How are you liking your Africa twin?
- Thread starter Stix
- Start date
It works for me. DCT is pretty awesome. It's a fun bike to go places on. I expect it will be a pig compared to your WRR though. Heavier than the T7 as well I guess.
Access for service isn't the easiest, though service itself doesn't seem bad. I was concerned the Unicam engine's valves wouldn't be stable with half having screw/locknut adjusters, but they are, and it seems to me Unicam only simplifies service. Elskipador did 1st valve check, no adjustment needed, and he suggested extending the intervals after the next check.
If not for DCT I would have bought something else. Something cheaper, and likely used.
Access for service isn't the easiest, though service itself doesn't seem bad. I was concerned the Unicam engine's valves wouldn't be stable with half having screw/locknut adjusters, but they are, and it seems to me Unicam only simplifies service. Elskipador did 1st valve check, no adjustment needed, and he suggested extending the intervals after the next check.
If not for DCT I would have bought something else. Something cheaper, and likely used.
ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I've ridden with a guy who had an Africa Twin. It did pretty well on the dirt roads around here. And it sounded better than either of the KTM Adventure bikes that I've owned while I've lived here.
I seriously considered getting one, but when I asked the local dealer about it they said that they would sell me a KTM 1090R for less, so that's what I bought. Then I eventually switched to the lighter and better handling 790R.
I seriously considered getting one, but when I asked the local dealer about it they said that they would sell me a KTM 1090R for less, so that's what I bought. Then I eventually switched to the lighter and better handling 790R.
AT 2020 standard with manual gearbox owner. Previous dual sport bike was a DR650.
Pros: peachy, good sounding engine, great suspension, ~50 mpg when cruising or 230+ miles range, comfortable, quick (3.x sec 0-60), love electronic cruise control+apple carplay, 18k miles service interval for valves
Cons: heavy, slightly sensitive throttle response, you need to spend another $1k+ on protection if you want to go off-roading
Best all-round bike I've owned so far, I'm planning to keep it for a long time. Excellent for touring combined with easy/medium dirt stuff, too much of a bike for more advanced off-roading (given my skill level).
I considered the T7 as well... but in my very humble opinion it is too heavy for what it is...
Pros: peachy, good sounding engine, great suspension, ~50 mpg when cruising or 230+ miles range, comfortable, quick (3.x sec 0-60), love electronic cruise control+apple carplay, 18k miles service interval for valves
Cons: heavy, slightly sensitive throttle response, you need to spend another $1k+ on protection if you want to go off-roading
Best all-round bike I've owned so far, I'm planning to keep it for a long time. Excellent for touring combined with easy/medium dirt stuff, too much of a bike for more advanced off-roading (given my skill level).
I considered the T7 as well... but in my very humble opinion it is too heavy for what it is...
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ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
Yeah, the guy I ride with dumped his in the mud on part of the IDBDR and broke two or three things. We kept going anyway.
I considered about buying one myself but a close friend who works on motorcycles daily told me to caution myself if I considered wanting to work on it (which we both do). He told me it's a PIA to do any maintenance item as you need to take off most of the fairings and it's not fun.
I looked at the schematics and YT vids and yep, there's certainly more overhead to take off than one would like for the most mundane items. I'm not saying it's hard, just something to consider when looking at the AT.
I looked at the schematics and YT vids and yep, there's certainly more overhead to take off than one would like for the most mundane items. I'm not saying it's hard, just something to consider when looking at the AT.
ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
It's a lot of work to get to the internal parts on the KTM adventure bikes too.
Gary856
Are we having fun yet?
I just rode my buddy's AT DCT around the parking lot, did a few u-turns. The bike shifting itself felt like magic. To me the DCT is a big differentiating factor, a must have if I were to get an AT.
Karbon
Hyper hoñorary
For under $500 you can have a foot pedal-shift switch in conjunction with the handlebar paddle switches for the DCT. it's neat.
http://shop.powersports.honda.com/p/dct-foot-shifter
http://shop.powersports.honda.com/p/dct-foot-shifter
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HadesOmega
Well-known member
I rode a DCT one very briefly when they first came out. It's pretty nice it's more dirt oriented than many of the large adventure bikes but it is heavy if you dump it you might not be able to pick it up. That's what the owner had told me. If you plan on riding with people you can get help to pick it up =P
It's also pretty pricey I wouldn't wanna dump so much money on it and then thrash it offroad.
It's also pretty pricey I wouldn't wanna dump so much money on it and then thrash it offroad.
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Picked up an Africa Twin Adventure Sport 1100 DCT ES last June and now have 9000 miles on it. Bike is a blast to ride, a bit tall, (I'm 5'9") , too heavy to ride offroad seriously (550 lbs!). The DCT I'm OK with but I still reach for the clutch and shift lever occasionally, at low speeds it's a bit snatchy until you learn how to ride the rear brake. Electronic suspension works great, you can switch it on the fly to 4 preset levels. Engine power is deceiving. With only 105 HP, it will rocket away from a dead stop, lift the front wheel until stopped by the wheelie control, all the while shifting through the gears faster then your foot ever could.
Computer touch screen for gauges is amusing and infuriating. It's just like the wife's Honda car. I get lost in the menu's, the twelve buttons on the left handgrip, and trying to remember what does what. after a month of futzing around, I only switch ride modes , use cruise control, and the heated grips. Bike is going in Monday, for a fuel tank recall, they're rinsing the tank and changing the fuel filter due to faulty welding leaving oxide slag in the tank, crash bar installation, and uploading Android Auto into the computer. For some reason Honda only had Apple Carplay preinstalled originally.
Would I buy again? Yup. I may even venture off the dirt roads I tried it on but picking up over 500 lbs of bike can get interesting. Crap! I just remembered I gotta order new tires, old ones toast at 9000 miles.
Computer touch screen for gauges is amusing and infuriating. It's just like the wife's Honda car. I get lost in the menu's, the twelve buttons on the left handgrip, and trying to remember what does what. after a month of futzing around, I only switch ride modes , use cruise control, and the heated grips. Bike is going in Monday, for a fuel tank recall, they're rinsing the tank and changing the fuel filter due to faulty welding leaving oxide slag in the tank, crash bar installation, and uploading Android Auto into the computer. For some reason Honda only had Apple Carplay preinstalled originally.
Would I buy again? Yup. I may even venture off the dirt roads I tried it on but picking up over 500 lbs of bike can get interesting. Crap! I just remembered I gotta order new tires, old ones toast at 9000 miles.
You can do the software update yourself ( dealers are allowed to charge the time spent on doing the update ).
https://powersports.honda.com/africatwin/update/index.html
InsuranceGuy
Well-known member
Perfect timing, I just started looking for an Africa twin ES
moto-rama
Well-known member
I rented an AT in Italy a few years ago. I was a little intimidated by its seat height, but with 105 lbs of Mrs Jim on the pillion seat, it was slightly better.
Once we had it screaming through the Tuscan mountains it was a really capable bike.
That motor can surprise you, as it makes power right off off the line. When I picked it up at the rental place I accidentally wheelied at the first stop light.
The clutch engaged at last inch of travel.
Needless to say, Lots of ground clearance, it's tall, narrow and corners really well, with 2 up as well.
It was a handful around Roma, but a rider with longer legs would be ok, except for the insane Roman traffic. I got lane split on, by scooter pilots, while WE were lanesplitting, holy cow. People don't think twice about contacting you or larger vehicles there.
Once we had it screaming through the Tuscan mountains it was a really capable bike.
That motor can surprise you, as it makes power right off off the line. When I picked it up at the rental place I accidentally wheelied at the first stop light.
The clutch engaged at last inch of travel.
Needless to say, Lots of ground clearance, it's tall, narrow and corners really well, with 2 up as well.
It was a handful around Roma, but a rider with longer legs would be ok, except for the insane Roman traffic. I got lane split on, by scooter pilots, while WE were lanesplitting, holy cow. People don't think twice about contacting you or larger vehicles there.
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ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
Adventure bikes are generally great on twisty roads and really great on rough roads. The added suspension travel soaks up bumps better than a typical sport bike.
Haket
Well-known member
I've put 14k on my '18 ATAS manual. Such a great bike for ADV touring, and is very capable off road (spend 5days in Death Valley with no issues).
The stories about hard to work on are overblown IMHO, I can get to the air filters in about 30min (need to take off the tank and it all goes together like a Honda once you figure out how the panels are attached).
Its got plenty of power without being intimidating and looks fantastic.
I'm temped by the new 1100 but mine is setup exactly how I like now and its only missing cruise control to be perfect.
The stories about hard to work on are overblown IMHO, I can get to the air filters in about 30min (need to take off the tank and it all goes together like a Honda once you figure out how the panels are attached).
Its got plenty of power without being intimidating and looks fantastic.
I'm temped by the new 1100 but mine is setup exactly how I like now and its only missing cruise control to be perfect.