So, I've just got back from a day on the Africa Twin. Dropped the Grom off first thing, for a few jobs, then put 240 miles on the AT, on all types of road, mainly nadgery tracks with gravel & grass down the middle.
It was a 65 plate manual, wih 3000 miles on the clock, for reference.
After a couple of miles, I got used to the feel of it, threading in and out of some traffic in town. Throttle was a bit snatchy, but I'll get used to that.
I then got to some familiar roads, so got a chance to open it up. It's definitely quick enough (127 on the speedo several times seemed to be at its limit), and the stock exhaust had a good sound to it. A full system would sound even better! One thing I noticed very quickly is how easy this bike is to ride. A few more miles under my belt on it, and it was as if it was mine, and it felt good.
I had a good look round the bike, and it's well put together. The spokes were all corroded, but that's been discussed, and I believe that there is a fix on the way. This bike has been through a winter already, and had a couple of rusty bolts, but the finish of the bike was generally very good.
The snatchy throttle didn't go away, and remained for the rest of the day. The brakes were OK, but could be much better. Someone in a Q7 nearly had an imprint of an Africa Twin in the side of them, but we managed to stop in time. Just!
I don't know what tyres were on the bike, but they seemed OK most of the time, but did manage to step out on a couple of dry, non gravelly bends, which was strange. I thought about the chap that hated his AT, then fell back in love after changing the tyres.
Overall, I really liked the bike. Much much more than I thought I would. It was great fun on some familiar roads, and certainly a bike that I could spend more time on.
Would I get one? Never say never. I wouldn't replace the GSA with one, but I'd like to try the DCT version, and consider it as an addition, rather than a replacement.
It was a 65 plate manual, wih 3000 miles on the clock, for reference.
After a couple of miles, I got used to the feel of it, threading in and out of some traffic in town. Throttle was a bit snatchy, but I'll get used to that.
I then got to some familiar roads, so got a chance to open it up. It's definitely quick enough (127 on the speedo several times seemed to be at its limit), and the stock exhaust had a good sound to it. A full system would sound even better! One thing I noticed very quickly is how easy this bike is to ride. A few more miles under my belt on it, and it was as if it was mine, and it felt good.
I had a good look round the bike, and it's well put together. The spokes were all corroded, but that's been discussed, and I believe that there is a fix on the way. This bike has been through a winter already, and had a couple of rusty bolts, but the finish of the bike was generally very good.
The snatchy throttle didn't go away, and remained for the rest of the day. The brakes were OK, but could be much better. Someone in a Q7 nearly had an imprint of an Africa Twin in the side of them, but we managed to stop in time. Just!
I don't know what tyres were on the bike, but they seemed OK most of the time, but did manage to step out on a couple of dry, non gravelly bends, which was strange. I thought about the chap that hated his AT, then fell back in love after changing the tyres.
Overall, I really liked the bike. Much much more than I thought I would. It was great fun on some familiar roads, and certainly a bike that I could spend more time on.
Would I get one? Never say never. I wouldn't replace the GSA with one, but I'd like to try the DCT version, and consider it as an addition, rather than a replacement.
nice pics too,
I thought it was a very well composed, very refined light feeling bike. I can see why there there are comparisons drawn between the A/T and the 950/990 ADV as they have a similar character, the A/T airing on the side of pleasant, the KTM airing on the side of fun 
