Help us:
   HOME
  M.O GIRLS

  BLOGS
  MOTORYCLES
   Aprilia
   Benelli
   Bimota
   BMW
   Buell
   Ducati
   Editorials
   Harley Davidson
   Honda
   husqvarna
   Hyosung
   Impressions
   Kawasaki
   KTM
   Moto Guzzi
   Moto Morini
   MV Agusta
   Suzuki
   Triumph
   Victory
   Voxan
   Yamaha
  ARTICLES
   Products
   Tuning
   Motorcycle world
   Racing
  FORUMS
  Hot Topics:
   J'avions po fai
   Elle irait très
   je me casse
   Lorenzo rechute
   GP de France
   La fin du brida
  Bonus
   Photo Gallery
   Links




Google

Not a member?
register now as a free member
Login
Password
Forgot your password?
Language / Langue :
Lisez cette page en français
2006 Honda XL1000V Varadero
Printable Version Written: 06/12/2006 : 10:13. Read 6497 times (13/day).
The integrality of this filed article is for Premium Members.
The big XL Varadero is still going strong. In 2006 it is still very comfortable, big and with more Adventure looks than go. It was never in the exact same playing field as the mighty BMW GS or KTM Adventure, but more in-line with Aprilia ETV1000 Caponord and Triumph Tiger 955.

24 votes


Last articles All the articles
ApriliaBenelliBimotaBMW
BuellDucatiEditorialsHarley Davidson
HondahusqvarnaHyosungImpressions
KawasakiKTMMoto GuzziMoto Morini
MV AgustaSuzukiTriumphVictory
VoxanYamaha  

Last Honda articles:
Honda DN-01: official full specs2008-02-29
Honda CB 1000R XESS: naked customisations for the masses2008-02-21
Pictures: Honda DN-012007-11-29
Road Test: 2007 Honda CBR600RR- 20 years later, put the R in R2007-11-20
First look: 2008 HOnda CB1000R2007-11-06
First Look : Honda DN-01 goes into production2007-10-04
Paris Motorcycle Show: Honda2007-10-02
Detailed first look : 2008 Honda XL700V Transalp 2007-10-01



The low seat height and the big comfortable seat made me relax straight away. It’s still a heavy bike, but the weight feels more manageable at stand still than I can recall from the Caponord for instance. Since the Varadero have that low seat (838mm) compared to its competitors it’s a smaller step from a sportbike to the XL than from a sportbike to the GS. The Varadero handles well through the bends despite all it’s got against it. The lightweight cast aluminium wheels and narrow 150 section rear tyre plays a big part and with the big wide handlebar it is easy to wrestle it from side to side. Even though the XL1000V is big doesn’t mean we have to be weight lifters to manage one. The standard tyres are Bridgestone Trail Wings on a 17inch rear and 19 inch front wheel. They were quite good on the road allowing you to flick about a bit.

On the gravel they are obviously not as good as on the road, but for light work they grip and allows for some play, but plan where you are going to turn the big bike around first! -Because you can’t go seriously offroad on the Varadero. There is no problem standing up riding on the gravel and the Varadero feels stable enough. The Triumph Tiger 955 is for instance not made for standing up riding as the fuel tank comes in the way for your knees. So the Varadero can do some light riding on gravelled roads or emergency offroading to get you out of trouble. The wheel travel is limited to 155mm up front and 145mm at the rear. With a pillion and luggage you would need to increase the preload a bit on the rear pro-link shock and that’s all the adjustability there is on the suspension.

The gigantic 25 litre fuel tank is a big feature on the big Honda. It’s needed too as the 996cc V-twin is a thirsty engine.

Honda has not done too much developing on the good old 996 since the Firestorm was launched in 1996. No one knows whether Honda ever will, but there is certainly some reluctance somewhere in the big organisation regarding the small V-twin programme. A horrible thought just crossed my mind, how would a CBF1000 engine fair in a Varadero chassis! The 996cc V-twin engine has a lot of character and it both sounds a ...


The integrality of this filed article is for Premium Members.
(5 pictures - 1038 words. remaining).




Rate this article

Comments
Bonnot (06-12-2006): salut eI84
Sans hésitation aucune, prend une Triumph Tiger. Cette année j'ai parcouru 40.000 bornes et je ne désire plus rien d'autre. Bien sur je n'ais plus 20 piges et ce depuis belle lurette. Cette machine est fabuleuse, du couple et une vivacité de moteur inouïe. 2.000 tr en 6 à deux en côte, ouvre et tu repart sans à-coup et ce jusqu'a dix mille.... Et je ne parle pas de la nouvelle "1050" qui dois m'être livrée en février 2007... comment tenir


Please register if you want to write a comment:
Clic here
Public Poll
Who will be the 2008 Moto GP world champion?

Casey Stoner
Dani Pedrosa
Dovizioso
Colin Edwards
Chris Vermeulen
Anthony West
Randy De Puniet
Alex DeAngleis
John Hopkins
Toni ELias
Marco Melandri
Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo
Sylvain Guintoli
James Toseland
Shinya Nakano
Loris Capirossi
Nicky Hayden

THE BLOGS

Nolan N103....

Une petite boule d'amour en plus

La BedoTreffen 2008, c'est fait, vivement la 2009 !!!

La nouvelle Belle!

La dernière page du blog de Tomspe.

fireblade

Même les stars des gozesses ont parfois du goût!: M.O. BOY du jour

la bedo

la bedo treffen2008

balade du 20 avril 2008
PICTURES TOP 10
lorenzo jorge lorenzo au grand prix de chine avec les deux chevilles en compote
lorenzo
pirate debout kaio a genou
pirate debout kaio a genou
FOR SELL
de face A VENDRE : mon Z750 2005 gris ~38000km - TBEG
 
de face
 pirate déguisé en Candy mdrrrrr
FOR SELL
de derrière A VENDRE : mon Z750 2005 gris ~38000km - TBEG
 
de derrière
FOR SELL
de droite A VENDRE : mon Z750 2005 gris ~38000km - TBEG
 
de droite
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100
Sitzendorf2 Suzy tout à droite
Sitzendorf2
mon mostro
mon mostro
 
Advertise with us | Jobs opportunities | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Site Map
RSS feed
About www.motorcyclists-online.com English version:
At the beginning, in 2001, www.motorcyclists-online.com was an exclusive French Motorcycle website. Now, since September 2005, it has become bilingual: English speaking people are welcome !
We do believe, at www.motorcyclists-online.com, that linguistic boundaries are not a problem when we share the same passion for bikes.
We are currently working on translating all articles and contents, to finish the UK/US version. You will certainly notice some bugs or translation errors: please do not hesitate to advise us by e-mail, Private Message or by posting in the Forum. Your help is welcome !
For the moment, articles which haven’t been human translated are automatically machine translated, which I must confess is not really famous, but faster than human translators.
Didier-lelu.com

Domaine Orsini: le palais des délices corses