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Dear Honda Varadero XL125V owners and enthusiasts, I would like to update on my previous review after a few months so as too keep your interests. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have shown an interest and in anticipation of any further information you may wish to offer. All comments, queries, or information you wish to contribute is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Best Wishes, [Log in to view email] For this update I would like to focus on the performance aspect of the Varadero. From recent research I have made using a variety of sources it would appear that the outright performance is something that makes the Varadero a less attractive option.
In terms of speed, in particular, many claim it needs more power and that 75mph (120km/h)almost flat-out is not fast enough for the price.
A very interesting thing I found was that there have been methods devised for achieving speeds of over 90mph!
I didn't believe that their could be such a contrast in top speeds, but obviously I was mistaken. A word of caution for recent buyers: Although the owners manual for the bike says little in terms of running in the bikes I will just outlie some of the ways in which to keep your bike in peak condition, ready for when a situation may require higher speeds. Some of these things you will find familiar, others are specific to this bike: *Schedules for services should be attended to at the specified time *Change the oil regularly to help prevent the problem of 'mayonased' oil(I will explain the mayonaised oil in greater depth in the next update) *The first 1000 miles are critical to the way you treat this machine, this is its settling down period or quarantine if you like. The bike will appear a bit snatchy at first across the rev range and perhaps not so smooth. Take it easy for this period of time and it will 'loosen-up'very nicely. It will rev cleanly without glitches and will be free-er reving.
To aid this period of running-in stick to 50mph or less and do not rev the engine unnecessarily, or above 5000rpm. Stick to these guidelines and your bike will be happy or more likelt too oblige should you demand more from it in the future. It is a shame for owners who have significantly exceeded this. One owner who I will keep anonamous for their privacy had beed right up to 11,000rpm after just 400 miles. Unfortunantely his bike now struggles to achieve 70mph. The waiting is a bore but why not take a scenic tour or two where speed is not of the essence. If you don't go with mates, although you may get lonely, you can be unhastled to go too fast and can go at your own pace. This should rack up several hundred miles and should help to make the 'waiting period as enjoyable as possible.
This is the part you have been waiting for.
How do you get this great big little bike or big little bike up to 90mph+?
Several enthusiasts, running a debate over preloved have been testing out many methods of getting this bike to go faster. As long as you have cherished you bike in the running in period explained above this should not be difficult and apparently it was no problem at all-easy in fact. This experiment was done using the owners bikes that were run-in sensibly and are in totally standard, unmodified stock form.
Super-unleaded petrol was used however.
Make sure your bike is at the correct running temperature and that you give it a healthy dose of revs, don't be too harsh though. First of all find a long, level and straight piece of road. A good mile or so. Line yourself up, and get right, right down on the tank with your head burried in the clocks. Start accelerating as quickly as you can but smoothly. Get the needle right up to the redline where peak power is produced (To be precise 11,080rpm). The trick is to stay planted and to keep your body weight spread evenly. Do not short-shift or you will definately lose some top speed that way.
Keep going through the gears in a controlled fashion. The time in which it reaches speed might suprise you.
The needle will happily pass 80mph and off the clocks at 85mph (140km/h) on foreign bikes. If you maintained your composure, the bike will have done too. Stay focused and you will notice you have about 2500rpm left in the rev range. Proceed on and if you wait the good old Varadero will breeze up to 90mph or so. Phew!! Sorry it took so long!! Horrah and many congratulations to the keen guys who managed to formulate the basic idea! Many thanks. Don't forget, email any useful info to me. Smartkart PS-In the next review I will be discussing performance parts and asking you for your views, opinions, and ideas.
Again, thanks
Yours sincerely, Smartkart |
