Initial thoughts African Twin Adventure Sport

[Anthony Byrne]

I picked up my (new to me) 25 model with 2k kms on the clock and today was the first spin out for a couple of hours. Considering im moving from 4 years on a 1250 GS I was worried I might be disappointed. I wasn't and I think this bike could be a contender for the heavyweight top spot.

Pros

• Lower seat height to suit my short stature coming in at 835mm on the standard seat
• Big presence, the shoulders of the bike create lovely buffer for high speed and motorways
• The power is plentiful and it can be a hooligan if that's your thing
• Super smooth gearing
• Quiet engine compared to the 1250 GS
• Feels lighter than the 1250 but it's about the same weight, I think it is due to the boxer engine. When pushing it around the garage Id often smash a shin on the engine which maybe makes it feel awkward
• It looks beastly

Cons

• The seat may as well be a concrete block
• I thought I was a reasonably intelligent person until I tried to figure out settings and modes
• The battery is slow to crank, feels like a lul in power but its reading 13.3v - 13.6v which seems to be the norm for the lithium battery

 

[Gavla04GS]

looks good and your opinion is the only one that matters……
Here’s to many happy miles…….

 

[richardbd]

I like that paint job. Makes it actually look like an AT

 

[AustinW]

I like that paint job. Makes it actually look like an AT

I saw one in Sardinia in that colour with white wrap round crash bars,a few extra stickers, and plenty of mud. I honestly thought it was XRV750 Africa Twin. It looked really good.

 

[Mad Hatter]

You will get used to the modes and the switchgear very quickly. I have a 2023 ATAS and I love it.

 

[Anthony Byrne]

I tired to source one new in white but could only get the grey, the lads then gave me a call as they had a trade in with 2k km on the clock so I jumped on it.

Thanks for the comments

 

[Neil W]

My nieces partner has one and does not like the left hand switchgear , he says that ergonomically some of the functions would be better on the right side of the bars to make the left switchgear less fussy and complicated

 

[Anthony Byrne]

My nieces partner has one and does not like the left hand switchgear , he says that ergonomically some of the functions would be better on the right side of the bars to make the left switchgear less fussy and complicated

Agreed, it's over complicated. Ill find 2 modes and that will do me

 

[Mzokk]

I have a 2020 model and love it. Comfort can be improved with a 3d mesh cover for the saddle.

 

[Anthony Byrne]

Must give that a go

 

[The Other PaulG]

Must give that a go

A mesh cover is one of those things that looks like it won’t make much difference, then it surprises you.

 

[Anthony Byrne]

Any links to the ones you have yourselves ?

 

[Snowball222]

Try Cool Covers in Ledbury. Very helpful and well reviewed on here. Excellent service in my experience.

 

[Gavla04GS]

Any links to the ones you have yourselves ?

This is for your AT

 

[CrossyGS]

I too have new 2025 DCT model and your right about the seat.
Nowhere near as comfy as the GS1250 but being able to put my feet down on the floor, on such a large bike is great for me.
Engine and gearbox are silky smooth with more than enough power for me.

Enjoy your bike

 

[Riktus]

I made the same move - My last 4 bikes were R1200 GSA and R1250GSA and a brief romance with a Husqvarna Norden 901 (which had bags of power and loads of excitement - but nonetheless, the most unreliable bike I have ever owned so it had to go after only 1 year and 6000 miles).
The AT is DCT and I was still unsure even when making the purchase (I had loved my BMW's but since my dealer was bought by Vertu BMW they had constantly tried to rip me off in the service department). However spoke with several local dealers and they were all basically full of doom and gloom about the bike market and I eventually dropped on Miles Kingsport in Hull - whole different experience - test ride dispatched and now the VERY VERY happy owner of a 2025 AT ADV Spt DCT - what a bike!
Love the bike so far and I actually like the switchgear - One thing I noticed (I have used the Apple Carplay but use Garmin XT which sits nicely above the std TFT) is that connection via bluetooth to TFT / Card / Phone is just perfect EVERY time - no faffing just turn the key, bike starts, music starts playing - either turn it down or off if I dont want it playing - but with the Husqvarna and the BMW it was always a chore to start music on phone on spotify before starting the bike and then hoping for the best with the BT connections.

Like I said - so far I love this bike - mine is the silver / grey and I actually like that there are not too many of them on the roads as everyone goes for the Africa Twin Red white and blue - just dont park it on your drive as the council withe the police to arrest you for being petriotic!

 

[Adventure Boy]

Ive just bought a well specked up one 2024 model 3k miles very clean as I could not find a new one anywhere and with the spec I wanted it was over £20k so got this one with electronic suspension top and bottom engine bars spots, metal panniers, Etc etc, I was also apprehensive, as my 750 transalp had the works thrown at it and rode superbly but very happy with the Africa twin indeed, added a few bits as you do and had a plain white Schuberth C5 lid stickered up to match which looks the nuts,

 

[Adventure Boy]

Had a chance to go on a slightly longer ride yesterday and have to say the electronic suspension is a great bit of kit, you can properly feel the difference between soft / medium / and hard and the settings for preload give a load of fine adjustment which is good, not sure its much faster than the Transalp but without doubt has a fair bit more grunt, the Apple car play is a real bonus and works very well once you have got used to the buttons, Ive got new tyres coming today as Ive no idea how these have been used so I think better to replace than to worry, cornering lights great, cruise control great, heated grips could do with being a bit warmer but they do work well, overall im delighted with the bike and cant wait to go on a proper ride, booked Wales for May next year and Span and Portugal for July last night so planning on keeping this one !!!

 

[Davey B]

Rob, has the NT gone ? I did about 1600 miles on mine this last 5 days, really enjoyed 99% of it....bar the low speed thru towns and villages stuff.....

 

[Adventure Boy]

Hi Davey
Yes I gave it to my son in law, he has fallen on some tight times since selling his 2022 NT but really wanted the Blue 25 model, I bought him a NC750x just to go to to work etc but when I saw his face when I got his dream bike I knew it would have to go to him !! he absolutely loves it !! albeit he says the throttle is the same as his 22 model