I did, however, replace the rear shock with a hagon which improved the rear end especially with luggage.Very progressive, a little vibey under 2500rpm, and just above 6000 seemed to really pick up and take off. The one downside - and it is an expensive one - is that around town it really would only do 6 miles to the litre, which is HumVee territory. Can burn up sports bikes if in the mood Can't fault it - well it could do with a sixth gear but heck perfection is paradise and this baby gets as close to it on 2 wheels.
Superb bike.
Weaknesses: Front end a little soft, brakes could be sharper, no mainstand as standard.Good touring and pillion bike that can embarrass 600cc+ sports riders. Regarding the chassis characteristics, responsible for road holding, handling behaviour and ride confort, the Honda Varadero 125 have a frame with front suspension being and in the rear suspension it is equiped with . Fuel gauge. At the heart of this mechanical Spartan lies a strong V-twin, Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 8-valve, DOHC 90° engine which is already famous for its reliability. If I do a non motorway route I can get 50mpg so there's no truth in your road test re bikes from about 2003 onwardsthis listing is way out of date, the 2001-2003 differences make it an almost different bike. Anyhow spotting a demo Vara in the dealership I arranged to take it up the ride for a test ride.I was not expecting a lot to be honest but within 2 miles I realised that I really really liked it and I did the deal.I have yet to have the first service so that is how few miles I have done.Having been out on it a few times now the niggles I have found are no fuel gauge and I live in fear of running out of fuel so I top up every time I go out and the seat is still feeling hard but I intend to get that adapted. When I bought this bike they were called giant trailies and were not even on most people's radar. Acceleration although not quick is smooth. I also have a Ducati 916 which when you are in the mood is heaven but for day to day runs & long hauls the Varadero is unbeatable. By the end of the day I couldn’t really fault it. Carole Nash act as a credit broker not a lender.
sure it heavy to push around but over walking pace its a doddle to ride More than adequate for my needs. Solid construction, apparently not solid enough to stop it getting nicked, though.Service intervals about 4000 miles - not too bad. Looking like a mini version of the Varadero 1000 (which was launched two years earlier in 1999), the 125 even uses a tiny and intricate V-twin motor. a few simple extras if not already fitted ..make this bike a zen tourer The facelifted 2003-onwards Varaderos feature fuel injection and a sixth overdrive gear, which makes the motor that bit more suitable for the job of long distance biking.Build quality of the Honda XL1000V Varadero is generally very good. Only downside dreadful economy, on a recent tour to Scotland, I was hitting low 30's mpg, with a 25 litre tank the fuel light was coming on at 140 miles - not good for a tourer!
Had one in the UK & now I've come to Australia, I've bought one here. As some say, they are not the best toy in the box on most counts. but still suffers from cold hands even with hand guards,Tall Givi screen absolutly necessary for commuting , although I prefer the standard screen if cracking on a bit down an unfamiliar road.. Front end dive on the brakes .. YEEE Haaaarr ! It'll never set your loins on fire, but the Varadero's a worthy workhorse with a hint of fun. its also a lot more comfortable, too comfy to be honest, the seat could do with a bit less padding to make it narrower for standing up offroad. However, build quality not quite what you expect from old H with various fittings needing TLC. Included are 2 pages accessories news. Brakes had a tendency to go a bit wooden if pressed solidly into service (such as in the event of a the-light-is-going-yellow-got-to-get-over-the-lights-oh-god-I-need-to-turn-just-after-the-lights-I've-accelerated-towards-slam-the-brakes moment)My old FZS 600 had 95 horses, and above about 7k revs you suddenly went light-speed. It's probably time to get a different bike now though as I've stopped touring and am too old to manage the top heaviness of this bike. the tenere i liked a lot better but i didnt come back going wow far from it Weaknesses: Weight (245kgs) dry 04 onwards and fuel economy in urban areas.
Complete rubbish, generally get 45mpg and with such a large tank can get nearly 250 miles. 50mpg is achievable without riding like a nun
Strengths: Town or country the bike delivers the goods. I've since fitted a top box and panniers, and Arrow cans (I couldn't help myself!). but still suffers from cold hands even with hand guards,Tall Givi screen absolutly necessary for commuting , although I prefer the standard screen if cracking on a bit down an unfamiliar road.. Front end dive on the brakes .. YEEE Haaaarr ! Absolutely miles beyond any of the 3 BMW's I've owned. Luggage is Kappa not Honda stuff. Spave under seat -check. Like most adventure touring bikes, the Varadero needs hard luggage, heated grips and other accessories to do the full 3000 mile touring gig. Been around Greece and Europe and never put a foot wrong.
I tried most of the other big trail bikes and the Vara was by far the best.Great, love it to bits. I admit that a new custom seat from Melvin in Coventry really transformed the comfort. It’s not the sort of bike to grab you by the horns and shake up your excitement glands immediately, the endearment takes a little longer than that. I've been to Switzerland, crossed the alps and back.
it will cover big ground at a deceptivly fast pace .. quick changes left rifgt need a little getting used to it shows its weight here particularly .. but overall its nutral and predictable and there is pleanty of warning for you .which when heeded will never get out of shape ..it runs well in the hillbilly grand prix Lots of low down 2nd & 3rd stomp compared to the GTR, which seemed strangled at low revs.