Honda XL 1000V Varadero
The Honda XL 1000 V Varadero is a fun engine. It is powered by an engine taken from an off-road VTR 1000, which is supposed to be different from the Italian Ducati, and any similarity in production to the Cagiva Canyon is just (un)intentional.
According to the price list and appearance, the motorcycle belongs to the class of enduro motorcycles, which is also visible from the XL in front of the motorcycle name. We are definitely talking about a fully touring bike, shall we say this touring bike. Then they mixed it up a bit. It has always been known that crossbreeds are also the smartest, like dogs, that goulash mixed with tripe is much better, and for me personally, this is still not over light beer mixed with dark. Half is then half.
The Honda Varadero is without a doubt a motorcycle that deserves an A for its ease of use. Otherwise, quite large and maneuverable enough for maneuvering, the engine performs well both in everyday traffic and on long trips. Well, yes, even a kilometer of unexpected rubble on an unknown path is easy to swallow, but when the dirt begins and branches and roots appear, then it is better to turn around and find another path.
A beautiful, too heavy and too wide motorcycle, of course, more suitable for home roads than country carts. Massiveness is also good, as the Varadero can easily gratefully carry two passengers and a lot of luggage, even on longer routes. With just under 100 horsepower, the sporty twin-turbo engine matches the bike's design and weight perfectly.
The engine is neither single cylinder nor enduro sleepy, and it is very easy to overtake four-wheeled cars crawling in front of you. On the highway, the Varadero easily accelerates to the once-magical 200 km / h, but it's true that at speeds above 140 km / h, the bike starts to shake strangely. At least there were some fuzzy vibrations on the test bike that I couldn't attribute to unbalanced wheels. Or what?
In this case, the transmission, which has been carried over from the sportier model, is deliberately "damped" to a lower engine power, which means that the motorcycle designers have achieved a much less tiring engine.
Contrary to expectations and contrary to the VTR 1000, the Varadero does not heat up during the chase, and the engine temperature indicator always remains exemplary below half. So, all of you who shrugged your shoulders when looking at the side halves of the engine radiators, your skepticism is completely unfounded!
On the traveler, whose name is taken from a Cuban city and is supposed to symbolize the design of the big V drivetrain, we can also praise the brakes. Here we also find the Honda central braking system, in which, by connecting the brake hose, they were able to brake the rear wheel while metering the front brake. The disc and jaw mechanics are borrowed from Honda's R-branded road bike family, and this combination works great on the Varadero.
The brakes can also handle a fully loaded bike where the suspension settings need to be adjusted before going on a longer holiday. At least the last one. After unloading the motorcycle, i.e. after returning home, do not forget to put it back. That is, use a horse with one passenger in the saddle, otherwise at higher rpm the engine will "float" over longer plains or highways. A relatively harmless phenomenon that is mostly seen on all enduro motorcycles does not escalate into more violent vibrations, but engine twisting is certainly not the most pleasant feeling.
Of course, no one is perfect, and so I can say that with the little things listed, Varadero is very close to the ideal touring bike and will undoubtedly be a good buy for those who do not require a lot of chrome and radio. bike. The Varadero is still a true motorcycle, not a two-wheeled convertible. For everyday use or for a two-bike holiday, you will probably have a hard time finding a better partner.
Honda XL 1000V Varadero
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
engine: 2-cylinder - 4-stroke 90° - V-twin - liquid-cooled - 4 valves per cylinder - displacement 996 cm3 - bore and stroke 98×66 mm - compression ratio 9:1 - twin carburetor diameter 41 mm
Tires: before 110/80/19, back 150/70/17
brakes: front brake caliper 2 × 296mm and 2 × 256-bar brake calipers, rear brake disc XNUMX mm and one three-bar brake caliper
Wholesale apples: wheelbase 1560 mm - length 2295 mm - seat height from the ground 880 mm - 220 kg (+ 25 liters of fuel)
dinner: 9.393.26 3 euros (AS Domžale doo, Blatnica 01A, (562/22 42 XNUMX), Trzin)
Mitya Gustinchich
PHOTO: Uro П Potoкnik
Basic data
Base model price: 9.393.26 EUR (AS Domžale doo, Blatnica 3A, (01/562 22 42), Trzin) €
Technical information
engine: 2-cylinder - 4-stroke 90° - V-twin - liquid-cooled - 4 valves per cylinder - displacement 996 cm3 - bore and stroke 98×66 mm - compression ratio 9:1 - twin carburetor diameter 41 mm
brakes: front brake caliper 2 × 296mm and 2 × 256-bar brake calipers, rear brake disc XNUMX mm and one three-bar brake caliper
Weight: wheelbase 1560 mm - length 2295 mm - seat height from the ground 880 mm - 220 kg (+ 25 liters of fuel)
