Africa Twin test ride

[Stormforce8]

Ah,the fastest colour !!! DCT ?

Manual

 

[Arsey]

Davy F,

You need this :

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KfLntMfRxCA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Engineer]

Davy F,

You need this :

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KfLntMfRxCA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Sounds like a shagged out BSA A10 about to drop its guts!

 

[Arsey]

Sounds like a shagged out BSA A10 about to drop its guts!

Good job it's not for you then,as it's SO heavy! Yawn.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Interesting to hear all the reviews and see the great pics.

On the DCT - sounds very compelling and can see just how great it is. One question tho - when riding off road, I rely on being able to dip the clutch to quickly kill the power when things are about to go wrong, or when you're crossing a rut, or a tree root. What would one do on the AT?

It's a big scooter, just back of the throttle.....


I'm guessing BTW.... And I'm no riding god but I know what you mean, using the clutch to allow the back wheel to follow a path and not be affected by power on or off is important - I think,

 

[david a hall]

In the right hands the clutch is a useful tool. For a lot of people it's a source of problems... If you think the dct is a good idea best you get it... If you don't see what it's for then have a clutch.

 

[Mav]

In the right hands the clutch is a useful tool. For a lot of people it's a source of problems... If you think the dct is a good idea best you get it... If you don't see what it's for then have a clutch.

It's my get out of jail free card when I've over cooked it!

 

[Rob Farmer]

Interesting to hear all the reviews and see the great pics.

On the DCT - sounds very compelling and can see just how great it is. One question tho - when riding off road, I rely on being able to dip the clutch to quickly kill the power when things are about to go wrong, or when you're crossing a rut, or a tree root. What would one do on the AT?

IT isn't a twist and go system with a centrifugal clutch. If you close the throttle you get engine braking like any other bike. The whole point of the system is that the clutch is engaged far more than a conventional manual clutch. The gear changes are so quick you don't really feel them.

The only time my dct was an issue off road was sliding down a muddy bank at very low speed the dct would release the clutch and I'd be left with only abs brakes for braking. But mines a road bike and shouldn't really be doing this anyway. The at has a completely different software routine to deal with this.

 

[Timolgra]

IT isn't a twist and go system with a centrifugal clutch. If you close the throttle you get engine braking like any other bike. The whole point of the system is that the clutch is engaged far more than a conventional manual clutch. The gear changes are so quick you don't really feel them.

Exactly, kill the power with the throttle.

Riding old school trials these days I never, ever touch the clutch once the bikes started moving, I think you could use the same technique with the DCT.

 

[Rob Farmer]

That's exactly how it works Tim. The only difference is it changes up and down for you.

 

[Mav]

IT isn't a twist and go system with a centrifugal clutch. If you close the throttle you get engine braking like any other bike. The whole point of the system is that the clutch is engaged far more than a conventional manual clutch. The gear changes are so quick you don't really feel them.

The only time my dct was an issue off road was sliding down a muddy bank at very low speed the dct would release the clutch and I'd be left with only abs brakes for braking. But mines a road bike and shouldn't really be doing this anyway. The at has a completely different software routine to deal with this.

Exactly, kill the power with the throttle.

Riding old school trials these days I never, ever touch the clutch once the bikes started moving, I think you could use the same technique with the DCT.

I think I'm failing to explain myself properly and/or I have bad technique.

I was under the impression that there are times when you want to kill power, but not be braking the bike. Changing ruts would be a prime example - you want momentum, but it helps to have killed power to the back wheel as it attempts to climb out of the rut, otherwise it can have a tendency to stay in the original rut.

As to the old school trials - I'm guessing the technique for keeping that beauty of bike of yours moving, is going to be slightly different to the somewhat heavier AT... no?

 

[Mav]

It's a big scooter, just back of the throttle.....


I'm guessing BTW.... And I'm no riding god but I know what you mean, using the clutch to allow the back wheel to follow a path and not be affected by power on or off is important - I think,

You see - Wreford get's it

 

[Timolgra]

I think I'm failing to explain myself properly and/or I have bad technique.

I was under the impression that there are times when you want to kill power, but not be braking the bike. Changing ruts would be a prime example - you want momentum, but it helps to have killed power to the back wheel as it attempts to climb out of the rut, otherwise it can have a tendency to stay in the original rut.

As to the old school trials - I'm guessing the technique for keeping that beauty of bike of yours moving, is going to be slightly different to the somewhat heavier AT... no?

All very well, I don't think the AT's an enduro bike and if you were to use one those situations get the manual one

 

[Giles]

I guess there would be an element of getting to know the bike and learning a new riding style. I (no off road god by any stretch - very much out my comfort zone) too try and stay off the clutch and do as much as I can with good low rev throttle control, but I do dip the clutch if I want to instantly kill power to the back wheel.

In the tiptronic 'mode' in the cars (for fear of incurring Timothy's wrath for banging on about it again ..) I've adapted a slightly different style of driving (brakes and gears) - in particular how I come into stuff and then accelerating out.

So I'm confident that peoples technique will evolve with time as they work out how the system best works for them ...

 

[Yodagoat]

Had my shot today. Loved it. I found the engine to have plenty poke, the handling to be confidence inspiring with loads of feedback and a light, flickable feel. The brakes didn't feel quite as strong but this might be due to the significant dive in the front end. I didn't feel like the bike struggled to slow enough, just that I had to give the lever an extra squeeze. It's got plenty poke. I could hit 100 mph easy and it sat at 90 with less wind noise than my GS, although the Africa Twin i rode hand the high screen.
I'm comparing it to my hexhead 2013 GSA. Most of my use for my GS is several (5- 10) camping trips a year with one or two longer trips with the girlfriend, although I really should say fiance these days. My GS is awesome and does everything I need but at a huge expense financially for me. My PCP is up on the GSA and my plan was to keep it as I'm not so keen on the watercooled GS, I'm now seriously tempted by the Honda. I'll never hear a boad word said against a GS. They're fucking amazing bikes but if you get a shot of the Africa Twin put all the specs and BHP pish to the back of your mind. It is great fun.
Here's my photos (excuse the quality, phone stuff)

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/23966656033/in/datetaken-public/" title="New Africa Twin."><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1653/23966656033_6401562414_c.jpg" width="800" height="452" alt="New Africa Twin."></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/24485142672/in/datetaken-public/" title="New Africa Twin."><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1451/24485142672_7ecdbe6c66_c.jpg" width="800" height="452" alt="New Africa Twin."></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/24297931490/in/datetaken-public/" title="New Africa Twin."><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1511/24297931490_d1f80cfef5_c.jpg" width="800" height="452" alt="New Africa Twin."></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/24593464805/in/datetaken-public/" title="New Africa Twin."><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1649/24593464805_76274ac61f_c.jpg" width="800" height="452" alt="New Africa Twin."></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cheers

Mike

 

[Davy F]

Nice pics....

 

[Giles]

Test ride booked in a couple of hours ...!!

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Test ride booked in a couple of hours ...!!

And if you fall in love with this one and its bye bye Cato What daft name will the Honda get

 

[Arsey]

Is the Better Riding God aka Cunto,back yet ?

 

[Wreford Miles]

I wonder if those with whistles and VFR1200's will consider the AT