Africa Twin Slays GS in Bike Mag Full Test

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stuartw said:
Odd how our "brand loyalty " can be so strong that some criticise the AT without even test riding it ! As someone else wisely observed; "motorcycling remains pathetically tribal-for some people!"

The review, (April 16) is the usual high standard of writing and photography we've come to expect from BIKE. I love their mag, especially the iPad format with extra links and content (compared to the paper one).

Curious how the one massive AT USP, or strength, is the new gearbox and "Bike" writer Mike Armitage didn't try the Honda DCT.

I'm thrilled that Honda have finally produced something special, after years of arguable mediocrity. (perhaps leaning on the accolades for the fireblade?).
The AT service intervals are impressive, so apparently are the ergonomics and engineering quality. I'd love to test ride one.
Funny, but I suspect that's going to be a load of hassle with my Honda dealer, unlike the easy process its become at the BMW dealer.

I do think the slender nature of the bike, off-road wheel sizes, low gearing and off-road bias, in my way of thinking - have it as an alternate to the splendid F800GS rather than the R1200GS.

I'm also excited when Triumph, KTM, others launch new bikes.
Honda have missed millions of Yen of revenue since they "lost their way" a decade ago.
They are, imho, playing "catch up". The offerings from KTM and BMW are very hard to match. Impossible to beat perhaps.

The AT looks like a great bike and I understand why arsey, and others, have bought one. Until I ride one I cant judge.

For some bmw enthusiasts on the forum, clearly the AT is a non-starter due;

* lack of shaft drive (who desires a return to chain hassles?)
* tubed tyres (arguably "dated", less safe , harder to repair on-the-road)
* lack of HP (who wants less than their current bike?)
* lack of cruise control (I use mine a lot - to avoid acquiring points on all those grotty average speed traps that populate our roads)
* "yesterdays" power to weight " ratio ( see what KTM are offering!)
* a feeling that Honda dealers that are stuck in the 1980's wrt branding, service, image, comfort
* lack of integrated sat nav (I like the BMW integration)
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Its a lot less hassle buying a Honda if you don't go to Blade :eek:, try Bromsgrove :thumb2 Offered me £3500 for my p/x end of last year and I replied, now I remember why I've never bought a bike from you guys :mad: took it to Honda and Yamaha both offered me £5000 against cheaper bikes !!
 
Engineer said:
Bit like riding a non abs bike after riding abs bikes for years - can end in disaster as one becomes conditioned.
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i've had an auto bike and ABS/non ABS bikes. i never became conditioned.

ps. i blip the throttle at the lights to sound badass. this works best with a v twin. with other configurations it just sounds like you have a bad ass :)
 
Been following this for months and it is entertaining, really looking forward to Essex's feedback when he gets out on his AT, I have two new bikes in the shed , one just run in and one with 200 miles on it (plus pending redundancy)so I am out for now but I do like the look of the AT in my local H dealer.
I think the most reliable tall bike is the XTZ1200 which in its early guise was very light on electronic gizmos and if you are going great distances this is a plus I think. I wont buy anything I will ever have to push so reliability is near the top of my list, I love KTM's but their track record from personal and via my biking mates experiences rules them out, I have also not had a lot of joy with GS's either :hide and think they are putting too much car derived electronics on bikes these days (yes I'm old but not that old) bikes get more stress and vibration than cars apart from being exposed to the salt and shit so loads of gizmo's is to be avoided particularly when they get older, who is going to buy a 6-7 year old GS / 1290 out of warranty with all that expensive shite waiting to go pop, it wasn't that long ago we were stripping off ABS/servo's units cos they were fecked and too expensive to replace :eek:, cant do that with an ECU :nenau

Anyway I think the AT is a great bike if that's the bike for you and a step in the right direction for Honda, Yamaha are leading the charge with new bikes / value with most of the other japs playing catch up, Suzuki are not selling much and have really fallen by the wayside (except on price ) the Europeans are chucking out ever more expensive techno laden stuff, some of the high end stuff is getting daft money :blast

my 2p worth any road up
 
Ummmm .... With a decent gearbox mr engineer you should be able to ride towards a red light in fifth and then just brake and snick .. snick .. snick into neutral....
If your bike can't do that without constant blipping and meddling, then I'd suggest you have a shite gear box ...!!
 
Giles said:
Ummmm .... With a decent gearbox mr engineer you should be able to ride towards a red light in fifth and then just brake and snick .. snick .. snick into neutral....
If your bike can't do that without constant blipping and meddling, then I'd suggest you have a shite gear box ...!!
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Blipping is also very useful when filtering slowly down the middle of the A14 - easier than using the horn and less offensive (if done properly) than flashing ones headlights - automatic gearboxes have their place but almost never in my world. My police observer had no problem at all with blipping when I did my Bikesafe course.
 
cookie said:
i've had an auto bike and ABS/non ABS bikes. i never became conditioned.

ps. i blip the throttle at the lights to sound badass. this works best with a v twin. with other configurations it just sounds like you have a bad ass :)
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Never learnt you mean ;) the LC give a proper badass 'blaps' if given very rapid blips at a standstill though.
 
Nope .... I spend half my working day filtering on the M25, M20, M26 and M2 ..... I have yet to ride between lanes three and four brumm brumm brumming to let them know I'm coming ...!!!
 
Giles said:
Nope .... I spend half my working day filtering on the M25, M20, M26 and M2 ..... I have yet to ride between lanes three and four brumm brumm brumming to let them know I'm coming ...!!!
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You have the advantage of riding a police bike!!!! I noticed how the sea parted when following my police observer, they don't do the same for 'normal' riders, so you are wrong.

P.S. The A14 is only two lanes and narrow, try riding that every day.
 
I use my brain to stay alive Mr Engineer .... The gsxr that I'm on today is no different to any other bike on the road!
Under the radar my friend ... Learn to ride under the radar..!!
(At least the gixxer has a decent box on it that snicks between gears like butter..!)
 
Engineer is now gonna teach Giles how to ride a bike, even for him that's a new level of arrogance and pomposity :blast

I'm looking forward to this.................... :D

Go Eng, GO!

Andres
 
Engineer said:
Never learnt you mean ;) the LC give a proper badass 'blaps' if given very rapid blips at a standstill though.
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Does your dad know you're using his UKGSer account to post your schoolboy humour...(dude)...
 
Big Den said:
Been following this for months and it is entertaining, really looking forward to Essex's feedback when he gets out on his AT, I have two new bikes in the shed , one just run in and one with 200 miles on it (plus pending redundancy)so I am out for now but I do like the look of the AT in my local H dealer.
I think the most reliable tall bike is the XTZ1200 which in its early guise was very light on electronic gizmos and if you are going great distances this is a plus I think. I wont buy anything I will ever have to push so reliability is near the top of my list, I love KTM's but their track record from personal and via my biking mates experiences rules them out, I have also not had a lot of joy with GS's either :hide and think they are putting too much car derived electronics on bikes these days (yes I'm old but not that old) bikes get more stress and vibration than cars apart from being exposed to the salt and shit so loads of gizmo's is to be avoided particularly when they get older, who is going to buy a 6-7 year old GS / 1290 out of warranty with all that expensive shite waiting to go pop, it wasn't that long ago we were stripping off ABS/servo's units cos they were fecked and too expensive to replace :eek:, cant do that with an ECU :nenau

Anyway I think the AT is a great bike if that's the bike for you and a step in the right direction for Honda, Yamaha are leading the charge with new bikes / value with most of the other japs playing catch up, Suzuki are not selling much and have really fallen by the wayside (except on price ) the Europeans are chucking out ever more expensive techno laden stuff, some of the high end stuff is getting daft money :blast

my 2p worth any road up
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LOL wondered when youd bring me into this !! :D
I never fell out of Love with BMW bikes I fell out of love with BMW there dealers are all thieves with decent suites on even Dick Terpin wore a mask, my dealings with them with my last triple Black and subsequent Rallye told me that I really needed to try another form of loosing money, after about 10 bikes I bought the New Versys 1000 on Big Dens Recommendations which were absolutely spot on and I very quickly loved the bike it really was everything to me the GS wasn't, anyway the Pull for the Africa Twin got too much and back in October I ordered one, Last Thursday it was delivered and with much hesitation I reluctantly gave the keys to my much loved and very well farkled Versys up, the Africa Twin was in the garage and to be honest I was very impressed with the fit and finish, it all seems to be right, My only ride on the bike to date was down my private Road as the bike is not registered till the 1st and the 3 or so mile ride I did it felt light quick and very confidence inspiring, Ill not know for sure how well it goes till the 1st where ive got the day booked off to test ride the nuts off of it, so I cant really comment on its ride at the moment but it does look the Bolox in the garage and im fitting all the bits ive bought over the last 4/5 months
during which time ive had The Versys, 2014 700 Transalp, a 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 and a brand new KTM690 Enduro R
Im hoping the AT and the KTM are keepers LOL
My love for bikes is strong my love for bike dealers is not (Especially BMW ones)
The GS is a cracking bike allways has been ever since I bought by first 1150GS back in 2001 they have had there share of problems but only really of recent years Christ knows my first 1200GS went back 6 times for new ECUs
Honda's reliability should be the ATs jewel in its crown Hopefully !! :thumb2
 
Giles said:
I use my brain to stay alive Mr Engineer .... The gsxr that I'm on today is no different to any other bike on the road!
Under the radar my friend ... Learn to ride under the radar..!!
(At least the gixxer has a decent box on it that snicks between gears like butter..!)
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I said that it is a useful tool to have in ones box. Riding under other peoples radar is a bad thing, being seen and heard is a good thing, especially when approaching hazards.

Gearboxes are just something to learn how to use, some are better than others - just because it's smooth is only one aspect of an automatic box, there are downsides too as I pointed out.
 
Outtomunch said:
Engineer is now gonna teach Giles how to ride a bike, even for him that's a new level of arrogance and pomposity :blast

I'm looking forward to this.................... :D

Go Eng, GO!

Andres
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I don't automatically subscribe to the guru worship thing - I listen, then make up my own mind instead of following blindly :)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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