Africa Twin test ride
- Thread starter wessie
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is anybody putting actually fitting the fog lights. its just a thought for me at the minute
Yup-had no plans too but then got offered every extra at list -30% so took the lot !!!
That sounds ok
I thought this was the test ride thread.... The self indulgent one is elsewhere 
I thought this was the test ride thread.... The self indulgent one is elsewhere
I'm just off for a self indulgent test ride
Davy F
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Deleted account 211025001
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Indeed, the 1190R with 150bhp doesn't seem to have an issue with a 21" front wheel.......
Whilst I'm sure it'll steal away some prospective GS owners I think you're spot on there. The Honda would seem to be more 'off road' orientated and more of a 'riders' bike. GS's now have long since moved away from that and are now more like slightly slimmed down RT's used for the annual trip to France or the Alps and back.
It's ironic really when you frequently see posts on here bemoaning the dearth of 'real world' bikes capable of doing a bit more than just tour two up with the misses and then some pesky manufacturer listens, builds one and gets slagged off for pretty much meeting the brief
What, you mean heavy, slow steering and with little feedback from the front end...................?
Andres
Davy F
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What, you mean heavy, slow steering and with little feedback from the front end...................?
Andres
Well, I didn't want to add what you've said incase the GS jihadists took offence......
Just been to see the DCT at Honda showroom Shipley. Looks well finished showroom model has been bundled with all the Honda extras , bars , lights boxes mainstand etc.
With a std seat in the low position I was on tippy toes, apparently there is a low seat for short arses like me.
I alway knew there was a reason why I never rode a Ktm or Yam 660, 29 inch leg syndrome!
Overall look and detailing was brilliant and Im sure prospective owners on here will be looking fwd to the real deal over the next few days or weeks.
Steve
With a std seat in the low position I was on tippy toes, apparently there is a low seat for short arses like me.
I alway knew there was a reason why I never rode a Ktm or Yam 660, 29 inch leg syndrome!
Overall look and detailing was brilliant and Im sure prospective owners on here will be looking fwd to the real deal over the next few days or weeks.
Steve
If the AT is supposed to be a more off-road bike than the other adventure bikes - then why is it so heavy?, especially the DCT version, the last Africa Twin was at least 20kg lighter.
Deleted account 211025001
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Keep up at the back there
From somebody who, probably, knows a little bit more than you about off-roading................
Weight is just a number, it's about balance with big bikes.
Skinny tyred dirt bike?????
Most real bikers have had an interest in the rebirth of the AT long before the journos .... or you, I imagine
Are you sure you're an engineer? Perhaps electrical
Andres
One of the problems with commercial motorcycle design is to attract enough customers to make the whole expensive design process worthwhile, so compromise is the order of the day in an attempt to please all the people all the time - BMW by either luck or judgement managed to get the GS to do pretty much that and that made it really hard for the other manufacturers to come up with anything new without actually do a direct copy of the GS. The AT seems a slightly weird compromise to me but time will tell.
What is weird is how blinkered some people are and how two actors can change the fortunes of a rather average motorcycle 
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
That is not an accurate analysis - that was 11 years ago now and the GS is still the best seller - the publicity helped short term but it never lasts, we shall see if the equivalent Honda initial hype has legs, I dunno but I suspect that it won't because the bike's compromise is wrong in my view i.e. underpowered and overweight, like the 1150GS
but 'modernised' with an automatic gearbox and some electronics.Well then, I'm often accused/complimented on not being a fan of high tech motorcycles but .............
..... if you've ordered an AT without the DCT gearbox, ring your dealer and change your fecking order NOW!!
Again, GET THE DCT!!!
I'll not harp on about why, once you've ridden one for a few hours changing gear up or down with the flick of a button will have you wondering what a clutch lever is all about.
Can't believe I've just said that!
I could be forgiven for wondering why all motorcycles aren't like this now but then maybe only Honda could have got this aspect of the bike so right.
After taking the sublime road from Colwyn Bay to Llanrwst, it's time to stop for that first contemplative smoke as my hands warm up.
At that point I'm already liking the bike and getting used to this 'new way of riding' but to be honest it's already fitting like a glove, of course this may be something to be wary of as often complacency creeps in with something that feels right at the onset.
We'll see.
I'd long forgotten the salesman's last words as I set off, something about "And don't take it offroad" but I wasn't really listening and this is hardly 'offroad' anyway
This bike has superb low speed control, the bike 'feels' light as a feather and somehow Mr Honda has engineered the right feel into the throttle/clutch/drive response.
I rode it mainly in the middle sport mode, flicking between gears as I wanted and let the traction control do it's thing which sounded more like it was cutting onto one cylinder with an accompanying flashing light.
Like any of my bikes, if this were mine yes there's a few things I'd change but nothing major.
That very complex right hand cover needs some protection for and more adventurous riding though.
A couple of women pull up in their car to admire the view, these days that wasn't me but they did suggest they take a photo.
I stopped to wipe any incriminating mud off with my gloves, to take stock of this bike and ponder my own bank account.
Gelände/Straße? This AT is more GS than erm, a GS that's for sure!
Winding this bike up on a few straights I was slightly reminded of other very proficient although possibly dull bikes Honda have produced as I waited for that surge of power you get with something like an 1190 KTM, it didn't come but the speedo was WAY over three figures.
This bike is quick there's no doubt and as I continued to warm to it, I'd long forgotten to make any comparisons with other bikes.
This is no KTM, no GS, no Tiger,..... it's an AT with it's very own likable charm, by now I was flicking the bike around, ghosting up and down the gears as though I'd owned it for months.
It may be long time ago for some of you, but can you remember meeting that stunning girl who you immediately hit it off with and felt you'd known all your life?
Well, get one of these bikes out where they're meant to be ridden, ride with some joy in your heart and perhaps you'll remember what motorcycling can do for you.
Oh and did I mention GET THE FECKIN DCT !!!!!
..... if you've ordered an AT without the DCT gearbox, ring your dealer and change your fecking order NOW!!
Again, GET THE DCT!!!
I'll not harp on about why, once you've ridden one for a few hours changing gear up or down with the flick of a button will have you wondering what a clutch lever is all about.
Can't believe I've just said that!
I could be forgiven for wondering why all motorcycles aren't like this now but then maybe only Honda could have got this aspect of the bike so right.
After taking the sublime road from Colwyn Bay to Llanrwst, it's time to stop for that first contemplative smoke as my hands warm up.
At that point I'm already liking the bike and getting used to this 'new way of riding' but to be honest it's already fitting like a glove, of course this may be something to be wary of as often complacency creeps in with something that feels right at the onset.
We'll see.
I'd long forgotten the salesman's last words as I set off, something about "And don't take it offroad" but I wasn't really listening and this is hardly 'offroad' anyway
This bike has superb low speed control, the bike 'feels' light as a feather and somehow Mr Honda has engineered the right feel into the throttle/clutch/drive response.
I rode it mainly in the middle sport mode, flicking between gears as I wanted and let the traction control do it's thing which sounded more like it was cutting onto one cylinder with an accompanying flashing light.
Like any of my bikes, if this were mine yes there's a few things I'd change but nothing major.
That very complex right hand cover needs some protection for and more adventurous riding though.
A couple of women pull up in their car to admire the view, these days that wasn't me but they did suggest they take a photo.
I stopped to wipe any incriminating mud off with my gloves, to take stock of this bike and ponder my own bank account.
Gelände/Straße? This AT is more GS than erm, a GS that's for sure!
Winding this bike up on a few straights I was slightly reminded of other very proficient although possibly dull bikes Honda have produced as I waited for that surge of power you get with something like an 1190 KTM, it didn't come but the speedo was WAY over three figures.
This bike is quick there's no doubt and as I continued to warm to it, I'd long forgotten to make any comparisons with other bikes.
This is no KTM, no GS, no Tiger,..... it's an AT with it's very own likable charm, by now I was flicking the bike around, ghosting up and down the gears as though I'd owned it for months.
It may be long time ago for some of you, but can you remember meeting that stunning girl who you immediately hit it off with and felt you'd known all your life?
Well, get one of these bikes out where they're meant to be ridden, ride with some joy in your heart and perhaps you'll remember what motorcycling can do for you.
Oh and did I mention GET THE FECKIN DCT !!!!!
Elvisto
Graham
Great pics, thanks a lot, can't wait for mine, first week in feb I hope 
Deleted account 211025001
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Well, after report like that I'm gonna have to sell the 1190
Like feck am I
It does sound really rather nice though and I like the way you put it in a class of it's own, I get that and that kinda appeals to me.
Nice report and very nice pictures
Are you tempted then.................................?
Andres
Like feck am I
It does sound really rather nice though and I like the way you put it in a class of it's own, I get that and that kinda appeals to me.
Nice report and very nice pictures
Are you tempted then.................................?
Andres
Before we all get swept away on a DCT wave I had DCT on a Crosstourer for over a year and it was only when I rode a bike with gears again did I realise what I was missing. It's clever and functional and competent for sure. After you've owned one for more than an afternoon you will realise that it lacks the buzz of biking - banging it up down the gears and having fun.
Nice quality pics dude
Nice quality pics dude
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