please...advice

[hondan]

hi everyone.i am dan from romania. i have a transalp '93.i'ts a real good bike..for good,bad roads. but is perfect for 1 rider...so i need something stronger,more hp...like varadero or suzuki v strom or aprilia caponord...i prefer varadero but i'm open for diferent advice or ideeas for what shall i choose...so please help. thanks

[StumpyFingers]

Hello and welcome to the forum,
The best bike would be a varadero, but as always try them all before you commit your hard earned cash.

[Snaphappy]

Welcome to the forum

Get a Fuel Injected Varadero
black is fastest but black silver looks best

[PHILinFRANCE]

Hi Dan and welcome
I had a 99 transalp and loved it only problem 2 up long distance she struggled just a little and i felt i needed a bit more so sadly traded her in for a XL1000 varadero and its twice the bike once you get used to the extra weight, great fun on all roads and eats mototways but try the all and find the bike for you. (If i,d had the money i would have kept my TA loved it!!!)
Phil SW France

[Mr NiceGuy]

Varadero is an excellent bike as is the Capanord and the V-strom. The V-strom doesn't have the build quality of a Honda and the Aprillia back up is very poor in this country, having to wait days for basic service items and couldn't imagine it been any better in Romania.

[Mabels Old Man]

Welcome to the forum.

You're going to get all sorts of answers on here. What about a BMW GS?

Whatever you fancy take it for a long test ride before you decide.

[PHILinFRANCE]

Hi MoM
yes always liked the look of the GS(BigMoneyWheels) and having the vara does me just fine for half the price!!!!

[davsato]

i tried a F800GS the other day and it was awful, vibrated like crazy and turned round and gave it back after only half an hour.
it gives a good feeling to get back on your old faithful and know theres nothing better out there to tempt you away. i'll stick with my varadero thanks

[LUNLUNZAI]

I owned a Yamaha TDM900, Aprilia Caponord and now have a Varadero.

It really depends on your own taste and what kind riding you do,eg. a big fan of V-twin motors? many two-ups?

The TDMs especially the 900 model makes a very good communter as well as two-up tourer. It is much more economical (60mpg easily acheived on motorway crusing) and faster than the big V-twins. Dun forget it is lighter too! The riding postion is a bit more sportier of coz but bar risers should be able to sort it out!

Caponord in my opinion is a good looking bike. A very informative dashboard makes you feel like a pilot! Parts delivery is not as bad as it sounds but aprilia accessories is a real pain to get! There are a few minor problems with the bike such the plastic fuel line connections and the famous melting brown connectors. They are easily sorted and loads of advise you can get from the AF1 forum. After all it is lovely bike and the cosmetic finishing is much better than the Varadero and it is lighter too!

Varadero is a reliable bike with good handling. The eariler FI models from 2003 has better fuel consumption over the crab models but in my opinion the improvement is not significant. Yes, the dero is heavy but it is better balanced than the Caponord. Not to mention the top class comfort you will get on long trip! The built quality on the dero to be honest is not fully up to what I expected given than that I am used to Japanese built Honda. One example I can tell you is if you take off the seat you can see the frame was not dust off properly before the finishing coat is on! The workmanship is a lot better in the East than in Spain and it is not you can agrue!

V-strom especially the 650 version is worth a look ! I tried one a feel months back and what a bike! It is like a Varadero 650 (I don't mean Transalp here!!). I took it out for a 120 miles run which invloved city traffic, dual carriageway and country roads. It suits all mentioned and mpg is very good too! If Honda put this suzuki sporty v-twin engine into a slightly downside varadero 1000 frame, I will buy one once it is in the showroom!

[hondan]

thanks to all four your advice...i'll try first before buyng...a frend of mine want your help too.he want a sport tourer. i tell him about honda vfr 800 that are good bikes. so once again i ask for your advice,help...thanks a lot...