step for me