Pondering the Dark Side...

[Muzz]

Hi All,

Due to a favourable set of financial circumstances too dull to go into here, I'm in the position to look at a Vara in the very near future. This means my @ will have to go, much as I love it.

Just wondered what the opinions of anyone who's forsaken the @ for the Vara were - it's going to be traumatic, I know...

Here's a couple of pictures of the @ yesterday - now I look at them I'm not so sure I want it to go - but does anyone have any idea what I should realistically be looking for when I sell it? It's a 1996 with 24k on the clock, and bits as seen - Romatech, Powerbronze, Scottoiler, Laser Produro, etc. (plus original rear mudguard and exhaust).

Cheers,


M

[MacP]

When you work out how much you want for it I'd be very interested!

[Xander]

Hi All,

Due to a favourable set of financial circumstances too dull to go into here, I'm in the position to look at a Vara in the very near future. This means my @ will have to go, much as I love it.

Just wondered what the opinions of anyone who's forsaken the @ for the Vara were - it's going to be traumatic, I know...

Here's a couple of pictures of the @ yesterday - now I look at them I'm not so sure I want it to go - but does anyone have any idea what I should realistically be looking for when I sell it? It's a 1996 with 24k on the clock, and bits as seen - Romatech, Powerbronze, Scottoiler, Laser Produro, etc. (plus original rear mudguard and exhaust).

Cheers,


M

Just for the record a VARA is not the dark side... only KTM/BMW are.. it is the I am too old for a real bike side.... (he says just to get the goat of people who but a vara then buy an other AT cus they miss it too much.....)

[Muzz]

Ahhh, and there's me thinking anywhere but the @ was the Dark Side...
Very well, I am considering going over to the Slightly Murkier Side For Those Of Advanced Years...

I've yet to find the Vara I'm after, but I'm on the lookout. I'll have to do a bit more work re.price of the @, too, although I guess I'm open to offers. One factor in moving is the EVEN cheaper insurance for an ABS Vara - £100 fully comp. Oh, I saaaayyyy - it seems there are benefits to ageing after all...

[Robster]

Ok, we've done this one next door in the Varadero Forum, but lets just recap shall we...

I've had my Vara for nearly 18 months after my @ did a Houdini one day, never to be seen again.

Day One impressions: Ooooh, it's exactly the same riding position as my @! Oooooh, but it's much more comfy! Oooooh, things don't half get near quickly when you open the throttle! Ooooooh, I'm doing 95 down the motorway....nothing's "wrong" but something's different from my @....ahh yes, there are NO vibes from the engine shaking my teeth out.

Don't for one moment get me wrong, I loved my @ and would still have it now had it not been nicked. I'd just taken the decision to keep it because I couldn't bear to part with it after we'd bonded over the course of 2 months and 11,000 miles around the Med BUT...the Vara is a very very capable replacement.

Depends what you want it for really, but so far I've done more challenging stuff (terrain wise) on my Vara than I did on the @ and I'd not hesitate to do more.

Most of us who've converted from the @, myself, Chad, Vader, Shep et al will all sing the praises of it's massively capable engine, supreme comfort both for rider and pillion and mile munching capabilities.

Horses for courses fella, but I'd doubt you'd regret it.

[Chad]

Ok, we've done this one next door in the Varadero Forum, but lets just recap shall we...

I've had my Vara for nearly 18 months after my @ did a Houdini one day, never to be seen again.

Day One impressions: Ooooh, it's exactly the same riding position as my @! Oooooh, but it's much more comfy! Oooooh, things don't half get near quickly when you open the throttle! Ooooooh, I'm doing 95 down the motorway....nothing's "wrong" but something's different from my @....ahh yes, there are NO vibes from the engine shaking my teeth out.

Don't for one moment get me wrong, I loved my @ and would still have it now had it not been nicked. I'd just taken the decision to keep it because I couldn't bear to part with it after we'd bonded over the course of 2 months and 11,000 miles around the Med BUT...the Vara is a very very capable replacement.

Depends what you want it for really, but so far I've done more challenging stuff (terrain wise) on my Vara than I did on the @ and I'd not hesitate to do more.

Most of us who've converted from the @, myself, Chad, Vader, Shep et al will all sing the praises of it's massively capable engine, supreme comfort both for rider and pillion and mile munching capabilities.

Horses for courses fella, but I'd doubt you'd regret it.

just about perfectly put ive now done aprox 8700miles on my vara in the last 8-9months its been ace 220-250miles to a tank comfy quick and deceptively quick through the twistys where you at im sure one of us will let you have a go

[Muzz]

Robster, Chad, that's just the info I was after - I've read the Vara forum extensively, but your replies are right to the point. Ta muchly. Oh and Robster, your Bad Boy Blackhawk is just the look I like: gnarly indeed.

I'm in sunny* Oldham, so I'm a way from a few of you guys, but I wangled a test ride on a new 07 last week and really liked it; I was after a longer term view, which I now have.

Right, where's that MCN...?

Cheers,


Muzz


* For a given value of Sun...

[Robster]

Oh and they're not just for Old Timers....I like to think I bring the average age down significantly!

[jabba]

Started on the @t still have it. Got a vara for few months with a look to selling the @t decided the @t was better for me.
Suppose it depends on if you want more power smoother ride ect I like the @t's tractorness and I rarely go above 80mph were it cruises. And I wouldnt take the vara off road were as I would the @t. Plus I do all my own servicing this is also why I favoured the @t.
Have to say the @t feels like a bmx to the vara after jumping back on the @t I had alot more fun on the back lanes ect.

But if you want to do massive milages the vara wins hands down because its comfyer faster and has good road presence.
Its just for me not a proper enduro.

Would only ever get rid for a tiger and thats because I have never owned a trump no doubt the @t is the better bike.

[Richardg]

Well I must have one foot in the 'Dark Side' and one in the sunlight. I love my old @ for those gentle plod around the lanes time and when very good fuel economy is required. For the time when I want to burn off the GSXR brigade I dig out the BEAST, my KTM Adventure AAAAAAAAAARRRRRR it's fast and very very noisy, I LOVE IT!

Stick with the @ and buy another bike to go with it