I've never owned an AT so maybe I am being biased but I would definatly choose the dero for the trip
2Up comfort
load carrying
Speed (but be careful in Norway)
Distance range

Are you going early in June, if so what route are you planning

 

Early June is the date set. Ferries influence the trip a lot but the basics are-- Into Denmark ferry to Oslo then 150 mile daily segments, Oslo, Ringebu, Trondheim, Grono, Mo i Rana. Then spend next 8 or 9 days riding back down along west coast. This is the basics but can be altered.
My pal who is coming with his wife has an @ and a Yamaha TDM, his plan is to trade the TDM against a Vara. That's OK for moneybags but i can't afford both and i love the @. I agree with your comments on Vara comfort etc. Very important on a long trip and no nagging from rear!!

 

Snaphappy could be right. Chad and Lord Vader have owned both and some others too, and Vader does quite a bit of pillion riding - worth a pm or something in case they haven't noticed this thread.

Xander though, he and his missus do gazillions of miles on their AT and love it. Having said that, they are, well, cat-like, compared with me being more buffalo-like if you see what I mean, so they fit very nicely. More recently, he rebuilt his AT seat using gel pads and high density foam - if you do a search you'll find the thread. I still have that in mind for mine!

 

Vara is a better tarmac mile muncher......but you will miss the AT!

 

it really depends on what you want out of the bike ..


weight wise both bike are similar with the @ being only slightly lighter

off road the @ wins hands down

two up the vara wins hands down the @ cannot compete with the vara carrying weight

both bikes will cover big distances well, but the vara wins this as it covers distance so effortlessly

power wise the vara wins hands down the engine is a corker and is superb when you wind it up

character,,, the @ has this in spades so this has to go to the @

fuel wise the @ will do anything from 190-220 miles to a tank

pre injection varas will do anything from 170-200 miles to a tank

injection varas will do anything from 200-250 miles to a tank

comfort well the vara wins this as well

looks this goes to the @


if i was say doing a big trip and wanted a bike that could do all types of riding and had the choice of the two then it would have to be the @

however if i wasnt going to do any offroading and was using the bike to do big tours two up on tarmac roads and commuting etc then it would be the vara.

they are both very good bikes, so it really comes down to personal choice and what you will do with the bike:thumbup:
















































OR YOU COULD HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AND GETA KTM 990 ADV LIKE I DID

14000 miles in less that a year it really is the best mix of both of the above


ps i know that didnt help but i just couldnt stop myself:toothy2:

 

but i just couldnt stop myself:toothy2:

Yep, know what you mean mate!:thumbup:

 

KTM 990? if i could afford that my problems would be solved!
All this good advice convinces me i need both!
Comfort on the@ is great i've done a couple of trips to Spain and France but i do have a Corbin seat (reccomended).
For solo use an @ does it all for me, as they say "no one bike does it all" but an @ comes close.
What i need is a film star mate who can blag me a free GS!

 

Did the trip this year solo on a KTM 950 Adventure.

But I came back Offroad through Sweden :thumbup: which would be fun for you but not your missus.

I have a Africa Twin RD04 and I must admit I would rather take a varadero for two up cruising.

Wil be comfier for you both - IMO Mind u I have never ridden a Varadero but they look damn comfy.

Best scenery on the planet that I have seen so far :thumbup:

 

I own both of them Varadero and @.

Compare this two bikes it's imposible. Varadero is heavy bike for road travelers and @ true adventure bike which you can take anywhere you want.

 

Sell the Varra and the @ buy a GS1150 it can do it all one bike multible jobs

 

Hello!

North of Trondheim you should drive the coastal road nr 17
(Riksvei 17)

http://www.rv17.no/http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/www.rv...ide&part=&under=&art_id=&kat_id=&spsk_id=&lng=en&meny_id=&section_id=&pagenum==

Takes longer time and some ferries included but way better than E6.

The most boring part of Norway to drive is Namsskogan on the E6.

You also pass Saltstraumen on r17.
The world strongest malstrom.

:thumbup::thumbup:

 

Thanks for the tip. The plan is to get to artic circle as soon as then spend the rest of the trip meandering down the west coast. We are looking forward to the trip have heard so much about the terrific riding and vista.

 

Completely different tools, the @ is good one up with kit for a long tour with a spot of off road; the Vara is a road bike ideal for two up mile munching. If its tarmac all the way use the VARA its power and comfort beat the @ every time. If like you say the days of looking like a seagulls beak are long gone - its the sensible option.

PK

 

All this good advice has helped confirm what i thought. I'll keep the @ and buy an older Vara for the trip, when i get back i'll know what's the best for me two-up or solo. Maybe a GS or KTM for the offroader in me! and the touring.

 

Older vara?

in 2003 the the dero changed significantly with a Fuel Injection and sixth gear making a large difference to Miles per gallon if you can can a later model with FI

 

had both did 3500 miles to Russia in September on my Varadero it was great - really ate the miles. It was all on road but the 80KMs of pot holed hell that was the main road from Estonia to St Petersburg put the vara to a bit of a test and it coped with that no problems.

Its difficult to compare them to be honest as both are for different things...

It's a nice choice to have though....