First post & question about Varadero

[pw20]

Hi
I'm currently riding a VFR and am thinking about trading it in for a new Varadero. I've got a couple of questions that someone may be able to help with.
1. The Honda web-site only shows the Varadero with ABS. Is this correct? I've looked at a new one without ABS. Is there an option on the new bikes?
2. I'm concerned about the weight. I don't want to start looking at the 1200RS but it is a lot lighter. How do people find the weight? Is it easy to move around at low speed?

Thanks

[winxp-master]

Hi and welcome to the site...

You might have better luck posting this question in the Varadero section.

[YEN_POWELL]

Copied it over there for you.

[Austin]

Hi
I'm currently riding a VFR and am thinking about trading it in for a new Varadero. I've got a couple of questions that someone may be able to help with.
1. The Honda web-site only shows the Varadero with ABS. Is this correct? I've looked at a new one without ABS. Is there an option on the new bikes?
2. I'm concerned about the weight. I don't want to start looking at the 1200RS but it is a lot lighter. How do people find the weight? Is it easy to move around at low speed?

Thanks

Q1: As far as I know, yes.

Q2: No doubt about it the Vara is a big and heavy bike and carries quite a lot of that weight high up. Personally I find it ok, it is big and heavy to push about but so far I have never felt like I was going to drop it. Like all bikes though once you are sat on it and got it moving under its own power the weight just disappears and with the high bars and sit up riding position low speed stuff like full lock u-turns are dead easy. Get a test ride and see how you like it. I had a VFR800 on the one and only ocassion my Vara was at the dealers - it felt low & tiny, gutless at low revs and uncomfortable compared to the Vara, although I did enjoy the VFR once it got up to fun speeds. They are chalk and cheese.

[AncientAndy]

Hi
I'm currently riding a VFR and am thinking about trading it in for a new Varadero. I've got a couple of questions that someone may be able to help with.
1. The Honda web-site only shows the Varadero with ABS. Is this correct? I've looked at a new one without ABS. Is there an option on the new bikes?
2. I'm concerned about the weight. I don't want to start looking at the 1200RS but it is a lot lighter. How do people find the weight? Is it easy to move around at low speed?

Thanks

I certainly had the choice of ABS or non-ABS when I bought mine a month ago. The non-ABS was in the showroom, ready to ride away. That said, the general feeling I got was that the 2009 bikes coming through were all ABS. There seems to be plenty of non-ABS around to choose from, but don't be surprised if it is not a VA9. However, this was purely my perception, AfricaJim might be able to elaborate more as he bought new recently too. He is more likely to have asked these sort of questions as I am a noob rider and stipulated ABS from the outset.

The Vara is my first bike, but I am a big guy. It is heavy and moving it around, off the bike, is a slow, deliberate process. That said, I was shocked at how light it became the second the wheels started moving. The steering is very light, possibly too light.

[Dave]

Welcome to the site.

I reckon the non ABS version has been withdrawn but you'll find old stock out at the dealers. The choice is yours but much has been said on this site about the potential lack of warranty on pre-registered old stock so beware.

Again as has been said the Vara is a big heavy bike but then it is relative to how big and heavy the rider is! But it most definately a cracking ride!

[Snaphappy]

Well so far everyone has said more or less what I wanted to say
If I could just add, it depends on what you want the bike for, I may be proved wrong but the Varadero will take the most weight ie, pillion, luggage, the kitchen sink! and not grumble, the bike is a cart horse, it would be put to shame if it tried to keep up with a sportsbike but any other bike in this category and it will win hands down. They will run all day, they might not be built for the Dakar but soft roading is certainly no problem and although heavy they are very manoeuvrable and when unladen will move like greased **** off a shovel

[africajim]

Hi there, I'm an ex VFR800 owner, this is my 2nd Vara, I've got the new VA9, yes, only ABS.
Ok, horses for courses, my mate has a VFR VTEC, he gets frustrated sitting waiting for us to finish playing offroad to continue on runs, wishes he could play too!
The mighty Varadero is probably the best touring bike made, just my opinion but then I've done a s*itload of touring! It can be loaded like a pack horse, cover hundreds of miles a day with good economy over tar or hard ground. The motor, straight out of the VTR can be fun used in anger! (140mph and scraped pegs). The brakes are linked and ABS, they are sharp and work well. On b roads I've a mate with a Blade can't keep up with me!
The VFR is like a Ferrari, the Africa twin is the Land rover, the Varadero is the Range rover of bikes. I like the 07 on Vara's, big? Yes, Heavy? Yes, but good looking with loads of presence and the ability to cross continents,,,, or just go down to the shops!
Build quality of your VFR, brakes like your VFR, better sitting position, better mpg, carries more with greatest of ease. Moving, it's more manoeverable than the VFR due to wide bars and better lock. I find with it not being a "sportsbike" I don't have the same urge to ride it like I stole it!
I like mine, try one, see what you think. Just imagine forest roads, tracks, the beach, two up run with picnic in topbox, nice day,,,, or touring Europe, sitting up taking in the scenery, confident in the bike will take you home, no problem. I covered eight countries in a week with my old one, didn't even need to adjust the chain! Quality!

[Dee Duble Yuh]

I'm an ex-VFR-rider too. There's not much I can add. Pushing the bike around the workshop can be very tricky, and you need to be careful when you come to a halt that you can reach the ground easily! Put your foot down heavily with the bike leaning over and you might struggle to keep it upright.

Everything else said about the bike is correct. It's almost as fun under accelleration as the VFR, corners more confidently (in my opinion), glides over bumpy roads much better, and simply laughs at country roads strewn with mud and gravel. For crossing continents it's hard to say which is better. The Vara's seating position and saddle are more comfortable, but air turbulence is an issue: some people swear by the MRA Vario; others trim the screen right down. Try to get an extended test ride. Your first impressions will be about the height and weight, but its other qualities will become apparent with time.

[pw20]

(Thanks Yen for putting this post in the right forum!)

The bike I'm looking at is non-ABS with a set of Honda luggage included. The price looks very good. After reading some of your comments I'll have to check if it's an 08 or 09.

I'm surprised how many people have moved from a VFR to the Varadero, and clearly made the right move.

Thanks for your responses.