Vara ??????????????????

[will]

Hi guys i'm back after brief spell on ktm 950 adv looking for bike and thought about Vara on 1999, 2000 models is there anything i need to keep special eye out for , what mpg should i expect

[AckAckFlack]

Love mine.
Not greatest for mpg currently getting 40 to 42 to the gallon with mixed riding.
Built like a brick sh@t house and rock solid.

[will]

Cheers AckAckFlack have you got standard exhausts , been told some less restrictive ones will up mpg ???????????????

[Tony Varadero]

mine is 07 but agree with tthe above totally.Very solid steady steed and plenty of torque and power specially for long trips.
MPG I checked it one but commuting into London everyday makes the Vara a very thirsty boy.....

[Steve T]

MPG - ride it like you stole it and 35mpg will be your reward!

Smooth & progressive - well, I get around the 46mpg figure from my 2002 carbed version (one of the last )

Not aware of any weak areas with these bikes apart from those that affect all Honda's - reg/rectifiers, fuel pumps (only occasionally on the Vara though).

Try one, it's the only way to make up your mind

Steve T



PS - I'm on number 2 Vara - shouldn't have sold the first one really

[will]

Cheers guys this is what iv'e missed good sensible advice

[AckAckFlack]

Cheers AckAckFlack have you got standard exhausts , been told some less restrictive ones will up mpg ???????????????

Yes the cans are the standard ones. I believe they weight a ton and have heard that the venom etc are much lighter and so help mpg.
K&N filter would also help too ! Ofcourse you could go on forever modding for an extra mpg.
I did try an 07 a while back but I wasn't as happy with the sound from the can- perhaps it wa ls due to the emmissons laws etc just didn't sound as 'hair standing up on your neck' good if youbkbow what I mean. I have an AT with a venom which I love the sound of. I am in no rush to move on from the vara I have and will be putting some miles on her so would consider changing the pipes for a venom one - leas weight and great noise.

Couldn't think of a weakness in my original post tbh - have heard that regulators can fail.... Then again it is 10 year old !

Noticed it uses more oil in the summer - ie no oil in winter and 1/2 litre per 2000 miles since march.

Weakness ?
Perhaps that it is bloody heavy- 250 kilo at least- didn't appreciate it until I dropped it. Back at home I was wondering why I coildnt pick it up on my own and started think I was getting old until I worked out that in old money it is 39 stone.... That I could relate to... So no wonder why mpg around 40.

Did the tld this year 'fully loaded' and kept the pace ip and mpg didn't change much.

Tbh mpg vs torque, sound, comfort, presence and smile per mile.... Cannot compute!
Can't understand why everyone hasn't got one... Then again I am biased

Try one... Leave your cards at home.

[jamie92j]

i love my vara

i was going to sell but got thinking about what i would replace it with and nothing really floated my boat

so keeping it, its great round town, super on motorways and just at home on the twistys

i also manage to s#@t my self some times with a twist of the right hand

over all a really great bike!!!!

only thing, as others have said, is it can be thirsty when it wants to be!!! but hey its all part of the fun!!

try one, you wont look back............

[africajim]

I've a VA9mwith Venom cans and thankfully Givi crashbars as I threw it along the road today!
Well, heavy maybe but I picked it up myself no problem. It is heavy but none more than most large bikes.
The newer FI models with 6 speed box often get over 50mpg, if ridden reasonably. Possibly faster as well.
Brilliant two up tourer and great fun for a days scratchin, ground clearance being their only let down in that respect as they grind pegs at the drop of a hat! I like mine and would struggle to find something better.

[davsato]

agree, theres nothing on the market at the moment to touch it, so its odd why honda want to ditch it for an over the top 1200 v4 techno white elephant. IMO. just jumping on the "we can charge more for it" bandwagon?
anyway, thats a different arguement.
what you need to know is its a great bike and the pros vastly out weigh any cons, which are only really that she drinks a bit and shes got plenty of meat on her, but give her her head and she'll..... naa, sorry guys ive only just got up and im hungover so the double entendres will have to wait