Africa Twin Slays GS in Bike Mag Full Test

[Rushy]

Not true - but one decides what to investigate based upon research, no matter what one is buying because it is impossible to test everything

Time consuming YES impossible NO

- on the basis of the bike magazine reports the AT is way down MY list of suitable bikes, it sits alongside the Versys, Vstrom, Honda Crossthingy, Tenere, Capanord etc - The Triumph, Multistrada and even a KTM sit higher up the list of suitable bikes.

You hit the nail on the head there when you said MY list. Please stop trying to tell everybody it's a shit a adventure bike and should therefore be at the bottom of their list.

Bike said it was the one they preferred riding FACT . That does not necessarily make it significantly better than the BMW nor worse. It is better in ways and not in others.

If you like doing long distance two up riding the Versys and the Crosstourer (especially the DCT version) would probably be better than the BMW. I have a 12GS and a VFR12X CT so am fairly well placed to comment.

BTW you can blip the Honda at lights if that's your thing . The Honda also has an auto blipper too so you can save your right wrist a bit of work

 

[telbenj]

I'm sure the AT is a very good bike and will win a lot of fans .... I must try one

I had a test ride on one and yes it rides nice its very light too. but its very noisy wind blast wise, and it is gutless its a shame they didnt give it a few more horses as it would be a contender. but for me the GS and GSA are far superior, in all aspects apart from I think the Honda will be a winner off road.

Terry

 

[Pazuzu]

A fee people have said the dealers wound the traction control up to max on the test ride, they certainly did for me and I never changed it, so I wonder if that makes it feel less poky?

I'd like another go on one with it switched off to be sure.

 

[Nutty]

A fee people have said the dealers wound the traction control up to max on the test ride, they certainly did for me and I never changed it, so I wonder if that makes it feel less poky?

I'd like another go on one with it switched off to be sure.

Wound up to the max? Please explain.

 

[Pazuzu]

There are 3 levels of traction control on the AT I believe.

When I had my test ride the dealer set it to the maximum amount of intervention and the light did flicker quite a bit.

I wonder if it was making it feel slower than it is with the TC on a more relaxed setting?

 

[Davy F]

The bike starts with the TC on max (level 3). You can change it easily on the move.....nothing to do with the dealer. As for being gutless.....you're wrong.

 

[Spout]

The bike starts with the TC on max (level 3).

Every time?

Can you not leave you "favourite" settings in place?

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Every time?

Can you not leave you "favourite" settings in place?

Isn't that normal for bikes with TC these days (defaulting to a particular setting)?

My 1190 always defaults to 'Road' mode (out of Off-Road, Rain, Road & Sport). You can buy a 'dongle' which you plug into the loom and that keeps in in 'Off Road' mode when you turn off/on the ignition. I thought (but may be wrong?) that the WC is the same?

Andres

 

[Gromit]

How does the AT compare to the 800 adventure?

With people saying it lacks the refinery and power of the 12 is the 8 a better comparison?

 

[Arsey]

How does the AT compare to the 800 adventure?

With people saying it lacks the refinery and power of the 12 is the 8 a better comparison?

The only people saying it lacks the refinery of the 12 are those dickheads like Engineer that haven't been within 5 miles of one,let alone ridden one.

Despite Bike mag much preferring it to the GS unless you have to ride 2 up,I think it's pointless to compare everything.

The Africa Twin is a breath of fresh air and most people that have tried one have been blown away.Supposedly it's the biggest selling bike in Europe for the month of January 2016,even in Germany.

Who actually uses all the power of any bike ?? The AT does not lack power,it's very grunty and pulls like a train,unless you do all your riding flat out on an autobahn,as some tossers on here imply they do,no doubt enroute from one budget shitehole hotel to another whilst having a mini adventure.

 

[Paul S]

I think it's pointless to compare everything.

.....and then you compare this to a Triumph Scrambler

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ki6-KPCWBu4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Triumph Scrambler slayer !!!

 

[Arsey]

.....and then you compare this to a Triumph Scrambler

Because you're one of the saddos that has to list every fucking bike they've had on their signature and I just knew you would be sat there waiting to reply.........and of course you did.Why not nip out and ride one of your Triumphs instead of instantly having to respond to every fucking post I make,troll.

 

[Paul S]

Because you're one of the saddos that has to list every fucking bike they've had on their signature and I just knew you would be sat there waiting to reply.........and of course you did.Why not nip out and ride one of your Triumphs instead of instantly having to respond to every fucking post I make,troll.

Someone's loosing their sense of humour I see


PS - did I respond quickly enough for you

 

[cookie]

Isn't that normal for bikes with TC these days (defaulting to a particular setting)?

My 1190 always defaults to 'Road' mode (out of Off-Road, Rain, Road & Sport). You can buy a 'dongle' which you plug into the loom and that keeps in in 'Off Road' mode when you turn off/on the ignition. I thought (but may be wrong?) that the WC is the same?

Andres

are you talking about MTC/traction control or Drive modes? cos with the latest instrument software, the Drive Mode setting is persistent.

 

[Engineer]

The only people saying it lacks the refinery of the 12 are those dickheads like Engineer that haven't been within 5 miles of one,let alone ridden one.

Despite Bike mag much preferring it to the GS unless you have to ride 2 up,I think it's pointless to compare everything.

The Africa Twin is a breath of fresh air and most people that have tried one have been blown away.Supposedly it's the biggest selling bike in Europe for the month of January 2016,even in Germany.

Who actually uses all the power of any bike ?? The AT does not lack power,it's very grunty and pulls like a train,unless you do all your riding flat out on an autobahn,as some tossers on here imply they do,no doubt enroute from one budget shitehole hotel to another whilst having a mini adventure.

Your abuse does you no favours - you shouldn't let yourself become rattled - for the record I have not great interest in refinery. I have said that the AT is probably a very good bike like most of the journos have said - but it falls down in a few important ways for it to be a GS slayer. NOTE the journos say pretty much the same thing by saying that the GS is still the best all round, adventure touring bike or similar words.

The AT clearly lacks grunt and is useless for pillions but I bet it pips the GS off-road. The AT is deliberately biassed that way and because it is a long awaited replacement for the much loved original AT then it will sell well BUT is a very long way indeed from being a GS slayer.

P.S. on the 'lack of grunt issue' just look at the 40-80 roll on tests and the torque levels, the GS really does 'slay' the AT in that respect - the journos agree too.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

are you talking about MTC/traction control or Drive modes? cos with the latest instrument software, the Drive Mode setting is persistent.

I meant the Drive Mode; which selects an appropriate level of TC to suit the Drive Mode.

The MTC/ABS switching selects MTC; on or off, ABS; on or off and ABS Mode; road or off-road.

AFAIK switching off the ignition and back on resets everything back to default.

The 2013 bikes used to remain where set but the 2014 bikes onwards and software updates from 2014 changed all bikes to resetting when turning the ignition off.

My bike was last serviced in December and nothing has changed, have I missed a software update?

WAIT!!! I know what's happened!!!!!!! It's 'cos I've been 'Hilltopped' isn't it - a safety critical update form KTM has been rejected by my ECU 'cos of those b@astards at Hilltop

Andres

PS Apologies for the thread hijack

 

[Engineer]

Who's going to be first to HillTop an AT -

 

[cookie]

Andres, There is an instrument upgrade that fixes the reset. I had a bit of a job getting my dealer to find and apply it to my S. The 15 R seems to have it from the factory + there is an even newer one that changes the Heat function (for the worse), but at least it doesn't reset the mode.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Andres, There is an instrument upgrade that fixes the reset. I had a bit of a job getting my dealer to find and apply it to my S. The 15 R seems to have it from the factory + there is an even newer one that changes the Heat function (for the worse), but at least it doesn't reset the mode.

Reset the 'Heat function for the worse'? What, you mean it makes the heated grips as crap as those on the up to '15 WC's??

Andres

 

[cookie]

Reset the 'Heat function for the worse'? What, you mean it makes the heated grips as crap as those on the up to '15 WC's??

Andres

no

instead of Heated Grips >Low - Med - High on the display, there's an extra step, presumably to allow for the heated seat of the SA, so it's now Heat>Heated Grips >Low - Med - High