hi guys
im planning to buy a adventure bike.my usual route consist of 90%tarmac and 10% off road.i would like to know that honda xl1000varadero or bmw 1200gsa is the best.i also would like to know the maintenance coz both do not have dealers or authroised service centers in india.please let me know.

I also what to know answer on the question.

Enjoy,

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Patrick, I have read rumors that Honda may finally bring the Varadero to the US in 09. Have you read or heard anything on this, or is it the usual new model fairy tail? I'm loving the 650 V-Strom I bought this summer, but I have always had great service out of the Hondas I had in the past.

the VTR motor is a gem too.

Best,

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

If you plan to use this off road there are two point to consider...

Firstly, you are likely to drop this heavy bike at some stage: we all do... However, the Varadero has its radiotors down the side of the bike, a la VFR800. All it takes is a fall onto a pointy stone or a branch pointing up and you may be stranded with a holed cooling system.

Secondly, the brakes on this bike are CBS: combined brake system first introduced on the blackbird, where a bit of rear applies a bit of front and vice versa. in a review of this bike versus another off-roader (may have been the R1150GS ADV IIRR) the tester felt this bike was frikkin' scary off-road due to this very characteristic (clearly visible in one of the photos as the guy's eyes had white all the way round on a downhill section!!): you want to choose your brake when off road, especially if trying to control a decent: do you want front brake going down a gravelly decent?

On-road its said to be a very good bike, as expected.

Between the two models you are choosing, the BM is more powerful, but spec sheets mean very little in the real world...Which ever bikes you are considering, I say get out there and Test ride them.. Twice, thrice, if needed. Its the only way to know what you like more: after all you'll be riding it despite what someone else's opinions say about one model or another....

Enjoy!

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Get a 2003 or newer. Pre-03 has carbs and 5 speed gearbox. 03 and onwards has FI and 6 speed gearbox.

A great bike for your purpose. 12000 km service intervals and cheap to maintain. Used to have one. But be careful with the weight if you're alone on the dirt... PS: Touratech makes some radiator protection stuff and also have some crashbars and things that can come in handy.

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway