Show Us Your Varadero Pictures

Great pictures Howie.

I'm jealous. Unfortunately, due to other matters, I won't be traveling this year. The Varadero and the KLRs will only be making short jaunts here and there. This year I was planning an Arctic Circle trip, but plan to go once I'm able. Looks like you had a great time.

How was your bike in the gravel? Considering it's size, my Varadero does great on loose surfaces.

Thanks. I did come accross lots of gravel but the bike handled well. The operator, however, did crap his pants a few times. The hardest parts were the black surface on the Dempster that turns to baby snot when it rains. On high camber corners, I felt the bike, being so top heavy, starting to slide down towards the ditch. Too bad that you couldn't get up north this year. Hopefully next year.
Howie

Wow!!:eek1!Thats truly a Varaderos Adv pics!!!!

I wiss you many and safe trips!!!

Thank you for sharing with us...!!!

Howie: Four of us did the Dempster to Inuvik last summer. I think I'm still washing that calcium off my Varadero.

Howie: What kind of tyres are you running? TKC's?
Tnx for sharing. Amazing pics!

Thanks. Yes, they are TKC's. I bought them used with less than 500 kms on the them for $200. They handled very well in mud and loose gravel. I also felt safe in driving rain that was pooling on the road. I did, however, thought I was going to get more than 7000 k out of the rear. I guess the combination of a loaded bike and miles of seal-coat tire chewing tarmac took its toll. The front tire is still good. I guess for $200, I can't complain. I normally ride with Tourances.
Howie

Waiting to get on the boat.

On the boat

Hopper... Noticed that you live in Yorkshire. Are you attending to the annual Varadero UK (VUK) meeting, early September in Northern Yorkshire? I'm coming over from Cloggyland together with an Norwegian Viking...

We have just arrived from Dolomites.

Ligurian Military Road:

Lovely pictures.

I especially like that last pic BIKE-R

Thx :)

More photos:

Col D'Izoard















Near to Vinadio









Col De Vars

Col De Sommeiler

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Stunning. A Dream! Tnx for sharing. How does the Mighty Dero handle the unpaved mountain passes? I mean, I've done several of these back in 1996 on a Transalp 600 (like your travel companion is riding) which went - very - well, but on a big, heavy Varadero...<o></o>
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On the other side... You have been showing amazing footage here which proves that the capacity is not only at the bike you are riding, but also at the person who is piloting the bike... <o></o>
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Keep posting! <o></o>

North part of Ligurian Military Road was the most difficult stage on tour. On the fist-sized rocks was not easy to handle/control the fully loaded Dero.

Here is an onboard video about it:

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Due the snow we could not reach Lago de Sommeiler, on 2973 m we turned back. Only 250 m was left.

The other mountain passes (Assietta, Finestre) were relatively well accessible.

We could not reach Col de Tenda due the hard rain and Jafferau due the landslide

Large part of the last 40 000 km I rode unpaved roads. Varadero is very heavy for off-road usage but I enjoy every minute of it

It shows, Bike-R! Looking forward to your next venture... Mine will be in Romania too, end of August. Have to do an travel report on Transsylvania incl the Transfarangas pass in Romania. Unfortunately not on the Dero (which I would prefer... ), but on a provided Ducati Diavel... Anyway... fits in the story... Count Vlad => Devil => Diavel => Dracula...

Between 26 and 28 of august we are also going to take a ride in Transylvania, on Transalpina pass :)

At the end of september we will ride again to Crimean Peninsula. Last august we already have been there, but we had to come home earlier because of an accident (buddy's wife broke her hand during the tour) and we would like to explore the skipped areas (Odessa, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Bakhchisaray, Yalta)
Vlad => Devil => Diavel => Dracula.... => Vampire => V-Empire => VARADERO

Colle dell Assietta

Your photos is awesome.


I like this one, a lot!

I like this one, a lot!