New Africa Twin Review

[budman]

Figured something for the home bound Adventure riders would be good.
This guys seems to love the bike and it is a pretty good read. Hard to find the Australian accent in it. Nicely done too.

Here is the Review

Pretty bike.

 

[boney]

Now that they're putting a large tank on it, the new A/T is in my radar. Enough so that I may forgo my usual aversion to chain driven motorcycles.

 

[budman]

Interesting take in it on the modern chains.

Lube not required... just gets more dirt and grime into it.
Figured I would note something that might be controversial to stir the conversation :teeth

27K for full bling is getting up there, but the pay off in fun seems pretty good.
**Edit 16k :flag **

 

[SFMCjohn]

wow, cool review, thanks for the link! :thumbup

my math shows 24.8 liters = 6.5 US gallons and a 250 mile range at 40 mpg. guess it maybe gets better gas mileage than that ... reading the Adventure Sports is supposed to have a range "in excess of 400 km" ...

hopefully those are Australian dollars ... :laughing

another person that seems to love the DCT ... :ride

 

[budman]

Oh yeah... forgot that they were not US dollarnos!

Looks like about 16k US

 

[SFMCjohn]

Oh yeah... forgot that they were not US dollarnos!

who knows? :laughing

review certainly made the Adventure Sports version of the bike seem well worth $27K US bucks ... :thumbup

 

[boney]

wow, cool review, thanks for the link! :thumbup

my math shows 24.8 liters = 6.5 US gallons and a 250 mile range at 40 mpg. guess it maybe gets better gas mileage than that ... reading the Adventure Sports is supposed to have a range "in excess of 400 km" ...

hopefully those are Australian dollars ... :laughing

another person that seems to love the DCT ... :ride

who knows? :laughing

review certainly made the Adventure Sports version of the bike seem well worth $27K US bucks ... :thumbup

Yeah, I did the math on the gas and suddenly it was less attractive. I suppose I could stick a can on one of the boxes, but still, why not just make an adventure bike that can go adventure distances? Maybe the aftermarket will help out.

Edit:
Oh look here's an extra 60 miles!

 

[HadesOmega]

Wow they went all out with the electronics even wheelie control! The Africa Twin is a neat bike but it's $$$ and I picking it up would be tough. I'd rather go with something simpler like the Tenere.

 

[anytwowilldo]

It looks nice, but 27K is a bit much for a bike I will drop many times.

 

[SFMCjohn]

here's teh USA prices from Revzilla:

The new Adventure Sports SE’s MSRP will jump nearly $2,000 to $17,199 for 2020 with a DCT version ringing in at $17,999.

In addition to all of the upgrades already listed, the Adventure Sports SE package will offer riders a new Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment suspension (if you want to memorize another acronym, this one is EERA), tubeless wheels, heated grips, an accessory plug, larger skid plate, aluminum rear rack, and 6.5-gallon tank.

Honda will position this bike as a long-haul adventure-tourer for folks looking to tackle real miles with their ADV bike.

so, now $18K seems like a bargain ... :laughing

6 gal/250 miles sounds OK for those of us who are not used to crazy KTM/BMW capacity/ranges ... :angel

otherwise, got yer 5-figure adventure bike right here ...

 

[HadesOmega]

Almost up into the GSA territory. It's too bad Honda won't make a baby Africa Twin like the CB500X Rally Raid.

 

[ScottRNelson]

my math shows 24.8 liters = 6.5 US gallons and a 250 mile range at 40 mpg. guess it maybe gets better gas mileage than that ...

My KTM 1090R easily got 45 mpg in all sorts of riding, including going up and down mountains on dirt roads. That one held 6.1 gallons so I was getting 220-250 miles between fill ups.

My 790R gets over 50 mpg in similar riding conditions and has averaged 52 (according to the electronics, 50 if I measure it) for over 1400 miles.

Having a range past 200 miles is important when riding out in the middle of nowhere like I try to do as often as possible. When I had the 990 Adv I was worrying about gas by 130 miles, and that was an issue.

I welcome good adventure bikes from the other manufacturers. :thumbup

 

[dittoalex]

Almost up into the GSA territory. It's too bad Honda won't make a baby Africa Twin like the CB500X Rally Raid.

CRF850L incoming.

 

[boney]

Almost up into the GSA territory. It's too bad Honda won't make a baby Africa Twin like the CB500X Rally Raid.

There is (was?) clearly a market for this type of gadgetry I don't think it's bad that Honda was aiming for it. Plenty of people spending more than 20k on this type of bike.

 

[RTW Reno]

Almost up into the GSA territory. It's too bad Honda won't make a baby Africa Twin like the CB500X Rally Raid.

Hope they bring back a Honda Dominator-ish bike!

 

[norcalkid]

CRF850L incoming.

If they come out with an 800 that's equally good in the 10k range I'd consider it. OTD price of the AT is outa my price range. And the AS I test rode (on a stupid little closed course in Thailand) felt huge. An AT 800 at the right price might just be my ideal bike. :thumbup

Unfortunately I think new models might get pushed back a year. :thumbdown

 

[dittoalex]

And the AS I test rode (on a stupid little closed course in Thailand) felt huge. An AT 800 at the right price might just be my ideal bike. :thumbup

Unfortunately I think new models might get pushed back a year. :thumbdown

Did the Adventure Sports feel huge because it was the pre-2020 model with the taller seat? I read there would only be like a 20 pound weight reduction for this smaller version. Since it will likely be delayed, one would be able to pick up a used, full-size AS vs a base-ish AT 800.

 

[norcalkid]

Did the Adventure Sports feel huge because it was the pre-2020 model with the taller seat? I read there would only be like a 20 pound weight reduction for this smaller version. Since it will likely be delayed, one would be able to pick up a used, full-size AS vs a base-ish AT 800.

Was a 2019. The 2020 AS is like 17k msrp now. Well outa my budget.

I have been watching CL. Seeing 2016/17 in the 9k range. I have never bought a new vehicle and I'm sure used is the way to go.

The add on's to make the bike travel ready are one of the reasons I haven't changed bikes. Boxes, windshield, center stand, etc. That stuff really adds up.