Varadero 1000 - Why Won't Honda Bring This Motorcycle to the United States?
The Honda Varadero 1000 has been produced for 10 years and is extremely popular in Africa, throughout Europe, and as of 2008, Canada. It is considered a very good long range touring bike with outstanding reliability, excellent ergos and legroom, especially for tall riders above 6'2".
I know this post has nothing to do with a GL1800 - I'm just venting over Honda's marketing decision to keep this proven bike out of the United States.
Brakes Front dual 296 mm discs with triple-piston calipers and Combined Braking System with ABS; rear 256 mm disc with triple-piston caliper and Combined Braking System with ABS
Seat Height 838 mm (33 inches)
Seating capacity Two
Wheelbase 1,560 mm (61.4 inches)
Curb Weight 276.7 kg (610 pounds) including required fluids and full tank of gas – ready to ride
Fuel Capacity 25 litres
Colour Concours Black Pearl, Storm Silver Metallic
You answered your own question. Marketing decision. Marketing gets paid for convincing their own companies that they are geniuses. No mater how stupid their decisions. Then the execs must brag about what great ideas they bought into. No mater how stupid they were and how much they hurt the company.
When Honda drop importing the Transalp years ago it said there was not a big market for it in the USA, I think their timing was off a bit looking back over the years with a lot of riders into the dirt road riding. They should take a look how great KTM been doing. Anyone has any doubts about the great riding in the back country should take a look at the rides the boys have done on www.advrider.com . The wing is fun on the pavement but when that ends the fun part usually ends also!4:
You answered your own question. Marketing decision. Marketing gets paid for convincing their own companies that they are geniuses. No mater how stupid their decisions. Then the execs must brag about what great ideas they bought into. No mater how stupid they were and how much they hurt the company.
On Saturday, I went to my local Honda dealer to take a look at my new Goldwing, still in the crate (yeah!). When I was in the back of the dealership, I noticed a Honda I'd never seen before. The manager told me a customer from overseas brought this bike to the states with him. It's called a Honda Africa Twin, and I took a picture of it with my cell phone. It's a great looking bike, and there is quite a following world wide if you google it.
Here's my photo::yes1:
On Saturday, I went to my local Honda dealer to take a look at my new Goldwing, still in the crate (yeah!). When I was in the back of the dealership, I noticed a Honda I'd never seen before. The manager told me a customer from overseas brought this bike to the states with him. It's called a Honda Africa Twin, and I took a picture of it with my cell phone. It's a great looking bike, and there is quite a following world wide if you google it.
Here's my photo::yes1:
You can't just throw saddlebags and a trunk on a bike and call it a touring bike. That doesn't look like any more of a touring bike than if you slapped saddlebags on a Nighthawk.
Besides, Honda already has two touring bikes, and neither one is at the top of their sales charts. They aren't going to introduce a bike to compete with a low production touring bike they already have, the ST1300.
The Varadero would attract the type of rider that goes for the Suzuki Bandit. As great a bike as the Bandit is, it doesn't sell well either.
The US has a fascination with cruisers, and until that dies down, Honda and the rest of the manufacturers are just going to continue focusing on that demand. We are stuck. There are simply too many riders want to play out their Easy Rider fantasy.
You can't just throw saddlebags and a trunk on a bike and call it a touring bike. That doesn't look like any more of a touring bike than if you slapped saddlebags on a Nighthawk.
Besides, Honda already has two touring bikes, and neither one is at the top of their sales charts. They aren't going to introduce a bike to compete with a low production touring bike they already have, the ST1300.
The Varadero would attract the type of rider that goes for the Suzuki Bandit. As great a bike as the Bandit is, it doesn't sell well either.
The US has a fascination with cruisers, and until that dies down, Honda and the rest of the manufacturers are just going to continue focusing on that demand. We are stuck. There are simply too many riders want to play out their Easy Rider fantasy.
I owned a Honda Transalp, and rode it quite a bit. My experience was a negative one. It was a crappy trail-bike way to heavy and top heavy as well. It was a Very crappy road bike with very little power and pathetic dirt bike brakes4: . That thing nearly got me killed on road (the only time I ever "over cooked" a corner and went into the weeds).
I just assumed it was longing for a woods trip.
And it was very easy to drop off-road. I have plenty of off roading experience and this bike was a death trap. Also, it is the ONLY honda that ever left me stranded. Of all places right on Top of "the SkyWay" bridge here, over Tampa bay. Yes, I did coast it down the other side. .......Don
Dirt bikes for dirt, street bikes for the highway. They can keep those GS
types.
The only reason Honda does not sell this bike here is because of the bean counters and the marketing people have decided for whatever reason they would not sell enough of them here.
I sure would take a hard look at buying one.
You answered your own question. Marketing decision. Marketing gets paid for convincing their own companies that they are geniuses. No mater how stupid their decisions. Then the execs must brag about what great ideas they bought into. No mater how stupid they were and how much they hurt the company.
There is a lot of truth in what you said! When marketing and/or finance gets a firm hold in company, you can be generally be assured of many stupid decisions, if not outright failure.
Drum roll please. After much arm-twisting, well-respected & liked Texan @Glockjock had agreed to step up to the plate and become a Super Moderator. Glen is one of those guys that is always willing to help. For those who know Glen, you understand why he was on our radar for quite some time. Very...
Opinions or experiences on washing the GL1800 with low pressure garden hose sprayers? I'm thinking to try this for the outer painted parts (not the driver's zone or interior areas). I'd use a light spray just to wet and float away dirt; no high pressure blasting except maybe down in the lower...
Well folks,
After piloting Honda Goldwings for well over 35+ years, it has come to an end. I have not stopped riding, just Goldwings. It's a long, long story but, in short, we, the wife and I, just haven't use the Wing to its potential for quite some time now, as in a few years. We live in...
A forum community dedicated to Honda Goldwing owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, touring, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
