OK, YOU WIN I'M BACK!

[alp]

It's been since the end of 2013 when my 2013 GS gave way for a Ducati Diavel which had me riding around like a loony and then a Honda CB1100EX to calm myself down. I was then seduced by the thought of an Africa Twin with an auto transmission so ordered one in Feb. Unfortunately the Kumamoto plant in Japan which makes ATs was hit and damaged by the recent earthquake and production has stopped. There are 41 ATs on the high seas heading for the UK, but I was 58th on the waiting list! No one knows when the plant will be back in action, maybe months. So, I checked out what to do, test road a number of possibilities in the adventure style and concluded that I needed to get another GS. So what if I couldn't find neutral and the clutch dragged etc on my 2013, the Africa twin has a corroded spoke problem and the auto version switch gear can be faulty creating 'awkward' moments. No bike is perfect.
It's a new GS Alpine with all the usual bells and whistles plus clutchless gear shift, extra spots, engine bars and louder Akrapovic can.
I pick it up this weekend.
I'm very happy with the way this has turned out and I suppose I can't now complain if I can't find neutral or the clutch drags though.

 

[Daxaar]

Welcome back. Definitely the right choice because DCT is for scooters.

 

[eisen77]

I had AT on my Yamaha FJR.
It was THE single worst purchase i have ever made. It was simply terrible in every single situation I can think of & no matter how much i tried to ´learn´the system and adapt to it, the AT always let me down (and sometimes left me in downright dangerous situations).

I understand that Honda's AT is much improved, but personally i would always go for manual unless i was riding a TMAX or the likes.

Welcome back!