PDA

View Full Version : Honda Africa Twin


loanrangie
18th February 2016, 12:23 PM
Just got back from a meeting with Honda Australia and saw the new Africa Twin on display that was released just last week.
Nice looking bike with a DCT auto trans with paddle type shift as an option :cool:.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/353.jpg
rangieman
18th February 2016, 04:28 PM
Not getting rid of the Trumpy are you mate:eek:
mick88
18th February 2016, 04:40 PM
Nice looking jigger!

Cheers, Mick.
loanrangie
18th February 2016, 05:55 PM
Not getting rid of the Trumpy are you mate:eek:

Not a chance in hell ;), but a new bike at wholesale cost would be hard to turn down.
Redback
19th February 2016, 06:54 AM
Nice looking bike, similar to the old XLV750R, remember them, I quite liked the look of them, they are a classic now, well sort after as a resto project and are eligable for classic rego, are they shaft drive like the old XLV?
mick88
19th February 2016, 07:06 AM
No they are chain drive!


Cheers, Mick.
Pedro_The_Swift
19th February 2016, 07:48 AM
nothing like settling in after a hard days ride,,
but then you have to maintain the chain:mad:

I can nearly understand chains if you are chasing the last 1% of the bikes performance,, nearly.
mick88
25th February 2016, 10:51 PM
I have to agree with you Pedro.
After owning a couple of shaft drives I really wouldn't go back to a chain.


Cheers, Mick.
crash
3rd March 2016, 07:12 PM
They do look good, but one review I read was they thought it was underpowered, especially when compared to its competitors.
A mate has one booked in for test ride over the weekend. Will be interested to hear what he has to say about it. He currently rides a Harley as well as use to race vintage motocross.
crash
11th March 2016, 09:41 PM
My mate spent a weekend with one - mid specced with ABS and a couple of other features. He would buy one tomorrow. Took it over a variety of terrain and over some familiar twisty roads. He liked the different fuel maps, and found the 2nd setting to be best for the open road.
He also thought it had ample power for his type of riding.
He admits this is the first adventure bike he has ridden and would like to try a couple of different brands for comparison.

He was talking to a few other owners of BMW 1200, they figured the Honda would be lighter and better suited for more 2ndary and "off road" tracks. The BMW is better suited for more open type roads.

My mate thought the mid specced would be the pick of the 3 models (top of the range is dual clutch - a bit like an auto) and the base model does without ABS.

I might have to head to Honda for a test ride.
flagg
15th March 2016, 06:30 PM
They are lovely to ride!

I have a R1200GSA.. my local mechanic is a Honda dealer and they had an Africa Twin for demo. Its a lovely bike, very light and well balanced power to weight.

yes the BMW has more power, but also a lot more weight and bulk. I would have bought the AT on the spot but they wanted to low-ball me on the trade-in value of the BMW.. so I didn't.

A very very nice bike and super easy to ride. Typically Honda - almost annoying in their perfection.

The suspension of the GS is still the king, though.
rangieman
15th March 2016, 07:14 PM
I have to agree with you Pedro.
After owning a couple of shaft drives I really wouldn't go back to a chain.


Cheers, Mick.

Not a concern with chains as i run this with very minor sling;)
Cameleon Oiler - Home (http://www.cameleonoiler.com/en/)
B92 8NW
15th March 2016, 11:00 PM
Not a concern with chains as i run this with very minor sling;)
Cameleon Oiler - Home (http://www.cameleonoiler.com/en/)

Damn you! Another thing I have to buy:D
rangieman
16th March 2016, 03:17 AM
Damn you! Another thing I have to buy:D

We all secretly love gadgets :D
But honestly apart from that my brakeaway cruise BrakeAway Motorcycle Cruise Control (http://www.brakeawayproducts.com/) is the best:p
crash
23rd March 2016, 06:22 PM
As the title says - spent a good hour on one today.
If Honda does not sell a bucket load of these I do not know what they would have done wrong.
A very easy bike to ride, and as mentioned before very light and well balanced with plenty of grunt. It actually felt slow at 100km/hr. Very easy to manoeuvre at slow speed, and felt very composed at highway speeds on long sweepers. I felt quite confident on it on the highway and hitting the curves.
I also took it down some gravel roads - again nothing unsettled it, even washboards did not bother it. I even switched the TC off on a back road - had some wheel spin taking off but tracked dead straight. TC can be a bit strange and the way it retards the engine - first time it happens it makes a few strange noises and you wonder what the? then all of a sudden it takes off on you.
Took it over some small rough dirt burns, rode over them without any problems - very stable.
The small wind screen (which is adjustable) does a good job, and directs the wind over you.
The rear suspension is easy to adjust with an accessible adjustment knob that you could almost reach and adjust as you are riding. I did not play with it. I also did not play with the 3 different engine maps - left it as set.
Around town and stopping at traffic lights - I would sit for a few seconds before having to put my feet down - as said before very balanced.
As I was riding I could see myself touring 2 up on it. There would not be too many places where it could not take you. You would only be limited by your capability.
I would like to take a competitors bike for a ride for comparison, but I think it could be hard to beat.
If you get a chance take one for a test ride.