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Green laning on a Varadero

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james1988
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PostPosted: 13:05 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Green laning on a Varadero Reply with quote
Hello all,

I'd like to get out and do some greenlaning but I've not got a enduro bike or similar. What I do have however, is a big old lardy beast; a Honda XL1000VA, it weighs in at 274kg wet! I was thinking of taking it offroad but the weight bothers me; especially if I drop it.

I was thinking getting some nobblies for it to make it a bit easier but other than that I have no real idea about offroading. I suppose my question is, would it be an utterly stupid idea to take it offroad because of the weight? I see people use them all the time over on ADVRider so I presume they can't be that bad.

Any advice would be appreciated.

James
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Alpha-9
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PostPosted: 13:11 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Would you not rather have a second bike thats designed for off roading?

Would be a pain in the ass switching the tyres over constantly, or riding on roads in nobblies, but I don't know I can't say that
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james1988
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PostPosted: 13:20 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Alpha-9 wrote:
Would you not rather have a second bike thats designed for off roading?


I'd love to but at the moment I can't really justify it and it's the main reason I thought of using the Vara. It's meant to be an adventure / tourer but I can't see it being very easy out in the wild.

James
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yen_powell
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PostPosted: 13:42 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
I did a green lane on mine yesterday, they are really too heavy and lardy for it. Gravel tracks are okayish if you have to, but it's not a natural of cmfortable off roader.

I know someone who had to have a new sump on his after a stone or rock punched a hole in his varadero engine case. He's stripped lots of stuff off his to make it more off road friendly. Luckily it's a seperate sump rather than just a vertically split crank case.
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MarJay
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PostPosted: 14:16 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
james1988 wrote:


I'd love to but at the moment I can't really justify it and it's the main reason I thought of using the Vara. It's meant to be an adventure / tourer but I can't see it being very easy out in the wild.

James


No, it isn't. Its a light tourer disguised thinly in a trail style.
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james1988
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PostPosted: 14:31 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
MarJay wrote:
james1988 wrote:


I'd love to but at the moment I can't really justify it and it's the main reason I thought of using the Vara. It's meant to be an adventure / tourer but I can't see it being very easy out in the wild.

James


No, it isn't. Its a light tourer disguised thinly in a trail style.


Sorry, I got the impression it was take after the Africa Twin. Smile
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MarJay
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PostPosted: 14:42 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
james1988 wrote:
Sorry, I got the impression it was take after the Africa Twin. Smile


The Africa Twin isn't even a real off roader. Its too heavy.

The largest 'real' off roader would probably be a KTM Adventure, or more likely a KTM 690 Enduro etc.
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james1988
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PostPosted: 14:44 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
MarJay wrote:
james1988 wrote:
Sorry, I got the impression it was take after the Africa Twin. Smile


The Africa Twin isn't even a real off roader. Its too heavy.

The largest 'real' off roader would probably be a KTM Adventure, or more likely a KTM 690 Enduro etc.


I never knew that. I always thought the Africa twin was built for that sort of thing.

James
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doggone
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PostPosted: 16:12 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
You could (carefully) do forest roads and such when not icy anyway.
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thx1138
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PostPosted: 16:28 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
I greenlaned a brand new £7k 650, crashed it, bent it, got it mended Embarassed

then went out and bought a second hand XR 250, which I fall off of on a regular basis Laughing
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yen_powell
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PostPosted: 16:41 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
james1988 wrote:


Sorry, I got the impression it was take after the Africa Twin. Smile

The Africa Twin will do the job if required, but on the really difficult going you'd need to be an expert to get it through. I've seen Pat Tighe (I think that's his name) wrestle his AT at speed through the worst of a welsh quagmire, for a few moments I wanted to have his children, I was that impressed.

When I had knobbly tyres fitted to my AT for a trip to Morocco many years ago it transformed the bike off road, but made road riding above 50mph a little interesting to say the least.

The Varadero is really good at going big distances in comfort carrying heavy loads.
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neatbik
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PostPosted: 17:38 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
It will do it, but it will be hard work and you will damage it.

I used to have an F650gs Dakar, and whilst not as heavy as your bike, it was still heavy enough.... I did some quite tricky green lanes on it and whilst i always got it through in the end it was a bit hairy at times....

If you do decide to go for it fit some crash protection and some knobbly tyres. Conti TKC80's are quite good off road (except in deep mud) and surprisingly grippy on the road too.
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yen_powell
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PostPosted: 17:47 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
AT will go on gentle lanes using road tyres
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/P1050443SM.jpg
With knobblies, more rugged terrain is possible.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/davegroundedsm.jpg
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/__hr_BuyingfossilsintheSahara.jpg
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/invalidatingmywarranty.jpg
Proper clag can be done, the weight can help push through where a lighter bike would slip, however, you can't beat the ease of stopping and leaving your bike upright, or laying it down if there isn't room to put the sidestand down, knowing you can pick it up again afterwards/
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/DRinmud.jpg
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james1988
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PostPosted: 18:35 - 05 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yen, that looks awesome!
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MaybeGuy
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PostPosted: 19:58 - 08 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
MarJay wrote:


The Africa Twin isn't even a real off roader. Its too heavy.

The largest 'real' off roader would probably be a KTM Adventure, or more likely a KTM 690 Enduro etc.


Clearly an offroad guru this one Rolling Eyes
That's like saying these dakar bikes aren't real off roaders. Or the bikes they were using on long way down/round.

I know someone with a BMW F800 who green lanes on it quite regularly, no problems whatsoever. I don't see why a Varadero with the right tyres couldn't do the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0zefbvbxEY&feature=relmfu
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Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith
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