XL125V - Baby Vara - Prestwick to Paris

[Shep]

have you thought about a 650 v Strom? absolute cracking bike. I rode one and it really impressed me

[Chad]

wecome aboard dude the alp sonds like the best option for you and will give you the same if not better durability than the baby vara...sound like you need it with your luck.. give one a try you'll love it ...and dont listen to the mags they are just spoilt bikers with a vast choice for toys to play with who have forgotten what its like to have to buy a bike if it aint the latest spec they just aint interested


the alp is a great little bike and will do you a treat

[graeme0309]

Hi guys,
much water has passed under the bridge since we last spoke.

I sold my Baby Vara 125 in May.

Victor Devine's in Glasgow gave me a 2000 pound trade in and I walked away with a 2007 all black Transalp.

I put on heated grips, Honda panniers and box, centre stand, Superbright bulbs, leather petrol tank protection from "Bagster" (including snap-on day bag. It's basically like a school bag) and took off to Edinburgh straight away after leaving the showroom!

Took the ferry to Zeebrugge and headed to meet friends in room. Thereafter I did about 10 mountain passes in the Italian/French Alps. About 8000 miles in 4 weeks. Great holiday vacation!

She was superbly behaved and took a lot abuse (and a lot of weight) but you get a good bang for your buck out of an Alp.

She got her first service in a mountain top village by an approved Honda dealer in Orvietto, Umbria.

[Sharribee]

Hi guys,
much water has passed under the bridge since we last spoke.

I sold my Baby Vara 125 in May.

Victor Devine's in Glasgow gave me a 2000 pound trade in and I walked away with a 2007 all black Transalp.

I put on heated grips, Honda panniers and box, centre stand, Superbright bulbs, leather petrol tank protection from "Bagster" (including snap-on day bag. It's basically like a school bag) and took off to Edinburgh straight away after leaving the showroom!

Took the ferry to Zeebrugge and headed to meet friends in room. Thereafter I did about 10 mountain passes in the Italian/French Alps. About 8000 miles in 4 weeks. Great holiday vacation!

She was superbly behaved and took a lot abuse (and a lot of weight) but you get a good bang for your buck out of an Alp.

She got her first service in a mountain top village by an approved Honda dealer in Orvietto, Umbria.

GOod choice of bike, I love my transalp and if you look at what Mudwiz does with his you really appreciate how capable these bikes are. Do you have any photos of your trip, post them in the reports section for us if you do

Sharrie
xxx

[graeme0309]

When I was Turin, I was 125kgs (about 18 stone) myself, and carrying in the top box and panniers a further 60kgs.

Out of nowhere, a cafe racer on a CBR600 ran a red, slipped sideways and basically chopped about 6 riders in my group of friends.

We all fell like dominos. We were doing about 40mph and the CBR was about 60mph (at least?). He hit us at a a right angle.

The guy was screwed up. He had flip-flops and t-shirt and shorts on. What a mess. I dropped my baby and she got scuffed on the fairing but no other damage to the bike.

However, the bike next to me fell on my right ankle. My bike fell onto my left ankle as we slid along the cobbles.

When I got off the bike I did a commando style crawl to the side of the road and I couldn't stand or put any weight on my ankles. I thought they were bust. After about two hours of drinking, I got a taxi to my hotel, I got in the bath with a bottle of wine and soaked for about another two hours later. My ankles were like melons.

Honda in Turin picked up my Transalp, gave it the once over, straightened the grips and break levers on the handlebars and adjusted my break cables which had got gnarled. Delivered her back to the hotel.

Woke up. Had breakfast. Swallowed a pint of coffee and two Nurofen and headed to Perugia to meet the family who had flown in for the week. I just popped Nurofen for two hours and then Aspirin for 2 and so on. Rotating.

[Raven]

I currently am a 125 Varadero rider, and in a month and a half will be picking up a brand new black Transalp. Reading what you have read is very encouraging, you seem to love the 'Alp after the baby 'Dero.

As I am only a "baby" myself (20 years old) I am unable to test ride (got to be 25 ) so would you mind posting up your thoughts and comparisons between the two bikes?

P.S Sorry to read about your off, hope you healed fully

[graeme0309]

Sure.

If you had been on a small perfume burner like a CB125 you would notice a huge difference. But because the baby Vara is such a quality and "bigger" experience, you are going to find the Alp an easier transition.

Moving from red traffic light about 200m to the next red traffic light in town - (stop start stop start) - you will notice hardly any difference.

But on that nice straight piece of road you are gonna love it. The extra 500cc will feel like a jet pack after riding the Vara. The feeling is lush!

The other thing is this, the Alp with its excellent suspension and spoked wheels bounces over potholes and up kerbs with such smooth ease. Whereas the Baby Vara hits objects with a less sophisticated "clunk".

Passengers on the Transalp don't put a strain on your move-off. A passenger on the Baby Vara however makes you feel like someone has stropped on a ton of concrete to the back.

The Transalp will not be harder to drive/ride. It's heavier. Make sure your side stand is down properly. There is no more big vibration or big engine feel, but like I said, when you open her up - you're really gonna have a smile on your face.

[Raven]

Sure.

If you had been on a small perfume burner like a CB125 you would notice a huge difference. But because the baby Vara is such a quality and "bigger" experience, you are going to find the Alp an easier transition.

Moving from red traffic light about 200m to the next red traffic light in town - (stop start stop start) - you will notice hardly any difference.

But on that nice straight piece of road you are gonna love it. The extra 500cc will feel like a jet pack after riding the Vara. The feeling is lush!

The other thing is this, the Alp with its excellent suspension and spoked wheels bounces over potholes and up kerbs with such smooth ease. Whereas the Baby Vara hits objects with a less sophisticated "clunk".

Passengers on the Transalp don't put a strain on your move-off. A passenger on the Baby Vara however makes you feel like someone has stropped on a ton of concrete to the back.

The Transalp will not be harder to drive/ride. It's heavier. Make sure your side stand is down properly. There is no more big vibration or big engine feel, but like I said, when you open her up - you're really gonna have a smile on your face.

Thanks for that . Definatly can't wait to try the 'Alp out for myself.

I totally agree with your comments about passengers on the Vara 125. My regular pillion weighs sod all but the bike still feels stoneage moving off from a stop .
I did ride a Suzuki 125 (GN maybe , tiny little thing that would have cramped a midget, let alone me) for a day and found that even that accelerated noticably faster than the Vara, but then the Vara weighs so much, though I still beat cars at the lights. I guess as long as the 'Alp accelerated better than the Baby Vara I will be a very happy bunny

[graeme0309]

Yes, it's a bit disheartening when you discover that the smaller 125ccs can burn you from stop. However, the Vara has given you a "bigger bike" experience and that will tide you well for the transition to a 650.

What I liked about my Baby Vara was I am a tall guy: and I felt good about sitting on the Vara. It is a handsome bike. And I got a lot of female friends complimenting me on my ride. A lot of guys at work had no idea what the bike was and were all over it thinking it was at least a 250, etc. Which gave me a laugh and a twinkle in my eye. Compliment city.

[beep]

If you're going to use the next bike more offroad (gravel tracks), then I'd consider a single rather than a twin. You'll do less damage to the bike and have a lot more fun if you get something lighter. I'd say the F650GS or XT660R might be okay, maybe even go for something more offroad like a DRZ400S, but this might literally be a pain in the butt on longer trips.

I agree with the concensus that Honda are REALLY falling behind in terms of technology, all the other manufacturers now build better dualsport bikes. Great bike that the Alp is, it's starting to look a bit silly compared to the Versys, V-strom, XT660Z ....