Honda Varadero 125: Final ride, review and thoughts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- 2008 Honda Varadero 125cc, my first bike.
A quick ride around vlog talking about the bike and comparing to my experiences on my Kawasaki Versys 650cc.
A shout out to HaveBikeWillVlog at the end too!
Phil, I just wanted to quickly say thanks. I took the plunge and splashed out for a fantastically clean 08 Varadero 125 having constantly watched this video to help me finally decide. I certainly made the right choice and am looking forward to the fun ahead, it's a cracking bike if only lacking a little go. Cheers.
BRO THIS IS 2013.. WHAT??!?!?!?!?.. bruh the video qualety and the edit and mic and stuff.. how is it better than most motovlogs now.. i do not understand
Hi, yes I still remember my Varadero with fond memories and every time I shift on my Versys! Cracking bike. The new Honda CB500X look like good step up bikes if you ever upgrade for more power though, would probably have got that over the Versys if it was available at the time!
Hi, When I got my Varadero I was on my CBT (limited to 125cc with red L plates). This video was after I'd passed DAS (unrestricted cc, A category)
I've just bought a 2012 version so one of the last ones for the UK market and I know from your video and similar that I've made a great choice. Thanks 😎👍
How many times did you say versys? I think I counted 27 times, do you caress and sleep with your versys?
The Kawa gear boxes tend to be a bit clunky. I'm told the guy who designed the ER-5 box designed their tractor gear boxes and it doesn't surprise me. Thanks for the shout out!
If you mean a jack port for an external mic then yes it does. The ones one the Drift HD720 and 1080HD are 2.5mm and the one on the Ghost is 3.5mm.
Thanks the upload. I have just purchased a Varadero 125 myself.
I quickly realized that the wing mirrors are so short that it is not possible to see anything behind.
Do you know how/where to get hold of wing mirror arm extensions?
I have the same colour type varadero. Passed my DAS and now I'm getting a 2008 Kawasaki versys 650 lol. I will however have to part exchange it (although I have a week to decide)
Drive in a more controlling position!
Love ya videos mate makes me want to get out and ride. lots of good info info included mate. thanks
Thanks mate, wish I'd done a more in depth review video looking back, not many decent videos out there on the varadero
Nice bike and good, careful, safe riding - although you could be a little more away from the kerb so as to assert your presence and encourage cars to respect your position. I wish the seat was just a tad lower to suit slightly shorter riders, but clearly it is a great machine and far superior to currently available 125s. Thanks for uploading.
only a tiny handful of learner bikes available for anyone over 6 foot though, got to leave something for us haha. Newer CBR or the shadow with this exact same engine and weight seem to be the only ones worth bothering with, all honda. Other japanese 125 cruisers would fit ok but not sure about power.
you can drive this with A1 licence as far as I'm concerned (at least in Slovenia)
My brother's just got an ER5 and even though I was like gee-whizz! when I rode it due to it having 4x the power I honestly prefer my Varra. it's just, I dunno, nicer. Does that make sense?!
a chilly UK day, plus I was used to the handguards on my Versys deflecting the cold UK wind! ;-)
brilliant video mate
you can find loads of them on eBay ranging from £1900 all the way up to as much as £4000 with loads of extras
Nice little trip around Nailsea then !! Spot the local Supermarkets !! Looks a good bike for a new rider unlike the dinky bikes like the YZF/CBF 125 ( not ideal for bigger/taller or older people as we look stupid on them!! )
Maybe they should of made a 250cc version for bit more power
You mentioned “my versys” like 100 times!!
I dont ride a varadero mate, just like ya style and outlook on all ya vlogs.
Im Honda rider cbf1000.
Stay safe.
Great upload, appreciated.
Nice Vid - I had the 1000 and was nearly killed on it ! I'm still biking - I thought I sort of recognised some of the streets on this vid - I live in Tetbury !
Great back story, interesting details, but...but...Versys, versys, versys, versys, versys, versys, versys, versys, (It was ONLY 15 times mentioned, NOT 27 and not 100, just felt like that...!) Hope you're loving or have since married your Versys.
What did you say your other bike was?
Versys
I'll buy it mate 👍
What is the L/100km on this bike :)?
get a smaller fly wheel fitted and a higher gear ratio put in it and it will go the Varadero was built with a bigger fly wheel thats why its so slow moving
Good video very informative
miss my Honda Varadero 125 .. I sold it like a T*** ... very nice bike to ride
Oh well selling mine tommorow as well, but its time for a bigger ride and bigger adventures! Would of kept it if I only went around town
Sound posting pal,,,,didnt get to see what a full tank of fuel does though,, ah well looking forward to finding out my self,,, ahy ho silver,,,, cheers bud :-)
Get a varadero 1000?
Do you think this is a good bike for first time learner? I've been doing a lot of research and this seems like the best one ...
NoxiousBeatz It is a good bike for a first time learner, but, it's expensive and expensive to fix if you drop it. I'd only really advise it if you wouldn't fit on something like a YBR 125.
philjonesuk That's the thing, I'm 192cm (6ft 3), so i'm not sure whether a YBR 125 would be good.
NoxiousBeatz similar height. why I went Varadero. Anything else looks a little like a gorilla riding a motorcycle. I did do my CBT on a YBR reasonably comfortably, worth going to a dealer and doing a bit of sitting on both :)
philjonesuk Allright well thanks for the fast reply :D I will consider the YBR 125 as well.
NoxiousBeatz could alway look at the chinese bike that spicy110 has, he is quite a tall lad too :)
did you mention versys???
Jonathan Shaw Yes. I went Varadero > Versys 650 > Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 ;-)
Mate, old vid.
BUT, why do folks buy ANY 125 in place of a Baby Vara?? Who knows.
Best 125 ever...That is all ;-)
Cheers Mr Blah!
God I miss my Vara, I miss ragging every CC out of it, I barely crank the throttle fully open on my Versys!
It was more fun trying to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow ;-)
Sadly the people didn't support the hond varadero and it is not been made anymore. Still you can find second hand but it gets verly limited sadly
Would you recommend this to a learner that's never been on a motorcycle?
im thinking the exact same thing as you
Yes, its great.
You only had 125 for 6 months before upgrading? That's my plan! How was the jump onto a larger bike at first?
My first experience of a bigger CC bike was a bike that was physically smaller so, kinda put me off. Why I went and bought the Versys, got insurance as a learner (only allowing usage fpr training with instructor but later inform them of full licnese).
Going from a 125 to a bigger bike is pleasant, you have power, you can be lazy with the gears, but, you'll get it trouble quicker ;)
I'd recommend on your 125 riding around your test centre before starting lessons, something I wish I'd done, could have saved some £££ from not messing up the roads in a panic ;)
Ah I see! The largest I've been on is a YBR125 so I'm really looking forward to actually having my own wheels, I'm 24 so it's been a long time coming! Thanks for the tip :)
Why a Versys and not the XL1000V?
Insurance. Versys was cheap (£900, see later vlogs, 1 years no claims dropped it to £182).
With 0 years insurance no claims, anything else was thousands of pounds or they would not insure me.
Why shouldn't he do a u turn? It's a roundabout.
Are you on an A2 licence?
wow a week and a half and it starts up right away? amazing. (sarcasm)
I have multiple bikes and my chinese bike has sat for weeks at a time and started right away, i really dislike it when people who has never owned chinese bikes start shitting on them based on an outdated opinion. It highly depends on the brand you buy as most bikes now including many hondas are now made in china and the same factorys that make those bikes churn out the cheaper chinese bikes you see sold by lexmoto and sinnis which really arent bad.
how tall are you ???
Ah Fowlers, wouldn't go near their used bikes with a barge pole, or their servicing! Good for gawping at shiny things you can't afford though...
Bought an 08 with 1600 miles in mint condition for £3000
Im just about to buy an 06 with 9k for 1500. 1 keeper...
Take a shot everytime he says versis
Mention versys one more damn time..
subbed :)
ROFL 3:22