New toy - further tratorism...

[2112]

As a long term traitor I have bought another Varadero to go alongside my ancient Suzuki GSX750ET. I'm picking it up tomorrow, it's even cleaner than it looks in the pictures 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/03-03-Honda-XL1000-VARADERO-3-LUGGAGE-22-000-MILES/132363189885?hash=item1ed175fe7d:g:FZsAAOSwEEBZ5dgI

[King Orry]

Looks very tidy, they’re tall buggers them, so not surprised it’s been lowered.
I used to have a GSX750ESD many moons ago (1984-86). It was an A reg bike in Blue (A626. POO). I really liked it, super comfy big seat too, bought off r-kid who got in new, think I did about 25K on it before it was stolen.
 I recall it came with it’s own magnet keyed padlock too.. shame I didn’t use it the night it got taken.! 

[TLPower]

That is magnificent.

Enjoy.

[tallpaul]

That looks excellent! Nice colour too... 

[mr_diver]

A good chioce sir.

I do like mine.
A proper mile muncher. That one looks all set to tour.

Mines stock height and with my 33" inside leg I manage OK but I am careful where I park it.
There's been a few times I've had trouble getting it off the side stand on a steep camber.

I still make 'old man noises' when I have to avoid a hernia pushing it backwards into the garage.

Happy New Bike. 

[UK_Vstrom650]

Nice. Enjoy 

[2112]

Cheers folks, I have a set of +20mm links to go in the rear and a set of HEED bars to go on too. Anyone want a set of Varadero lowering links ? The Varadero forum is a bit s l o w too...

[mr_diver]

The varadero uk forum these days have the admins hovering but not posting and people (shall we call them, snot nosed kids) with the 125cc bikes asking stupid questions.

The international forum was shut down some months ago.

I pop in once a week, shake my head and walk away.

I have both the carb and efi service manuals somewhere.
If I can I'll send you a link when I'm home later.

I'd also recormend the Palmer Products screen mount. I have a Powerbronze stock size screen and it's just right. The tall givi one is far too tall with the mount.

I have givi engine bars and it came with the same e33 panniers your has. Though they have been down the road at some point.
SWMBO now uses them on the GSX but they are 20 years old but still perfectly usable.
Givi used to make stuff to lasts...
Saying that so did Honda.

The mrs is well impressed with the rear seat. "Quite a bit better than the Wee but not quite Goldwing"
You can't please everyone!!

[2112]

Cheers Mr D  As it turns out I have a set of 3 Givi E45 cases making the back end very wide & much wider than the handlebars. I thought they looked wide in the shop but I just thought it was an optical illusion... I measured it and it's 112cm at the widest point ! Eeek, not a bike to filter on... I won't be short of carrying capacity however.
I'll have a look at Palmer Products too, decent quality stuff if I remember correctly.

[glenwatt]

First real big bike I ever got to ride was a 1980 Suzuki GSX1100ET takes me back. 

[mr_diver]

E45. Yeah they are pretty big.
I've got a V47 topbox (48ltr) with Kappa K960 (44ltr) panniers. That makes the bike 125cm wide. Doesn't stop me filtering. I think people realise, that I know I've got the panniers on and I'm coming through anyway, so they move over rather than let me scrape their precious cars. The k960s are more oval and domed unlike the e45's that are a nice practical square box.
I can't get much more in the K960 than I can in the E33. E33's are too narrow for helmets, but that's not what I'd use them for.
The picture may help with the side profile of the Palmer Products mount.
I went to silver as I'm too stingy to pay for the powder coating. Plus all the powder coat peeled off the madstad as they are both stainless and it doesn't take too well.
The palmer mount is a nice brushed effect too.
I'll send a PM for the manual link.

[alan29]

I've got the V35 panniers on mine.
Yes, they are wide. But how else are we going to transport the 24 pairs of shoes that OH takes to France?
The Palmer is excellent, but you need to check the tightness of the knobs (matron!!!!) cos they can work loose.

[2112]

Oh well at 125cm's your Varadero has a much lardier arse than mine Mr D, I'll stop whining and just get on with it. I wouldn't mind getting a bigger top box though...

I'm currently having a fight with the suspension links which I drowned in WD40 last night. I'll give 'em another squirt tonight and then, one way or another, they are coming out.

[mr_diver]

I stripped that linkage back in the spring.
Takes a fair bit of effort when you're lying on the floor

I ended up using a 2ft breaker bar on and extension to shift the little blighters.

Watch out for the middle exhaust gasket. They are a known weak point and PITA to replace. I've replaced it twice in 25k.

Here's a wide load image of the Wee with the k960s fitted.

[2112]

Now that's a wide arse and no mistake ! It curiously reminds me of an ex-girlfriend...

Well, after quite a fight I manged to get the rear linkages stripped, cleaned & greased up. The bearings were surprisingly good, the bolts had seized on the crappy, home-made looking 'lowering kit' (shite qualiy & material, I was going to sell them on ebay but they're going in the bin). Got the +20mm links in and it's fine, I can flat foot it both sides, but it is tall (I have a 33" inside leg). Perhaps it's the 18 1/2 stone compressing the suspension that helps ?
Just need some of this now -