Honda Africa Twin 1100 CRF Base Model and Adventure Sports BIKE SWAP 🏍 

Last year had to make the choice between the two (and a couple of others like the T7), and I fully agree with most of the remarks you guys made! In the end I went for the standard model, as I also do offroad stuff and it felt like a good compromise between weight and comfort. Just feels like an excellent balance for a bike. Until recently no other competitors in the segment, bikes were either much heavier and high power/touring focused (1290, 1250gs etc) or much smaller meant for more offroad (tuareg 660, T7, ktm 890 etc). No bike really split the difference except the base AT, although now the new Suzuki 1050DE seems similar in philosophy. I have found the electronics to be confusing at first, but you get used to it. Especially the android car is very convenient. Also the bike feels a bit 'choppy' at certain speeds (30kmh/18mph in particular, just like you guys mentioned), setting the throttle mapping to the softest helps a lot with it (although offroad I still use a more aggressive setting, as its more on-off throttle in nature and you can use the power to steer). But maybe this is just me being used the smooth carbs instead of injection. Honestly I never use the 'tour' 'off-road' etc, mostly just stick to the user modes. One dialed in for road, other off-road. AFAIK the 'power modes' don't adjust the power at all, they only change the mapping of the throttle to the power. Giving it the beans in any power mode gives you the full power. For anyone planning to get one, get the quick shifter!! It is absolutely lovely and definitely worth the money. Banging it through the gears with WOT is so nice. The user modes can customize which of the three 'screen types' you use (I think they call them bronze, silver and gold).

Huge respect girlies ; very few girls can ride an AT and a lot of blokes can’t either . They’re very tall

As a 65 year old shorty legged woman I am in awe of the pair of you riding those bikes. I love they way you are so honest about getting a tall heavy bike of the side stand. Ive tried the off road technique that Lucia uses and like you Kate its a struggle for me. Ive had to ask someone help to get my Guzzi V100 of its stand at a petrol station its so good to know Im not the only one. Keep up the good work you are both inspirations. I see you ride and think well if they can do then so can I. Even to the point that now I am think of having a crack at the BMW off road course.

LUV LUCIA!!! A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR BIKER GANG!!! A+++....... REALLY ENJOYED IT!!!

This Was The comparison video Ive been waiting for. Ive been researching the Africa Twin for months and I couldnt figure out What the difference is between the Two models. Thank you so much for Doing this. I fux with you. Sending love. - College kid From Florida.

On the Hondas: For power, engine braking and traction/torque control a lower number or zero always means less intrusion from the software, i.e. more like an old school bike with no gizmos. Also, the Africa Twin used to have a longer side stand and people were complaining that it was too long so now they have a stand that is too short!

First time watcher here. Amazing. I'd been on the fence about which AT model would most suit my style ... and I can honestly say I learned more from this vid than any of the other dozens I've watched. Thanks for the practical details. I think I'm going standard ... 👏👏👍👍

My wife's looking at buying a used Africa twin. Glad I found this video showing women riding that bike easily. She's going from a 2007 VFR and was/is worried about the height

Talked about a mixture of weather. I have always liked the Africa Twins. Great vlog ladies

Hii Kate, great vid and so impressed with the riding in that awful weather. OK a hint on lifting a bike of the side stand that you struggle with, Turn the handle bars to the right full lock, that lifts the bike just a tad, but it helps. Try and let us know if it works for you Thanks keep the great work

Great all-weather vlog, start with rain,then snow, then sunshine, definitely in the peak district 😂 👍🏍

Oh, I'd never get on or off without the side stand down, that's one recipe for disaster. Push the bike closer to the pump and use the kerb if one is there:-)

I love that this counters the idea that you need to be hench to ride one of these.

Another fab video Kate. I've not been to Matlock Bath for a while and will have to revisit some time. It would be good to see you out with Lucia again having fun in the Great out doors. Ride safe and enjoy. 🙂🏍💨👍

Nice to see you got some sunshine in the end. On the other hand, you seem to laugh more than others in the cold rain too :) Guess the love for riding is way bigger than the "not so much love for rainy weather"

Weat weather curse? How dare you! 😂😂😂

You always have fun on your rides, that's why your VLOGS are so watchable. Amazing how you ladies are able to ride the bigger bikes which I would be a bit nervous to try to be honest lol. :>)

Hi Kate greetings from Australia. Just wanted to say thanks for the vlogs like them all. Super content and at times very funny commentary. Keep up the good work.

Absolutely love your vids Kate, I put my sister onto them too and she loves them. I am looking at getting a BMW but the one thing I wont be doing is riding in the cold and rain like I had to do in the 70s on my 750/4 K2. Now going to make the most of the sun down here in France 😎

Maybe it’s growing up in another era of off road riding or never have I ridden the new modern ADVs but I don’t think I’d want a bike that big or heavy for dirt. Maybe the majority never see dirt often like the four wheel drive cars and trucks I see on the roads theses days. The review with both of you comparing notes 👍, more playing in the dirt always makes for good time videos.

I've had my Hornet for 2 months now and haven't a clue how to put the heated grips on/off. Honda switchgear isn't great. Fabulous vid. You both really show that being relatively short in the leg doesn't mean that you need to compromise on bike choice. I'm between 5ft 7 and 8 in, depending on the time of day. I don't think I'd choose a challenging seat height bike for my hungover, Monday commute. But, otherwise, it's quite fun aiming the bike away from tricky cambers and thinking about where's safe to land..........

You're both mad. Brilliant, but mad! Hope you're feeling better. Zoom zoom!

Hi Kate, another great video, Lucia is a great addition to your channel, it would be nice to see you working together on another video. Take both of you

Enjoyed the coverage thanks. When you're getting on a tall bike like this (these) try standing on the foot-peg and then you'll find you only have to bend a knee to sit down.(Because you're effectively using a step)Its built and strengthened for off road and will easily hold your weight.

Great down to earth review. 👏🏼 After meeting you, its fantastic how you get on with these big bikes. See Size doesn't matter 😜

Hi Kate, would love, love, love to see you and Lucia tackle some green laning. Maybe not on those Africa twins though, you'll be picking those things up alot I fear, and they are piggin heavy lumps!! Loving the vids. X

Another great video Kate 😃you and Lucia are good together and like everyone would like to see a video of the both of you going off road riding, I have been riding 45years and still have trouble cocking my leg over on my 1290 super adventure 🤣

A green Laning day, that definitely sounds like a great idea.....

Awesome video! I enjoyed seeing you both working together and would like to see more. I would also see you both on Honda’s new TransAlp. What do you think? Best!

Thanks for a lovely video. I don't know if anyone else gave a tip regarding getting the legs over the bike. So here comes perhaps a extra of the same tip. If you put your left foot on the peg, and then lift you feet over the seat, it will be easier. A bit like a cowboy/girl step up. (If you know what I mean?) Hope it helps. I am almost 6 feet 5 inches, and I use that technique all the time. Keep up the good work.

Ladies you have to put your left foot on the foot peg and swing your right leg over the saddle.im small with a short leg so everything is tall for me.love my Africa.do this with side stand on.us old guys do this with most bikes.

7:25 Nice stately building in the background.

I've not ridden adventure, but I am short & have watched a lot of Bret Tkacs channel & he has a lot of great ideas/tips for dealing with taller bikes--e.g. stepping on the peg to get your leg over more easily.

Good review Kate. I love my Africa Twin Adventure Sport model except for the seat, it kills me. The slope forward puts pressure on my tail bone and becomes very unbearable in 2-3 hours riding. I’m going to be fixing that in the next week here with adding high density foam to flatten the seat platform and then making a new cover for it before the 24 riding season starts here. The side stand does have the bike leaning more than most, I put a enlargement plate onto it which makes it slightly better, and I found when mine was loaded heavy going camping it does not lean as much because the suspension is compressed some which stands the bike up a bit more. The display is complex to figure out, and the throttle response can be figured out and I have set up a user mode that I like. The weight difference between the two versions is very small really and it is mainly the extra fuel. However the Adventure Sport model is also a taller bike so it feels heavier. I’m taller than you so the windscreen is fine for me, also the buffeting you are getting is coming from the fork tunnel. I installed a fork tunnel shield and that eliminates that problem, also the tiny pebbles the fly up through there and hit your face when riding on gravel.

Owning an ATAS and seeing your review, you have picked up on my 2 gripes. The side stand is too short. I need to source an aftermarket one. The dash layout is confusing with the engine braking settings etc. Once you read the manual it's adjustable easy enough. Once you reduce the engine breaking on the settings on user modes it will sort the snatchyness out but in all fairness I'm used to it now. I have rhe plus model which has centre stand and the wind deflectors, amongst other stuff and the electronic suspension, too. I'll not be changing this bike 2 up fully loaded touring down to commuting it does it all and returns over 60mpg not bad for a lardy beast. Chug along and its sedate ring its neck and it roars away super flexible. Great review as always

Think I like the base model colours more 👌... with some decent extras on it, a good pipe it'll look bob on

hello good morning 🌄 Kate best regards 👋 to you and Lucia

Great video. I live near Matlock and Buxton and you were giving it some in the rain. Not my cup of tea. subbed & liked going back to watch more of your videos.

That stand is crazy. Alt rider just did a awesome adjustable stand.

Nice to have Lucia on the channel!

Excellent video content with useful commentary. Thank you!

Waiting for my bike to get sorted... again... i brokened it. Wheel bearings went, not surprised at 50,000 miles...

Felicidades y envidia sana,que aventureras.... esto si que es ser verdaderas moteras.

you need to put a sticker in front or on the dash, saying "jacket zip" lol and also it is nice to see that Cardo like to play with others with the radio at the most inappropriate times when recording a vlog haha it seems to come on more with my edge than it does with my slim though. That looked a cold wet day, but riding with the right gear always helps, when remembering to do them up properly lol Kate

Kate you should do a Lancs ride out. Good opportunity for everyone to make some new rider mates… boring going out on my tod all the time! Also green laning with Lucia would be a great vid 👍🏼 Do it on the GS! 😂

" Hey Cardo.... Radio Off!" glad I'm not the only one!

I had problem with wind buffeting on my tenere 700, the bigger the screen the bigger turbulance behind it is created, where you had is, so the smaller windscreen might actually help where in that case you are hit with clean air, not turbulance that is created behind the bigger screen. I love your video, just find it by accident, and the way you talk its great, great informations, love it, subscribed

Yes it would definitely be great to see you do some off road riding 👍. Have you considered attending the ABR Festival this year, if not you should, I’ve been the last two years, travelling form Northern Ireland, and would highly recommend it.

Another great vid Kate and Lucia, you to are good together. Yes you can make more vids together! Keep up the great work! 😊

I think Im going to get the base model Now. Before I Was leaning toward the Adventure Sport but After Seeing this and What Lucia has to say I do think that the slight difference in Weight makes a Big difference especially in terms of me Wanting my bike to be nimble. Hopefully I can test ride both somehow.

Hi Just joined your channel been riding bikes since I was 19 .40yrs ago , are you doing a kit test I never found waterproof gear that actually was

Lol, it's stable alright. Until it isn't. 😂

I know everyone has their own opinion but I prefer the look of the base model bike 👍

Always love watching your vlogs Kate looking forward to seeing your next one ride safe lovely only one username Kate and the biker chick with the swanky helmet and dark visor 😂

excellent review Kate, hoping to try one at ABR , I'm ashort ass too 5'7 so hoping to be ok!

I don't know about the UK bikes, but in the US, the adventure sports model is set up more for on-road riding, whereas the base model is a little more off-road focused. The base model has "tubed" tires and wheels, and the AS model goes with a "tubeless" setup with the spokes on the outer part of the wheel. Love the video Kate!

Perform for your thousand dollar an episode, hands always in the shot, new aaaaaaaass telly

Hey Kate I'm just under 16 stone. To get on and off the AT I step on the riders peg. Even with the lean angle , I've never had an issue.

If you were going to get into off-roading on an ATAS, you'd probably want to take up powerlifting & get well sturdy. I was lucky on the Honda Adventure Experience - I didn't drop mine at all but I was being super-careful, and if I had there were plenty of folks ready to muck in & get you upright, but I think I'd want to become the kind of person who can deadlift more than his weight all day before going solo off-road on something so heavy.

Just a thought, excuse the pun but if you're having trouble getting your leg over, why don't you step on the riding peg nearest the side stand and swing your leg over. I'm 5ft 10 and use this method all the time on my adventure bike, it makes life a lot easier, especially if I have panniers.

Honda sell upper wind deflectors that are a must for buffeting. Don’t know why it didn’t come as standard.

Those bikes look huge next to you.

Girls, you guys are awesome.

Of course sweeties!! I'd love to see you both doing many videos !! You are simply awesome lovely and charming Girls!! With all my respect.. a Warm hug!! Congratulations too !! ❤😊😊😊

Tubed tyres on the base model. A nightmare if you get a puncture, especially without a centre stand.

I'm fairly tall, but I'm fat and not very flexible. I ride a KTM 1290 SAS and I usually grab my leg and kick my foot up over the seat. I dismount it like a horse by standing on the left peg and swinging my leg over. Works well for the big ADV bikes. Once I found that little life hack, handling these tall bois was much easier!

Would love to see you Green laning together 👍👍

You should review the Honda NT1100 next, that's like a more road focused Africa Twin with the same engine etc.

I am a new follower of your channel Greetings from Sweden

Interesting comparison crocodile. I for one would like to see you and Lucia green laning Kate.

Great video, can you do a test ride on the Honda X-ADV adventure scooter thingy please, I think it may surprise you 😊👍🏻

I have L model on rain use gravel mode it is like rain mode also have abs fuse off

Personally I think the base is better for corners and offroad, lower seat! But, and for me it's a big but, tubed tyres! Thankfully the bigger adventure sport is still a very very good machine! Do you worry about a blow out on tubed tyres over a slow air lose on non tubed?

That’s not rain it’s just “thick dampness”. 😉

when on the side stand use the footpeg to mount the bike don;t swing the leg over your not 18 lol! I'm 5"9 thats how I get on my adv sports, the lean on the side stand is mental I have thought a couple of times now on rough ground that the bike was gonna fall over when putting it on the side stand. Might seem strange this but I find it better balanced when I have thew full 3 piece boxes on & a full tank.

Step on the footpeg while on the kickstand then just lift your foot up rather than doing the round the back kick. Bigrockmoto has a good vid on mounting these things.

As far as I read it the higher the number the higher the amount of interaction. So high traction control number means more electronic wizardry

um... how it feel's like... if you need a trolly for your work sure the commuting should be on two wheels... (adventure bike and alu cases can not be the last words...) is a taller wheel diameter better at motorbikes or lower numbers and a scooter ; both with approx. same power and cubic's

Great double act

You can still have full power and minimum engine braking. It’s all adjustable.

Good job with the comparison video and likes and dislikes you both experienced. If I can suggest one thing, get on and off the bikes using the foot peg. I am own the ATAS model and am 6’0” and still use the stand. The kickstand is short so adding a kickstand base helps the bike to not lean over as far.

On power the highest setting is 1 but on traction and Eb it’s the other way round so basically the more bars you have the higher the setting. Weird way Honda has it set

Hi Kate, on the topic of sh!t weather, how has Mike's Oxford textiles held up over winter? I might be wrong but I was under the impression he had Oxford stuff.

engaging post! 💪

Hi Kate with Atwins bikes

yep green laneing be good

Does anyone know if there's a way to make all modes display in Gold tier, i.e. with all the info? I actually hate the simplified displays. I want everything the same, in the same place when I switch modes. I don't want to be groping around to find out what's happening with the bike.

so it's raining pretty hard and the Go Pro is in the media mod. is it a plug in mic ?

👍

how do like the africa twin compared to the suzuki vstrom1050 ? :) whats betta ?

OMG, my cardo does the same with the radio! So annoying!

I have an Africa Twin, CFR1000, never seen another woman on one 🙃

Hey, Lucia, are you Sovakia?

A bigger screen would of kept you dryer is that a option or do ya have to get a after market one Did it feel top heavy Kate compared to your GS where all the weight is down low was the Honda better than the Triumph you had a go on

They’re based on the crf motor cross bike,they need to be high to perform or even jump off road.The bike is perfect.Either put different springs in or get a road bike.They’re designed for men but women today want to play with mens toys..

That bike looks massive. I’m 6ft and wouldn’t fancy riding it. Is one bike lower than the other

Kate would love to see more who wouldn’t two beautiful ladies on motorcycles well cool lol 🤣😇

Just a thought but have either of you tried any of the Sport modes?

All africa twin 1100 have same screen only difference dct

Sorry keep making amendments based on your video I’m watching. You can alter each modes screen for how you want them to look with whatever info you want to see