New Africa Twin another view

[Barftone]

Well today saw me and Bob head over to Abingdon Honda for me to have a go on the manual version of the new AT. Nice spin on the back roads on the VFR to get there. Now I only went out for half an hour so I cant say what its like to live with but my initial thoughts were.....well ...just how the original one should have moved on....just 13 years late! Now I think it has a lot to do with the 21 inch front wheel (skinny) which gives it the feel of a dirt bike for the road rather than the other way round which is just how I like it. It feels light on its feet, relatively slim, taught, and more than pokey enough (compared to GS1200 I tried a few months back). Bit of buffeting around my head (I,m 6.3). Maybe with the seat in the lower position it may have been better. It looks good as well and sounded lovely with the Remus pipe (£300 extra sir) fitted. Fuelling felt good...I tried all 3 modes without noticing that much difference but the roads were dry. I think with TKC's fitted I can see a few launching off around the globe. Now 2 things had me smiling...the first is would I chop in my own old one...no...still makes me feel good.. luddite that I am....and how much for my tidy 22k VFR in part ex....£900 sir......"but the extra engine bars and centre stand for the new AT cost that much"..."yes but its new sir."...mmmmmmm I know its not worth a lot but come on chaps its a civilised RC45. Now if i was a cash buyer and 11k fell into my hands I would be tempted but a very nice KTM 990 adventure for £6k would also tempt me possibly more? It was everything I expected and hoped for....bit late but you got there in the end Mr Honda!

 

[Paul-S]

Nice one Tony

 

[Hamster]

It seam,s a lot of riders are having the same thought. It,s good but....

 

[austin]

I went to see them in Blackpool Honda a week or two ago - first one in the flesh. I was underwhelmed, although unlike most here I thought black looked best. I decided not to even bother asking about a test ride.

What they did have that I did like a lot was a tri-colour crosstourer. If my GSA wasn't just the best bike I think I would be very very tempted - in fact it is still nagging at me.

 

[Raymo]

The bike seems to have hit the spot..

Fancy one but with like my old ones...

hopefully they will sell like hot cakes and then create a healthy used market

some of the launch niggles seem to be poor dealer related with stuff being loose or sticking.. those should be ironed out on a good 2 year old one .....

 

[Steve T]

Good, honest write up - thanks for sharing

Not even been to look at one in the metal . . . . . . yet , so I'll save me words till I have.

Hoping to give a V-twin a spin on Saturday, so who know's what'll be lurking in the garage in the near future

. . . hopefully they will sell like hot cakes and then create a healthy used market . . . . .

You can take the man out of Yorkshire, but you can't take Yorkshire out of the man . . . . . especially when he lives in Jockland

Steve T

 

[-XP-]

It's a no brainer for me with any new bike... 10, 11 or 12k

You can still get lovely, well looked after second hand bikes for between 4 and 7k. Like Raymo says, hopefully in a few years they'll be coming up for decent money.

 

[Stubbsie]

Honest write up much appreciated Tony.

Very expensive I thought, saying what other bikes are out there, I agree with Austin Black is the best colour.

Expensive aftermarket parts which should be standard in my opinion, heated grips, main stand, etc.

Glad you enjoyed it I enjoyed my test ride back in January, BUT it made me realise I appreciate my RD07 Africa Twin !

 

[Barftone]

I thought the white one was pirdiest in the piccies but looking in the flesh I quite liked the red and black one with the colour cordinated seat.

 

[Raymo]

You can still get lovely, well looked after second hand bikes for between 4 and 7k. Like Raymo says, hopefully in a few years they'll be coming up for decent money.

Jims would be a bargain , never been off road.. no salt

the niggles will be sorted too...

I see on XRV and Facebook the DCT has scared a guy shitless after a service and water in the floppy paddle switch....

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/africa-twi ... -note.html



Potential bargain . ACF50 and adjust the throttle cables after taking it of his hands for £5k

Will wait live Steve T

any way I need to thin out my herd..

 

[Ian Porter]

I see on XRV and Facebook the DCT has scared a guy shitless after a service and water in the floppy paddle switch....

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/africa-twi ... -note.html



Potential bargain . ACF50 and adjust the throttle cables after taking it of his hands for £5k

Will wait live Steve T

any way I need to thin out my herd..

think I'll be sticking to old technology, that must have been proper scarey

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

I see on XRV and Facebook the DCT has scared a guy shitless after a service and water in the floppy paddle switch....

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/africa-twi ... -note.html



Potential bargain . ACF50 and adjust the throttle cables after taking it of his hands for £5k

Will wait live Steve T

any way I need to thin out my herd..

think I'll be sticking to old technology, that must have been proper scarey

Define old technology

 

[Ian Porter]

Cables and hydraulics Phil

None of this elektrickery stuff

I'd quite happily run carbs if the powers that be would let us

 

[Barftone]

Can u feel a recall coming on already?

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Cables and hydraulics Phil

None of this elektrickery stuff

I'd quite happily run carbs if the powers that be would let us

Maybe

Fortunately, we have a choice on how & where we spend our money a nice old bike with 6v electrics, points & condensers sir?
Or was that a comparitively complex fi Scrambler you bought recently

 

[Ian Porter]

Cables and hydraulics Phil

None of this elektrickery stuff

I'd quite happily run carbs if the powers that be would let us

Maybe

Fortunately, we have a choice on how & where we spend our money a nice old bike with 6v electrics, points & condensers sir?
Or was that a comparitively complex fi Scrambler you bought recently

It was, but deliberately bought before before they imposed abs, traction control and ride by wire etc.

All those things though are now inevitable unfortunately

DCT thankfully remains an option and that's where the old technology of cables or hydraulics is better for me

 

[Rubberchicken]

DCT sounds like fun actually, IF they can get it to work properly and reliably and IF it does what I want without too much second guessing. (And IF the manufacturer doesn't/isn't forced to cripple it by design.)

Old tech certainly can be a bit of a bastard, carbs are a pain to get right, cables run out and need constant adjustment, and I could really warm up to the idea of push-button FI doing a cold start on a freezing winter morning having to crack open the throttle just so (accurate to the nearest degree, minute and second) or it won't even fire, nevermind idle. Then again, it's almost never quite so wrong that it can't be bodged to keep you going while the FI is for all intents and purposes a black box. If the black box never ever fails it's a no brainer, but...

I might just need both. My old GS and a new all the bells and whistles AT.

 

[Rubberchicken]

Ooh look at that...

https://rubberdust.com/honda-africa-twi ... -rothmans/

 

[hotbulb]

Ooh look at that...

https://rubberdust.com/honda-africa-twi ... -rothmans/

Nice....... shame about that huge lump of silencer, though!

 

[Rubberchicken]

That can be fixed...

I quite like that RD03 version.

They had a few more concepts, the original rally bike:

Some other colours: