Tempted by the Dark Side...

[Robster]

Well, it's been 10 days I've been without my ride thanks to some thieving barstewards. I haven't been without a bike in over 9 years and I'm feeling the pain!

I'm thinking of taking the plunge and going for a Varadero. There's a tasty one for sale up the road from me and it seems like a good deal, and a good replacement for the Twin. I've got no serious touring plans for at least another year and anything I do in the meantime isn't likely to take me down anything more challenging than a B Road. The Vara seems like a good bet for eating up the miles.

What do you reckon?

[MacP]

Its a nice bike - would you look for new? There are some deals on both ABS and non ABS ones at the mo.

Also Triumph Tiger? People rave about them - it's not a Honda but with the new model (I know the existing will seel alongside the new one) there might be deals around too.

Also what about the Caponord? Very under rated Twin and a stonking engine people say its ugly but the varas no looker either (I like both beofre anyone starts...:))

Depends how much you want to spend but I don't think you can go wrong with a Vara if you like it on the test ride GO FOR IT! :)

[Robster]

Hmmm its gonna have to be a second hand one, no way I could stretch to a new one and dont want to burden myself with finance, Interest free or otherwise.

Not mad keen on the tiger I have to say...its never really done it for me.

I do actually really like the Caponord, been looking at those for a while and was keeping my eye out for one of their "adventured-up" versions, the caponord Rallye Raid. They're like rocking horse poo though! Saw one somewhere on my trip last year and it really was pretty tasty. Aprillia dont make 'em anymore though, no demand apparently.

I'd actually really fancy an 1150 GS too, but cant stretch to one of those yet either.

The Vara seems a good compromise to me, at least for now. If next years big trip comes to fruition then I'll have to look for something else but for the odd blast into the countryside between now and then I reckon I'm cool with the Vara.

Have I talked myself into it yet do you think?! :wink:

[chronyx]

Go for it. :D 8)

[Northy]

Also what about the Caponord? Very under rated Twin and a stonking engine people say its ugly but the varas no looker either (I like both beofre anyone starts...:))


I brought one (capo - black one ) to replace my @ after 7 yeara of ownership. They are a very a comfy powerful tourer more than a off roader adventurer type bike but same as all the big trailies can be taken off road, in the right hands, not mine :lol:
Most capo owners think they are a very good value for money bike , better than the GS in some respects only let down by poor part supply and back up. Should be getting better as they just be taken over by the piaggio group.
That said in year of ownership I‘ve only have a weird tacho due to poor connection go wrong. There are faults with them but all documented and fixable. Very good on tyres and lots of stainless and decent quality but iffy plastics but on parr with KTM ones
As for the Rally Raid you can make up one using the standard accessory for the capo apart from the paint scheme ie up-rated shock + spring £250 then there the crash bar etc

IMO Far pretty than any Varadero.

Test rode all the big trailies in deciding on a replacement for the @ and I ‘d love to have GS but not at that price, could have brought 2 bikes for price of one, then there the whole BMW thing :roll: .
Nearly got a Tiger or KTM , the varadero was crossed of the list long ago (handling, lardy quality not Honda normal standard …. Ohh and Butt ugly) The capo ticked all the right boxes.

Capo's do seems to be cheapish ...its finding one that the problem :lol:

Northy

PS your money, your choice :lol:

[Dilbert]

Err shouldn't you have posted this in the Vara section?

Ask McVicar he'll tell you all about them :D

[MacP]

Err shouldn't you have posted this in the Vara section?

Ask McVicar he'll tell you all about them :D

He did - he was covering all the bases!!!

[robelst]

Dark side... you mean when you park one in front of your house all incoming sunlight will be blocked out? :lol:

The Vara is more the "touring option" but that's what most AT owners use their bike for as well. It's not a thing of sheer beauty and sleek elegance but how relevant is that really? I bet it's better at most things than where the AT has its strong points (being an all-round traveller / commuting / room-for-a-pony thing). Not sure if DIY-maintenance is feasible though and also higher fuel consumption and potentially higher consumption of more expensive tyres may rise cost-of-ownership.

Caponord is great too if it wasn't for the ridiculously low seat. I guess this will be an advantage for midgets but why would tall people be excluded from most supersport (mini)bikes while traditionally tall bikes must be suitable to fit everyone? It's just not fair, boohoo! :roll: :wink:

Tiger is a very good bike as well, I just feel the triple is far too "civilised" und "un-engaging" for a trailly. When my AT was in pieces I took a Trumpet Tiger 955 for a test-ride, I "thought" I'd definitely wanted one (love the looks) but despite the great performance and qualities it somehow bored the hell out of me and took it back to the showroom to leave it behind.

Personally I'd probably go for a BMW GS (with extended warranty on the transmission bits :oops: ) or a Buell Ulyssees. Or scale down a bit to a Transalp.

[captaincaveman]

When i was looking it was between vara and @. For me the vara was better on paper(exept the linking braking, dont like em)But it didn't do anything for me, could work out what it was, if i was getting a tourer for road i would have gone full tourer fj1300 etc The @ got me exited just thinking about it, and though its less power etc its all i ever wanted :D


If you like the vara go for it, reviews etc ive read have all praised it. I like the @ as it knows what it is. :wink:

i Also love the bmw gs range 110 and up, but was put off on servicing charges etc, also i know a few bike mechanics and they said the tiger engines are very weak, especially the 955

Choosing a bike is a personal thing though, good luck :D

[africajim]

I've owned and ridden a couple of the bikes you've mentioned so far so here's my tuppence.

Varadero; fast, powerful, reasonably comfortable, great tourer, good handling. Lardy, yes, but a lovely balanced bike, handles well for size. Usual Honda build quality. 135PMPH+, 45MPG. Yes, I'd have another.

Triumph; Good looks, lovely sound, comfortable, very smooth, good build quality and handles very well. I'm currently running an 04 Tiger 955i, lovely bike, took a bit of getting used to after over 10 yrs on twins, makes power differently but a really exciting bike to ride with sporty feel to it. 135MPH, 50+MPG. Yes, I'd have another.

Aprillia Caponord, I've not tried, but I know of a cheap black one if anyone's interested? Brand new £5800, Wullie Young motorcycles, Elgin, Scotland. Looks very like the Varadero, Italian styling, I quite like the look of it. Reviews are good for the bike. Unsure if I'd have one.

Suzuki Vstrom; Nice looker, stunning engine, most 2nd hand ones I've seen have been tatty so questionable build quality compared to the Honda and Triumph. Unsure if I'd buy.

Personal choice, either the Honda or the Triumph. I'm giving the Triumph a fair chance, I've tried the Varadero, next? Well, depends, Honda may produce a replacement for the @T so we'll see!

[Dilbert]

I must be a bit wierd 'cos I actually like the look of the Vara, unusual yes, but not ugly, sort of angular and a little quirky, looks like a really good tourer and motorway muncher.
The Tiger gets lots of raves, but I just find that lumpy petrol tank a bit odd :?
I think you really have to try a couple of your favourites, for me it either all falls into place or it don't, fortunately we're all different otherwise there would never have been an @ in the first place!

[africajim]

Had to reply :wink:

Tiger "lumpy petrol tank a bit odd"???? You're having a laugh! Compared to Vara it's a work of art! Must add I loved my Vara :lol:

I'd like to add one more bit, Piaggio taking over Aprillia? Well, I've had dealings with both those companies and getting anything from either of them is a nightmare.

I can't speak for Triumph yet as I've only had the bike three months but Honda I do know. In the two years I ran my Varadero and prior to that a decade of @T's I never needed anything from Honda, nothing failed. It comes down to build quality. With the Honda you shouldn't need anything, unless YOU break it! Just ride it and enjoy :) Unlike many others with their "known issues" :wink:

Try the Varadero, I think you'll like it. Don't rule out the Triumph though, build quality is good and I've heard of no issues with them, there's tales of over 100,000 miles on Tigers and no problems.

Unlike the Honda, which is twist and go power you have to work them, three cylinders performs more like a four cylinder, good midrange but wind it up and "OH MY GOD!" :twisted:

Good luck with whatever you decide mate.

[Dilbert]

Had to reply :wink:

Tiger "lumpy petrol tank a bit odd"???? You're having a laugh! Compared to Vara it's a work of art! Must add I loved my Vara :lol:


Sorry buddy, but I saw another one today, just round the corner actually, didn't know there were any round here and yes it does look a bit....err....well...lumpy, kind of in the way that some of the old cafe racers tanks were, you know little bulges to fit a bit more petrol in, still that's just personal preference and it was the only thing I could think of to be a downside :D
I always fancied a Trident back in the mid seventies, threes and sixes are supposed to give the best engine balance, I haven't got the money so it's irrelevent to me, hard call to make there are so many nice bikes of all kinds these days, spoiled for choice really :D

[Robster]

Temptation proved too much...I've only gone and bought one!

Went to look at lunch on Friday. Absolutely immaculate 2001 Varadero in black with silver tank, but with a black bagster tank cover on so full-on stealth black! Under 12,000 miles (with receipts etc to prove), full main dealer service history, crash bars, hugger, alarm & immobiliser, brand new tyres and chain & sprox. Bought the biggest baddest chain in the shop to try and avoid a similar situation to last time!

Man, what a beast. Felt totally at home within 50 yards, riding position exactly like the Twin. Jeez the cars infront come up quick when you open it up eh?!

I'm a very happy camper again. Just need to sort some luggage out now. Any hot tips on the best pannier racks etc? Was thinking of some Alu boxes this time, or even the Hepco & Becker Gobi boxes.

I'll get some piccies up soon!

[MacP]

Well done mate - pleased for you!

I got the HB explorer metal cases and they are ace on my AT so bound to look good on a vara too!

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Sounds great. I personally disliked the silver "contrasting" tanks (sorry to those who have one!) so the Baglux cover is a good solution. I might get a blue Baglux for my blue-with-contrasting-black-tank Vara! Hmmmm...

[Robster]

Well, finally, here's a snap of "Darth Varadero"!

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic?id=7900dckUTpUHlaC9yKGfJQV9oHso8Ca81*mKv4xQp5F d3Ig=&size=l

[redmarcus999]

Glad you like your vara, they DO go off road i've just come back from the Stella run with Africajim and co......

changes to mine are.......
AT Handle bars, the extra width help with its weight

Raised the rear by 30mm, gives more weight to the front end for better steering

next on list (in time for next years stella) spoked wheels - TKC80's
@ sump guard - and must de-link the brakes (not good for coming down mountains)

I had my @ for 3 years and at first thought id made a mistake with the vara, however i dont think i could of covered the 1600miles to the stella on the bench they call a seat on the @

hope you enjoy your vara as much as i now like my one.

see ya at next years stella ?