Africa Twin is coming

[Adventure Boy]

Cant believe that its only 4 of us that's ordered one !!

 

[Arsey]

So after 55 pages we have 4 buyers?

What about the GT Arsey?

Nah,stupid power that would get me in trouble and too expensive.
The more reviews I read about the AT,especially the DCT version,the more it appealed.It seems like a natural successor to my 950 SE (which I will never sell) and over the years I've found that the bikes I've really gelled with are the ones that don't develop stupid power but nice usable power mated to a chassis that can fully exploit it.I have a feeling that the AT will be one of these and it will be fun to have something novel with the DCT.

I've no plans to sell the Versys either as I can see that more of a mile muncher to get further afield,and I'll use the AT more locally and hopefully on some special stuff such as a Bilco USA trip and definitly a re-run of the RDGA yet again,but probably going south to north for a change.

Still waiting to hear from my dealer when I might see the bike.

Quite like the fact that most tossers don't get it,especially those that see 95bhp as a failing-I see it as it's making and what will make the AT add up to more than the sum of it's individual parts.

 

[Paul S]

Cant believe that its only 4 of us that's ordered one !!

Not that hard to believe really - 4 guinea pigs should be more than enough to test them for the rest of us

Would never order a bike these days without a decent test ride first and they will still be selling them for a few years yet so why the rush?

 

[Paul S]

Quite like the fact that most tossers don't get it,especially those that see 95bhp as a failing-I see it as it's making and what will make the AT add up to more than the sum of it's individual parts.

You could well be right - loads of folks like the F800GS's and this should hopefully be a better version of that. 95bhp should be plenty so long as Honda have not sanitised the character out of it as they have a habit of doing

 

[Adventure Boy]

Not that hard to believe really - 4 guinea pigs should be more than enough to test them for the rest of us

Would never order a bike these days without a decent test ride first and they will still be selling them for a few years yet so why the rush?

Its a Honda Paul mate, not a BMW it will be properly tested before release, the last thing Honda need is the reputation BMW have now got !!

 

[Nutty]

the last thing Honda need is the reputation BMW have now got !!

Yep, BMW are fucked. Their reputation is in tatters.

 

[Adventure Boy]

Yep, BMW are fucked. Their reputation is in tatters.

May not be in tatters Nutty but you've got to admit the GSWC problems then the RTs hasn't done them any favours, and the paint finish really isn't that good !!
I havnt seen a year old GS or RT that's not showing rusty fixings, engine casings or discs,

please don't think im ragging on BMW I wouldn't buy another Harley, Aprilia or Cagiva

Like you ill never say never but apart from my Brand new condition 1150GS SE Which I wont sell, it will be a while till I buy another BMW I am not badge conscious that's for sure I buy whatever I like no matter who makes it hence in the garage now there is the SE a 2015 Versys 1000, A 13 Plate 700 Transalp, and my one off turbo Hayabusa so theres a varied array of bikes
in the car Dept im the same with 3 cars all from different manufacturers

 

[Paul S]

Its a Honda Paul mate, not a BMW it will be properly tested before release, the last thing Honda need is the reputation BMW have now got !!

Strangely enough I was not referring to reliability/build quality but to whether the bike is actually any good in the real world and would make me want to ride it on a regular basis - in that respect you are still the guinea pigs

 

[Nutty]

May not be in tatters Nutty but you've got to admit the GSWC problems then the RTs hasn't done them any favours, and the paint finish really isn't that good !!
I havnt seen a year old GS or RT that's not showing rusty fixings, engine casings or discs,

As we all know, problems with all bikes get blown out of proportion on forums. This isn't the section for me to bleat on about it, but look at the tens of thousands of GS's sold, compared to the number with problems. Have a look on any Honda forum, or Honda subsection, and you'll find issues. No bike is perfect and fault free. The KTM girls on here love to wind up the GSers, but have a look on the KTM forums, and you'll be busy for days reading about all the issues.

My GSA is 15 months old, has been ridden in salt, with no ACF50 ever applied, and if you can find one spot of corrosion on the bike, or any paint missing, I'll eat my bike!

Go to ANY bike dealer, and you'll find corrosion on any of their demo bikes after a winter.

I don't get why the folk on here that used to have a GS keep coming back and slagging off the bikes. I used to have Yamahas, Triumphs, and even a Honda, and they were far from perfect, but I'd never go into those sections and slag off those bikes.

BMW are selling more bikes than they ever have, so they must be doing something right. And don't say marketing, because that's utter bollocks.

I'm off for a lie down now.

 

[Adventure Boy]

My GSA is 15 months old, has been ridden in salt, with no ACF50 ever applied, and if you can find one spot of corrosion on the bike, or any paint missing, I'll eat my bike!

LOL that made me laugh, yes there is good and bad in them all, and once again you are correct forums are a great place to vent your spleen at the bad things that have happened, very rare is it posted that I went for a great ride today and nothing happened to the Bike, apart from the Versys 1000 forum LOL !! Ive had 17 BMWs now ranging from the first 1150GS in 2000 going through the range to 1100ss 1150GSA, 1150RT, 1200RT, 1200GS, 1200GSA 1200TB 1200Rallye not had any catastrophic failures but had a fair share of returns to the dealer for silly things and ECU upgrades 5 on my first 1200GS !! The last one was the Rallye 2 yrs old 1100 miles on it that developed rusty discs engine casing and rear drive case paint flaking and that bike had never seen Rain kept in a heated garage, I Wont go into what the dealer said which inevitably lead to the sale of it,
Im as I said in a prior post not Ragging on BMW but personally I wont be buying another for a while that's for sure Jap bikes just seem to give me that reliability comfort feeling at the moment
now you watch the AT will be a unreliable Pig LOL

 

[Packer]

Irrespective of what the sales volumes are I doubt that many people who've had BMW's for 12 or more years would disagree that the factory has progressively reduced the quality of the product.

Whether it be cheap components from China, inadequate paint specification (lack of alloy passivation?) or sloppy assembly in Germany there are more than enough issues to deter some would be buyers. Those who only read the marketing blurb and trade press road tests are happy to lay down their monthly rentals for what still has the cache of a "quality product" hence the sales volumes but a lot of people will be bitten by the ongoing issues. I seem to remember reading that the final drive on the Bogger still isn't bullet proof. That will make it 21 years they've been churning out bikes with a fragile final drive. Obviously "quality product" doesn't apply to all components.

Nothing is perfect but BMW's seem to be less perfect than other brands which is why I for one gave up on them. I loved my 1150GS but three final drive failures in 69,000 miles didn't instil confidence.

As for the AT I'm surprised at the weight of it and the price seems high in this country at least but it apparently hides its weight well and if it's reliable should be a good travelling bike, especially on chopped up minor roads and gravel/dirt trails. I can see them selling a shed load in North America.

 

[Adventure Boy]

Just got this from Dobles for the Accessories


Honda Genuine Accessories
Averto alarm Kit
£540.00
Backrest
£75.00
Wheel Stripes (Rally, Tri or Black)
£40.00
Fog light pack
£695.00
Rear Carrier
£45.00
Top Box (inc. Lock)
£240.00
Pannier Set
£525.00
U-lock
£95.00
Main Stand
£160.00
Cowl Guard Pipes
£385.00
High Seat (Rally, Tri or Black)
£300.00
Low Seat (Rally, Tri or Black)
£150.00
High Windscreen
£115.00
Pillion Step
£70.00
Lower Deflectors
£125.00
Upper Deflectors
£105.00
Smoked Windscreen
£105.00
Heated Grips Kit
£340.00
12v Socket
£50.00
DCT Pedal Shifter
£320.00

Inner Bags (for genuine luggage) £125.00

Aluminium Top Box £245.00 Carrier for Top box £100.00

Aluminium Pannier Cases £520.00

Pannier Stay £215.00

Foot Peg - Rider £250.00 Foot Peg - Passenger £180.00 Knuckle Guards £80.00

Skid Plate £80.00

Frame Protectors £60.00





The acerbis skid plate looks good value !!

Also spoke to them about the bike in situation before the new one is due and they have agreed they will take mine when the AT is delivered so all sorted

Still no delivery dates so far !!

 

[Timolgra]

Nothing is perfect but BMW's seem to be less perfect than other brands which is why I for one gave up on them. I loved my 1150GS but three final drive failures in 69,000 miles didn't instil confidence.

.

Was that 3 separate brand new drives or the same one rebuilt?

 

[Neil W]

I 'm sure that the Africa Twin will not need new handlebar switches at under 1000 miles
I'm similarly sure that it will not spend weeks back at the dealer due to software issues and non functioning electronic suspension
I'm sure that when loaded with luggage the suspension will not steadfastly (and randomly) refuse to go onto its loaded settings and then stay there (leaving no fault codes)
I'm also sure that it will not occasionally decide to lose power and the stability control activate (of course leaving no fault codes)
I'm also sure that the seams will not go on the seat after 200 miles nor will the frame paint chip off when nylon bungs are put into the frame.

But of course BMW build quality is vastly superior to this Jap Crap

 

[Arsey]

I 'm sure that the Africa Twin will not need new handlebar switches at under 1000 miles
I'm similarly sure that it will not spend weeks back at the dealer due to software issues and non functioning electronic suspension
I'm sure that when loaded with luggage the suspension will not steadfastly (and randomly) refuse to go onto its loaded settings and then stay there (leaving no fault codes)
I'm also sure that it will not occasionally decide to lose power and the stability control activate (of course leaving no fault codes)
I'm also sure that the seams will not go on the seat after 200 miles nor will the frame paint chip off when nylon bungs are put into the frame.

But of course BMW build quality is vastly superior to this Jap Crap

And it won't be delivered with rust already on the frame . And it'll be possible to refuel by turning a key in the filler cap and not require a finger implant to activate the NASA designed super flap !!


Sent from my iPhone using Tosserbollockery

 

[Packer]

Was that 3 separate brand new drives or the same one rebuilt?

All one unit rebuilt. I replaced the big bearing and seal myself at 26,000 miles. That lasted until just short of 61,000 miles. I was in Folkestone on business, it failed on the way back to London and Neil was a real gent, pushed other work back to fit me in and again did the big bearing and seal. At 69,000 miles prepping for Alaska it was clear that the unit was in trouble again so I asked Scriminger to do whatever was needed to give me a perfect FD. It was still going strong when I sold the bike at 96,000 miles despite some abuse. I mentioned in another thread that I seriously misjudged the shape of a hump backed bridge. I was fully loaded with camping gear and bottles of spirits for a customer in Alnwick. The bike was so high off the floor I was certain that I'd crash and still don't understand how I managed to hold on to it. The suspension flattened badly at both ends, bone jarring shock through the bars, pegs and saddle. The next morning the bike wouldn't start, either the plates in the battery were buckled or just sludge in the old unit all stirred up. I had to make a run into Newcastle for a new battery. Several weeks later odd noises from the suspension had been getting worse and inspection found this:-

The final drive was fine though, thank you Steve Scriminger.

 

[Timolgra]

Not sure I'd be totally blaming the above entirely at BM's door, lucky with the suspension, it's normally the rear lower shock bolt that snaps.

Did I ever mention my super dooper ultra reliable original low mileage AT?

The one with the faulty fuel pump and regulators

The proof will be in the pudding when the new AT owners look back on 100k miles of riding.

Bit like me in 16 yrs of riding 1150s the ONLY time I've broken down, was a few weeks ago when the battery failed to start a hot engine

But reading through the recent stages of this thread, most buyers are perhaps just getting a new toy to bolt a load of tat to, whatever floats your boat

 

[Davy F]

But reading through the recent stages of this thread, most buyers are perhaps just getting a new toy to bolt a load of tat to, just like the Starbucks/Tesco crowd on their GS's

Fixed.....

 

[Timolgra]

Fixed.....

Well I'm sure you know I didn't need that pointing out

 

[Davy F]

Well I'm sure you know I didn't need that pointing out

Just crossing the T's and dotting the i's.....