Africa Twin test ride

[Arsey]

I have to say, I'm very surprised you've ordered one without even test riding it first. I don't mean this in a nasty way (unlike your constant sniping on here, you tosser ), but you're so happy with your KTM, and you've test ridden lots of bikes and still decided that's the best, so what is it about the AT that made you buy it without even test riding one first?

I had a hunch that it would be everything I wanted in a bike and having just ridden it,I was more than right.
I love my KTM and will never sell it but it will be nice to have a more modern version of a bike with the same feeling and that is somehow more than the sum of it's parts.My KTM doesnt even have ABS and having soft luggage is a bit of a pain on long trips with security etc.

Plus SuperEnduros are getting quite rare so I want to semi-retire mine and keep the mileage down and keep it in good nick.

Seriously,Go get a ride on the AT.It's stunningly good,and that's in manual,with most reviews preferring the DCT.

Can't wait for mine to pitch up now !!

 

[Arsey]

Looks nice Arsey ... Enjoy ..


(Why don't you book leave for mickys do in Dent! ...)

When is it ? I'm away on bike every month from April to July at the mo

 

[Timolgra]

The real acid test though is 'is the bike exciting' so................ is it exciting?

That depends on whether a bike's a tool or just a toy, most bike's can be exciting

 

[Davy F]

Very encouraging......

Love the top pictures.....it's snowing here.

A few more days to wait until my demo ride. Nice to read that you really loved the manual 'box, tho' the demo bike I'll be riding is the DCT model. You didn't happen to ask how much the comfort pegs are ?

 

[Arsey]

Yup, it does look nice I have to say but, regardless of how nice the pipe sounds it needs to go and be replaced with something less aesthetically challenging (as is the case with the 1190).

The real acid test though is 'is the bike exciting' so................ is it exciting?

Andres

It's not exciting in the way a 1290 SA makes you shit your pants when you give it the beans.But what it is ,is a bike that adds up to more than the sum of it's parts.I know that after only an hour riding it,and I'm pretty sure that the DCT will be utterly sublime FOR WHAT I WANT IT FOR.

Th whole feeling of the AT is amazing,from taking it off the side stand and wondering how the fuck it can weigh 230 kgs or whatever.It feels more like a CRF450 !! Then you engage first gear with the butteriest of snicks and off you go,the gearbox and fuelling both perfect and the torque and feel of the bike making it feel very special indeed.The lightness and handling with the 21/18 wheel combo is sublime-You can ride through a pothole and not even notice !

It's not about speed,but I can't think of a finer bike for me at the moment,wanting to tour the Alps and Dolomites again this summer,plus the Highlands and outer islands oop north.

 

[Giles]

That depends on whether a bike's a tool or just a toy, most bike's can be exciting



Ummmmm ..... !!

Most of my Hondas (VF500 FII when I was 20, VFR's, Pans ... ) they've all been ultra reliable with great build quality, but never seemed to have a soul that I felt I could communicate with!

Put it this way .... daft as it might sound, none of my Honda's had a name. Where as my last few bikes have; because they had a personality!!

(You might get one one day Mellors .... )

 

[Arsey]

Very encouraging......

Love the top pictures.....it's snowing here.

A few more days to wait until my demo ride. Nice to read that you really loved the manual 'box, tho' the demo bike I'll be riding is the DCT model. You didn't happen to ask how much the comfort pegs are ?

Comfort pegs about £60 with VAT.

Davy,I think you will love it !!!

Couple more pics :





I'm going to get on one of the Honda Adventure courses in Wales to ride the AT in anger and get a few pointers and then if Bilco is doing a TAT trip in 2017,I'm on it.You coming ?

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

That depends on whether a bike's a tool or just a toy, most bike's can be exciting

To misquote another comment in another universe; 'pah, what do you know'

Actually, you are of course right.................I was just wondering if it was 'a Honda' or 'more KTM' IYSWIM

Andres

 

[Giles]

Arsey ....


http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/410180-Dent-2016-Friday-20th-Sunday-22nd-May

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

It's not exciting in the way a 1290 SA makes you shit your pants when you give it the beans.But what it is ,is a bike that adds up to more than the sum of it's parts.I know that after only an hour riding it,and I'm pretty sure that the DCT will be utterly sublime FOR WHAT I WANT IT FOR.

T.................

Cool And DCT is something I really like the idea of on a bike. I'll sort a test ride soon if for no other reason than I really want to see what it's like.

Andres

 

[Davy F]

Comfort pegs about £60 with VAT.

Not bad..... The tall seat looks good, my dealer is bringing one in to stock. Still can't work out why it's twice the price of the low version. Maybe it's because they use twice as much gold infused foam......

 

[Captain Black]

Looks great in red.... I'm tempted and that's unusual for me in the world of " new bikes " .

Edit; Arsey have you ordered yours in red ? What's the colour options ?

 

[Timolgra]

That depends on whether a bike's a tool or just a toy, most bike's can be exciting



Ummmmm ..... !!

Most of my Hondas (VF500 FII when I was 20, VFR's, Pans ... ) they've all been ultra reliable with great build quality, but never seemed to have a soul that I felt I could communicate with!

Put it this way .... daft as it might sound, none of my Honda's had a name. Where as my last few bikes have; because they had a personality!!

(You might get one one day Mellors .... )

When you have 5 seconds to spare, please tell us all you know about bikes with a soul

 

[Phil-H]

Oh, and for £10.5k, they can't provide a centre stand the tight arse gits.

Yes but the centre stand sits 1 1/2'' lower than the rest of the underside which goes against the offroad pretensions of the bike!

 

[Nutty]

I had a hunch that it would be everything I wanted in a bike and having just ridden it,I was more than right.
I love my KTM and will never sell it but it will be nice to have a more modern version of a bike with the same feeling and that is somehow more than the sum of it's parts.My KTM doesnt even have ABS and having soft luggage is a bit of a pain on long trips with security etc.

Plus SuperEnduros are getting quite rare so I want to semi-retire mine and keep the mileage down and keep it in good nick.

Seriously,Go get a ride on the AT.It's stunningly good,and that's in manual,with most reviews preferring the DCT.

Can't wait for mine to pitch up now !!

My GSA is going this year, and although I'll probably be getting another, I'll be taking a few other bikes out before putting my money down on one. We'll see.

 

[Giles]

....When you have 5 seconds to spare, please tell us all you know about bikes with a soul ....

I remember many, many years ago, touring in Spain with a group. One of the riders had a Guzzi of sorts (couldn't tell yer what .. ) I had a .... ummm ... Pan I think.

Every morning, matey boy used to be by the side of his bike with his feeler gauges checking his valve clearances. He had an oily tool roll, spare oil that he'd top the bike with .... Oh how my little group used to chortle and quietly take the piss as he sat cross legged by his rocker covers .... the Honda starting instantly, I would barely breathe on the starter button and it would hum into life!

I now feel (it's very mild!) a slight pang of guilt that I took the piss! I reckon his bike probably had a name, I reckon he used to talk to it, polish it, fettle it, stroke it ... I reckon he really loved that bike! Sigh ... I was young and foolish!

Now, older and wiser, I understand how important it is to bond with your bike and to develop a relationship with it! My 1190 has a crap starter motor, it wheezes into life on a cold morning .... "C'mon Cato my little orange friend .... you can do it ... " I say to him (usually in a french accent). We've had a few tumbles off road, we've survived Sarn Helen, we've spanked a few track days, and we've fucked off a few Blades and Gixxers on my local roads, and ..... well ..... he's part of the family! He has a personality!

My GSA to it's credit, also had a great personality and did much of the above! (Brunhilda). She took me all over Europe and in fairness was a great great bike.

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hv_f48LqGr0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


I can say hand on heart, that my WC GS had absolutely no personality at all. Zilch! Plastic and metal and bugger all else! Glad to see the back of it .... !!

 

[Arsey]

Looks great in red.... I'm tempted and that's unusual for me in the world of " new bikes " .

Edit; Arsey have you ordered yours in red ? What's the colour options ?

There's the red,tricolour and black.

I've ordered a DCT in tricolour so mine will look very much like this as I've now got all the kit for it cheap (ish) :

 

[Timolgra]

I can say hand on heart, that my WC GS had absolutely no personality at all. Zilch! Plastic and metal and bugger all else! Glad to see the back of it .... !!

Well maybe, but one Swallow doesn't make a summer

My thoughts are no motorcycle is 'born' with a soul, they're just a collection of parts.

Soul builds in a bike through years of interaction and challenges both whilst riding and mechanical evolution, they become like the dog you've had for 10 years .... you know each others every move.

It's more difficult for most modern bikes to develop that soul not least because they're fuel injected and pre programmed electronically but also people don't keep them long enough, either because they're just a throw away toy or because the owners are simply incapable of real mechanical interaction.

As far as the shared challenges go, well they're very much diluted by so many.

 

[Giles]

Yes ... I buy most of that. Certainly the experiences you share and the adventures you take on a bike will help make that bond.

 

[BD]

I was very serious about buying one of these till I did the maths on weight/money/me and her space and I still cant decide, I`ll just have to ride one first, but I`m loving all the for`s and against`s ,bottom line for weight is this and that's dry weight as spec`ed by manufactory's is my 2006 gsa is about 12kilo`s heavier, yes 12! both with ABS, WoW! ,money,well if I don't spend it I`m on a winner, me and her space, we sat on one at the show, which isn't ideal but wider pegs, taller screen and comfier seats mean the gsa is still up there. don`t get me wrong I still want to ride one but I`m also gagging to see how many come up second hand in six months. anyway please carry on and I`ll chip in again when its warmer and I`ve been for a spin on one(nothing is still a patch on my old proper super Tenere/TRX 850 for razzing country lanes on)