Honda Varadero XL125V Review

Overall Rating

Very economical. Nice Big-bike looks. Very reliable and robust. Quite off road capable and very comfortable in the same time. Bulletproof cooling system. Almost perfect transmission.

Quite heavy for 125cc.

I bought this Honda Varadero XL125V 3 months ago after my scooter got trashed in a crash and I'm very happy with the purchase. I have done about 2000km on it and all of those kilometers where full of pleasure and enjoyment. Of course the 125cc engine is no monster and it feels a little bit too weak for the weight and height of this bike, but compared to other 125s, it performs surprisingly well. It accelerates very fast until about 90-100km/h (55-60mph) and the top speed is about 120km/h (72mph). It can easily and comfortably cruise all day at 100-110 km/h (60-66mph). It's liquid cooling system is incredibly effective, which is by the way what makes the engine look bigger than 125. The gearbox is not even worth talking about - works like charm. Gear shifting is as smooth as it can be. The only problem is that it sometimes gets stuck at 3rd gear when shifting down at standstill, but this can be quickly avoided by releasing the clutch a little bit. Sometimes you might feel a need for 6th gear, usually while running in or warming up, but it actually doesn't need it at all, since it doesn't have the power to pull itself faster than it can now. It might be able to work on lower revs, thus saving more fuel and lifetime, but these are not the aspects that need improving. The bike is pretty high from the ground thus giving you nice off road capability. I do not mean sporty off road capability or driving trough mud as deep as sea, since that's not what this bike was meant for, but it can easily carry you trough woods, hills or countryside, where sport bikes, touring bikes or choppers would be totally useless. Some 125s suffer from bad quality tires that can be dangerous when wet, but not with Varadero. These tires have great grip on road, wet or dry, doesn't matter, and they are not useless off road. It has also got a little under-seat storage compartment, but it's too small for any good, practical use. You can put little items like gloves, cellphone or point 'n shoot camera in there, but it won't hold anything you couldn't stuff in your jacket pockets. It has also got helmet hangs and a little space for U-shaped lock. The instrument panel is quite good for a bike. It has a Speedometer, Tachometer, Coolant Temperature Gauge, Fuel warning light and two little LCDs for clock, trip meter and odometer. It misses a fuel gauge, but that doesn't bother me at all, since you can still ride about 70km after the warning light comes on, which is more than enough to get you to the next gas station.It doesn't come with a centre stand, but you can and you should add one for a little extra cost, which comes very useful when changing engine oil, checking tire pressure or lubricating the chain.By the way, Engine oil change is required every 4000km, and chain should be lubricated every 400km, which is basically at every refuel.The bike is very comfortable, which is good for traveling long distances. The sitting position is very nice for both - passenger and driver.The seat is long enough for two people with backpacks to sit comfortably, however, when loading a heavy passenger, (by heavy I mean not a child and not a woman) you should remember to adjust the rear suspension, since otherwise, the bike might be a little difficult to control.The handling is very responsive and quick, and it takes almost no getting used to. I passed my driving test on this bike and the driving around cones part was very easy with a minimal training, which is not comparable to sport bikes or choppers.Also what's nice is the aerodynamics of the bike. It is designed to send most of the air flow around you, improving top speed and making high-speed riding more comfortable. It has a pair of hot air blowers in both sides of instrument panel, which are nice in cold temperatures to keep your hands warm. It's not that big difference, but you can feel it. They also help to keep up the air pressure around the driver, thus sending more of the cold air around. Overall, the bike is very good and I highly recommend it to any young driver or newcomer to biker community. It's an excellent learner bike, since it handles very easily and feels big, thus making it easier to swap for a bigger bike in future. It costs a little bit much for a 125, but if you do have the extra money, buy it, it really is worth it.