Vara conversion to Desert Storm

[Taz]

Right, I think I'll make this an official thread for talk on how to convert a Vara to the ultimate Honda Enduro, the XRV-1000i "Twindero", otherwise known as the the Desert Storm. And seeing that this bike is neither an @ nor a Vara, I thought this was the best place to put this thread, then both @ and Vara owners can put their views across on the conversion process and other such linked subjects like possible handling and performance of such a beast.

As you can tell by the link I found a way to "kind of" convert the German to English, but as far as I can tell they still left a lot of room for discussion, one such key subject is the fitting of the @ fairings to the Vara. Now, how do you fit the @ fairings to the Vara? Are they totally compatible, or do you have to make some modifications to the panels and nose cone? I especially have doubts about the fitting of the side fairings to the fuel tank. But it seems to be possible 'cause Africa Queens did it, but how do you suppose they did it?

[Rubberchicken]

the ultimate Honda Enduro, the XRV-1000i "Twindero", otherwise known as the the Desert Storm.

You are aware that those are 2 different conversions, right?

I especially have doubts about the fitting of the side fairings to the fuel tank. But it seems to be possible 'cause Africa Queens did it, but how do you suppose they did it?

I'm guessing that a Dremel has a big part in it somewhere.

[Taz]

You are aware that those are 2 different conversions, right?

Yep, different plastics among a few other things I'd guess. Seeing that these are all custom built bikes it stands to reason that no one bike will be the same as the next. And even Africa Queens say so themselves, that they're willing to build a Desert Storm to a customer's own personal specs. I class a "Desert Storm" as simply a Vara with @ plastics. I just like the name enough to keep it rather than "Twindero".

I'm guessing that a Dremel has a big part in it somewhere.

What's a "Dremel"?

[MacP]

I asked a mate whos wife is german to translate the page on Friday as homework so hopefully he'd have done it.

Of course if you ask him really nicely, and assuming he's not up to his neck in work, perhaps Lord Vadar could translate it.

[Taz]

I asked a mate whos wife is german to translate the page on Friday as homework so hopefully he'd have done it.

Of course if you ask him really nicely, and assuming he's not up to his neck in work, perhaps Lord Vadar could translate it.

Too late, 'cause if you check the link you'll notice that I got Google to translate it! Well, kind of...it's still a little wobbly in places though. But, not being a mechanic, and seeing that it is quite a technical procedure doing such a conversion (they can't cover everything on their site), I still think there's quite a lot to cover in conversation.

[Rubberchicken]

I class a "Desert Storm" as simply a Vara with @ plastics. I just like the name enough to keep it rather than "Twindero".

'kay.

I'm guessing that a Dremel has a big part in it somewhere.

What's a "Dremel"?

One of these puppies:

[MacP]

I asked a mate whos wife is german to translate the page on Friday as homework so hopefully he'd have done it.

Of course if you ask him really nicely, and assuming he's not up to his neck in work, perhaps Lord Vadar could translate it.

Too late, 'cause if you check the link you'll notice that I got Google to translate it! Well, kind of...it's still a little wobbly in places though. But, not being a mechanic, and seeing that it is quite a technical procedure doing such a conversion (they can't cover everything on their site), I still think there's quite a lot to cover in conversation.

I had noticed that - thanks for taking the time to point that out! The reason for getting a native speaker rather than an online translator could help clear up some of the 'wobbly stuff' - but hey you crack on son!

[Taz]

One of these puppies:

Cor! Looks like some kinda Swiss army knife of garage tools! I take it then that you think they used this to cut and modify the plastics to the right shape to fit the Vara tank and so forth?

I had noticed that - thanks for taking the time to point that out! The reason for getting a native speaker rather than an online translator could help clear up some of the 'wobbly stuff' - but hey you crack on son!

Oh, sorry, I thought you'd seen my old link and took it for granted that the link on this thread was also in German. In that case, please go straight ahead and ask your mate to translate it further.

[Rubberchicken]

Cor! Looks like some kinda Swiss army knife of garage tools! I take it then that you think they used this to cut and modify the plastics to the right shape to fit the Vara tank and so forth?

It's what I used to trim down some of the NX plastic to better fit the big acerbis tank... (Well I used a cheap shoddy knockoff from lidl, but oh well.)

It's one of those tools that you never buy because you don't know what you'r'e going to use it for... Until you have one and then when it breaks you wonder how on earth you ever managed life without it.

But re: AT plastics on the vara, I'd be very surprised (nay, shocked) if that bolted right on without some cutting and grinding... (I mean, this is Honda we're talking about, it's not like the bmw airheads with their lego-like construction )

[Taz]

it's not like the bmw airheads with their lego-like construction )

In other words, it's not like we're talking Kawasaki here, good bikes but a bit rough around the edges.