Come On Honda why can't you do this in the UK?

[Dee Duble Yuh]

pleased to see he done it on a stock bike too.
some sensible accessories like crash bars and a headlight protector, but good to see the suspension, engine, brakes etc needed no mods

I noticed that too. Says a lot for the basic design, and counters those who say you have to be able to turn off the ABS.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Hey Neil, great videos! So great to find people who realise that, actually... the Vara can go off-road after all. I'll put links to the whole series of vids in the "Ride Reports" section.






You added lights?!?!?!?

[AckAckFlack]

Hi all, I noticed this site on our incoming referrals at OneWheelDrive.Net. The Varadero Next Big Adventure: Expedition Peru contest is Canadian only, as the Varadero is only a Canadian model in North America. Still a damn cool campaign by Honda Canada.

For a bit of "arm chair adventure" we've produced a Varadero based series touring Baja Mexico called Tropic of Cancer. The vids start here:

Sorry if there's typos in the post, I partially sliced the better part of the tip of my thumb of yesterday servicing a bike yesterday and a bit whacked on pain killers.
Cheers,
Neil from OneWheelDrive

Great site Neil, Spent all last night watching the vids and pics
Particularly like this one


says it all

[GilesMDavis]

Great videos and presenting, Neil. I'm subscribed.

[Snaphappy]

Excellent reports, well made

[OneWheelDrive]

Hey Neil, great videos! So great to find people who realise that, actually... the Vara can go off-road after all. I'll put links to the whole series of vids in the "Ride Reports" section.


You added lights?!?!?!?

I can shoot over to that part of the forum and post the series if you need. Typing's just a bitch right now.

Yes, we added lights. TwistedThrottle.com Denali LED's to be exact. I know the V has a damn good headlight, but in dirt and sand the more light the better.

[HRH OONYACK]

Just watched this very good

I've done a lot of off roading mostly on **** bikes laterly on GSA's and KTM adventures.

Anybike can go off road it's more down to rider skills and forward planning than the bike and what you are prepared to do to get to point A to point B. and in the knowledge that you won't burst into tears the first time you drop it and put a scratch on your handguards.
I've had my Vara only a couple of weeks but have been riding long enough to know what the bike is for.
Will I take it off road? probably but a fire track is about the max I'll go as the ABS will make it interesting if you have a turn of speed on and also the fact it's my transport so can't really go throwing it off rocks due to a restrictive wallet.

[OneWheelDrive]

HRH OONYACK,

Anybike can go off road it's more down to rider skills and forward planning than the bike and what you are prepared to do to get to point A to point B. and in the knowledge that you won't burst into tears the first time you drop it...

I 100% agree. We're in a unique situation in that Honda Canada is marketing the Varadero here as an Adventure bike and was willing to lend us two to demonstrate it could live up to that title. I'll be honest, it's not my first choice for off road riding, but it will do the job and was nearly utterly reliable doing so. Nor would I have attempted the Baja on it without at the very least 'armouring it up' to take a few spills.

[HRH OONYACK]

HRH OONYACK,

I 100% agree. We're in a unique situation in that Honda Canada is marketing the Varadero here as an Adventure bike and was willing to lend us two to demonstrate it could live up to that title. I'll be honest, it's not my first choice for off road riding, but it will do the job and was nearly utterly reliable doing so. Nor would I have attempted the Baja on it without at the very least 'armouring it up' to take a few spills.

Better to arrive on a bust up Vara than have a EWS/ fuel pump sender problem on a GS

[africajim]

Brilliant video footage, made great watching! A bit worried about bashing the rim back with a rock though! I'd get that replaced if I was you!

Outstanding bikes, although a spill on a soft track folded my brake pedal double so I think the gear pedal and brake pedal may also be a weakness on far flung tracks. Crash bars certainly saved an expensive fix!

I've covered over 12,000 miles on mine, all over Europe and a good few miles offroad, and can only applaud the bike! A much under-rated bike.