higher miles africa twins

[steele01]

Hi everyone,

Hope we are all keeping good, hopefully might have my rd250c sold later in the week got a few people coming to look at it so the planning is on now for Norway an Iceland next year.

Pretty much decided the 2019-20 CB500X is gonna be the right mix of bike for me with the upgrade path of putting spoke wheels on it via Rally Raid.

Having said that sticking with the Honda Theme noticed a few medium - high miles AT's kicking around just at the top of my budget which might be a outside possibility. Especially if one came up private judging by what the dealers have them on at.

Curious for anyone that's had a 2016 AT an clocked up some miles what have you done what issues have you hit, was reading about the stiction issue on, what sorta miles do the clutches go pop etc.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

[Davy F]

I’ve only done just over 20k on mine now (2016). It had the switchgear and the centre stand circlip replaced under warranty.
I’ve Alpina wheels fitted, so my oe ones are in a box as new. I had the valve service done this past winter at 18,300 miles and everything was within spec.

But that’s it, all is well and I don’t expect any other issues anytime soon.

 

[jojitsu]

I take it my low mileage minter is outside your budget then?

 

[steele01]

Thanks guys
Yep budget is about 5k.

 

[Owen Snell]

Look on the AT thread on advrider. The main issue on the early ones seems to be fork wear.

 

[peepingtom]

there's a German guy on Facebook and he has done serious miles on his dct , something like 200,000 miles. with NO issues

by the end of September there should be a good choice of bikes for you with all the pcp margin bikes coming back

 

[peepingtom]

This Hannes fellow is up to 343,000 miles on his 2016 dct bike , all same engine gearbox and clutch , nothing other than servicing .He also did over 500,000 miles on his old Varadero .

 

[Davy F]

I’m up to 34k miles now….a mere run round the block compared to that chap. I’m stripping the bike for another valve check soon and actually hope some adjustments are needed as it’s a right pain to do all that work for nothing….
I will be changing the plugs as well, so that’s something.

 

[peepingtom]

oh well it will keep you of the streets for a while and give some peace of mind. is it a 12,000 m valve check on them ?

 

[Davey B]

My 2017 DCT is also on c36k miles. Nothing to report...just regular oil and filter changes. There's a fair few on Autotrader at sub £6k, most are sub 30k miles...with the current market, I'm sure their prices are negotiable. I bet this could be had for c £5500....

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[Davy F]

It’s every 16000 miles for the valves. I read recently of an owner having his done at 32k and the exhaust valves were slightly out of tolerance and needed done (screw & locknut) whereas the inlet valves were fine (shims). As you say…peace of mind.

 

[MotoRevive]

If you shop for an Original XRV750, you have to wait until 50,000 miles until the engine is even considered to be broken in.

Now that's a proper Africa Twin.

 

[Mzokk]

My 1100 ATAS is on 25k now. I did the valves at 18K it was a right old faff in terms of the amount of stuff that has to be removed to get at them. It took me about five and a half hours altogether. One inlet Valve is sitting at the loose end of the tolerances the other three are bang in the middle. The exhaust valves were fine as well. I wrote it up somewhere on here. Probably have another look at 35-40ish when I change the plugs. Takes a bit longer than my old R1150GS........15 mins a side tops!! Oh and the adjuster for the exhaust valves is the same part as the lawnmower.

 

[solidstate100]

2016 AT. New fork stanchions under warranty - runaway rust where the bottom joined the lower aluminium brake /axle assembly. Otherwise standard consumables. Some paint flaking on rear sub frame/centre stand despite winter ACF 50/FS 356 and ceraminc coating etc. Nothing of real note. Goes* stops and handles real nice.

*BUT

Now at nearly16,000 miles lower/rear balancer shaft bearing (near clutch) has let go and spread metal throughout the engine, so thats certainly toast. Regularly (over) serviced by me (ex pro mechanic) with oil changes every 3k. Used, but not abused. Honda, unsurprisingly given the age of the bike, gave me the middle finger. There is some anecdotal evidence this isn't the only one that has done it.

Its now a garage ornament/paperweight until I can bring myself to strip it down and repair it - probably wont bother tbh - with the added benefit of Honda's parts prices, which are not exactly economy.

 

[Davy F]

Sorry to read that your AT engine has gone bad. I personally have never heard of any other bike having the symptoms that you’ve described. You could consider an engine off eBay and do a swop, possibly less hassle than a rebuild.

 

[MotoRevive]

2016 AT. New fork stanchions under warranty - runaway rust where the bottom joined the lower aluminium brake /axle assembly. Otherwise standard consumables. Some paint flaking on rear sub frame/centre stand despite winter ACF 50/FS 356 and ceraminc coating etc. Nothing of real note. Goes* stops and handles real nice.

*BUT

Now at nearly16,000 miles lower/rear balancer shaft bearing (near clutch) has let go and spread metal throughout the engine, so thats certainly toast. Regularly (over) serviced by me (ex pro mechanic) with oil changes every 3k. Used, but not abused. Honda, unsurprisingly given the age of the bike, gave me the middle finger. There is some anecdotal evidence this isn't the only one that has done it.

Its now a garage ornament/paperweight until I can bring myself to strip it down and repair it - probably wont bother tbh - with the added benefit of Honda's parts prices, which are not exactly economy.

Is yours a DCT model ??

That's not good news. I don't trust DCT in any engine. Unnecessary complication.

 

[Davey B]

I've been on an Africa Twin forum for many years. Never heard of the above failure and lots of American owners with serious miles on theirs....6 figures. The fork issue was known as a very early model problem. No idea how it was dealt with. Mine is a late 2017 model without the issue. Rusty spokes was also a 2016/17 issue. My wheels were replaced under warranty and are now 6 + years old...still come up as new. I'd imagine that if you look look closely, you're like to find a few bikes that have had issues....but if you look closely...you also find a far far higher proportion who've not had issues...the same with BMW, Moto Guzzi etc etc

 

[Mzokk]

2016 AT. New fork stanchions under warranty - runaway rust where the bottom joined the lower aluminium brake /axle assembly. Otherwise standard consumables. Some paint flaking on rear sub frame/centre stand despite winter ACF 50/FS 356 and ceraminc coating etc. Nothing of real note. Goes* stops and handles real nice.

*BUT

Now at nearly16,000 miles lower/rear balancer shaft bearing (near clutch) has let go and spread metal throughout the engine, so thats certainly toast. Regularly (over) serviced by me (ex pro mechanic) with oil changes every 3k. Used, but not abused. Honda, unsurprisingly given the age of the bike, gave me the middle finger. There is some anecdotal evidence this isn't the only one that has done it.

Its now a garage ornament/paperweight until I can bring myself to strip it down and repair it - probably wont bother tbh - with the added benefit of Honda's parts prices, which are not exactly economy.

I read about a few early bikes on ADV rider?? that had suffered that fate at low mileages when I was thinking of buying my 1100. That is a bit of a kick in the nuts.

 

[Mzokk]

There is a few used CRF1000 engines floating about on Ebay that might be your best bet.

 

[solidstate100]

Is yours a DCT model ??

That's not good news. I don't trust DCT in any engine. Unnecessary complication.

Nope. Not DCT, not for me, as you say too complicated.