Africa Twin is HERE !!!

[Adventure Boy]

Sent from this Android pile of shite using Bolloxchat

Enough said

 

[Paul S]

Enough said

Yep - takes over from last years winner the Ducati Scrambler - awesome

 

[Elvisto]

Well deserved !

 

[Nutty]

My dealer said I can have one of these for a few hours when the Grom gets its first service. I'm looking forward to having a go on one.

 

[pistolpete]

I'm just back on this forum after owning a DCT Crosstourer for 2 years, its now gone and a manual Africa Twin has taken its place. I think i've made the wrong decision and should have got a GS as i've had several over the years and loved them, problem is the handling on the AT, i just don't seem to be able to get on with the 21inch front wheel it feels awful. I test rode one in Feb of this year and loved it and I cant understand why i'm so underwhelmed with the one i've bought. I picked it up last Thursday and took it for a spin up some of the roads i'm well used to and tried to ride at my normal pace and thought 'oh dear this feels awful'. I went out again on Sunday and covered over 300 miles, still cant get on with it, it seems to pick up every grove on the roads surface and stay in it, and takes so much effort to change direction. I couldn't keep up with the slowest guy that I ride with, and my best riding buddy who was riding behind me was astonished at how shite my riding was! My question is to the AT riders did you get used to it? In 20 years of riding ive never had a bike with a 21inch front before and im worried that it will sit in the garage unloved and un ridden and costing me money every month for a bike I dont like the handling of, im going to look at a 1200gsa lc tomorrow
Cheers for your input, Pete

 

[Davy F]

You're more than welcome to try mine if you wish. No problems at all and no effort to chuck her around. I run on Conti Trail Attack 2's.....so maybe they make a big difference. When I rode Belfast Hondas demo, it obviously had the stock Dunlops which I personally didn't like. Saying that, I was the first customer to tide the bike and it was a cold nasty wet February day, so I wasn't exactly firing it down through the corners too far. I'm in Ards, so not a million miles away.

 

[pistolpete]

Thanks for the quick reply, what bike did you come from when you bought the AT? and did you find it strange at first? my bike only has 2000 miles and is like new, the GS i'm going to look at has 17000 miles on it and is 2 years old and will cost me a bit more. My bike has the std dunlop tyres on it and they are not inspiring me with confidence, I also have a Remus end can sitting in the dealers waiting to go on but I'm going to wait out on fitting it if I cant get on with the African, my head is wrecked ffs

 

[Dazzle]

I did the same took a demo out loved it
When I got mine I didn't feel confidence didn't want to steer had to work to hold the line, thought I just need to dial in to a 21" wheel, though didn't need to with my ktm adv,
Anyway having a fiddle with stuff a couple of days ago upped the rear preload a click 1 click, when out to meet some Mates for a cuppa.
I was amazed at the difference, I think it's a bike that responds to suspension adjustment, so before loosing loads of wonger, try some adjustments, had the same with my SMT.
Even if you can't do it get someone to dial it in to your weight riding style.
Really pleased with the change in mine should be more to come.

 

[Davy F]

Thanks for the quick reply, what bike did you come from when you bought the AT? and did you find it strange at first?

I came from a KTM1190 Adv....and no, didn't find the AT strange at all. I feel really confident on the AT, but then I've had a few bikes with 21" front wheels in the past and I'm also a riding God !!!

The offer still stands......

 

[Davey B]

Before jumping, try another AT with different tyres. It may be that you can spend £200 swapping the tyres (you'll get £80-£100 for the old ones I imagine) and transform the bike...there is also the slight adjustment you'll have to make due to wheel size....just as you would if going from a GS to say a Fireblade.

 

[Nutty]

Ask the dealer to swap wheels with some different tyres for the day

 

[Daffy]

I traded a 2014 multistrada pikes peak for a DCT Africa twin so I have gone from mental balls out power and handling to 90 bhp and a 21" front wheel and can honestly say that I love the Honda.

I have just come back from a week around colmar and I found the handling on mountain roads stunning (compared to the multi, 2x 1200 gs's and a 1200 gsa and whilst this is a BMW forum I wouldn't swap the AT for anything else at the moment.

I did change the std Dunlops for Conti trail attacks at 200 miles because they were awful, I have never had traction control cutting in on a dry road in my life except on the AT, I also increased the preload on the front and rear by 2 clicks on the front and 3 on the rear and my confidence in the AT with the conti's is about as good as it has ever been with any bike I have owned.

We are all different but I can live with mates in the twisties on sportsbikes (albeit I only have 90 bhp but corner speed is what I am referring to) so don't give up on it quite yet.

 

[pistolpete]

Thanks for the positive reply's guys, I really want to love the AT, I have messed about with the suspension on most of my bikes and had some good results, I have already upped the rear preload by 15 clicks and didnt think it made any difference. Davy F and me must be North Downs answer to Marquez and Pedrosa as I am also a riding god, but not on the AT, Davy are you around tomorrow morning at any time, I'd like to take you up on your offer?

 

[Davy F]

Hope to call in to B/F Honda in the morning (10/11 am).

 

[pistolpete]

Could I meet you somewhere before hand, maybe ards to see how yours rides with the different tyres? Say about 0930? If you can't no worries and thanks for the offer
Pete

 

[Arsey]

I did a 2000 mile trip to the Hebrides on my DCT AT with the OE Dunlops.They were ok in the dry but shite in the wet.
I changed them for Conti TA2s and have just done a 2700 mile trip around the Dolomites etc on them and they transform the bike.
A fair bit of my riding was 2 up with luggage in the wet and the bike was great.
But I have ridden 21/18 bikes for years,mostly on KTM 950 SuperEnduro the last 8 years so I'm used to the feel.
Don't give up on the AT just yet-definitely bin those Dunlops first,as others have said.

 

[pistolpete]

Hopefully I will get to try the ta2's tomorrow and then my mind will be made up either way

 

[Davy F]

Just told I have to take my daughters car for its mot in Ards @ 10:10. Any other time suit ?

 

[pistolpete]

What about 1100 ish at the petrol station at then we could take a spin over to Belfast honda?

 

[Davy F]

That'll do, see you there.