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[Silverman]

Just got my 54 reg Varadero in Black. Not taken any photos yet but it looks exactly the same as Landyandys bike. Just changed from an 03 GSX 1400. Wanted a bike with some wind protection and hard luggage to hopefully do some touring. Had a brief look around the site and it seems we Varadero riders are in the minority at the moment but at least there's one more now.

[DaveS]

Waaaay hay welcome mate.

Excellent stuff.
Nice to see a Varadero riders..... encourage some more across when you find them and I'll start to build the site up for you guys.

Also if you find any Varadero fiches like there are in the tech spec section for the AT and TA then let me know.

[Silverman]

Hi Dave, I see we're almost neighbours as well.

[landyandy]

Hi Silverman. Welcome to the site (and to your Varadero).

How are you finding it?

Had mine just over a month now - have clocked up 2.5k miles, and all seems well, although I had my first annoying 'glitch' this morning.... the trip meters and the clock had reset themselves to zero - either that, or my 2 young sons have been fiddling against my orders.

Enjoy!!

[Silverman]

Hi Landyandy, only had the bike a couple of weeks but love the comfort and seating position. The last two rides I have been on have both been over 200 miles and I love it. What suprises me most about the bike is the handling I feel so confident on her especially cornering and low speed manouvering even though I can hardly touch the ground.
I have PM'd Fewtrees to ask if it's not too late to join in on the Isle of Skye run. I haven't been camping since I was a kid but this sort of trip is what I bought the bike for so is too good an oppertunity to miss. I suppose I'll know all about her by the time I get back. By the way her name is J-Lo. They are the last three letters of her Reg and with the panniers on she has a big black rear so the name was too obvious even though I don't usually name my bikes.
Well now theres at least two Varadero owners about so lets get this forum up and running.

[landyandy]

There used to be 3 varadero owners on here, but Fewtrees scared one of them off, and he went back to the 'other' Varadero site (too big and unwieldy for my taste).

The other half has named mine 'Bubba', after some sci-fi reference. Personally, I thought it more suited to the 'Bubba' character in a Tom Hanks' film (the name of which escapes me for the moment) ...

Yep - handling seems to be pretty good for a lardy - not sure if you've read my other posts on here, but I have managed to alarm myself by catching a peg under hard cornering, and, like you, although the floor seems al long way away, it's pretty well balanced, although when paddling backwards, I find I'm paddling upstream sometimes.

[Silverman]

Andy, Looking at the photo of your bike it looks like you have the Honda top box same as me. I had a right job trying to work out the instructions and ended up with having three plates below the box. The standard rack then another metal plate which was in the topbox kit and then the plastic locking plate. It all seemed a bit too much and yours looks like you just have the plastic plate fitted to the rack is that correct. Cheers, Steve

[DaveS]

Hi Dave, I see we're almost neighbours as well.

Fantastic!
Keep an eye for the rideouts as well.

You need to get some off-road tyres on the Varadero urgently. You could easily do the Salisbury plain stuff we were doing at the weekend.

Gimme a shout anytime you fancy a rideout.

[Recycler]

Landyandy & Silverman:
How often do you find yourselves doing what a Tranny cant?

i.e. cruising speed/load etc?

[landyandy]

Silverman - I'll have to get back to you on the top box set up - I bought mine after it had all been fitted, so I don't know what constituent parts make it up. I do know that the fastening for the box itself is a stupid set-up - once you've released the catch, the box wants to slide forward over the seat and off the bike - not to mention that releasing the catch tends to mean that the lid is going to come up, leaving an embarrassing toothbrush/ dirty pants/socks pile in the road.

Recycler - good question, but having not had a tranny, I may not be the best one to answer (although previous steed was an AT). I guess the main thing I find is that the cruising speed is much more relaxed - 70mph equates to 4k revs, rather than 5.5 on the AT, and it'll sit at 100 or more without any bother.

Can't say I notice the CBS at all - I guess it'll show up more when the brake pads need changing - historically, I'm a bit of a 'dragger' on the rear brake, as I used to find that it would calm down the AT's novelty handling characteristics.

My pillion has miles more room, which is both a good and bad thing - the space can induce a bit of buffetting when motoring, but it's not really a problem.

I notice the extra weight when manouvering it about, and also the same applies when I have to take occassional accident-avoidance (such as this morning - stupid woman in her Polo failed to notice me coming towards her, as she turned right across my path).

Oh, and the fuel economy is much better than the AT (but then mine was a particularly thirsty example).

[redmarcus999]

Well now theres at least two Varadero owners about so lets get this forum up and running.

I pick mine up on Mon, 2000 W reg with new tyres, chain and a set of Preadator cans. Its bloody orange though, still what i saved on buying it i'll spend on painting it black.

Marcus

[landyandy]

Well done, redmarcus.

Now we'll have a carb owner on here too.

[Silverman]

Hi redmarcus, Hope you enjoy the Varadero as much as I do. It seems not only do you need a Varadero , it also has to be black. I work nights so I'm just going out for a short ride through Minehead and up the notorious Porlock hill where I hope to take some piccies of J-lo. All the best with your new bike.

................. Then there were THREE ............... To be continued ............

[Silverman]

This is J-Lo as far off road as she's going
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=713

[Fatjohn]

This is J-Lo as far off road as she's going
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=713

Y'see, they're not really bad looking bikes at all are they?

Hmmm, may have to reconsider the Fatjohn official party line to Varaderos.

[simplysie]

Yes that does look a nice bike

Sie

[redmarcus999]

Have to agree with Sie,
I would of liked the injection model, simple reason i haven't got one, not enough spare cash.
Only ridden the vara once on test ride, first inpressions were "oh what a comfortable seat" (just ridden 100 miles on @ to view)
Seat seems to be a lower than the @, however the overall size of the bike is much bigger. But quite easy to control.
Cant wait to ride it in anger :evil:
Have got some photos of Vara v's @ will post when got time
Marcus

[Silverman]

I was out on my own yesterday and it was the first time I rode her in anger. Brilliant performance and I just cannot believe how well she corners. I lean much more than I did on my GSX1400. I am so confident it's bound to end in tears. Set off from a set of lights and was doing a ton in no time - only got to fourth gear thought I 'd better slow down quickly. If you haven't ridden a fuel injected one take one out for a test ride. I think you will be surprised.

[landyandy]

I understand that the injection versions are a million miles away from the carb version.

I think it's a tad overgeared, to be honest - I don't really feel the need to be able to do 80 in 2nd gear, when it's all over at about 135.

Yep - the cornering is good - got the pegs down after about 1 week, which gave me a bit of a shock ... :shock:

[redmarcus999]

. If you haven't ridden a fuel injected one take one out for a test ride. I think you will be surprised.

Dont think i will, or might have to sell the kids! and dog!!

[redmarcus999]

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=722


http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=721



http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=720

There you go, boy in background is my son, who also agrees that the vara seat is much more comfortable,
Marcus

[landyandy]

Blimey - looks like you have an olympic ski jump on the front of that Vara!

[Silverman]

Some more angles
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=725

[Silverman]

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=726

[Silverman]

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=727

[simplysie]

i think if the indicators weren't built into the fairing i would be very tempted, but otherwise its a cracking looking bike..... nice choice mate

Sie

[redmarcus999]

now your just making me want one even more, will show the boss try to get the sympathy vote. More pics please of Mk 11 vara's
Marcus

[banger]

Didn't realise they have been making the Varadero's for so long 1954 !!!!
:lol:

Looks like a nice bike getting more and more tempted!!

[Salad Dodger]

I understand that the injection versions are a million miles away from the carb version.



Andy, personally I don't think that is the case at all. I own a 2000 W plate Carbie Vara, have done since July last year, put a few miles on her so far. I was curious to see what the Injected model was like and had a demo 05 Vara for the weekend when I visited my mate in Norfolk.

The major difference between the two (completely standard bikes) is the suspension, the FI's is firmer especially the forks. I found the fuelling on the injected bike at sub 30 mph, irritating and abrupt when you roll off the throttle or make small adjustments.

I also thought that changing to the 6 six speed gearbox, Honda ruined the roll on 'grunt' and I found myself dropping down the box 1 or 2 gears in comparison to the Carbie. The other side of the coin is the FI motor revs out quicker than the Carbie.

Apart from the cosmetic changes, I didn't feel the changes made were enough to justify the money to change from Carbie to FI.

Most of the comments made about the Vara (especially the Carbie) seem to be a fixation with fuel economy........I regularly get 190-200 mile to a tank (25litre capacity) before the fuel light comes on (180miles if you are heavier with the right hand) and the fill ups are normally 21-22 litre. That's mixing A Roads, B roads and town riding.

My two pennies anyway. :headbang:

[DaveS]

I regularly get 190-200 mile to a tank (25litre capacity) before the fuel light comes on (180miles if you are heavier with the right hand) and the fill ups are normally 21-22 litre. That's mixing A Roads, B roads and town riding.

Now that's what I wanted to hear!
That means its got a reasonable range which I was worried about after riding with a mate who has a Firestorm wouldn't be the case.
He can barely do 100 miles before it needs refilling.
That would seriously do my head in.
One plus on the AT is that I can do 5 days commuting without filling up.

[Recycler]

I'm starting to really like Varas.
How's the dash/headlight & underseat storage - anyone got a pic?

Is the airbox under the tank?

Can you fit a Scottoiler to the injected models?

Cheers.

[Salad Dodger]

I'm starting to really like Varas.
How's the dash/headlight & underseat storage - anyone got a pic?

Is the airbox under the tank?

Can you fit a Scottoiler to the injected models?

Cheers.

Recycler, will sort out some pics for you. Dash is very clear, improved it on the FI model. Headlights are excellent, superb on either dipped or full beam.

Underseat storage is fine, have my scottoiler and the rear shock remote preload adjuster under the seat and still have some room :thumbup:

Yes, the airbox is under the tank.

And yes, you can fit a Scottoiler to the injected model

[jamesmc]

Hi Guys

Just joined and thought I should say Hi! from sunny Portugal.

Had a great time at the Varadero International Meeting (VIM) in Poland this year (VIM7).... Bit of a long run from down here to Gdansk, 7760km round trip in 22 days, but well worth it.

My SD02 carried my wife and I there and back without a hitch :)

Anyone going to VIM8 in Sicily next year?

regards
James Mc