Honda XL 1000V Varadero Travel Kit

Honda’s dynamic XL1000V Varadero reasserts its leading position in the exciting world of Adventure Touring with detailed new design innovations and ride quality improvements that significantly enhance its impressive looks, its easy convenience and its long-term riding comfort.

The new 2007 XL1000V Varadero comes loaded with a host of new features that enhance its styling, convenience and long-term riding comfort for longer years of crosstown or cross-continent riding enjoyment.

New Instrument Panel

The Varadero's newly designed instrument panel features new dial designs for a more attractive look and easier recognition, and a new fuel mileage gauge that calculates remaining driving distance based on fuel volume and current fuel consumption.

New Locking Side Pockets

For added riding convenience, the Varadero's cockpit now features convenient new carrying compartments built into the sides of the cockpit area, which help keep needed smaller riding essentials within easy reach. As these pockets also feature locking lids, the security of these essentials when parked is also assured.

New Seat Shape

The Varadero's seat contours have also been carefully redesigned for greatly enhanced riding comfort for both rider and passenger over longer touring distances.

New Sidecover Panels

The Varadero's sidecover panels have been newly redesigned for more compact and stylish shapes that also lend easier access to hard-to-reach service points and other functional parts.

New Tail Cowl Design

The new 2007 Varadero also features a new, more sleekly designed tail cowl, which tapers with smoothly rounded rear contours into a large, fully integrated combination tail/stop light and clear-lens indicators for a more modern look and enhanced visibility from the rear.

New Tail Pipe Caps

The Varadero's prominent twin high-mount exhausts play a distinctive role in its impressive Adventure Touring design. Now these large stainless steel canisters receive a more cosmopolitan look with new decorative form-fitted end caps, which provide a stylish accent on the Varadero's intrepid go-anywhere design.

New Aluminium Undercowl

The Varadero's large resin undercowl has been replaced with a more sturdy new aluminium lower cowl that enhances protection of lower engine components while providing a more rugged look as well.

New HECS3 Low-Emissions System

In keeping with the latest in environmental protection laws and Honda's ongoing efforts to protect the air we breath, the 2007 Varadero features a new HECS3 oxygensensing catalytic exhaust gas converter system. This system effectively controls engine operation to minimise the emissions of harmful gasses and ensure full compliance with Europe's strict EURO-3 emissions regulations, all while maintaining the top performance and swift acceleration for which the Varadero has won renown.

New Colour Variations

The Varadero's new colour variations feature two-tone graphics that exude a lighter, more luxurious image whether at stop or on the move.

Review

Sacacomie, Que.–Adventure touring is big these days but it doesn't automatically mean off-road. After spending a full day aboard Honda's new Varadero in the wilds of rural Quebec, I discovered that once you're away from the Trans-Canada Highway, virtually every road can be an adventure.

The $13,999 Varadero XL1000V is powered by a modified version of the wonderful 996 cc V-twin used in the VT1000 – only with sophisticated fuel injection instead of monstrous carburetors. Throttle response is immediate, precise and very predictable – no spikes, lurches or surging.

Suspension is pretty standard stuff with 43 mm traditional forks boasting a cushy 155 mm of travel while a preload and rebound adjustable Pro-link shock with 145 mm of travel brings up the rear. The suspension was particularly forgiving over all the horrible conditions Quebec's winter ravaged byways threw at me.

The Varadero is an easy motorcycle to ride – once you're aboard. Seat height is listed as 838 mm and it's all of that, as even my gangly legs were barely flat-footed at stops.

Most adventure tourers are built for all-day comfort rather than off-road agility and the Varadero, with one of the best seats in motorcycling, is no different.

Ready-to-roll weight with all fluids and a full tank of fuel is 276 kilograms, so only a dirt-riding expert would seriously consider taking one on the trails.

All controls are exactly where I'd put them. The bars are wide enough for good leverage but narrow enough to slither through tight places. They seem to be at an optimum height for cruising, touring or backroad strafing. The Varadero has more steering lock than just about any other motorcycle I can think of – feet up U-turns are a snap, even on narrow, two-lane roads.

The six-speed transmission's ratios are well matched to the Varadero's power characteristics and the shifting action itself is short and crisp. The cable-operated clutch on the bike is likewise, light and progressive.

The boonies northwest of Quebec City are an interesting mix of small towns with omnipresent huge churches, crisp pine forests, scattered dairy farms, and rushing rivers with the snowy remnants of a cold, hard winter lingering in the bush.

My 400 km route was mostly two-lane roads that varied from wonderful to mediocre to sand-covered cart paths and back with a side order of potholes, divots and craters thrown in for good measure – in other words, an adventure, and perfect conditions for the Varadero.

The linked ABS brakes were incredibly helpful when cresting a blind rise with the road veering off-camber to the right with Major League frost heaves pock-marking the surface. Or when you're accelerating around a smooth, increasing radius corner, only to be suddenly plunged into something resembling a fairway bunker at St. Andrews.

Over approximately 15 km of pure gravel road, a relaxed touch on the bars kept the Honda tracking straight and true, even when the front end was skating on marble-sized rocks or plowing through scattered small sand dunes.

The Bridgestone 110-front and 150-rear buns are an excellent compromise for most conditions and the relatively narrow sizes quicken the handling without sacrificing stability – this thing really rails through turns with an ability that inspires confidence.

Virtually everything about the Varadero reflects Honda's approach to a specific design parameter. The frame and fuel tank are steel; both for durability but for ease of repair should something untoward happen when far away from civilization. The radiators are protected within the frame rails while the stainless exhaust with catalytic convertors meets strict emissions standards while being extremely durable.

The 25 L tank should give a cruising range of 350 to 375 km before the low fuel light comes on, leaving 4.1 L to find a gas station. I'd gladly trade the digital temperature indicator for a fuel gauge, but that's just me. I wasn't able to measure fuel economy but will do so later when we get a Varadero for a full test.

The Varadero is also at home on the freeway with 100 km/h coming up at a very relaxed 3500 rpm in sixth. Even loafing along at 90 km/h on two-lane roads, passing rarely requires a downshift. A flick of the wrist and you're quickly and safely by that overloaded logging truck or line of minivans.

The fairing and windscreen look ridiculously narrow and inadequate but are surprisingly functional – the screen deflects most of the wind (as does the fairing) leaving a nice, still air pocket around the rider.

And, to enhance the adventure experience, Honda's options include hard bags and top box, heated grips and Garmin GPS units.

The Varadero is a remarkably competent motorcycle. It'll cruise the Trans-Canada all day; it'll tackle dirt roads or swing through the twisties as well as any other adventure tourer while hauling two people and their luggage as far as they want to go.

That's what adventure touring is all about – finding and visiting places you've never gone before.

Source wheels.