Yeah I think this is the best review I've seen yet. Too much BS in other reviews and some are like 30 min long and didn't convey half the info this guy did.
Greetings from Chris and Arfan was a pleasure speaking to you and your dad really nice to get great advice from a person with great knowledge and passion for bikes cheers mate
Thank you and congratulations for this review! =). I have seen many other reviews and opinions about this motorcycle but no none of them were so close to my own thoughts. I consider myself an amateur rider and I get lost in technicisms, to see a review like this which explains the bike in an understandable way helps me a lot, for me you just hit the nail on the head! thank you again and congratulations!
Thank you for this review! I appreciate the focus on the essential revisions, rather than covering all the finer detail, which ends up becoming a review that's too long. A local electronic brochure provides all the detailed spec any way.
Superb review. 👍 Covered the technical changes, covered the ride experience. I think the reviewer nailed it with his summary: it’s not a groundbreaking bike. It’s not a bike of superlatives. It IS an excellent all-rounder for the vast majority of long-distance ADV rider needs. Pretty much settled that this will be my next motorcycle. I live in a rural area miles down a dirt road, and I have a long commute on winding mountain highway with less-than-perfect pavement. Plus lots of miles of backroads and forest to explore. I have a Cagiva Gran Canyon which is markedly similar to the AT and is ideal out here... but it has become an “old Italian project” more than a useful vehicle. As far as this updated Africa Twin Adventure Sports, I might need two: one for home in the United States, and one to explore the Philippines with when I head down that way for a couple years of work... I have an opportunity to grow professionally there that is too good to pass up. The northern island of Luzon is quite large, with many miles of poor and broken rural roads to get back into some beautiful landscapes. Good fuel range and a flexible, capable chassis make the AT Adv Sports the perfect motorcycle. Plus it’s a Honda... reliable, and easy to find service when you do need it.
In the flesh it’s down the best looking large ADV, the paint is awesome. My main gripes are vibes at motorway cruise speed and really fiddly cruise control! Didn’t like the DCT but the quick shifter on the manual is brilliant. Overall great value
I heard someone who rode the Africa Twin (standard bike) & compared it to his ride on the bigger Africa Twin Adventure Sport (ATAS) and found: - the seating position was not as comfortable on the ATAS. It tired him out faster whereas the AF (standard bike) was fine all day. - the larger Africa Twin Adventure Sport (ATAS) very "bulky" fuel tank got in the way of his legs. Besides those the ATAS was a good bike but he preferred the smaller Africa Twin (standard bike).
Safety. Dual headlights on a bike can appear like a car’s headlights that are farther away. But many manufacturers like the look of dual headlights so having one on at a time is the workaround.
Safety !! An elegant british answer to everything. We should probably carry a massive cutout M sign on top of the helmet to make sure car drivers realize it`s not another car :) Like having to have a light above the numberplate, wtf? No wait, SAFETY ;)
30 years ago I had a Honda XLV 750r and then a Suzuki DR 750 and did Oodnadatta, Strezlecki and Birdsville tracks in AUS. 2 years ago I had an F800 gs. The difference between the old bikes and the new? Not much really after 30 years if you take away the electronics.
Good to see the quality of your videos improving. Nice gimbal shots. Sound still a bit sketchy and you could do better with some drone footage. Who knows, one day you may even catch the MC in terms of views and subscribers to your channel. Good luck.
Great review... Love the honestly. My take away is, yes you can spend more but you wouldn't necessarily be getting a better adventure bike. I owned as GS but it really couldn't handle the adventure but boy did I enjoy the ride in the city and on the highway.
I have a very simple suggestion to Honda. 1. Make it DCT. 2. Instead of having a paddle shifter give it gear liver. 3. Let there be clutch. So it's a DCT and regular shifting motorcycle. If you can do this..... This is one one gem of a bike. ❤️ And why only DCT model in India.
Sam I am ,no cruise control! Sometimes I don't understand how this big companies spend tons on money on "research", when almost every body out there in every forum is asking for cruise control but no sir,we at honda whill put cruise control (maybe) when we want! Who cares about what the actual owner wants! Lol
Can't understand that either. Rider modes, TCS, ABS and so on... Honda will discover CC in next generation of AT. Even cheaper bikes such as new tiger 800 and nonoffroad Tracer 900 GT will get one! Honda team, you are to slow folks! Just add it for God's sake.
Darek Nowak ha,is funny they were some of the first to add led headlight,tha I love,but so slow to implement something on this times basic as cruise control.
I will never use the traction control again on my Africa Twin. The first time I tried to go up a very long steep gravel covered forest road the traction control started to cut the power as the back wheel lost a bit of grip - then it kept cutting power until it brought me to a full stop and over it went onto the right side. What a useless option in my experience. So every time I start the engine TC goes off. Always.
You forgot to mention that the new display has smaller characters and is very glare... I just did a test ride and review last weekend and I literally could not see my speed as I was traveling down the road that's not good at all
How can it be the same engine as 2016 when there is an increase in stroke to increase displacement and it has redesigneg heads? HP and torque have now increased and the ecu has been remapped. Hardly the same engine!
I dont get it... It sounds like almost every new feature u mentioned makes it worse... Higher seat, more bulky, ride by wire. Id rather have a less bulky easier to put a foot down and standard throttle!
Have you ever ridden a GS and then a GSA? If you had you’d understand a bigger heavier bike feel better, more comfortable, more planted and the firmer suspension gives it better feel.
I rented one of these bikes last week in Arizona. I did like the exhaust note, and what he says about the suspension is true,but- my V-Strom 1000 will eat this thing for breakfast on the road. Overall on the road its twitchy and - hate to use the word under powered. Its not that so much as underwhelming. Very Honda like power delivery. Linear. Did just a little bit of off road, and it does feel very dirt bike like, although tall and heavy.
mcolman02 I dig this bike, but no cc is a deal breaker for me too. I'm told by a friend who worked for Honda for decades, that they don't sell a lot of these here in the US. I told him how, months before the Africa twin was first out in 2016, I saw lots of others complaining about no cc. And I see it again now! My friend said the big market for these is in Europe, not here. So I guess people over there don't want cc or comment about it, thus it's not on it.
Hey Honda, I bought a BMW R1200GSA in October 2015. Absolutely love it. But, my off road riding ability is surpassing my 19" front wheeled 600lb bike. I ride hundreds of miles in a day sometimes. A chunk of that is off-road. Cc helps me save my hand/wrist/arm for the fun stuff. Helps guys like me with repetitive motion work injuries a lot. So does the quick shifter. Too bad yours is external where it can be smashed. That's a liability out on an adventure ride. You've almost got me Honda. I'm so close. Looking at KTM 1290 SAR... CRUISE CONTROL TFT SCREEN(SUPER VISIBLE) QUICK SHIFTER(less vulnerable) TONS OF POWER ABS/TC can be turned off
Schaaf from Austria almost got killed losing the front end on the road at speed, so be careful on the road and stay within the limits of that front tire. But I really like the bike overall. Fantastic machine. Terrible roads in NE USA and the suspension is great.
The africa Twin ,i love this type of bike,but the drive shaft,saddle,cruise control,More HP,adjustable windscreen..the Tenere 1200 is just more value for money..
I think Honda have played it too safe with this bike. After all the hype of the Africa Twin, 230+ kg and 95hp just did not make it stand out enough for me. This bike gains more height and weight, neither of which appeal to me, and a big hike in price. They should have really pushed themselves and brought out a much lighter bike. I rode the normal Africa Twin against the V-strom, and as much as I wanted to prefer the Twin, the Strom was just as good or better. The strom had a stronger engine, felt as well made, had a great ride and was cheaper. Yes you could argue the twin is better off road, but who is going to take a 230+ kg bike that far from tarmac. I would rather venture off road on an old dr650 for a fraction of the price, at least if it goes over the tears are less, and I stand a good chance of picking it up.
I still struggle to see why you'd need a bike like this in the UK. There are so few bridle paths/off road sections where you can ride without getting shot/shouted/barked at. A lot of money and a lot of compromise on road holding for off road ability, that maybe 80% of owners will never use.
you're way off the mark there bud, first off you cannot ride on Bridleways unless you are on a Horse! secondly there are thousands of green lanes, Byways Open To All Traffic, Un metalled roads etc. that are open to bikes if you can be bothered to look for them, just pick up an OS map. Agree 80% of riders won't bother off road but these bikes do make good travel / commuter bikes too as they are quite comfortable, have good luggage systems and are easy to handle.
Fair comment, I just think the africa twin goes a bit too far down the off road route compared to a multistrada or tiger. If you're gonna find these byways, surely a crf250 or similar would serve you better?
That is very true - The big adventure bikes are really designed for the long gravel / dirt road traveller not anything too serious off road, as you say a CRF or my choice KTM EXC would be a much better choice. These bikes are big sellers though at the moment ?!
I agree there are more road & off road biased options for the job but these bikes can be used for the daily commute as well, I don't own one but I took a KTM 1290 Adventure out for a couple hours and it was comfortable and useable, I prefer my RSV4 though !!
While this might not be ideal for the UK, it’s absolutely bang on for places like the western US. We have LOTS of wide open country, endless miles of wild land fire roads and logging roads that are open to the public, lots of wilderness to go explore. The bigger tank and better off-road chops of this new Adventure Sports model push the Africa Twin from “want” to “this is my next bike.” Those who wish to adventure through South America, this would be ideal. Many riders from the US start off in California or Arizona and ride thru Central America, then down the entire continent of South America to Tierra del Fuego. There are also lots of places in Asia where this thing is perfectly suited. The big northern island of Luzon, in the Philippines, for example. Endless hours of winding backroads and broken pavement and dirt tracks to explore and go see some stunning landscape. Even in Continental Europe, as you get toward the eastern bloc countries, lots of country where this thing is perfect for exploring. So while it might be overkill for the UK market, there are plenty of places in the world where avid adventure riders will love this bike.
These motorcycle reviewers really need to start telling us what height they are. It’s totally misleading for shorter guys when people give their opinion on seat height.
I really like this bike but I live in England and bar some of the crap road surface its extremely unlikely it would be used off road other than a gravel car park as there is no where off road to ride it. Not like the open offroad areas all the reviews are done. Thats it's selling point and advertising base. I can't decide if it's a bit dare I say pointless in the UK. Would I be better off with a decent road bike designed for the road rather than an adventure bike destined to never go off road.
fattymcgee123 where does it fit in. Purely off road bike? Better bikes out there and cheaper, road bike ? It’s a Honda joke, dual purpose far better bikes. Honda have in my humble opinion gone right of the boil
yeah, fair enough. Def not a purely offroad bike, guess you'd have to be in the market for dual sport to know the pros and cons of it. For what it's worth, I'd weigh the price vs reliability of the machine. Parts far easier to find and cheaper (for where I am) than, say, "exotics" like Triumph or Ducati. I just want honda to make a goldwing "light" for someone like my dad.
In the real world, it has enough power and is a great road bike where you don't end up doing silly speeds, I wouldn't say no to a bit more power for the overtakes, but speed on the road is plenty.
Drzee1968 fair enough but if your looking at road bikes there are loads of bikes that are more able, certainly cheaper more technologically advanced. Back to the point of where it fits in ? Iconic name poor product look at the blade, left behind by opposition a real shame same as Africa twin great pedigree but .....
Lol. Make your homework better, boy. Wet Weight: 243 kg for CRF1000L2, 276.7 kg for XL1000VA. Front wheel travel: 252 mm vs. 155 mm Rear wheel travel: 240 mm vs. 145 mm Ground clearance: 270 mm vs. 180 mm Wheels: 21/18 offroad wire wheels on the AT, 19/17 road alloys on the Varadero. Africa Twin is a true touring enduro, capable for heave offroad trips. While Varadero is just an old heavy bike for the bad tarmac roads.
Surely Honda has missed a trick here. Both BMW & Yamaha produce similar machines with shaft drive. On long cross continental travels with much of it on gravel / dirt roads the last thing you want to worry about is chain maintenance. Otherwise it's a winner!
