About to test ride a Varadero 1000

[Panierre]

Evening all.

I sold my 1150 GS as I didn't like the engine braking, went onto a ST1300 but it wasn't tall and loud enough and now have discovered the Varadero and this forum.
I have to say it looks like a beatiful bike. Never seen one in the flesh but am testing one tomorrow - what should I expect? Any advice on buying private? What shoul I look for?

Cheers.

[Boris]

It could well be my one. I've just traded mine in for a beemer. The engine braking isn't that different form the GS so don't get your hopes up. Based on a few miles on my GS1200 the Honda engine is stronger 1-2 thousand revs but above that the BMW engine has more grunt.

Finish was excellent on mine and after 18.5K miles and 4 years the only thing I had to retouch were the two banjo bolts on the rear brake calliper. Assuming it's not my old bike and it's in Edinburgh I can come and cast an eye over it for you.

[Panierre]

Cheers Boris.

The point of the ride tomorrow is to see if I like the marque, as opposed to the actual model for sale - so I guess I'll know by this time tomorrow if I'm in the market for one.

What is it then that made my Pan European a smoother gear change than the Beemer, and potentially the Varadero?

[Boris]

What is it then that made my Pan European a smoother gear change than the Beemer, and potentially the Varadero?

I thought you were concerned about engine braking and not gearchange? The honda box is certainly a little slicker that the beemer one.

[paulc]

Get ready to feel the power and the sheer delight of riding one of the best over-looked big adventure bikes.
The AT or Translap are far superior off road by far but The Varadero is a mile chruncher, great for touring with lots of low down grunt .
Then again I'm biased,I got one

[richie]

I had the original oil head GS100 and now have a 2001 Varadero.

Engine breaking is similar on both bikes, normal with such a big twin.

Gear change on the Honda is much slicker.
Comfort on the bikes is similar , test ride and see for yourself.

[jasonbc]

Evening all.

I sold my 1150 GS as I didn't like the engine braking, went onto a ST1300 but it wasn't tall and loud enough and now have discovered the Varadero and this forum.
I have to say it looks like a beatiful bike. Never seen one in the flesh but am testing one tomorrow - what should I expect? Any advice on buying private? What shoul I look for?

Cheers.

If you don't like the engine brakingon the GS you'll hate it on the Varadero when you hit 100mph take your hand off the accelerator then very rapidly decelerate on it's own

[Tony Varadero]

IComfort on the bikes is similar , test ride and see for yourself.

I think it depends on how tall you are...I tryed both and found the Vara much more confortable for the legs position...MHO....

[Panierre]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Thinking about it, it wasn't the engine braking that put me off, I got used to that, what I should have attributed the bad feeling to was the handlebar lurching at gear change which I never seemed to smooth out on the 1150 but just wasn't an issue on the Pan from the beginning.

[richie]

I think it depends on how tall you are...I tryed both and found the Vara much more confortable for the legs position...MHO....

Dont know I am 6'1" and feel my feet quicker on the vara than my memory of the 1100

Bottom dollar, they are two great bikes...

The Vara is a lot cheaper secondhand which swang it for me.

2001, 15600miles extras full honda history 2400 quid from this site, it is the most immaculate bike I have ever bought secondhand and a great price. Makes paying to be a member of this forum very worthwhile.