Out of the Dero into the Pan?

[dadavaro]

I own a 2001 Varadero, and an 04 DL650.

The XL1000 is used for touring, and the V-strom is my commuter bike.

The trouble is, if find the bikes quite similar to each other, and I am thinking of buying a Pan (ST1100), which is a dedicated tourer.

Any comments?

[LazyRider]

I own a 2001 Varadero, and an 04 DL650.
The XL1000 is used for touring, and the V-strom is my commuter bike.
The trouble is, if find the bikes quite similar to each other, and I am thinking of buying a Pan (ST1100), which is a dedicated tourer.
Any comments?

I can understand the idea of having two very different types of bikes, but perhaps you should think about why you have two similar bikes.

Both of your present bikes have long travel suspension 170+mm. This does take the bumps out of poorly maintained city streets as well as indifferent minor country roads - whilst touring.
The Pan has a front suspension travel of 117mm. It is happiest on smooth A class roads. Across somewhere like the roads on the Yorkshire moors, the ride becomes very poor and the handling suffers.

The Pan is fine for long tours on motorways and major A roads, but once on local roads they become very tiring and quite hard work.

If you take a pillion passenger when touring and ride solo when you are commuting, it seems to me you have already made a good choice.

If you are just looking for a change, for the sake of it - a reasonable situation - have you thought of getting something like a CBF500 for commuting - cheap to run, easy to maintain, and fun.

[dadavaro]

Thanks for your reply LazyRider, you are right, the state of our roads are bad, and both bikes cope better than any tourer.

I test road an FJR1300 yesterday, and your comments were confimed. (nice motor though )

The trouble is with be, I buy a bike add all the extras, hten get bored, and start looking for a reason to change.

I don't need another bike, I need therapy

[Lord Vader]

Trust me your not the only one on here

[Cabby]

[davsato]

im in the same boat dadavero, i had a triumph sprint and a 600cc supermotard, but last month i swapped the triumph for a varadero. now i find myself with two bikes that are quite similar.
ive spent way more on the SM than i would ever get selling it so its not worth getting rid of, but i havent got it out of the garage since i got the vara because its the same but more, if you know what i mean?
i will keep my toy SM, because it is a load of fun, but it wont see daylight untill the shine is off the vara

[LazyRider]

,
The trouble is with be, I buy a bike add all the extras, hten get bored, and start looking for a reason to change.

I don't need another bike, I need therapy

The problem is that modern bikes are too reliable and predictable.

You have discovered the reason why so many old bikers end up messing about with old bikes - or Moto Guzzi’s. Just keeping them running is a challenge and making them reliable is just another challenge.

Every ride is an adventure, every completed journey is a triumph if ingenuity and imagination over wicked and foul machinery.

Get yourself a Moto Guzzi or a Harley. They can be fun when they are running. Other owners will discuss them - endlessly. None bikers find them impressive. You will never be short of something to fix or another ornament to fit or polish

[dadavaro]

I think I'm cured now, just for the hell of it, I rode a "Ton" European that was advertised locally.

What a barge! I could'nt wait to get back on the Vara, "you weren't very long" commented the seller.

Maybe I should have gone further, but the bloody thing scared me round the bends.

I am used to riding big bikes, I did an 1100 mile round trip (Grand Canyon etc) on an electra-glide last year, and not all the roads were straight.



The ST1100 motor was smooth with loads of torque, but I prefer the punchy v-power of the Vara.

[dadavaro]

Er, I'm afraid I was'nt quite cured after all, I just traded the Vara for an 02 FJR1300, I just missed the rush of endless power you get with an in-line four.

The shaft drive is nice, and although the FJR is heavier than the Vara it's actually easier to reverse into my garage, must be because the weight is all low down.

The FJR is a very comfortable bike, and the electric screen is useful as well.

I can't get the FJR to go round corners like the Vara, well not yet anyway.

I enjoyed my time with the Vara, and would recommend owning one to any serious tourer.

Mitch.

[Chad]

Thanks for your reply LazyRider, you are right, the state of our roads are bad, and both bikes cope better than any tourer.

I test road an FJR1300 yesterday, and your comments were confimed. (nice motor though )

The trouble is with be, I buy a bike add all the extras, hten get bored, and start looking for a reason to change.

I don't need another bike, I need therapy

oi vader dont you dare mention me