Does the Vara Get Better ?

[mathand1]

I was just wondering guy's after only clocking up near 4000 miles on my XL1000 from new, If any of you who have had one from new and clocked up a good deal more miles then me can say weather the bike feels smoother or in any way feels better with more miles on the clock?

At 4000 miles the bike far as I'm concerned is only just run in to a degree so I'm guessing like a good wine it matures with age..

Look forward to your replies..

[Davech42]

couldn't tell ya ive only got 3500 on mine and the last 1000 of that was done on the RBLR 1000 mile road though i must say the Vara was commendable throughout. Even stranger was that there were many many different bikes there and when i had time to really sit and think I was glad i had the Vara and no other, there were GS's by the score but only 3 vara (including mine) that i saw. fairly exclusive club me thinks for discerning characters with excellent taste.

[jasonbc]

I was just wondering guy's after only clocking up near 4000 miles on my XL1000 from new, If any of you who have had one from new and clocked up a good deal more miles then me can say weather the bike feels smoother or in any way feels better with more miles on the clock?

At 4000 miles the bike far as I'm concerned is only just run in to a degree so I'm guessing like a good wine it matures with age..

Look forward to your replies..

They aren't really run in until about 15k miles mines done 33k and feels no different from whe new and it was 10 years old this year

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Because any changes (better/worse) are gradual you tend not to notice them. What I would say is that initially I was disappointed with the saddle, but now I find it pretty good, and I often ride on poor road surfaces and get surprised at how well the suspension soaks up the bumps.

The engine probably doesn't get smoother. It's a V-twin and is bound to vibrate a little, or at least tingle. I suppose it depends on what you're used to. Or maybe it's time for the throttles to be balanced!

Just got back from a three-day camping trip, from motorways at high-ish speeds, to A-roads, to country lanes, to gravel/dirt tracks fully loaded. No problems.

[Dave]

Had my A7 from new for a little under 2½yrs and done just over 10,000 miles.

Was impressed the first time I rode her and it just gets better and better. The bike just never dissappoints!

Dave

[zxtrevr]

I love mine, done about 6k in a year, most miles I've ever done on a bike, I know some of you guys will call me a fair weather biker but my car does 50mpg and the Vara does 35 if I'm lucky, but then I'm maybe givin it too much gas, cos a 20 min journey in the car takes 10 on the bike.
Planning another two up trip to north Italy again this year, it's the best tool for the job, love the hummmmm of the big twin cruisin down the autobahns loaded up to the hilt, no bother at all.
It can shift on pretty quick one up as well, will surprise most "sports bike" riders, eg-all my mates.
Not going to start another tyre discussion but I have Continental Trail Attacks and think they're great, really grippy at the cost of wearing out quicker but I'd rather have that than skidding down the road.

[marblehead]

I've got a 06 model I have had from new and the engine has become smoother as the miles have built up. It has 12,000 on it now and maybe its psychological but seems to have been most noticeable to me in last 1000. Just come back from trip abroad and it was fantastic , i couldn't have imagined a better bike for the trip . A fellow varidian said it all really , it just bowls along comfortably and reliably will do anything you ask of it, seems to just get better!

[Jackdaw]

. A fellow varidian said it all really...!

Is this an acceptable term for our fellowship?
Varadarian??? Deroan??? All sounds a bit Star Trek to me.
What about Smug b******s?

[davsato]

I've got a 06 model I have had from new and the engine has become smoother as the miles have built up. It has 12,000 on it now and maybe its psychological but seems to have been most noticeable to me in last 1000. Just come back from trip abroad and it was fantastic , i couldn't have imagined a better bike for the trip . A fellow varidian said it all really , it just bowls along comfortably and reliably will do anything you ask of it, seems to just get better!

+1. exactly what ive got, a VA6 with 12k on the clock. haven't noticed it get better cos it was great from new, but its still great if thats any help.

dont like the term "varidian" though, sounds like that dodgy welsh beggar from X factor.

[mathand1]

Some positive replies thanks guy's...

Got to admit I appreciate the Vara second time round as I had one some years ago and changed it after about 6 months.

The truth is I have to keep hold of this one for at least 3 years due to my constant changing of bikes and losing to much money...Don't suppose I'm the ony one who has been down that road though...

All in all I find the vara great for my purposes with enough power ,great comfort and storage with my top box.