After 6 months and 10,000 klm, let's talk about this bike!! ~-~~-~~~-~~-~ Please watch: "(1) Three Red Africa Twins (and a crash) video " • Three Red Africa Twins... ~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Very helpful review thanks. I’ve already followed a few of your suggestions including the Outback crash guards, engine protection, and bash plate. I’ve had the bike for a few weeks now and love it.
Good review mate. Out of all the things you have said and modified, most adventure bikes would be the same..they all need better suspension, bash plate etc. I have been thinking about one of these for a while now. But my 2011 Tiger800xc is going strong at 45k
Me and Mrs Jones.... We got a thing going onn. We still do. Thanks for the comment. Nothing to add about the front fender, theres plenty of kits available to do it. I think it makes the bike look better but also helps in muddy conditions.
LookattheBiggerPic Hey mate, local fella in Brisbane makes a kit for the CRF. The Fender is off a CRF450 and the tube guards are off a KTM450. If you are in Aus I can hook you up.
Great video. 👍 No bike is perfect... sounds like this one does a lot of important things well, and has a few bits and bobs that could use upgrades. Would be really curious to see a 10k review of the Adventure Sports. Seems to address a couple of your main complaints... particularly the suspension and the crash protection.
Thanks for the video and review. I bought a used demonstration AT this January. Rode about 11.500 kms this year through Germany, Poland and down to Croatia. Improved it with crash guards from H&B, similar brake cylinder cover and for the offroad tires Heidenau K60 Scout I installed the Rugged Roads Fender Riser Kit for about 5cm more clearance. The bike fits my needs for long touring perfectly, was a good decision. Unfortunately it got stolen last week, so the season is over now. 😢
Thanks for the VID. The AT is a great Bike .... My Crossi got in the meantime two buddies .... 1) CB 1000RA (Rizoma Edotion) and 2) CRF 250L (just for fun). Best wishes from Germany !
CRF 250L are great and you can have them updated to a 300CC with an AUD $1,800 kit to increase the bore and it is up to date with the new CRF300 but for a bargain price.
Nice review Steve, you didn't mention anything about the seat. I note in your desert vid you were running a sheep skin - is that because the oem is a little to be desired (like the horrible seat on my 1290)
Sprockets shouldn't effect your speed sensor, that pickup up is based off your front wheel. That is also why when you wheelie it eventually slows down to 0KMH :)
Another great video mate. Clearly the AT was an excellent choice! Have to ask...how's the VFR? If you had to choose and have only one bike, which one would it be?
Thanks Tony, that's the ultimate question isn't it? I got the AT to fill a gap that the CT couldnt fill but during the 2 months I was without the AT I mainly rode the CT. That V4 engine and driveshaft combo is so good. I did a lot of 2 up riding in all conditions and it really is such a great all rounder. Hopefully I never find myself in the position of having to own only one bike. No one needs that kind of stress in their life!!! ;-)
Thanks for a great video. I will ride two up a lot and hesitate between AT and CT, I think I'll go for the CT for a more comfy ride... Can the CT be safely riden at 1,70m you believe?
Thanks Gilles, if you are mostly riding 2 up then the CT is the better bike. More HP and Nm from the beautiful V4 make for much easier cruising. It's got better brakes and ergonomics. If the bike is set up right, wheels and tyres are balanced it's very comfortable at speed. it just burns a lot of fuel over 140kph. ;-)
Hi Ron, you have to buy a kit. There’s a few out there for the AT. You have to re route the brake line, purchase a fender and fork protectors. It’s not a big job.
Thanks Ryan, I've got a Motoz Tractionator Adventure on the rear (great tyre) and a Pirelli Rally the front, can't fault either of them after 8000 km all surfaces and there is still another 30% rubber left on the tyres.
These 1000cc all purpose/adventure bikes that are built to a lower price point than the 1200cc alternatives, my preference would be to eliminate electronics and give us good components elsewhere. Analog speedo/tach/oil/water gauges and I'm set. Good suspension, wheels, and tires... a rider can conquer the world. I can mount my own GPS.
I totally agree with the idea of good quality components and less farkles. However there is never an off the shelf option that will suit everyone, so personalising ergonomics, suspension etc will still be needed. There is also a lot of of geography in how a bike is set up for the conditions of roads and tracks that each region has will impact the decisions and equipment selected. Thanks for the comment.
The High Fender kit is from a local Brisbane guy. The guard is a CRF250 and the fork protectors are for a KTM 450. There are a few High Fender kits available on the market, I think Camel do one.
Sitting here waiting for my missus wishing I had Africa twin now. Got a BMW instead and made the wrong choice even within their eco system and got the f650gs didn't realise all my pleasure riding would be off road ha ha.
Its funny, I got back into riding on a road bike and realised I wanted to keep going when the tar stopped. I grew up riding dirt and really missed it . Most of the great places in Australia are off the tar anyway so it was always going to be a dirt bike. If you wait a couple of months the new AT Adventure Sport will be out and you'll be able to upgrade. ;-)
I have not found a need for a damper. I know a lot of people talk them up and i ride with guys who have them. I've just come back from a ride to the outback and was riding one handed across corrugations and in deep sand. The bike is really well behaved in most conditions.
Fair enough. You do have some serious skill, I watched your channel going back 10 years. No a lot of bike history made public, I’d say you’ve been riding a long time though. Thank you for the response and the great videos. I just ordered the XR650R pegs for my Twin because of your suggestion
Thanks mate, not so much skill as a fear of crashing. LOL. I have done plenty of that. A Steering Damper won't make the bike worse but if it saves a crash even once then its a good thing. Thanks for your comments, I always appreciate them. Let me know how you get on with the foot pegs, I thought it was XR600 pegs that fit?
Until Yesterday I had both and XR600 and XR650 in my shed. (sold the 600). The 600 and 650 are different. But i have some mates who have bought the 650 pegs for their AT and they have worked, so IDK?
@@BigBikeAdventures I'm familiar with the location, but wasn't sure if a scoop nearby would have an affect on airflow. Aerodynamics can be funny like that. If it still works as it should, that's great, but it won't be as clean of an air source.
There have been no noticeable air flow problems since I've the hi mount fender. The main reason I did it was so that guard didn't get jammed with mud and I think it looks better.
The new one is not in AUS yet so i've not laid eyes on it. I'll probably wait until I get some proper use out of this one first. I can't see anything astounding on the new model that makes me want change.
Hello from the west side of Canada -- Some of your comments have been addressed with the AS model. I saw one at the Vancouver motorcycle show a month ago. -- there are 21 improvements or changes -- larger fuel tank - larger air box -lithium battery is 5 pounds lighter - different and improved muffler and mapping for better mid range - longer and better suspension - included body guards - better seat - there is a video on RU-vid that shows everything - I saw it earlier but I had no reason to save it.
Most of those aspects of the bike I've already addressed and personalised for me and my ride style and locations. Not finished yet. I will get another AT after I wear this one out.
great vid pal - some constructive criticism though; I think your views would shoot up if you stick to essential information. The first 1:35 could go altogether and we probably don't need to know how hectic your schedule has been recently. The real killer for vloggers is overly long vids.
My Africa Twin sees dirt every time it leaves/arrives home as I have an up hill unpaved gravel, muddy ,exposed thickish tree rooted, & deep rutted 15 yard drive way (rented). I had planned on a 650 Suzuki Maxi-scooter but the Africa Twin seemed easier & safer.
Sure, why not. There's no reason a modern engine properly maintained won't do 300K. There'S plenty of examples of Honda engines in the various forums doing well over 300k. Goldwings, Crosstourers etc.
Big Bike Adventures ......i don’t disbelieve it MAY do it, I just find it interesting to hear you state with no hesitation and utmost confidence “ it’ll do 300k no problem at all”.......that’s a brave and totally speculative assumption from an entirely new and unproven engine. Just because some of Hondas other power plants have done it doesn’t mean jack. I know of blackbirds and BMW’s with very high kms too, but a big power relatively low stressed smooth as a baby arse 4 cyl road bike engine in a Goldwing or ST1300 is a different beast, in a different application to this twin cyl in an adventure bike. Ive been around a long time and been employed in the motorcycle spare parts business for several years......Single and twin cyl adventure bike engines seldom reach anything near 300 klicks without a major o haul. Having said that, I like the AT from what guys like you and others have said about them after a period of time actually owning one. I would not hesitate to buy one even if I only got 150 klicks before engine work was required. I reckon the rose coloured sunnies were on when that slipped out🤩 bud....so maybe we have to agree to disagree. I do admit ....I’m being picky....but on only one comment you said. That’s not a bad effort on your part!
Big Bike Adventures ....if there was going to be a bike manufacturer in this class, to regularly crack 2 to 3 ton on the odo, without major issue - my money would be on Honda. I'm sceptical on that but agree- time will tell.
Grant Kerr to be fair there’s more to a bike than just the engine and I can’t see the rest of my bike making the distance the way I ride it, even if just engine makes it that far. 😂😂😂
