Hi All,
Spent a couple of weeks browsing this very friendly and informative site!
Have been getting increasingly p*ssed off with the tube and the rude buggers on it and have decided balls to it, I’m getting a bike again. Did my CBT the other day and now in the market for a 125. I had convinced myself that I wanted a Varadero as I’m fairly tall (6ft 1) and went to see one last night. I knew it was going to be bigger but hadn’t realised just how big they are and I must confess, when I sat on it, even though I loved the position and the feel, the size and weight put me off!
My question is, I guess, am I just being a wimp?! My sum total of experience: a Suzuki ZR50 and a Honda XL125 (both 80s) which I used to ride around the farm when I was kid, a DT50 when I was 16 (early 90s) which I rode on the road for a year and a half and the YBR I took my CBT on the other day! Comparitively the Vara felt huge, although I did feel a bit too big for the YBR.
I’m going to be commuting from Ealing to Elephant for work and am worried that a Vara might be too unwieldy in the slow traffic or am I just worried because I’m basically a new rider again?!
Any advice would be welcome. I’ve got about 2k for the bike, thought a CBF or YBR would be too dull and a bit uncomfortable, a CBR uncomfortable (not sure about the riding position, think I want something more upright) and the other interesting looking stuff (YZF, Derbi Terra, Mulhacen, KTM Duke etc.) either a PITA for parts and service or too expensive. I am aware I know nothing, however, so could well be wrong in all of these assumptions.
If it goes well, bearing in mind I’ve never ridden in London before, I will take my test but I don’t want to do DAS immediately, I want to give myself 6 months or so to decide whether I actually want to do this long-term and gain some experience. If I do, I will do my test. I know the common advice would be to get a YBR and then sell it after I do the test, what do you think?
it probably feels heavy compared to other 125’s because its taller, making it feel top heavy on slow manoeuvres, like Conrad said you’d soon get used to it…
Cheers Guys, thanks for the welcome and advice. That’s a definite on the Vara then! I think I just needed a bit of a gee up to make sure I was being a bit too cautious, anything’s going to seem heavy compared to a YBR I suppose. I think the logic that any larger cc bike I get post-test is going to be at least as heavy stands up too, so it’s probably a good idea to get used to it now.
Just got to find one now, very exciting! Might pop up to Infinity this lunchtime and get myself kitted out.
Agree that the Varadero will be fine for you and you will be surprised at just how quickly you get used to the weight (wow it is quite heavy for a 125 at 152kg dry!). People I know who started out on them say they are an excellent bike and tbh although Honda’s aren’t my thing it’s generally quite hard to find a bad word said against them…
A Varadero XL125V was my first manual bike and I loved it.
I’m smaller than you (5’9"), but found it very comfortable and easy to ride after learning manual technique. In fact, compared to a YB, CB or similar 125, it felt safer because of the larger presence and riding position.
I had a Vara 125 as well for my first bike. You’ll get used to it v quickly and it really prepares you well for a bigger engine bike. Just get some miles under your belt.
Well I don’t know what f**k I was worried about! Bought one about three weeks ago, and within about a minute of riding it away from the dealer realised that it’s an absolute doddle to ride! I think it was just the fact that I haven’t ridden a bike in anger for a long time and my only reference point was the CBT school’s YBR, which was tiny (and slow). I think Martin’s point about it being tall and therefore a bit more top-heavy making it seem heavier is about right because actually it’s as light and nimble as you could want a bike that size to be. I have to say, I love the bike to bits already.
I’ve been commuting into E&C every day form Ealing (still trying to find a good way round Hammersmith on the way in 'cos of the bloody traffic on the A4, although I’ve found a route which works on the way home) and am absolutely loving it, can’t believe it’s taken me so long to do this. I used to get into work in a terrible mood most days because of the tube and general ‘f*ck you’ attitude on it. Now, I get in with a grin and it sets me up for a much better day and I get there quicker, earlier and cheaper!
For me, it’s pretty much the perfect 125 as I’m more of a ‘sit up and beg’ cruiser than a Rossi wannabe (RS125, Mito etc.). If I have any criticisms, it’s perhaps a little wide in the queues going between the cars but I think that’s my (lack of) bravery more than anything. The L’s don’t help, either, I’ve already had White Van Man trying to show me how his Mercedes Luton accelerates as quickly as a 125 although when I mentioned that this wasn’t actually much of an achievement and he obviously knew it was a 125 (quite a bit more rudely than that) it didn’t seem to compute…!
Thanks again for the welcome, gents, hope to see you around the streets…
as others know i had a pcx 125 since Dec, but as much as i loved it i had to get a manual bike, did lots of research on 125s, and the Varadeo while not cheap, seemed the best 125 to practice and learn gears on and get used to the larger frame of bigger bikes.
i got a 2005 from my local honda dealer with a part X on the PCX.
wishing i had done this sooner, love the bike.
i use it daily to commute from welling/danson area to Blackfriars road
