Driving report Honda XL 1000 V Varadero

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Driving report Honda XL 1000 V Varadero

Coastal sailors

The Japanese travel enduro, named after a Cuban beach, is also just in time for a Sunday game on the Portuguese Atlantic coast.

Let’s start with what hasn’t changed about the new, heavily redesigned Varadero. Despite its beach name, no one likes to drive in deep sand. The reason for this is obvious. 220 kilograms of dry weight increase with oil, coolant and 25 liters of fuel to a generous quarter ton. Only Paris-Dakar professionals can tame such masses in a baseless run. At the moment they are all out and about in the desert, so we would like to thank our colleague who, with a lot of effort and a large stone under the side stand, managed to park a Varadero at the edge of the sea. Our photographer couldn’t have taken the beautiful photo on the following page without him.
It shows the mighty two-cylinder with full luggage, and that brings us to what has changed. This suitcase set developed by Honda, including the topcase, was freely made available by the officials during the presentation tour. With the old model, on the other hand, they refused to hand over suitcase-equipped test motorcycles until the very end. Because nobody should notice the commuting at a higher speed that everyone knew about anyway. But good. The new one has a frame stiffened by gusset plates, in which the 1000 V2 is now rigidly and stabilized screwed. Commuting should no longer be an issue, which has been confirmed on a long motorway trip without a suitcase, but at speeds of up to 220 km / h.
The only annoying thing was loud wind noises behind the narrow high window, which the Varadero pilot could only avoid if he crouched. Although the higher of the two possible lens positions turned out to be more comfortable – simply because you don’t have to duck so low – Honda should offer a flatter lens as an accessory. Such a windshield would flow into the driver’s helmet without swirling.
On the autobahn, the engine, which has both injection and a regulated catalytic converter for Germany, demonstrated its high level of smoothness. Despite the rigid screw connection, the vibrations were kept within easily bearable limits. The V2 did not care whether it was rolling at medium speeds in overdrive, which was attached to the previous five-speed gearbox, or whether it was turning up to the red zone at 9000 rpm. Even at the lower end of the speed ladder, the Varadero engine retained its good manners. 2000 revolutions are enough for him to accelerate without holes and without chopping. The only thing the driver has to contribute is not to open the gas completely at this speed. The compromise between a lot of centrifugal mass, which improves concentricity at low speeds, but slows down the agile revving, and the exact opposite is well achieved.
After the motorway stage, the Varadero toured north along the Atlantic, on all kinds of side roads, including a twelve-kilometer unmade road and a wonderfully winding strip of asphalt over the cliffs near Setubal. Even with this contrast program to the motorway, it pleased with its very good chassis qualities. On the one hand, the tight chunk on the wide handlebars can be easily swiveled into an inclined position. And secondly, even with a committed driving style on the cornering route with strong acceleration, harsh braking and jagged turning in, he didn’t crumple. What some copies of the previous model could not avoid. The tighter coordination of the spring elements as well as the changed translation of the rear deflection pay off in full.
Unfortunately, the suspension comfort of the fork is not entirely convincing despite the ample 155 millimeter travel to work. A test must clarify whether this is solely due to the streamlined set-up or rather high breakaway forces. In any case, it was noticeable that the fork did not react quickly enough to small, quickly successive impacts, but ironed away long waves relatively well.
A tried and tested means of reducing the small, annoying bumps is to use the handlebars with a light hand. Which at the same time promotes relaxed driving and is easily possible on the Varadero thanks to the comfortable, but by no means passive, seating position. On the newly designed bench, it sits upright, well supported backwards, so your hands can easily rest on the handlebars. The feeling of comfort gained in this way lasts a long time, that much can be said after a half-day stage of almost 400 kilometers.
Und take stock: After that, the new Varadero, beach or sand, is a great touring vehicle.

Technical data – Honda Varadero 1000

HONDA Varadero data engine: water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90-degree V-engine, crankshaft transverse, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, electronic intake manifold injection, Ø 42 mm, engine management, regulated catalytic converter with secondary air system, E. Starter, three-phase alternator 434 W, battery 12 V / 18 Ah. Bore x stroke 98.0 x 66.0 mm, displacement 996 cm³, compression ratio 9.8: 1, rated output 69 kW (94 PS) at 8000 rpm, max. Torque 98 Nm (10.0 kpm) at 6000 rpm Power transmission: primary drive via gear wheels, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, secondary ratio 47:16. Chassis: Bridge frame made of steel profiles, engine supporting, telescopic fork, standpipe diameter 43 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum profiles, central spring strut with lever system, adjustable spring base and rebound damping, double disc brake at the front, floating brake discs, Ø 296 mm, three-piston calipers, rear disc brake, Ø 256 mm, three-piston caliper, composite brake system. Cast aluminum wheels 2.50 x 19; 4.00 x 17 tires 110/80 R 19; 150/70 R 17 Chassis data: wheelbase * 1560 mm, steering head angle * 62.5 degrees, caster * 110 mm, spring travel * f / h 155/145 mm, tank capacity / reserve * 25/4 liters, two-year guarantee with unlimited mileageColors metallic silver, red , Blue price 10 190 euros additional costs 170 euros * manufacturer information

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