Anyone own an Africa Twin?

Africa Twin owners?

I figure this is a large group of people and there has to be 1 or 2 floating around on here. I've read every review available, watched every youtube video, read every forum pertaining to this bike. But I take all of that with a grain of salt.

I'm not interested in any other bike.
If you love your KTM or BMW and think it's the best ADV bike created that's cool, just not for me.

My current ADV bike is a KLR and my dual-sport is a KLX. I think more and more each month about selling the KLR and picking up an Africa Twin. Just looking for a non-magazine and non-bike forum perspective on the Honda.

 

I just thought that this was funny in a coincidental way, as I'm dumping BMW and looking hard at KTM.

 

I owned an F650GS Dakar, I found it unrefined and I had constant issues with the cooling fan, lights, and gauge cluster. This was only a 2 year old bike with 7500 miles when I bought it. My Dad owned a BMW R1200RT for less than a year, in that amount of time the alternator failed, linked braking system had electronic issues, and the headlights took 5 hours to replace just the bulbs. I swore off BMW forever at that point.

I love the idea of KTM, but I would not want to own one. By that I mean they make amazing power, keep the weight down, and have world class suspension, but with that comes a premium price and premium service intervals. KTM does a good job at squeezing every last HP out of their motors and keeps the power plant as light as possible, but the sacrifice is reliability. I have no personal experience with KTM, but I don't plan to. I would own a KTM if money was not a concern and I had a local euro bike mechanic to take care of every service.

My BMW was the only euro bike I ever owned and it will be my last. In total between on-road and off-road bikes over the last 18 years I've owned 12 different bikes, all Japanese besides the BMW.

My Honda's have always given me the most amount of ride time with the least amount of required maintenance and the longest service intervals. They have a few less HP and a few more Lbs, but they just seem to be a lot more friendly to own for a recreational rider. Cross country dealer support, parts availability, and an extensive aftermarket also weighed on my decision. I've been drooling over the Africa Twin since it hit the bike show circuit in 2014.

 

I've ridden a slightly older model Africa and it was gobs of fun. I had a versys and it blew that out of the water.

 

Interesting you didn't much like the GS. Most people would argue the opposite. But I never liked the way they looked.

 

Looks alone would lead me to believe that it was a completely capable bike off-road, this was not the case. I was not impressed with the handling, suspension, or power delivery. Now my KLR is the same CC bike and about 1/2 the cost, but it can truly hold it's own off-road.

The GS was what I would consider an 80/20 bike, 80 percent on road. But it could handle dirt roads.
The KLR is more 70/30.
And I'm hoping the AT is more 60/40 or even 50/50.

On the opposite end of that spectrum is my KLX, which I consider a solid 10/90 dual sport. It's only good on asphalt under 55mph, basically to be able to ride to the trails and back home instead of loading up.

I'm looking for that unicorn ADV bike. I hope the AT is finally it.

 

Ya, I'm kinda sitting on the sidelines to hear how reliability of the bigger KTMs pans out, and how difficult DIY service really is. I can mostly do my own, but was really turned off by how difficult it is to do something like a plug change on my K12GT (requires radiator removal and special tools).

 

BUMP,

Last shot I guess, Maybe another member with an AT will see this today. If so, chime in.

There seem to be so many of them among the adventure crowd on the East Coast, but real world ride reviews are hard to come by. Negative reviews are almost impossible to find, that is good and bad. I want to know what people don't like about them before I drop that kind of money on something I will drop on the ground.

 

I ride a Tiger 800 and did a quick demo ride of an non-dtc AT awhile back. I thought it was a fun bike, but don’t have any real world reviews to give. I follow this guy and find his moto reviews entertaining, give it a watch: https://youtu.be/tMILVr42zR4

 

I appreciate the video. I watched this review along with a few others of his. His review of the AT is very accurate, he didn't hold back picking apart it's flaws. The AT's strong point, which is undeniable, is it's offroad capability. I'm glad he agreed, because that is my priority in my next ADV bike.

 

A little off topic, but on Honda reliability. I had an 82 ATC 250R. It was bulletproof and fast. I miss it. It could sit for 3 years and start up on 2nd kick. I still have an 86 TRX 250R. Almost all original. Still get compliments on it at the dunes.
Honda’s last!

 

OBXTundra,

I know you haven't got the responses you are looking for. I just dropped the deposit for a 17 AT this morning. Its supposed to arrive Wednesday. I have a 13 Tundra and Im travelling from Knox (KY) to Cali in June. For sure will post feedback on the AT performance as well as the trailer towing lessons learned (AT and Hog).

 

Looking forward to it. I sold my KLR, the KLX is my single bike now. The AT is really the only new purchase on my horizon. Still love them and still hooked on their offroad capability.

Better go introduce yourself.....pics....and such.

 

Welcome to the forum!
Make sure you post pictures of that nice AT.

 

Have you asked around over at ExPo? Quite a few bike guys over there. Or ADV Rider?

 

I've read everything I can. Watched every review I can find on YouTube. I was just reaching out to the Tundra community for more input. I read ADVrider, but I won't post there.

 

I have been a member on Adventure Rider for a long time...here is a link to posts if you are considering an Africa Twin. You can read until your eyes bleed.

A real plus, Pro First Ammendment, so no restricted freedom of or speech censorship.

http://advrider.com

 

I would love any twins. I’m would not be picky with twins, the problem is they would not Pick me.

Welcome

 

I think the AT will be a blast off road...as for long distance touring or riding, I will stick to my ADV
Good luck with your new wheels!

 

I have a couple friends that have them. I rode both of them and was not impressed. Don't get me wrong, it's a gorgeous bike and very well refined. Too refined in fact, and subsequently boring. Accelerates quickly, but no torque whatsoever.

I can assure you it's not a 50/50 bike. It's still big and heavy despite it's looks.

Disclaimer: '07 990ADV owner

 

50/50 might be stretching it, but I think it's as close as you can get on the current market. I've got my KLX351 for enduro and dualsporting, now I want something on the opposite end of the spectrum. I had my KLR, but honestly the KLX did better on-road. The KLR was just a bigger/heavier dirtbike. The suspension was outdated and frankly it just didn't do anything well. The KLR didn't fit my requirements, I found myself riding the KLX exclusively.

I'm looking for something that will be comfortable on the interstate and dirt roads. I need it to have the ability to tackle some unmaintained fire roads and maybe even some easier singletrack. I've read a bit of the same on the AT, refined, vanilla, somewhat boring. At the same time I've also read excellent all around suspension and the type of power that can find traction anywhere. It may not have aggressive power delivery, but it has enough power to do anything that you might have the skill for.

I'm still not entirely sold on the need for another bike right now. More and more I find that I prefer to have a lighter more nimble dual sport. I don't like riding a bike that makes me change the terrain that I ride, reason for not really wanting an adventure bike. If only Suzuki would update the DR650. I have always looked at the DR as a Unicorn, the real "1 Bike". I just can't get over the early 90's technology and suspension.