[Closed] Africa Twin

I'm looking forward to seeing these. Any news on price yet/release date? Might be time to part-ex the sprint…

I got an email from my LHBS offering pre-orders. For £500. But no mention of when or at what price! Cheeky bastards!

They do look rather complicated to me but so do many new bikes.
Thing is I am a Rotax CCM chap so steam rollers look complicated in comparison.

Yeah, why are Honda UK dragging their heels on pricing. Europe has declared, the US has declared why not here? Reckon they are trying decide just how high they can price it and still sell a shit load (Honda, look at the latest V-Strom, over egg it and it'll stiff. Price it keen, like the Tracer, and it'll fly off the floors!).

Things that bother me (other than I have a 6 month old V-Strom only half paid for) are:

Tubed tyres
Spoked wheels
Tank size
Price???

It looks ace though. If it was this time last year I'd be very, very keen/excited.

5 gallon tank itself wouldnt be a problem if they can get 60+mpg from the same style of engine as the NC range. I can get between 200 and 250 miles out of a tank on mine. And that's just 14litres.

Id like them to put that 1000 into something more tourer-ry though really.

Very heavy at 228kg for an off-road bike, wouldn't want to have to pick it up....

I have been particularly interested in motorised two wheeled vehicles, but I think I am now!

That said, I am surprised at the figures you are quoting on fuel economy, Stoner. I would have thought that 60+ mpg was pretty standard.

I would have thought that 60+ mpg was pretty standard.

It's a lot bigger and heavier than the old 750 version. I'd expect mpg to take a hit for that.

60+mpg is v v rare.

Bike manufacturers have never given a rats arse about mpg in the past.

I can get regularly 53-55 mpg (well that's what the display says) on my Veek2 on back roads not riding, er, conservatively (not balls out neither) and that's hitting 200 miles (~18+ litres refill). My 650 would hit 240 for the tank (same size I think).

For an adventure bike I'd like to be able to get 250 to a tank. Sometimes I have to fill up three times in a day 😯

It's still 4-5 months away so I don't think it's a surprise they haven't finalised the price yet, there's a lot can happen.

I'm hoping for less that £11k, around £10,700 would be awesome. I want one too. 🙂

On the mega ADVrider thread they seem to reckon on near 12k (based on other bikes prices for comparison).

I was at the local motorcycle convention the other week and the local dealer said it would be priced similar to the Crosstourer in price. The list starts at over £12k....

Just sayin. 🙁

I have had a Mk 1 and a Mk2 in the past which were great bikes but no where near the power of this new one . The only thing the old and the new seemto share is the name. I used to ride both off road mainly abroad but sometimes in this country but only when dry!
I would be in the queue but after a major crash a few years ago the woman-in-charge has banned me from motor bikes.

I think just sub £10k would generate the right buzz.

What's the Super Ten at, £12k-ish and that's shaft drive. The Veek2 is now just over £9k, Tiger XCx is £10k.. Aren't the KTMs £12k+?

That looks the biz,and not as much of a tank as the old one .
I always prefered the XTZ and Teneres of that era.

Met up with some old biker mates that I hadn't seen in a while and a few of them really rated the Tigers.

I still reckon about £11k is a decent shout, I'm sticking to it 😉

It won't be as much as a Crosstourer in my opinion, a parallel twin versus a V4 cannot be the same production costs (I'm not suggesting that's the only factor, but the Crosstourer is a different bike all together price-wise).

The Euro price suggested of around €9k is the basic, non-ABS and non-traction which I don't think the UK will bring in. Whether that's a good thing or not, I reckon the comic would (wrongly) deem a bike worthless if it's released without the electronics. It's a good guide to a likely price though.

Don't understand the euro non abs price as they will be illegal in the EU in 2016....

Yeah, dealer could've been talking out his arse (it wouldn't surprise me!). Isn't the Crosstourer shaft as well?

The problem with Tigers is that Triumph have locked down the servicing, you need special tools and the valve check (12k?) services are reputed to be circa £800! And you're stuck with triumph dealers who have, er, a certain [i]reputation[/i] Plus welded sub frame has posed some problems. And the sus goes fut after three years... Apart from that they're ace 😉

I genuinely don't think the dealers have been told anything on pricing, so everyone's just speculating.

The non-ABS bike will be legal until 2017 if they've got the bike released early enough (albeit just), but that's probably why the UK won't see any. If it's appearing anywhere in Europe, I can only assume they are trying to hit a price point. A bit pointless doing that in my opinion.

There's a nice clip on YouTube of Marquez ragging around on one. I imagine his comes with a ladder...

Heavier, more expensive, less power, probably worse suspension that ktm 950 / 990 adventures (now discontinued)

Apart From that it's alright

Where do you actually use something like that though (besides on Paris-Dakkar)? The reason I ask is my neighbour has a big scrambler type thing like that (sorry I know next to nothing about motorbikes :p ) and he commutes on it but isn't it the same with cycling in that knobbly tyres are less grip on the road than slicks (or as close to slick as you're allowed on motorbikes)?
Oh and while I'm at it, do you really need to leave bikes idling for 5 minutes before you ride them, winds me up every morning!

Very heavy at 228kg for an off-road bike, wouldn't want to have to pick it up....

What the funk's a Veek?!

What the funk's a Veek?!

Sorry, it's short form for the '14+ Suzuki V-Strom DL1000. Original was affectionately known as a Vee. It acquired a beak during its upgrade and is now (un)affectionately known as a Veek (or Vee2). The original smaller sibling is known as a Wee... 😀

They don't need to price it cheap, BMW normally have a waiting list for the GSers and they're more expensive, so they only need to come in slightly under.

Although having owned both a Honda and a GS, BMW build quality is shite compared with Honda.

The KTM 990 Adventure is one of my all time, favourite bikes. I remember the first time I rode one thinking almost immediately it just felt 'right'.

The Africa Twin is actually a bit lighter than that, not heavier Charlie (by only 1kg, but still), despite conforming to later Euro specs (exhaust especially).

For those struggling to pick up a 230kg bike, how's about a ~350kg one, eh?

They don't need to price it cheap, BMW normally have a waiting list for the GSers and they're more expensive, so they only need to come in slightly under.

GS is a beast of a bike, electronic aides coming out its arse, shaft drive and is considered the premium 'ADV' brand (especially by Ewan & Charlie wannabes...). It out sells other brands by a country mile. Suzuki priced a not dissimilar bike to the AT at £10k in '14 and it stiffed, big style. ETA: the Yam S10 also suffered badly despite being 1200 shaft drive at £13k+ when originally released. In '14 they were giving the '13 away at £9k!

Although having owned both a Honda and a GS, BMW build quality is shite compared with Honda.

Yes. But Harley's are pretty shoddy too. Segment leader in the Cruiser category. Just like BM.

Both brands are trying to sell Lifestyle (TM). Honda sells bikes.... amongst other things, obv.

Thanks for enlightening me Metalheart : )

The Africa Twin is actually a bit lighter than that, not heavier Charlie (by only 1kg, but still), despite conforming to later Euro specs (exhaust especially).

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ktm/ktm_990_adventure%2006.htm

according to this KTM 990 is 209kg dry so quite a lot lighter. The 950 was a bit lighter than that as no abs

Sorry Charlie, the AT is 208 kg dry. The kerb weight is 232 (with ABS), 228 'standard'.

See here:

http://hondanews.eu/gb/en/motorcycles/media/pressreleases/58771/the-new-16ym-honda-crf1000l-africa-twin

Well that saved me typing, cheers MH. 😉

Here's the Marquez link instead, admittedly he could probably ride a Cub offroad quicker than me...

[url]

I stand corrected - I saw 228kg quoted above and thought that was dry

I've always loved the look of those adventure bikes, real manly. 🙂

But I also have wondered who has the cojones to use all that power and suspension 100 miles from anywhere, ie real adventure country.

When I lived in Oz I'd often see these monster bikes mincing along on dirt roads, which made passing them on my Electra Glide a wee bit embarrassing.

When I did real back of beyond riding it mostly was on a bog standard BMW airhead road bike.

However the big Jap singles are really the proper weapon to use if you're serious.

But still, stuff like the Africa Twin looks the ducks nuts. 🙂

Edit: [url= http://www.vincestrangmotorcycles.com.au ]This is the guy I'd go to if I want a bike to do the Oz deserts.[/url]

[url= http://www.vincestrangmotorcycles.com.au/dr650_slideshow.html ]A slideshow.[/url]

Ccm gp450 for me please.

@stoner: Hondas official blurb (linked earlier) states:

A large18.8-litre fuel tank – coupled with the engine’s fuel efficiency – provides a range [b]of up to[/b] 400km.

However I'd see that translate as 200+ miles *normal riding* range, pretty much the same as my Veek.

400km from 18.8L = 4.7L/100km = 60mpg.

I is disappoint. 🙁

Because we know that means 45mpg in normal use. And that's a bit crap. I dont know the ins and outs, but I wonder what contributes the most to the NC 75+mpg. Weight? Power limits? cc?

What you want is a CR500 with some lights fitted to it.

AT - told the local price here is 550,000THB - so around 9kGBP

Stoner, I don't think it'll be quite as bad as that, esp if you're used to the NC (ride it like the NC and you [i]should[/i] see 60mpg 😆 ).

As previously stated, I'm getting 50-55 on my DL1000 on mixed and country roads (it drops off if blasting down at motorway cruising speeds). Some people report 250 miles on a tank but I've only ever managed just over 200 with single figures on the mileage countdown gauge.

I think the NC has such good mpg as it doesn't rev high. If I completely fannyed my DL650 I could get 70 mpg. No fun though....

Stoner most bikes are toys not tools. The NC is an anomally. Most riders want brraaaaap power.

true it doesnt rev high, in fact it rides best between 3-6,000rpm.

I think it's more the dissapointment in the bike industry as a whole that they cant produce a package that consistently beats car MPG.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/real-world-mpg-efficient-small-petrol-cars/1215224

all weighing 1300Kg+, producing 60-80bhp, and delivering real world 50mpg+

A 200Kg bike even with my 90Kg hanging off the back, and with all the aerodynamics of a brick, ought to manage something over 60 without trying too hard. brrrap or no brrrrap.

Stoner most bikes are toys not tools.

http://hondanews.eu/gb/en/motorcycles/media/pressreleases/62875/16ym-honda-crf1000l-africa-twin8

(Quite) A bit more info (but still no pricing... 🙄 )

Reporting 60+ mpg....

Most riders want brraaaaap power

GSA is great for this - 2k to 5k. That's all it needs. 60mpg possible but rare.

How did you test ride a 2010 model AT ...they don't exist ! ❓

How did you test ride a 2010 model AT ...they don't exist !

Sorry, you've lost me completely. This thread is about the new [b]16YM[/b] AT( linked in my previous post).

I think he's referring to my op. TBH I can't be sure of the age. It was a s/h one at the LMS I was comparing against the NHS, I thought it wasn't too old. Might have been [s]07 plate perhaps[/s]. Must have been very tidy 03.

yes i realize that but the OP said at the beginning of this thread he'd tested a 2010 model AT

Ah, gotcha. The OP was weeks ago and I only added the update for info for the OP (and any other interested party). Didn't re-read the thread first 😆

Wiki says last AT made in 2003...

I could have sworn I say someone riding one in Cambridge the other day - looked brand new and colours / logos all match the new one.....

I dug out the bad scan below of the original Africa Twin I had in about 89/90, great bike and would love the new version but can't justify something like that these days sadly. The other bike is an XR650L I got from the States new in about 93/94 to replace the AT as was I doing more proper off road stuff then. The car in the pic I had then was one of my favourites from that era too, a Corolla GTI, happy days
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/22084301090_731a915412_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/22084301090_731a915412_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

I'm pretty sure the last of these AT's was about 2003, seem to really hold their price well these last ones

just go to XRV.org.uk if you want to know anything about the AT

Apparently honda have announced the [url= http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2015/november/honda-crf1000f-africa-twin-price/ ]Pricing[/url]:

ABS - £10,499
DCT - £11,299

Looks like they've headed down the Suzuki route then...

Sounds like an f800gsa (like mine) is no more expensive, then.

Rachel

The BMW'd get my money tbh.

Well no, actually I'd get a crashed weestrom, throw some cams at it, rip all the plastic off and make it light.