Tue, 24 Nov 1998 09:25:38 PST
- Message No. 4501
From: "alan richard csizmazia"
Subject: Re: 10 years Africa Twin and Varadero
Dear Dave,
I've just seen the Varedero at the UK motorcycle show. Yes it's pig-ugly
(sorry pigs) which suggests to me that it must be a good
bike.
You'd need to be an S&M freak from Texas to consider turning it into a
dual-sport machine.
No CAT, I think. The Varedero lacks the @'s trip computer & has more
conventional looking clocks. although it has LCD mileometer & trip. The
seat looks ever so comfortable (not that the @'s is bad or anything) One
of the bikes at the show had colour (er, color as you say) matched Honda
luggage which looked OK.
Handling on the road will be better than the @ (how dare I say it!) I
think, due, at least to better choice of road tyre for those alloy
wheels.
The BMW's paralever/telelever setup always gets good reviews, I've not
had the pleasure of trying one.
I think, with a bike that is the shape & size of the Varry (well, what
do we call it?) having a 21" front would not offer much in the way of,
er... competitive advantage.
A serious off-roader conversion would look well cool, but if you want a
serious off-roader, buy a KTM (or a British CCM)
Time will tell as they say.
All in all I think that the Var' is gonna' be a good bike & maybe my
next purchase in a couple of years time.
Meanwhile, my lovely RD07 is going to bed for the winter. Next week I'm
flying to India to chill out on a beach for a few months, so I'l say
goodbye to you all untill spring.
Keep warm & wrap up well.
Love.
Alan UK
>From: Dave0028@aol.com
>Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1998 17:20:39 EST
>To: xrv@atic.org
>Subject: Re: (XRV) 10 years Africa Twin and Varadero
>
>In a message dated 11/14/98 10:50:14 AM Pacific Standard Time,
>makost@nw80.cip.fak14.uni-muenchen.de writes:
>
><< Hi (german-speaking) ATICS,
> in the latest issue of Motorrad (24/98), available from today, there
> is a 8 page long story about 10 years Africa Twin. (And a first
> impression of the new Varadero).
> Ciao,
> Marco
> >>
>
> So, (german-speaking) ATICS,
>
>How about a summary of those articles posted on this list in English
for those
>who are unable to understand the German language?
>
>And speaking of the new Varadero...
>Is it too early to ask if anyone knows of a conversion to make it into
a dual
>sport bike? I like the Varadero's power to weight ratio. I haven't seen
the
>bike except in pictures. Is it really that ugly? I'm thinking with a
21" front
>wheel, and some other minor modifications that bike could have some
potential.
>Are any after-market companies talking of a kit for off-road Varadero
>conversion? Or maybe that would be a good project bike for Motorrad
magazine?
>Or maybe the bike is too top heavy to make it worth it?
>A couple other questions about the Varadero:
>Does it have a catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, computer, etc.?
>Will it be sold in Canada, so I can easily drive one home to the U.S.?
>How does the handling compare to the African Twin and the BMW R1100GS?
>Thanks for your reply. It's harder to get this info in the U.S.
>
>Dave
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
www@atic.org