First outing for the Mighty Varadero 2012

[africajim]

After the long winter that wasn't! I taxed the Mighty Varadero last week (well, Fiona did it for me on Tuesday, thank you baby), I took the Vara out for a quick run today as I'm on call this weekend so can't go far from my van. I loved taking the bike out following a month of abstinence following selling the Ickle Beemer.
A short run, west from Elgin on the A96 then dropped down on to the coast, headed back east along the coast followed by an impromptu run through the wood. When I came back on to the tar road I screwed a bit much power on which launched the front wheel skyward, this caused the passenger in an oncoming van to applaud as I passed on the rear wheel! Gotta love the power on tap with the Mighty Varadero!
So, back on the road, seen double the national limit, did a bit of the old unicycle routine, short spell offroad, DAMNED FINE BIKE! The mighty Varadero is undoubtedly a great bike, the torque ample to hoist the front wheel skyward off the throttle, the suspension allows the pegs to the floor and the brakes are excellent. A quick blast in the dark confirms the headlights are as good if not better than any car. This bike is still up there with the best allrounders. Be interesting next month when the Tiger 800XC comes out of hibernation! I'll post up my findings between the two. For now, the Varadero rocks!

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[gebrauchtwagen83]

nice jim. i didnt bother with the bike today with predictions of rain all day, ended up a lovely saturday.

[LargeWayRound]

Ahh , the mighty Vara looks the business, Jim .

[Udders]

You're just a young at heart hooligan! Sounds like you had fun.

[africajim]

Cheers guys, yes, was a fine day. Enjoyed myself immensely. The Varadero's a great bike, a tribute to Honda.
Hooligan? Me? Well, I can't deny that really mate! I do enjoy the odd wheelie!
We've snow forecast overnight so we'll see what comes. I think the winter's almost over though, bring on the Tiger, hear it roar! LOL!

[LilMissDirty]

Nice looking bike, hows she offroad? (on my list of possibles)

[Tyrant68]

That really is a lovely bike Jim

[africajim]

Nice looking bike, hows she offroad? (on my list of possibles)

The Mighty Varadero's a load of bike! On the road it's a beautiful bike to ride, touching down the pegs is simplicity. It handles whatever weight you want to load on to it, be it luggage, two up, (and this is not building up to the size of your backside! LOL!) Sorry, Saturday night, few drinks in! LOL!

Offroad, the suspension will bottom out at speed, it's a lardy beast and anything other than hard trails will see it either sit down in a trench dug by the back wheel or lie down due to the sheer weight sliding about! It's also a fair lift, I manage but I'm well built, a lesser person may struggle with the 260 kgs. It manages hard trails fine, will potter along with the greatest of ease, I've covered hundreds of miles on forest trails, no issue.

The Triumph Tiger 800XC is a better bike for trails, even a bit of offroad or track. Being lighter it's easier to pick up too. I can't really choose which I prefer, the Tiger or the Vara, both make me grin!

If you're a big girl,,,, I mean that in the nicest way, honest! (I have a friend called Annette who's a giant compared to me, that's what I mean, honest!) The Varadero is a lot of bike for the money, it will never let you down and they've been heard of covering over 100k miles with no issues.

,,,,,,, Tall! ,,,,, That's the word I was looking for!!!!!!! LOL!

Any questions, feel free to ask! I promise I'll behave when I'm sober! Tee hee!

[Jelly]

Here here for the Vara, good to see one out and about but it just rubs salt into my wounds as I need a new rear tyre but can't quite run to it yet.

Although I have the Carbadero and not the Fi (?) like you Jim, I find it the same, bloody good all round bike.

And mine only cost me £1400! :woohoo:

I've spent £700 on it so it still only stands me at £2100.



:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[beddowsm]

Nice one Jim, craking bike the vara.