Honda varadero 125 ( review ) update...

[frazer1981]

Hi

so i bought the honda varadero a month ago and thought i'd share my thoughts on this bike.

https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s241/VR_XRAY/varadero.jpg

Firstly the price. I payed £2500 for it, a 05 model with 6k on the clock. I have seen new models with an £3000 + price tag which i think is over priced but for that price you get excellent milage from a full tank and big bike looks, lads at work could'nt belive the size of it for a 125

First ride, wow was i nervous or what. Pulling out of the dearlership all i could think was don't drop it for f***s sake 2 minutes into the ride home and on to a nice open road and chugging along at 55 ( 60 limit ) the bike was comftable and felt very small once moving, must have been funny as i had a few wobbles on stopping at junctions.

It cost's £13 to brim the tank and that last's 200-220 miles depending on how i ride the bike.

Overall i am more than happy with my purchase and i must admit that i am now looking at passing my bike test in the new year and not bothering with a car. If anybody was looking for a 125 bike i would recommend the varadero everytime. If you want a bike for a quick blast to work across town, and a bike that can do some big milage if you fancy it or for long commutes like myself (52 mile round trip) andyou can afford the big price tag then i'd say don't over look the baby vara.

will get some more pictures up once the weather is nice and the bike has had a clean and a polish
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1st bike - chunlan starway 50QF4 (SOLD) 2nd bike - 92 Honda mtx125RW-L ( In my garage awaiting some TLC)
05 Honda xl125v Varadero stolen and recovered but now a write off!
07 Hyosung GTR125R

[Reevo8]

I had one last month as a purely profit making purchase, In the 1 week that I used it I had great fun! That was after coming off of the R1 for that week. It was a hoot hoot!
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05 ZX10R, (**05 WKR)

[satelliteone]

I like that a lot and would not look out of place with trail tyres. It looks huge too, ideal for the bigger stature blokes. might look into one in the future.
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Honda XLR125R - Project
TZR125RR Belgarda 4DL - Sold
Chinki Project done n Dusted/sold** DTR125 2003 - Finished/sold

[alun111]

2 mates of mine both have the varadero 125, one an 03 plate and one an 06. No difference between either.

Aftermarket exhausts sounds awesome on this bike... and can spit flames!

Also... bridgestone bt45 tyres go a treat on this bike.

They're such a brilliant bike but not very popular.... maybe because of the price tag!

Common problems are the headlight bulbs going.... one of my mates replaced his with ba20d (i.e same fitting) halogen replacements 35w bulbs from halfords the other night... said they're a lot brighter.... 80% brighter blue tint one can also be had off ebay... not sure how good they are.

Brilliant bike!
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Summer: '00 Honda CB600F Hornet
Winter: '93 Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit VP Variable Valve
Past Bikes: Lifan LF100-5 Lifan LF125-A Honda C70

[frazer1981]

Ok i have know owned the varadero for 9 months now and just thought i'd write a little about it my experance i have had with the bike in that time.

First thing is that it has never let me down at all, touch wood ( touch's head) Aprt from routine service's every 2k - 2.5k the only things i have had to replace is the blubs. This bike seems to go though headlight blubs every couple of months last time it happened i had my dipped blub go pop and had to ride home on full beam The dealer i got it from has checked the electrics so i know thats not a problem.

Parts for the bike in terms of price new are i think expensive but it's a big price so i really should expect a big price.

I have had 2 new tyres, 2 sets of rear pads, a set of front pads, a front disk and a set of forks replaced on the bike since i have had it and not forgetting the countless headlight blubs.

The fuel comsumption is great as well as i fill her up on a monday and do 220 miles before refilling the tank. Cost's about 10 or 11 quid, where as my MTX was 10 quid a day ( think the jetting was out but ran ok) so that's a big improvement for me.

But sadly the time is drawing near for me to passs my full test and ditch the "L" plates and move up to a bigger bike. I actually dont want to have to sell it but once i pass my test it will be have to finance the purchase of a bigger bike

I cant recommend this bike highly enough to somebody who wants a 125 to fit a taller person even somebody who has there full test and is looking for a 125 to comute on or for everyday use. Since owning it there are now 3 baby dero's at work, so some people i could say agree with me.

Some pictures


https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s241/VR_XRAY/Picture143.jpg


https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s241/VR_XRAY/n525746577_2192867_4935.jpg


https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s241/VR_XRAY/n525746577_2192866_4653.jpg

https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s241/VR_XRAY/Picture022.jpg


https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s241/VR_XRAY/Picture021.jpg
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1st bike - chunlan starway 50QF4 (SOLD) 2nd bike - 92 Honda mtx125RW-L ( In my garage awaiting some TLC)
05 Honda xl125v Varadero stolen and recovered but now a write off!
07 Hyosung GTR125R

[L-Jam]

Nice bike!

Thought it was a 600 at first, lmao!
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Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[ms51ves3]

[DM]

[L-Jam]

[ms51ves3]

[frazer1981]

I had to replace the forks as some stupid cager slammed her brakes on and i only just manged to swerve, but took a glancing blow to the rear drivers side. ( Was in january and the road was covered in crap ) Which bent my left upper fork leg Only slightly i might add but enough for me to need a new one. Spent months looking on flea bay for the parts and eventually got a set of froks in A1 condition for £ 80 quid. The upper fork leg is £120 new from honda add on labour etc to strip my fork down = silly money. So swapped the forks myself.
____________________
1st bike - chunlan starway 50QF4 (SOLD) 2nd bike - 92 Honda mtx125RW-L ( In my garage awaiting some TLC)
05 Honda xl125v Varadero stolen and recovered but now a write off!
07 Hyosung GTR125R

[Skudd]

It's very big brother is more of a revelation in bike comfort and performance, but don't tell anyone, keep the secret. Let everyone say it's ugly and not as good as a GS or KTM. Then start using it every day and go touring, then the GS and KTM get shown up.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[ms51ves3]

[Martay]

If you dont mind me asking, insurance wise on one of these, is it about average for a 125?
( i may be looking to upgrade to one!)
Im paying £300 a year for mine, but thats mainly because of where i live, and i havent put my NCB on there yet.
Many thanks
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[frazer1981]

ms51ves3, yes it was my fault but i thought there was enough room but was wrong. I paid her for the damge any way..


Martay, with out getting out all my insurance stuff i think it is £400 quid a year full comp. Thats with a years NCB on top of that and i am 27
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1st bike - chunlan starway 50QF4 (SOLD) 2nd bike - 92 Honda mtx125RW-L ( In my garage awaiting some TLC)
05 Honda xl125v Varadero stolen and recovered but now a write off!
07 Hyosung GTR125R

[400bandit]

That seems a touch expensive, I'm 21 (was 20 when I took out the policy) with 1 years no claims and for a Firestorm (1000cc) it was only £406 (and thats not in a garage!)

I've been thinking about getting rid of the firestorm and getting a the 1000cc version of yours, not sure it will be any better on fuel considering they have the same engine although I'm sure it will have a much bigger tank (mines only 16l!)

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)