Africa Twin is HERE !!!

[Arsey]

Not long after these came out i test rode one and was underwhelmed, however I thought it might be on my radar in few years time at half the price. Having just farkled my recently purchased 650 VStrom to the max with a total outlay of less than 5K I don't think I will bother.

I can see why !!

Great England and Scotland stickers !! You've travelled !!


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[MarkShelley]

I can see why !!

Great England and Scotland stickers !! You've travelled !!


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The stickers are from my 1100GS (currently in the for sale section, but having taken it out yesterday I am in two minds about keeping it for solo use) but we are off to Spain next month on the Suzuki.

 

[Arsey]

Ok,so just a little update of life with a DCT Africa Twin.
I've now done well over 5000 miles with mine,the majority being from my trip to the Hebrides,and the trip I'm just finishing which has been over 2600 miles in 12 days down through France,Switzerland,Lichtenstein,Austria and Italy,with many more border crossings back and forth in the Dolomites .
I've ridden every type of road possible from autoroute to the steepest,narrowest,gnarliest passes in the Alps and Dolomites.
Basically the bike has continued to be a revelation.
The DCT box has surpassed itself.For pottering through towns I leave it in D,for most riding,S1,for some passes/cols,then S2 and for the tightest,steepest hairpins then manual mode.
The bike was good before but post-Hilltop it is transformed,along with the Remus end can and Arrow headers.
I have the tall Honda screen and tall seat,with Pivot Pegz and the comfort is brilliant.I can ride with my visor up on Neotec with just the sun visor down at motorway speeds.There is no buffeting and the screen catches all bugs leaving the visors totally clear.
I've done many long days of 8 hours or more.300 miles a day is a doddle and my longest day was 562 miles and it wasn't too bad.
Pillion comfort was fine-I had a pillion for the middle 800 miles and she said it was fine-handling 2 up with luggage was good and it never wanted for more power.
Fuel consumption averaged out at 50.2 mpg for the entire trip.If you sit on the autoroute at 130kmh (81mph),the fuel light will come on at a about 150 miles and then take 15 litres to fill it.Off autoroute the same range to reserve was usually 180 ish,but that's a lot of 2 up and panniers etc.
Reliability has been 100%.Not a single glitch and have ridden in all weathers.The temp gauge sits on 3 bar all day long and I heard the fan come on once for 2 mins along Lake Garda when it was 34degs C.
Overall,I am more than delighted with this bike.
The only negatives-the OE panniers we're a tad pants,now replaced with Bumots which are brilliant .The OE Bridgestones were shite in the wet but the Conti Trail Attack 2s now fitted are faultless .
The spokes have tarnished a tad but I hear will be replaced soon by Honda.Other than that,nothing !!
A brilliant bike at a great price for those that can think out the box and not follow the herd.
RECOMMENDED.


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[Elvisto]

I have to agree with you Arsey, Mines DCT too, can't fault it, has to go down as one of my best buys ever

Mine came with the Dunlops on, can't complain about them too much lasted just over 6,000 miles, like you, I've had Trail Attack2s fitted last Friday and I'm well pleased,

 

[Dazzle]

The DCT was the reason I bought the Africa twin, and I love the looks, but probably would have gone with another ktm if I hadn't test rode a DCT AT, found the ergonomics perfect for me, never want to have a manual again.

 

[Arsey]

I have to agree with you Arsey, Mines DCT too, can't fault it, has to go down as one of my best buys ever

Mine came with the Dunlops on, can't complain about them too much lasted just over 6,000 miles, like you, I've had Trail Attack2s fitted last Friday and I'm well pleased,

Sorry, you're right. The shite OE tyres were Dunlops not Bridgestone


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[Phil-H]

for those that can think out the box and not follow the herd.

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...has got to be the most rediculous comment ever

 

[Arsey]

...has got to be the most rediculous comment ever

At least it wasn't ridiculous


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[Arsey]

I think it was a very apt statement actually- to go and order the worlds first adventure bike available with a DCT gearbox without a demo , as many of us did was a gamble . But by doing something out of the norm it has paid dividends as the DCT AT takes riding to a different level of enjoyment . If you think that's ridiculous then stick to what you know ....


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[Davy F]

...has got to be the most rediculous comment ever

Touched a nerve, methinks.

 

[Phil-H]

Buying another overweight adventure bike in an already booming sector of the market is hardly thinking out of the box is it.

Not touching any nerves here
Each of us buy what we want and as long as we enjoy it thats all that matters.

 

[Arsey]

Buying another overweight adventure bike in an already booming sector of the market is hardly thinking out of the box is it.

Not touching any nerves here
Each of us buy what we want and as long as we enjoy it thats all that matters.

Question-have you ridden a new Africa Twin ?


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[Phil-H]

No but then I'm not slagging the bike off of making judgement

 

[Arsey]

No but then I'm not slagging the bike off of making judgement

Apart from the fact you say it's overweight yet you've never ridden one ? No wonder I only saw one solitary British reg bike in the last 12 days and 2600 miles around Europe-they're all talking bollox on Internet forums instead .


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[Adventure Boy]

I love mine for me its better than any BMW ive owned because it fits me perfect, Ive got no issues with the panniers or top box, heated grips I went with Oxford ones as I feel them to be the best, Tyres I changed to TKC80s and am happy with them, spokes are tarnishing but Honda will replace the wheels, set button did stick but some Metalite spray sorted that, but Honda will replace that also when they do the wheels, mine is manual and touch wood has been simply superb, its plenty powerfull enough to do whatever I want or need, Ill trade reliability for bragging rights on power anyday

I fail to see how you were underwhelmed with the bike Mark then posting a picture of a fully loaded 650 vstrom with 66BHP 44.5Lb Ft of torque and 220Lbs dry weight, (Wikipedia figures) 17 and 19" alloy wheels surely this cant compare with the Africa Twin, was you underwhelmed with the Power, build quality, level of equipment ??

 

[peepingtom]

I think it was a very apt statement actually- to go and order the worlds first adventure bike available with a DCT gearbox without a demo , as many of us did was a gamble . But by doing something out of the norm it has paid dividends as the DCT AT takes riding to a different level of enjoyment . If you think that's ridiculous then stick to what you know ....


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So after thinking about it you still think buying an Africa twin is "thinking outside of the box" . plus it was a gamble ........

Talk about living on the edge. No wonder you didn't see any GB plates whilst on your extreme ride round Lichtenstein they were all trying to avoid bumping into you

Just to let you know buying a Honda especially an Africa twin in pretty normal . Your neighbors probably think your Sonny Barger though

 

[Sgt Bilco]

One of the chaps on my Alaska trip brought an Africa Twin and it was one of the first to be seen over here.

He did the Dalton and Dempster Highways, Dawson Dawn to Dust run then a small matter of 7000 miles back to California with us. A real test of the bike with roads from perfect tarmac to deep gravel to slimey mud. Weather from +40c to zero and heavy rain. Not like those press tests which are short or the expert view of a tosser sitting behind a keyboard who looked at it at the bike show.

I have to say as an all round bike it takes some beating and ran with the herd of GS's no problem whatsoever and was better in the gravel and dirt. Mikes bike is a DCT with a few nice farkles and Stahlkoffer panniers.

All in all, the bike cruised along easily on the big roads, handled well loaded on some great twisty tarmac and coped with the dirt better than the GS's. The only thing Mike wasn't keen on was the slow speed handling with the DCT as you can't feather the clutch, the hand brake is next to useless and the fuel consumption could be high when running with the GS's. I trundle along at around 65 over here and the GS is bang on it's best economy whereas the AT seemed to use probably 2/3 litres more for around 200 miles range. Bimbling round the smaller roads at lower speeds had the opposite effect and the AT sipped fuel.

Not sure of his mileage but he had a 6000 in Anchorage which was straighforward even though they had never seen one before. It must be around 13,000 now and has held up very well.

Given most people only go to Tesco's then bitch about things this would seem to be a proper test of the bike and it's help up really well. Mike certainly raved about it.

I think everyone on teh trip liked it but the real comparison is with an F800 or Tiger 800 as it's the same size. The 1200GS's are a different beast all together in my opinion. I was never a fan of the old AT and never really got why everyone raved about an overweight, underpowered pig of a bike but I have to say I was pretty impressed with this latest incarnation and think it's a great bike for long haul solo riding.

 

[Phil-H]

Apart from the fact you say it's overweight yet you've never ridden one ? No wonder I only saw one solitary British reg bike in the last 12 days and 2600 miles around Europe-they're all talking bollox on Internet forums instead .


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You don't need to ride a bike to know it's weight, however, you need to ride a bike to know how heavy it feels - very different things.

Anyway, I bow down you your biking superiority, I want to 'think outside the box' just like you
I'm taking your lead & put an order in for a brand new crf dct, no test rides or nuffin'
How cool is that!

See you on the otherside bro

 

[Phil-H]

Woooah, hang on. I've just had a f...ing nightmare, the wifes just slapped me round the head to make me come round, apparently I'm not allowed to be a free thinker or think 'outside the box'

It looks like I'm back to my tight northern roots stuck with buying shonky couple o' grand second hand bikes.
Oh well I was so looking forward to thinking outside the box....

 

[Arsey]

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