The Vara's dials

[Taz]

Okay then, another question for you Vara owners out there. As you must have guessed by now I'm intending to get some @ fairings for my Vara. Well, are the dials compatable with the @'s front fairing? Will they fit the @ plastics? I would like it to be because I don't mind the Vara dials at all and would prefer to keep them if possible.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7353/xl1000v152003l4pc.jpg

The original Vara dials.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/1399/068qv.jpg

Now take a close look at what you can see of the dials on the customised Vara above. Sorry that the pic's not very good, but from what I can tell the dials are somehow different to the regular Vara. Are they the original deal only altered (the digital clock being removed for one), or are they off another bike? Can anyone tell? Like I said, I would like to keep the original dials (including the digital clock) if possible.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Funnily enough I meant to mention this when you began talking about fitting an AT fairing a few weeks ago. It's not just the dials. The AT has different arrangement for low fuel, has no ABS, has a different trip meter etc. etc.

If you really only want the twin headlamps, it might be easier to get the Vara's plastic bodywork remodelled. You'd save all that trouble relocating the mountings and potentially damaging the fuel tank. You'd know the fairing fits the tank properly. It wouldn't disturb the radiators. You wouldn't have to do any rewiring. There would be no problems with handlebar clearance. If it were me I'd look around for GRP (glass fibre) experts who can remodel the front end with a flattish panel, and just fit two round headlamps. Easy (-er) !

[africajim]

Those clocks on the @T lookalike are the previous Vara clocks, the pic you have are of the newer 03 onwards EFI model. I think by the look of the newer ones you would use the centre piece and just mount the @T fairing to suit.

That one looks cool, I'm not sure how they've matched up the fairing to the tank though. It wouldn't be that hard. The Varadero has fixings on the tank for the side panels so not too hard to make fit.

All you need to do is get a hold of an @T nose and sides and the fairing mounting subframe. Use the stock clocks, you will have to make brackets to suit the @T subframe, fit the panels to suit and presto!

The rest of the Varadero would be original, the exhausts are already under seat. Fitting the @T belly pan would be a bit fiddly but obviously not impossible.

I like the idea of a hybrid but now they've taken out a Varadero with tri-colours and no ABS I'm keen on it. I just can't persuade the wife that the Tiger's got to go, only had it two months!

[Taz]

If you really only want the twin headlamps, it might be easier to get the Vara's plastic bodywork remodelled.
Yep, I just want the plastics changed, that includes the side panels as well unfortunately, seeing that I'm not a big fan of those either. But the rear can stay the same, with maybe some minor mods to the number plate holder. And of course the wheels and the front mudguard will have to go too.

Those clocks on the @T lookalike are the previous Vara clocks, the pic you have are of the newer 03 onwards EFI model.
Thanks a lot there for the info on the clocks. :)

That one looks cool, I'm not sure how they've matched up the fairing to the tank though. It wouldn't be that hard. The Varadero has fixings on the tank for the side panels so not too hard to make fit.

All you need to do is get a hold of an @T nose and sides and the fairing mounting subframe. Use the stock clocks, you will have to make brackets to suit the @T subframe, fit the panels to suit and presto!
Now this is the tricky part. The nose cone should be pretty straight forward, but the side panels on the Vara have fittings further up the tank. So, somehow the guy has had the originals taken away and new ones put on further forward towards the radiator. :? That's the only tricky bit I can see though....Oh, another thing, does the fuel tank curve inward near the radiator?

The rest of the Varadero would be original, the exhausts are already under seat. Fitting the @T belly pan would be a bit fiddly but obviously not impossible.
It's lucky I actually quite like the rear end of the Vara. Might get some sports exhausts for it in the future though, along with maybe some streamlining of the under seat side panels.

[africajim]

Yes, I'd change the bulbous plastics for the @T ones. The wheels? Dunno what you want to do with them? There's no known others that fit the Vara, the ones on the MAX TWIN are stock Vara wheels painted white.

Tank wise? No, there's no instep, I'm pretty sure the tank's a finished article with brackets stitched on to take the side panels like an afterthought? Now, you could find someone very brave, I'm not your man! And I'm certainly not advocating anyone with intelligence try this at home, but, you could powerhose out the tank, fill it with water (less space to create an explosion) and weld on the brackets wherever you need them. It would have to be a competent welder, you wouldn't want any holes? I know guys who would do this! I'd ask them! I'm sure some of the guys in your area have experiece in this form of madness? :twisted:

Let me know how you get on. I'm even considering this as a project myself now! One Varadero that's been down the road, a few @T panels, hmmmm, worth thinking about!

[Taz]

The wheels? Dunno what you want to do with them? There's no known others that fit the Vara, the ones on the MAX TWIN are stock Vara wheels painted white.
I checked the pics of the two's wheels and it seems that the front one is that of a 17in. off a sports bike, most probably a CBR. The rear one has proven harder to tell. But if the front one's been changed for a sportsbike wheel, then chances are the rear one comes off the same bike; again, most probably a CBR. But I'm almost certain the front one's a 17in. though, whereas, if I'm not mistaken, the Vara's stock front wheel is a 19in, right?

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4241/xl1000beforepictureside9ls.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4946/xl1000afterpictureside7hg.jpg

Tell me though, what width is the Vara's rear rim? I'm looking to put a 5in. rear rim on myself.

Tank wise? No, there's no instep, I'm pretty sure the tank's a finished article with brackets stitched on to take the side panels like an afterthought? Now, you could find someone very brave, I'm not your man! And I'm certainly not advocating anyone with intelligence try this at home, but, you could powerhose out the tank, fill it with water (less space to create an explosion) and weld on the brackets wherever you need them. It would have to be a competent welder, you wouldn't want any holes? I know guys who would do this! I'd ask them! I'm sure some of the guys in your area have experiece in this form of madness? :twisted:

On closer inspection you could be right there. Unlike the @ that has its fuel tank curved in at the front, hence the need for the fairing to have some inside plastic in order to follow the curve and to act as a brace, the Vara fuel tank leads straight onto the radiator. As a result it looks as if the guy with the "Max Twin" has cut away most of the inner plastic and simply plonked the fairing on top of the fuel tank! Here, look:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4935/frontfairingcloseup8il.jpg

Let me know how you get on. I'm even considering this as a project myself now! One Varadero that's been down the road, a few @T panels, hmmmm, worth thinking about!
Of course I will! And I'm happy to have found a convert to the cause! :lol: You never know, we might just have something going here, like a cult of Vara owners converting their bikes into what I call "Desert Storms"! :twisted:

[africajim]

I'm rebuilding a 97 Blade at the moment but struggle to find the impetus to keep going with it, usually kick the tyres and shut the shed door again! I guess my heart's not in it! :lol:

I might just give up and try to find a Vara to modify instead, I'm more interested in the Big triallies and as the @T was my fav all time bike I might go down this same road with the Vara and make it "@twinlike"!

I'll keep an eye on your project for tips! I reckon the back wheel is possibly stock, the CBR 600 has a smaller diameter disc, only the CBR 1000 wheel has a disc in comparison. Not sure of the rim width or swingarm clearances I'd have to look it up!