I'm still new to the Varadero. When I purchased mine I had visions of dual sport riding throughout the rocky and rugged terrain here. I had the idea that I was buying the poor mans GS. However, I have had to tame my expectations for a few reasons:
The dero is really freaking heavy ( I knew this but was surprised how much this affected the bike off road) , I don't have a lot of offroad experience, and I'm running Avon Distanzias which are a 90/10 tire (they came with the bike).
But I also notice that I don't see a lot of talk about actual offroad riding in the forum. So I'm asking the question, a kind of survey, What kind of riding do you do? How far have you pushed the Dero off road?
It's a superb bike especially on the road, I won't be changing it but I would like to hear your stories ( and PICS).
well, it all depending how skill you are to change tyre for different missions and getting used to drive in these conditions.
Varadero is a versatile bike.
Nice vids. I went and checked out some of the others on your website. great scenery.
So I am inclined to agree that the Varadero is a versatile bike, however I haven't found anything on youtube showing a Dero on a real trail. Just compacted stuff like your pathfinder video. I will certainly be riding on roads like this pic and probably worse.
Guys, remember the wight of our dero is 275 kg without anything, only refuelled.
Rainer
@Sleepyhead:
My learning curve has not yet passed the middle of you can do with a bike. I started with the heaviest..
Agree Rainer. Alone and you are stuck..
@Sleepy head. If that's the sort of terrain you are going on, you need a Bultaco or a KTM 400. The 'Dero is a beeeg lump and great for it; I would have no compunction about riding on that pitch but if you were alone and dropped it...? Even if you can lift it up again, the bike will be damaged. The same goes for BMuu GS, for all you CAN take it off-road I've seen an awful lot of them laid on their sides, with the new owners in their shiny but now spoiled and muddy BMuu leathers, sitting at the side of them, rubbing various bruised bits and looking for their buddies to give them a lift up with it.
If you trawl this website, you'll find plenty of pictures of the Scandinavian giants who treat these bikes like trailies and put knobblies on to go ploughing through forests and snow: they have my admiration but quite frankly, I think they are crazy. they probably do that instead of wrestling bears.
JK
Uh No, Jackyork. We have a lot of BMUusers that have fully kitted GS's from touratech and 80% of them are parked outside Starbucks, more shiny that Custom chromes.. After they have ended their little coffee break they drives home again. Cause mileage ruin the value..
@jackyork That`s hilarious!
So I am not the only one who finds it almost too heavy to take off road. I`m glad it`s not just me!
Obviously every situation needs to be sized up for risk level and riding alone increases the risk tremendously. It`s also a matter of experience so taking small bites to bring up skills is what I plan to do (as well as knobbies, armour, and a resignation to scratches and dents).
in fact I think my most likely problem I will encounter is getting stuck....probably repeatedly. I'm packing para cord and carabiners so that I can leverage my way out of that inevitable situation (with a friend of course)
The problem is not the weight per se but where the weight is located. On the Varadero the weight is unfortunately on top while on the GS it is below and thus its weight is rarely felt.
Hello !!! My opinion is that Varadero could not be an enduro bike but you can go at smooth roads with dust and its better if you have tyres 50/50. As i stay in Greece you can't imagine how well the bike goes when tarmac ends and you want to visit the ''secret'' island beaches at summer
!!!!!!!!!!!
@sleepyhead
For me, the trail in your photo is great fun for a KLR
...I suppose I could get the Vara up that trail
but going down....
...that's when the front end will go where it wants to and it will all end in tears
My old KLR 650 was a great compromise (off-road, touring, Starbucks etc). Maybe you could haul a trail bike behind the Vara for those mountain moments
Guys, remember the wight of our dero is 275 kg without anything, only refuelled.
Rainer
275 kgs motorbike + 120kgs the rider + luggage and extras 40 - 80 kgs .... almost 500kgs!!I assume that a gnarliest trail with all this weight will look like getting a tour with legendary '' BIGFOOT '' .Too risky for me BUT some of my collegues loves to do it!
ok you guys have pretty much convinced me. I'm not going to have to tone down my expectations. I get that it's not a KLR or GS. And if I try I'm in for pretty big bills and maybe some injuries.
That's alright though there are lots of much more moderate trails here in Newfoundland. I'm still quite happy with my Dero it's a great bike even if I only ever took it on roads.
ok you guys have pretty much convinced me. I'm not going to have to tone down my expectations. I get that it's not a KLR or GS. And if I try I'm in for pretty big bills and maybe some injuries.
That's alright though there are lots of much more moderate trails here in Newfoundland. I'm still quite happy with my Dero it's a great bike even if I only ever took it on roads.
Now you're talking. It IS a great bike: you'll find out what it's good at.
JK