Honda 125 VARADERO XLV 2004 — Specifications

When Honda decided to offer the Varadero in 125cc, the gamble was bold: to offer A1 license holders a trail bike with an adult look, without relegating them to a toy motorcycle. The result is this XLV 125, which borrows its lines from the larger 1000, with the 90° V-twin engine inherited from the Shadow. A rare engine in the category, which defines the identity of the machine.

This 124.7cc twin produces 15 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, with a torque of 9.8 Nm available at 9,500 rpm. On paper, nothing extraordinary. On the road, character counts as much as figures: this four-stroke engine runs smoothly, without jerks, with a smoothness that the classic single-cylinder engines of the category cannot really compete with. The five-speed gearbox complements the whole, and the chain poses no particular maintenance problems. Things get tricky on acceleration. With 167 kg fully fueled, the Varadero has a certain plumpness for its displacement, and quick overtaking requires serious anticipation.

This weight is justified by generous equipment. The steel double cradle frame, the 35mm telehydraulic fork with 150mm of travel, the 276mm front discs and 220mm rear disc, the 17.5-liter tank that allows for genuinely reassuring range: all of this has a cost in kilos. The 800mm seat remains accessible to various builds, and the suspension absorbs bumps without brutality. Those looking for reviews of the Honda 125 Varadero XLV 2001 or 2005 will find the same philosophy on subsequent years, Honda having made few changes to the basic formula.

In the city, the imposing size deceives: you put your feet flat without contortion, and the motorcycle weaves with honest docility. On the open road, the maximum speed of 115 km/h is sufficient for everyday use, even if motorway sections remain an excess. Wind protection is correct as standard, genuinely convincing with the high screen as an option. For those consulting reviews of the Honda 125 Varadero XLV 2007, know that the braking requires firm pressure to give its full measure, it is not a decisive defect but a characteristic to integrate from the first outings.

Facing the Yamaha TDR 125 and its two-stroke engine, which is noticeably more powerful, the Varadero plays a different tune. It does not seek brute performance, it sells travel, comfort, and a silhouette that does not cause embarrassment at the gas station. At 4,700 euros in 2004, this positioning made sense for a young driver who wanted to cover kilometers without feeling restricted by a commuter build. It is a small-displacement road motorcycle, and in this specific register, it remains consistent from the first to the last kilometer.