From Varadero to Slovenia
What if I run the test a little differently? So it really shows what kind of test this popular, but not as fresh, touring enduro bomber is from. The idea of a fur coat in Slovenia is not new, it just needed to be brought to life, and Varadero seemed like a perfectly suitable tool.
Sergey from AS Domžale liked the idea and I drove several kilometers more than we usually do with test bikes. The maps.google.com website states that the circle will be about a thousand kilometers long, but in reality this was only an approximate number, because the web application could not recalculate all the lateral routes and turns. George in one day? So far I've driven most of them, a good 600 ...
With a classic map spread out on the bed and a laptop next to it, I figured out exactly where to turn the wheel, the night before I left. I went to bed around 21pm, and at quarter past nine I got up, had breakfast and climbed into my old Daines Cordura two-piece set. I will use it in ten years, but it still holds up great.
Since I don't plan on filming any action, it also doesn't matter if I am traveling with a not-so-pretty jacket already torn on my left shoulder. I tell you, once you get used to something (good), it's hard to change! And when traveling, wellness on a motorcycle is of paramount importance. I already know that betica has no headache issues in the Shoei XR 1000, but I haven't worn it all day. Let's see . ...
The first disadvantage of Honda came to light when the first spark plug in the two-cylinder engine from the sports video recorder lit up. Noise! Not only did I wake up our German quail, but some neighbor must have curled up between the sheets, despite sleeping pills.
Interestingly, the test bike was fitted with sport exhaust. I'm not saying they are better, lighter, or fit well, but when it comes to everyday use, I am more enthusiastic about the quieter performance. I fill up and drive towards Jezersko a few minutes after midnight.
The headlights shine well, which is good, great. On a summer night, I don't feel cold, the roads are empty, and I drive at a moderate pace, because I don't have onions, much less time to make venison goulash. After the double crossing of the state border with Austria and the Pavlich saddle, which I cross for the first time, I pay attention to the branches and signs along the road.
As I wrote the day before in the "road book", after about two kilometers I have to turn towards Potochka Ziyalka, Sveti Dukh, Podolshev. ... Damn, at night I missed the turn and turned towards Carinthia only in Solchava. The night is as black as the name of the place that was next on the list, the route is completely unknown, but there is enough fuel to turn around if bad rubble makes me board the train.
In Črna, I find that an inverted (!?) Bottle of chedevita has opened in a suitcase. The bedroom is wet here, now I can't just lie down somewhere if I can't. ...
I'm a little angry because I drive around Prekmurje in the dark. In any case, I have never been to these places, and again I see nothing but a winding road and cottages along it. Choosing a crossroads in the extreme north-east of the country, I farted again in the dark and instead of entering the Hungarians in Hodos, I returned there to Slovenia. In any case, I have no appetite in the dark to travel to places whose names I cannot even pronounce. Felsöszölnok, Apátistvanfalva. ... Quas' djau, ejga?
More than uttering these weird squelch combinations and knowing what messengers are, I was bothered by the orange light on the dashboard. The Varadero does not have a fuel meter. Neither analog nor digital. Hey? After all, on the one hand, I'm not too keen on over-drawing on the fittings, and I don't mind, for example, that the fuel gauge in my Golf sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but on a motorcycle of this caliber, that's to be expected. ...
Ina's pump in Shalovtsy was still closed in the morning, and I was not even going to wait less than two hours, so I lightly hit Murska Sobota.
Gasoline is open! According to the factory data, there were three liters of fuel in the tank, and with my ear at the filling hole I heard only the hidden splashes of a deciliter. At least for the future, I know that after 300 kilometers it is worth stopping and restocking in an octopus-free parish.
After I showed my identity card twice at the Slovenian-Croatian border (let them come to this Europe once and for all for peace), they began to pick me up on the Ormoz-Ptuj road. My eyes kept telling me I wanted to close, so I stopped 15 feet off the road and snorted for a bad hour. What a good job! I felt great and continued at a fast pace. Even so lively that I had to specifically slow down in front of Biselsko.
Reason: radar control at the beginning of the village, and they fired a cannon as I overtook the van. Unharmed, I drive forward at low revs and at exactly 50 kilometers per hour. ... Kostanjevica on Krki, New place, Metlika. ... Uh, Bela Krajina. This is my first time in these places, and he makes me stop, take off the hot rag and throw myself into Kolpa. I will definitely be back! But no time, I'm only halfway there. ...
From Banja Loka in front of Kochevye to the Old Square, the road through Goteniska Gora is a gravel road. Throttle grip and braking is surprisingly good, and the problem arises when I want to go faster through a good wide corner. For the Varader, cross-country movement is completely alien, as evidenced by the nervous reaction of the suspension and the hard-to-control rear. I tried to sit and stand, but I can't fuck ...
It's just too road oriented, but clearly too heavy enduro to enjoy realistic styling. You can easily get to Kamenyak, past Snezhnik, I would also dare to go to Kofce, but do not buy Varadero for a fun chase through rubble.
The great Honda Enduro reigns supreme on the road. Once your feet are off the ground, operating this really heavy machine (factory data for a wet weight of 267 kg) is easy. It does not resist fast diving into turns and abrupt changes of direction, and most of all surprises with stability at high speeds.
Because the wind protection is one of the best I've tried, you can drive at 170 kilometers per hour in total peace of mind. Without bending down to the visor, braiding the helmet and suffering from the neck. How well the whole body is protected from the wind, you will find out if you move your feet away from the motorcycle a few centimeters along the highway.
Piha, huh? A huge seat, large hand guards and an engine that sends no vibration to the handlebars or pedals add to the comfort. In this Varadero is great, and the Japanese and Spaniards deserve applause. If you didn't know, it's assembled in a factory near Barcelona.
This is the first time on the Coast, I doubt I can get to my place of birth that day. The dog is hot in the cord and the movement is clearly too much to move normally quickly. I watched closely the digital coolant temperature display, which, however, did not move centrally.
As it turned out, despite the side installation, the refrigerators do their job well. A half liter of isotonic drink, tuna sandwich and vanilla Max will wake me up and give me the incentive to jump over the varied Karst, my favorite section of the route, and pass Goritsa to Kobarid, where I refuel for the last time before the finish. line., covering the wrist.
The fuel consumption data also shows that the last 125 kilometers, including crossing the Limit, were brighter. When riding at a faster pace, I would have liked a bit more batek in the brake calipers. I don't say anything - the brakes stop very hard, but after several successive hard stops, my right wrist begins to signal that it has had enough spasm.
A stronger brake package won't hurt the Varadero, but that's not a flaw to criticize more seriously.
The right wrist was also the only one after the 21 hour adventure that reminded me that this was a slightly different test for me. Can you imagine - almost 1.200 kilometers, and the ass did not hurt? I swear no! My back was a bit stiff, but I had a good workout the next day at Lake Bled, where I rode the same bike again.
If you are shorter, it will be more difficult for you to get around the yard, but you can travel many miles with the Varadero. Also because of the notorious quality and, above all, because of the comfort that it offers. Finally, another first-hand comparison: after driving 600 kilometers in a comparable but lighter and much more fun BMW F800GS, I was just as tired as after another long trip to Varadero. The choice is yours, as are the roads of the world. Well!
'Road book'
Kranj - Jeziersko - Pavlichevo saddle - Solchava - Crna - Mezhica - Ravne - Dravograd - Maribor - Gornja Radgona - Radkersburg (Austria) - Czankova - Felsoszolnok (Hungary) - Cempinci - Šalovci - Murska Sobota - Sredne Murska Sobota - Lendra Muri (Croatia) - Lutomer - Ormoz - Ptuj - Ptujska mountain - Rogatec - Brestovets - Kristan Vrh - Podchetrtek - Bizelsko - Brezhitse - Kostanevica-na-Krki - Novo Mesto - Metlika - Krasinets - Marindol - Preloja vir - Vinica Dol - Kostel - Banya -Loka - Borovets-pri-Kochevski rivers - Draga - Loshki-stream - Stari-trg - Snezhnik - Mashun - Knezak - Ilirska Bystrica - Harie - Podgrad - Kozina - Crni kal - Buzet (Croatia) -Buje - Sechovleran - - Izola - Koper - Divacha - Sezana - Dutovle - Komen - Branik - Nova Gorica - Kanal - Kobarid - Bovec - Limit (Italy) - Trbizh - Ratece - Podkoren - Jesenice - Kranj
Honda XL 1000VA Varadero ABS
Test car price: 10.890 EUR
Special price: 9.990 EUR
engine: two-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 996 cc? , 4 valves per cylinder, electronic fuel injection? 42 mm.
Maximum power: 69 kW (96 KM) at 7.500/min.
Maximum torque: 98 Nm @ 6.000 rpm
Energy transfer: Transmission 6-speed, chain.
Frame: steel pipe.
brakes: front coil? 296mm, tribal brake calipers, rear disc? 256 mm, Tribal brake caliper.
Suspension: in front of a classic telescopic fork? 43mm, 155mm travel, rear adjustable single shock, 145mm travel.
Tires: 110/80-19, 150/70-17.
Seat height from ground: 838 mm.
Fuel tank: 25 l.
Wheelbase: 1.560 mm.
Weight: 244 (ready to ride 2) kg.
Fuel consumption: 6, 49 l / 100 km.
Representative: Motocenter AS Domžale, Blatnica 3a, Trzin, 01/562 33 33, www.honda-as.com.
We praise and reproach
+ driving position
+ comfortable seat
+ wind protection
+ tireless driving
+ motor
+ driving performance
- big weight
- no fuel gauge
- interlocking contact lock and large key
- clumsiness in the field
You can see some more photos here.
Matevж Hribar, photo: Matevж Hribar
