Varadero XL1000V ABS

ALSO KNOWN AS: Varadero Thou, Vera, Vera Duckworth

Loads of torque, power, agility and reliability make the mile-eating Varadero the supreme two-up, big on comfort adventure machine.

REVIEW:

Probably what Euan Macgregor and the other famous actor guy should have used. Whether you’re going the Long Way Round or just being tourquey to Tourquay, you won’t go wrong with Vera.

This bike was the top choice of our staff when we asked ‘If you could only have one bike what would it be…’. This is because it does everything well from green lanes to scratching to touring, it’s a pleasure with a pillion and now has ABS as standard. Somehow it’s become Honda’s best kept secret in the UK, although it’s their best selling bike in Continental Europe, bar none. That’s because people who ride it love it, which is why it’s beginning to get a cult following, like these guys at www.honda-varadero-uk.org.

OTR Price: £9,125

Colour options:
Black - Tricolour (Red, White & Black)

Other options:
Becomes a useful and attractive long range holiday maker with the Honda touring pack (panniers & top box) at approx £700 although cheaper third party luggage is also available

MODEL HISTORY

Named after a Cuban holiday resort the Varadero was introduced at the Milan Show in 1998 it hit the roads in the UK in 1999 powered by a retuned version of the Firestorm V Twin engine, replacing the excellent Africa Twin. 2001 saw the introduction of HISS anti theft system. 2003 saw major changes including fuel injection as standard. ABS was introduced in 2004 and now comes as standard.