Advice please/Honda - XL1000 VARADERO

[Bulldogz]

Advice please/Honda - XL1000 VARADERO.
What are peoples thoughts and experiences with this bike ...

https://www.kjm.net/ubadmin/ad_img/LG03VHY%201.jpg
https://www.kjm.net/ubadmin/ad_img/LS07UCD%201.jpg

[P.addy]

Uncle has one, pretty tall and heavy.

He used to go to and from London and Maidstone, every day.

Never let him down, He still has it locked up in his depot so I assume its still being used. I just thought it was too heavy and tall for me.

[Taught2BCauti...]

I have the baby 125 version and a lot of people who have owned these and moved up to a full licence, tend to go for the Varadero 1000 or the Transalp.

I have spoken to a couple of owners at meets, and they report no serious problems with the 1000 Vara, so it's on my list of bikes to consider - second only to a Pan, and just ahead of the Transalp.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[yen_powell]

I've had a 2005 ABS model for just over a year now. I've done nearly 19,000 miles on top of the 23,000 miles it had on it when I bought it.

I spend most of my time at 90mph on it, that's it's sort of happy cruising speed. I get about 42-48mpg doing that. It fits down the middle of traffic queues really easily, BUT the fuel injection is a bit hit and miss at very low speeds. It has cut out in heavy summer traffic a few times on me. Usually as I pull away.

I fitted new Avon Distanzia tyres last April. The rear lasted for 10,000 miles, the front refuses to wear out. It's now done 15,000 miles and is still legal. It's soon to be replaced by a new Tourance to match the rear I fitted.

The chain on it has only just started to need adjusting, a sure sign it will need replacing soon. It's obviously done 19,000 miles plus whatever the previous owner did on it. The sprockets are still like new.

I have replaced the rear pads last August. The fronts are still from the previous owner.

The suspension is a little tired. A new rear shock and some frsh oil in the forks should make it a lot better when loaded up.

It is heavy, feet up u-turns are not for the faint hearted.

ABS is just an excuse for extra and expensive plumbing, as are the linked brakes. I honestly think they are no better than my Africa Twin brakes, just technology for the sake of it.

Actually working on it has been really easy. It's the first jap bike I've had where it looks like someone really sat down and thought hard about how to make it easy to service. The spark plugs can be changed without pulling the tank off, the oil and oil filter can be changed in minutes. The fairing comes off mostly without needing any tools. The wheels are easy to remove and refit. The clutch cable can be swapped in minutes (fitted a new one for peace of mind)

I have yet to change the air filter, this is well overdue. Will wait tll I fit my new chain and sprockets and front tyre.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Bulldogz]

Iam getting more convinced by the minute thanks a lot for your feedback that is really re assuring

[yen_powell]

I forgot to mention. The rear header pipe connection with the balance box failed. This is apparently a common problem, just this one particular gasket. The service history showed that this gasket had been replaced before I bought the bike. It failed again this summer.

I was told that the whole exhaust system had to be dismantled to replace this gasket which is hidden deep inside the middle of the bike. Then I heard one bloke had changed his without doing this. I tried his method and managed to remove the rear cylinder down pipe, replace the gasket (a few quid's worth) and replace the pipe without taking any of the rest of the system off. I had to use some pretty weird combinations of sockets and extension pieces and had to remove the plastic chain guard but it was actually possible.

My bike.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/P1090024sm.jpg
The pipe in question is inside there.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/varadero%20tech/P1090243.jpg
This is inside the connecting pipe, the gasket had completely dissolved.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/varadero%20tech/P1090244.jpg
The pipe I managed to get out with it's new gasket in place.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/varadero%20tech/P1090247.jpg
____________________
Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits