New bike's home!

[africajim]

Well, after all my posting about it over the last couple of weeks the new Vara's home! It's in metallic black with silver decals and looks absolutely fantastic! The sun hitting it today made the metal flakes in the paint stand out.
3 miles on the clock! I've never owned a new one before so it's a special time for me! It's not so creamy smooth as the Triumph, the Tiger has a lovely motor, but the Honda makes up for it in pure build quality. Everything just feels like it should! Switch gear is as you'd expect, the seat seems a bit hard but not a bad thing really, the Tiger was the same. I might let a little preload off, would be good to reach the ground!
I saw Steve T working while I was delivering the Tiger for the trade in, a tear in my eye parting with my baby but by the first roundabout I'd forgotten all about her, fickle or what? Ha ha!
Oh well, I'm restricted to 4500rpm for a start so I'll be behaving for a day or two! Then we'll see what it'll do! It really feels well put together, although I was amazed to see Trailwing tyres on it! I didn't think Bridgestone still made them? Never mind, I liked them on my @T and my last Vara so I'll happily put up with them but they do purr, you can even feel them on the road! Both @T and Vara would grind the pegs in the dry with Trailwings in the past so I'm perfectly happy with them!
As soon as I get time and weather I'll get the pics taken and fire them on to the forum. Great to be back on a Honda folks, it really does feel sooooo much better than the Triumph, sorry Triumph folk

[allyw71]

I thought the build quality of my 06 Sprint ST was every bit as good as any honda. Its my opinion that Honda build quality is good, but sometimes over stated.

[Frad]

Nice one Looking forward to the piccies the Vara is favorite for my next one

Enjoy

[VTwin]

congratulations the engine gets smoother and the seat gets like a sofa after a while, well 5500 anyway, I don't mind the trailwings but they are entertaining in the wet when 90% worn

[Steve T]

You LUCKY, LUCKY . . . . . . . . loon!

So thats where you were off to as you "grinned" past me - off to dump your Trumpet and pick up yer Vara floosy . I thought you were just smiling at my misfortune of having to thump road nails into the tar!

If you need a hand running it in, how about a run this weekend?

You could ride it down to the bike show on Saturday. Would be about due it's 600 miler by Monday then

Look forward to seeing it, both here and on the road.

[africajim]

Allyw71, I'll not diss the build quality of my Triumph, agreed, on a par if not better than Honda but on pure ride quality the Honda just feels soooo much better. Sorry mate, just my opinion.

Vtwin, done over 100,000 miles on Trialwings over the last 15yrs, I always thought they were a good allround tyre. I have got used to the Anakees I had on the Tiger, three sets and never felt skittish. I'll probably change to them eventually. The Tiger seat was quite firm, beauty of it was after 200 miles you were still moaning about the hard seat! Better that than your sore a*se! Good to hear it gets better though!

Steve T, aye, went round and parted with the money. Can't fault Wullie, good to his word, £3200 to change. I'll see what the weekend brings Steve, I'm looking for bargains at the bike show, hadn't really considered buying luggage down there then having to fit it in the car park! I'm on holiday for the next week so I'm sure the weather will be kind enough to let me out for a few pics and run up that miles to let slip the dogs of war! Any suggestions for the photo shoot? I'm getting a bit fed up of the beach at Kingston! We'll have a run soon mate.

[Freerangestormer]

sorry Triumph folk

I should think so too I can hardly wait to pick up my Tiger, my first new anything on wheels .

Don't think I can beat that for a deal though. Be back in Ayrshire at Easter if you want a longer run - we can compare build quality

[africajim]

Freerangestormer, it was a close run thing, it was either the Tiger or the Varadero, the price swung it, Triumph offered me £2600 for my 04 Tiger mint condition against a new Tiger at £7500, ok almost a grand in extras but not a patch on Honda giving me £3800 for the Tiger with £300 off the list price of £7300 and £500 of extras. Triumph walking off the adventure market sort of put me off a little as well, and I had a few niggles with the 955, wind noise, poor lights, soft sprung, hard on chain & sprockets. First time you clean those alloys you'll ask yourself why? Ha ha! No bikes perfect, I loved the Tiger so much I put up with the little niggles and I would have loved to try the 1050,,,, boo hoo!

Ah well, onwards and upwards, Varadero here we come!

[lowflyer]

Looking and sounding good, Jim.
We'll try and meet up for a blast one weekend.

Nice 1

[campagman]

Nice one Looking forward to the piccies the Vara is favorite for my next one

Enjoy

Me too Frad, borrowed a Vara from Hunt's the other week while the TA was in for a service, scarily quick compared to the TA, effortless overtakes very flexible with the gears...........................maybe............. ...but I'd like an old Guzzi to tinker with first.