I feel so bad for the old owner. My wife told me to get 4 wheels or leave. She wasn't happy when I bought a second bike and said I had 4 wheels now

I had a Varadero 125 as my first bike, brilliant bikes.

19 years old at the moment and im around 6feet 6, and im telling you the Honda Varadero 125 is the best learning bike i couldve wished for.

Once again a great demonstration that you don't have to go huge power for huge fun! Thanks for posting RJ, great vid....all the best - TMF

I prefer these vids where you let your personality shine through RJ. Nice one.

This is RJ's only riding video I had to turn the volume up, lol

The Varadero 125 is an awesome machine, I rode my Dad's one from England to Spain over 4000 miles on a 125! Video is on my channel if you're interested...

I feel sorry for the poor man who has a woman like that lol

I'm 6'6 and this is the bike I learned to ride on and did my CBT with when I was 17! It's amazing and no one thinks it's a 125. I added a scorpion slip on exhaust, took out the baffle and it sounded like a much bigger bike too. Top speed is 80 mph and the gas mileage is really good. Fills to the brim for £15. 2 years ago I bought a 2005 XL125 for £3,000 which is the average price, they're pretty expensive

You had me at "as big as a scorpion's vagina" :D

I like story telling with RJ

Scorpions well known for their tight foofs xD

This sound... its so special, not like the other 125 Chainsaws you hear on the roads haha

I used to own this bike, I'm 6'6 250lbs and my friend owned a CBF 125 and weighs something like 180lbs. My bike beat his off the line and beat his top speed despite both I and the bike being much much heavier. Definitely not a slow bike to all those people saying it is :P

New series? Teaching someone to ride. Keep up the great content!

Your friend is starting to sound like an enthusiast :D seems like there's no stopping him now haha

It's really nice to see this personal part of you, and you getting comfortable enough talking to make jokes such as the scorpion one!

Oh good, this is fantastic! I've been looking for a proper video of this specific bike. Many thanks RJ! :)

I had one of these. LOVED IT. In fact I wish I still had it despite passing my test. It was a brilliant work horse and had great presence for a 125

You were a good friend with the advice, hopefully one day he will appreciate it. He's got a nice ride too.

Cheers for doing this Video RJ! I'm going for my CBT in june and had been recommended the Varadero a few times. So thanks to this im pretty set on it now. Just need to find one in my budget. Good video mate keep up the good work!

You have outstanding taste in friends. I don't know this guy, but I like him already. Tenaciously persistent. If you don't help him he will do it without you, who better to help him get started? Love it.

I love my Varadero 125, thanks RJ you’ve inspired me to get one, I have my second one as the first one was a bit of a rag, and when one popped up for sale with 1000 miles I just couldn’t pass it.

I started my training on this machine. Even this 125 has enormous power and manageability. It runs very quietly at low revs. I loved her.

"I bet the piston is as big as a scorpions vagina." ROFL! You had me dying there.

Your mate is crazy, but i don't think he is going to give up. :D

Hey RJ, As a point which has perhaps been stated before, you excel when you tell stories like these. It's easier to relate to the narrative and your personality comes out more as well. I would encourage you to produce more content like this. As for your friend, he comes across as one of those guys who once he sets his mind on to something will achieve it no matter what the obstacles are and that is a great trait to have. Do continue to encourage him.

i have started to learn how to ride a motorbike with the same bike,a 125 varadero ..after one year with it,i passed my motorcycle license to ride huge bikes..good one RJ.

please come back with news about your friends learnings of riding !

Yesssssss i've been waiting for a decent video on this bike as I'm thinking about it as my first road bike to have with a cbt Thank you RJ

My first gf when i was 14 said its me or ur skateboard, n i said it was nice knowing u! U should never change who u r

Amazing videos as usual, always quality content!

Got my drivers license on a Varadero myself, great bike! :)

Fell in love with my baby V. Part of me wishes I never sold it. Dominator R end can, K&N Filter + a few other modifications. Loved it!

I have one and they are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!! so happy you made this video RJ!

Had one for 2 years. Never had any issues with it. Loved it to bits.

You are right...I would never guessed it for a 125. Thanks for the video.

RJ, This is the best 125cc! Nice video man! Regards!

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 😎👍

Good Vid RJ Keep up the good work!

It really is a lovely bike. I'm 6ft 7 and very nearly chose this as my first bike but thankfully I went the D.A.S route and got myself a BMW F800s as my first bike and was super glad I chose the extra power. The best NEW 125 for tall riders now I'd recommend the Yamaha WR125R that bike is TALL and light.

Hoyt's love RJs sense of humour! Keep it up man, I enjoy your videos for the diverse and in depth commentaries of motorbike just as much as I love SnowCats dickhead videos haha

Reminds me of the Honda NX250 Dominator. Sad they discontinued it. Great video.

I live in Singapore and we have similar bike license system as the UK. I ride a R15 V2 right now because I'm only 1.66m in height. I'm jealous of my brother because he already has his big bike license for a couple of years now. He used to ride a Kawasaki Z1000SX but now, he rides a MV Agusta F4 RR. Makes my eyes go nuts for it. Its awesome to live in a motorbike family. R15 V2, MV Agusta F4 RR and Kawasaki Concours 1400 for my dad's bike. In less than 2 years time, I will get my big bike license. Looking at the Kawasaki ZX10R because its a shorter bike (based on my dad's and bro's info). Anyway, another great video RJ. KEEP IT UP!

I love it when RJ talks .. No homo

if RJ narrates the whole introduction and the reviews of a bike (every single bike)in his on way, maybe 11/10 will buy it, so persuasive.

Great little vid. Found this after looking for video review of 125cc Varadero. On here you come across as a decent guy. I can see from your riding that you have natural balance & good hazard anticipation.....I cant understand why you did the undertake on the other biker but anyway thanks for sharing. Your were good to your friend. Sounds like he would have been uncomfortable & lucked daft on a smaller 125 bike. Stay safe.

What a lovely story and a nice bike! Another option might be the Derbi Terra Adventure 125, though they tend to be even rarer to come by.

nice bike ....never saw one it before..I live in Canada ... looks real ...smooth....I'm hitting the thumbs up...sharp bike

i've got myself an 03 varadero, love it to bits

immer geile videos😂

That's a nice bike RJ . Ride safe 👍🏻🏍

RJ you are the best keep it up :)

Love watching all you vids past and present I just randomly watching lol. Just completed my manual CBT test first time I took it made me giggle when said friend failed it, bless him obviously this video is few years old did he ever getting round to learning. I have a question about the Honda Veradero I’m 5.9ft do you think I will be able to touch floor

Got central stand and everything. Very good. Now you'll have to teach him my friend. V

I learnt on and rode a 125 Varadero for a year. Echoing the smoothness praises, engine is like a sewing machine - Great bike.

The best compliment you can pay a 125 is that an experienced rider (me) who's had everything up 900cc still rates it. Great for filtering as it's light, nimble and tall. Tip: If you get the later model with fairing-mounted mirrors. Remove them and fit ones to the bars. The screw-in points are still there, but filled with removable grommets.

I managed to get one of the very last varaderos in the uk 😊 its a 2017 part of the final production run at honda the last of a dying breed and its my baby and ill probably find it very hard to sell because its such a wonderful bike

i am currently learning on a Varadero 125 and i after a few months riding i feel like ive been riding my whole life despit me being 17😁 but that's the impression this bike gives it honestly is a really good bike and would recommend it.

the varadero was my first bike! had a 2003 carb model, it was absolutely perfect for me being 6'2, didn't take long to pass my test using it either! went straight to a bandit 1200 after passing and other than the speed/power difference the handling is pretty similar. they handle perfectly round the twisties and you can get surprisingly low on them too! if I'd had more room I would have kept it but sadly it had to go....

Best 125 motorcycle made, ever. It looks bigger than it really is because of the fairing and fuel tank. The engine is sublime and it still looks stunning nearly 20 years after it first appeared. The last updated version (mainly a lustrous metallic red) was made in 2014-2015. It has 14.21 hp, close to the legal 125 limit, weighs suprisingly only 152 kilos dry and another surprise - the seat height is only 800 mm so it also suits less tall riders. It has a massive 4.5 galllon (17 litres) fuel tank with a half gallon reserve. So it can travel up to 270 miles between fill-ups. It will cruise at 70 mph and top out at 76 mph. These specs are extraordinary and still unmatched by any modern 125 cc bike, except (in speed) by the sport-bike wannabee types that have hard seats and destroy your wrists and knees. Why Honda stopped making it, or at least, modernising it, is a mystery. Perhaps it was too expensive to produce. It is by far the most comfortable 125 cc motorcycle I have ever sat on.

Hey RJ, I also learned on the Varadero. It is wonderful, except for the lack of power as you said but it is perfect for beginners. I have one big tip for you/your friend. Change the tires, the standard tires are kind of a offroad/onroad mix and they really lack grip especially when it is raining. Considering that your friend is a new rider and the bike doesnt have ABS I would really switch those. I learned it the hard way because I rode in the rain and locked my front brake at about 5-10 km/h. No harm to the bike but it fell on me and broke my right food. I still love this thing and to be honest with more power I would prefer it over my BMW.

I thought you were going back for the ice cream :(

I'm 6'2'' 140Kg and I've just bought one of these. It is a bit of a culture shock coming from a scooter because it's very heavy (and I've never done gears on a bike - but have on car) It's really smooth and nice and eats potholes for breakfast; but I would say the weight may drain the confidence of a new rider. Luckily I'm a big SOB so I can still man handle it a bit, but a tall skinny beginner may drop it if they are inexperienced and have to park it in a awkward spot. The weight is no joke.

You seem spirited in this video. I love it.

I have a Varadero and it it awesome! It was hard for me to find a bike that fitted me when I was 17 because I was 6'5" but I bought one of these and a year later it has not let me down once, very reliable, fuel efficient; but I had to change the exhaust because it is soooo quiet with the factory one. I would recommend MIVV exhausts for this bike, I have the titanium and carbon one and its great :D (Baffle out of course)

What a nice little bike, perfect for a learner.

This was my first bike, I am 6"6" and i rode this for one year before i did my test. A great bike for learning and yes i had to convince everyone it was a 125 !

it's a excellent bike! I also rode it as my first bike! And as you say it's so smooth, but in traffic everyone notices you and thinks it's a big bike :)!

I had this bike too. Such a great comfortable bike. Never had problems until I had a crash on it. Best 125 I've ever ridden.

Hi RJ, I've picked up a carb'd Varadero that has only done 6404 miles after watching this. I've been riding C90s for the last year but I'm a bit too big for them. I was looking for a big 125 to learn on as I haven't ridden a geared bike before and was looking for something to practice on so I can work my way up to doing my DAS. Thanks, it seems like it is going to be the perfect bike for what I need.

Enjoyed the story was really good!

Watched this video, bought this bike, became RJ addict!

Am thinking of getting one as my first bike, as its got the V Twin and the sit back and relax style ;)

Nice review of a really good beginner bike, like it!!! :-)

Three of my friends had Honda Varaderos as their 125cc bike. I had the Honda Shadow 125 which had the same engine. Both were great bikes.

Love you RJ

I've had '11 varadero for 3 years now and I absoulutely love it. It's a perfect commuter for taller persons (I'm 1.95 tall)

That looks really mint.

This bike is faster than a grom, I know from experience.

Never thought I'd see you do a video on my bike, haha. Passed direct access about a week ago. I'll be getting myself a big bike, of course, but I'm never getting rid of the baby Varadero. Too much sentimental value, lol.

my first bike :D absolutely loved it.

I held my canadian licence for to long over here and had to resit the license scheme. so the only 125 that fit me was the verardero. I had it for two winters and toured the Highlands on it. absolutely best 125 that was on the market. cruised at 65 all day long. been back on the big bikes again for a few years now but always look fondly on my old verardero.

I also have a friend that was pushing me to help him learn to ride. He is a scatter brain type of person. I did not think it would end well if he started riding. So finally after a few years of him pushing for it, I said I would help him learn, but only on the dirt. So he got a Yamaha TT125. Without going into detail, lets just say he no longer wants to be a biker....

As a larger chap I had a Varadero 125, loved it before I got my full license and then a Versys 650 and now Tiger Sport. I would like another Varadero ;)

I have a silver 2011 varadero, great bike. They're based on the 600 cc honda transalp, except the engine, brakes etc. Mine has less than 6000 miles. I would never ever imagine my bike being reviewed by RJ.

My brother has one, indeed it's incredibly smooth and really nice to take on a leisure ride, i'd go as far as to say that it's a good light touring bike, but sometimes (whenever i do get around to ride it) i really wish it had a little extra, not much, just a smidgen more.

Nice looking duel sport.. Sneaky smile at 'Bring your helmet'.. The wife given you both all the gear.. is heartless.

I have done my licence on the varadero 125 2003 , awesome bike!

Its like watching a stealth RJ prowl the streets of London!

looks like an excellent bike. Reminds me of my Suzuki V-Strom :)

I've got to say, your friend is determined :-) I hope he does get it

good for big-inners.

Yep, that my my learner bike too, chosen because I'm 6' 5". It was a brilliant bike and perfect as a commuter. Much nicer to ride that the diminutive 125s and with a real presence on the road. Just felt a bit stretched above 65mph. And for the taller folk needs that higher screen. All in all a different league of motorcycle to the current Honda 125s.

Love ya RJ.

I'm 6.2 I had the Honda vt125 cruiser with the same engine great bullit proof bike and great story

the bike looks big indeed!

Oh I miss riding so much!

The wee Varadero XL 125 was the first ever motorbike I owned after doing a CBT in the UK, one year later I went on and passed my full bike test so upgraded to an ER6N. I'm a short arse (well inside leg )at 5foot6 but I got on with the Varadero 125 which is a good beginner it takes some time to get use to the height and bulk of it but than again it's not to heavy at 150KG or so so it's manageable for the novice.

I'm 6 foot 2, and i drive a ridiculously small GN 125. I love it.