If you really like to keep yourself smiling while performing adventuring riding then put your bum on the seat of the Honda Varadero, this machine performs very well in terms of long distance riding, the reliability is not a question, truly all rounder and a great giant traillie. It can sustain speed of 180kph even 2 ups. Bitumen, unpaved roads, streams. etc. etc. the varadero will just be laughing cruising on these type of surface.

__________________
02 HONDA XL1000V VARADERO
MADE IN JAPAN TO DOMINATE

"Adventure riding" is a very broad term... one can consider a weekend tour in the mountain lodge an adventure, yet to the other "adventure" is a Sahara crossing.

For the first, XL1000V is quite an interesting choice (yet it'd rather take the BMW GS Adventure); for the second, one has to consider a light and agile bike + repairable by a bush-mechanic

The Varadero is head and shoulders above the GS in terms of reliability, performance and comfort. (I've owned both) The GS is much lighter and benefits from wire wheels which are far more robust than the alloys on the Vara if going native. If I was doing mainly jungle mud and wet stuff or deep sand I'd probably go for an old Tenere' or older XT (easy repairs no computer gadgetry). For long roads, firebreaks, desert roads of hard packed dirt or gravel, or travelling with a pillion it would be a Varadero every time. I've done a few 500 mile days and not even had to massage my butt... On the GS I had to ride the footpegs about every 100 miles just to get the feeling back. The Vara is heavy at 538lbs but I have no problem pulling it up fully loaded if you use the technique of putting your back to the bike, crouching down and using the powerful thigh muscles to lift. In conclusion. I like the GS it's an OK bike. It'll fall to bits on the real gnarly stuff, you're always working on something but they look cool. The Vara is pig heavy, has Hondas legendary reliability, comfort, attention to detail and build quality but I wouldn't want to hit uncharted territory with 3 spoked hollow ally wheels. Ya pays yer money, Ya takes your choice