Honda Veradero
 

Has anyone critiqued the Honda Veradero yet? Seems like it is similar to the V-Storm. Just curious, saw one the other day and wanted to know iof someone had a review on it.
Gary

the USA but perhaps Canada is getting it now?

New to Canada for 2008. You would want to be a better rider than I to take this one into the sand.

Actually, the Varadero has been around since 1999. The first years it was carburetted with a 5 speed gearbox, making it somewhat thirsty. From 2001 onwards the Varadero got a fuel injected 6 speed unit that considerably bettered the fuel milage. Used to have one. A great roadbike. Good for pillion passengers. 12000 km service intervals is nice too.

Varadero..
 

I think it depends on the reason you're asking, ie. your intention for buying one. And compared to what?

I've just completed nearly 12,000 miles on one, 2 up around Europe. Bike was flawless for reliability. Would I take one again, probably. Could I have done it on another bike, probably. It's a great bike, because it's cheap, but again it depends on what you want one for..

++'s - cheap (relatively), reliable, incredibly comfortable for the passenger, relatively fuel efficient for a litre bike, loads of torque so pulls like a mad man even 2 up with 300lbs of luggage
--'s - Heavy, with most of that weight being high up, Buzzy compared with a 4 or a 3 cyl

Feel free to ask Q's.

Chris

Im sorta looking for a do it all bike for the next purchase and in Canada the bike is new. list price at the moment in the showroom is 13,999$cdn and thats fairly pricey since my 07 CBR600RR was only 10,500.

Im wondering if the bike has much rough dirt road/ single track capabilities, and Im guessing its very limited for any off road. Just wondering what people think of them is all really.

Looking for basics on Range on standard tank, and if there are many upgrades for them like fuel tanks, seats, etc etc....

Hows the ride, maintanence, etc.... My current honda I find great for maintenence, so Im guess it would be as well, but I would rather not guess.

Anyways, not loking seriously to buy a new bike till next spring, so just gathering data now to h elp decide. This is the hardest choice selection of all bike styles for me. a Road or Sport bike or even a cruiser are fairly easy, but I find the Dual purpose, adventure sport types are pretty tough. Especially considering you could be in someplace like new Guinnea or brazil when issues arise.

Thanks
Gary

If you are looking for a world tourer for a solo person a 650 single is the way to go.

You want something light in weight. That is first.

After that you want something comfortable, good luggage capablity, simple, cheap and reliable.

You don't want a hevy bike in the New Guinnea high lands !!!! It will kill you .. think mud...

I'm looking at the new Yamaha Tenere 660 want to use it to get to/from Morocco from France and do a bit of offroad when I get there, has anyone got any experience of this bike? Is it ok offroad?:thumbup1: would put a decent set of knobblies on it. My friend has a Varadero which he uses for big road miles, which it is great for, touring on tarmac- its a heavy beast off road!

Dero-Tenere
 

The Varadero is a road bike ONLY. Weight, coupled brakes, etc makes it so. You might be able to tip-toe it on a fair gravel road, but don't even think of taking it off road or in conditions where you actually might have to lift the bike up after a spill.

Tenere: I have had the XT660Z Tenere now since July and have ridden it 10 000 km. My initial experiences are outlined here. It is THE bike I'll take to Morocco myself, btw. If SWAMBO agrees, that is.

I own a Vara and I love it to bits, I could ride to the moon on it, but only if someone paved a road there for me.

Awesome road tourer, if you never go off road and you own a 1200GS you just spent too much money in my book, you should have bought a Varadero, and at last weekend's Touratech event, it was a lot easier for me to find my bike afterwards too :cool4:

If I was a contender for Worlds Strongest Man I would consider taking her off road, and I believe that there are nutters who would. Needless to say I'm still in the market for a bike I'd be more comfortable with when the tarmac goes away. I've had to ask for help picking her up in the mud already, and that wasn't all that much fun.

Thanks HansP, that was exactly what i wanted to know. Road Only pretty much excludes it from the list of potential bikes then. i want something nice on pavement, but stilll solid on gravel, dirt and off road too. I know, im asking for the moon. I have never been a huge BMW fan, but the new 800 looks possible. I was considering KTM 525 or 690, if price is not an issue, otherwise I was thinking KLR or possibly Honda 650XL.

I sure did like the looks of that varadero though. Looked comfy as can be.
Fenian

Thanks to all for your input!
 

I would just like to thank everyone for their input. I really do appreciate it and I love how everyone on this site is so helpful and its extremely rare to find people with elitist attitudes. its definitely a goldmine in my opinion.

I will continue my search for the best bang for the buck bike to do everything atleast decent. With a concentration on pavement due to where I live, but off road'able for when I drive a hour or so and hit some dirt. Plus, the trips and the unforseen dirt roads, singletracks etc etc......


thanks all,
Fenian
aka Gary
:thumbup1::clap::thumbup1:

I've also looked at KTM 950,990 and 640 Adventures, BMW 1200 and 800 GS ( lots of them in europe, maybe too many!) and the BMW 650 X challenge
the thing that made me take a second look at the Tenere was the big gaps between the service intervals of 6000 miles (10,000km) as opposed to 3000 miles for the KTM 640. The big KTM's and BMW 1200 are big and heavy for off road.
The BMW 650 X challenge is more off road focused, so lots of modifications to make it realistic on road, seat, fuel range etc.
I'm far from an expert in this field but it looks like we're doing a similar research!

Totally agree with Brewsnee
I have owned a couple of these, 99 model and now a 2006 Injection.
You can sit on this bike forever and it will take you where ever you are going.
Never really done any off road stuff on the Vara, but have seen some that have
YouTube - Honda Varadero Forum - Off Road

I am going to have to look into the Tenere, but I have never seen one in Canada, and wonder if it is available here or not. Service distances is fairly important. I was looking at the BWM800 and the 650, the 2 new ones that went acrossed Africa. I read the 800 was the better choice, but I have a few new articles yet to read on them. Cost is the kicker with them, and I am not sure on maintenance timings or costs for parts/maint.

Gary
akak Fenian