2016 Africa Twin

[Rinty]

I allways wanted a Yamaha TDM 850.

+1.

My favourite bikes are all orphan bikes: the TDM, Ducati Paso 906, Harley SuperGlide Sport, and the R1200ST (one of which is in the garage).

Maybe I should talk to somebody about this....

But this new Africa Twin looks interesting.

 

[bc1100s]

+1.

My favourite bikes are all orphan bikes: the TDM, Ducati Paso 906.....

The 906 was a dog of a motorcycle. 16" wheels limited tire choices and a 2-barrel carburettor which would never carburate doomed it. Nice to look at, though! The subsequent 907, on the other hand, was ahead of its time and, properly maintained, was a jewel to own and ride.

 

[barryg]

I got one orphan, a R80ST. Orphans can be cool. The TDM is the real deal cool orphan.

 

[globalrider]

Seen it in magazines and not at all interested. Plus I am not one to fall for "new" when it comes to any product.

I wasn't impressed by the Honda Varadero or the Yamaha Tenere when they came out.

 

[biketrax]

What makes you think its new?

Seen it in magazines and not at all interested. Plus I am not one to fall for "new" when it comes to any product.I wasn't impressed by the Honda Varadero or the Yamaha Tenere when they came out.

I NEVER thought of the African Twin as "NEW".!!
My understanding is its being re-introduced Stateside. I thought they were still successfully producing them in Europe. This was a sleeper but secretly a very popular (I know not in sales) and successful bike in the years they brought them here! Again I have not read every article and not trying to start a big hoopla. I just thought it was always a proven winner! The ones I got to test drive were awesome!

 

[globalrider]

I NEVER thought of the African Twin as "NEW".!!

You better Google one. A totally new Africa Twin is being produced that is nothing like the old one that I really liked. The new one is more of a poseur adventure motorcycle. The original one was more off road IMO.

My understanding is its being re-introduced Stateside. I thought they were still successfully producing them in Europe.

The original one was never brought in as far as I know and they were sold in Europe till they were replaced by the Varadero 1000.

This is the original Africa Twin...

This is the 2016 Africa Twin...

 

[Rinty]

The original one was never brought in as far as I know and they were sold in Europe till they were replaced by the Varadero 1000.

Alex:

Were the later ones certified in Canada? I've seen a few in Calgary.

 

[globalrider]

-

Alex:

Were the later ones certified in Canada? I've seen a few in Calgary.

I don't know. Back then I was more into my Suzuki RG 500 Gamma to pay attention to dual purpose motorcycles.

I do know that a local RLer had a Honda Transalp that he sold a couple of years ago. I vaguely remember that that model was brought in for a year or two. And I do not think the Honda Africa Twin was ever brought in to North America. I might be wrong though.

Its too bad all these newer dual sports are too street oriented for me, even though I bought them for that.

Edited to add: I just came across Honda Transalp XL600V info on the web...sold in the US in 1989-1991.

 

[PittsDriver]

I think there's so little consensus on Adventure bikes because there's such a wide range of what buyers use them for. Is it a road bike that won't be damaged by short stretches of gravel road or is it a bike that'll haul you and your stuff over the steep high rocky passes in Colorado? I've just returned from my summer ride, the Trans America Trail, where I put 6,300 miles on a new KLR. About 80% of those miles were off the pavement and there were stretches that were challenging to 250's and 400's that we rode on our fully ladened KLRs - from deep water crossings in a Mississippi flood to climbing up and through Black Dragon Canyon in Utah. After all that, my KLR plus just several hundred dollars worth of mods, completed the entire trip without a single problem. It carried us through the toughest stuff the TAT could through at us and then would romp along nicely on the highway at 80 mph all day long. I've done crazy off road days where my ass was kicked before I'd put 70 miles on the odo and on the same trip did a 700 mile highway romp home in a day on the same bike. That bike cost $6,000 out the door and I added less than $750 worth of mods to it to make it seriously trail worthy. I checked the chain every day, lubed it about every 4 days, and adjusted it once in the entire trip. I also went through two sets of tires on it during this trip.

So I'd argue with that trip behind me, a lowly KLR is all the adventure bike anyone needs. But we are not happy with owning the bike we need. We want the bike that excites. We want the bike that, after we've owned it for several months, we still go out in the garage and flip on the lights at night just to admire it. What I want is a KLR with 100 hp and 80 ft.lbs that weighs less and does everything better and heck, I'd pay twice what I paid for the KLR if I could find it. Oh yeah, it's got to have no more than a 32" seat height, preferably lower. Sometimes getting my short legged foot down is required to own the situation I'm in. Who's making that bike?

 

[visian]

What I want is a KLR with 100 hp and 80 ft.lbs that weighs less and does everything better and heck, I'd pay twice what I paid for the KLR if I could find it. .... Who's making that bike?

They were made in 2005-6, you can get them for about 2.5x what you paid for the KLR, but you can't have this one.

110hp, 95 ft/lb, 425 pounds.

 

[barryg]

Too pretty to get dirty.

 

[Rinty]

I think there's so little consensus on Adventure bikes because there's such a wide range of what buyers use them for.

The ones that really interest me are the hard core versions, like Walter Colebatch's extensively modified G650 X-Challenge, and his new KTM 690.

I was impressed that he took a BMW on the Sibirsky Extreme.

 

[Rinty]

They were made in 2005-6....

They convert into a pretty nice supermotard, too. This is Dave Anderson's (Anderwerks BMW) shop bike (he lets me exercise it occasionally ) :

It draws a crowd wherever you go.

 

[henzilla]

Mika posted this in Bench Racing this am about the VFR Adventure model

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/10/22/new-2016-honda-vfr1200x-adventure-tourer-first-look/

 

[visian]

View attachment 52361

I've had this bike as a screen saver on my Mac for about a year and a half now.... thinking of it as a replacement for my 1150GS and was wishing it was available here. This bike looks to be great for the highway and can go down a bumpy dirt road.

Was definitely interested in the Africa Twin until its weight was announced... my HP2e is 75 pounds lighter and 20 more horsepower, so I'll keep that.

Ian

 

[visian]

The ones that really interest me are the hard core versions, like Walter Colebatch's extensively modified G650 X-Challenge, and his new KTM 690.

I was impressed that he took a BMW on the Sibirsky Extreme.

I wound up buying this to satisfy my lighter/dirt-worthy jones. Probably not as comfy as the Africa Twin but a whole bunch lighter with decent power...

 

[martyhill]

Second, I recall in a recent MOA news that there was a letter from a guy who went to a BMW dealership figuring he would buy a new GS for about $17,000. When he got there, he found no bike on the floor for less than about $23,000. I think he walked out. I'm not sure how much more BMW can charge for an over sized, single rider dirt bike.

The guy was an idiot! He walked out with out speaking to a sales person. I responded that he could have ordered a less optioned bike for lots less $'s. My response was never printed but I did get a note. I've ordered ten BMW's from that dealer and got them the way I wanted, not taking anything they were showing that day.

 

[Bud]

I think there's so little consensus on Adventure bikes because there's such a wide range of what buyers use them for. Is it a road bike that won't be damaged by short stretches of gravel road or is it a bike that'll haul you and your stuff over the steep high rocky passes in Colorado? I've just returned from my summer ride, the Trans America Trail, where I put 6,300 miles on a new KLR. About 80% of those miles were off the pavement and there were stretches that were challenging to 250's and 400's that we rode on our fully ladened KLRs - from deep water crossings in a Mississippi flood to climbing up and through Black Dragon Canyon in Utah. After all that, my KLR plus just several hundred dollars worth of mods, completed the entire trip without a single problem. It carried us through the toughest stuff the TAT could through at us and then would romp along nicely on the highway at 80 mph all day long. I've done crazy off road days where my ass was kicked before I'd put 70 miles on the odo and on the same trip did a 700 mile highway romp home in a day on the same bike. That bike cost $6,000 out the door and I added less than $750 worth of mods to it to make it seriously trail worthy. I checked the chain every day, lubed it about every 4 days, and adjusted it once in the entire trip. I also went through two sets of tires on it during this trip.

So I'd argue with that trip behind me, a lowly KLR is all the adventure bike anyone needs. But we are not happy with owning the bike we need. We want the bike that excites. We want the bike that, after we've owned it for several months, we still go out in the garage and flip on the lights at night just to admire it. What I want is a KLR with 100 hp and 80 ft.lbs that weighs less and does everything better and heck, I'd pay twice what I paid for the KLR if I could find it. Oh yeah, it's got to have no more than a 32" seat height, preferably lower. Sometimes getting my short legged foot down is required to own the situation I'm in. Who's making that bike?

View attachment 52056

I'm curious. What were those $750 worth of mods. I'm sure others would like to know as well.

 

[roamingbeemer]

I am a fan of smaller bikes for off road after having the R1200GSA and doing several trips and training at Rawhyde. I feel confident on our CO mountain passes on the GSA but I find more enjoyment on my 250 cc bike when off road with rocks etc.
BUT getting to where I am riding off road is a different story. That is where the R1200GSA excels.

In hindsight I would not have bought the 1200GSA but now have too much money invested. This African Twin would have been attractive as well as some of the KTMs or maybe even the KLR.

For highway I would obviously use the K bike.

 

[omega man]

I am a fan of smaller bikes for off road after having the R1200GSA and doing several trips and training at Rawhyde. I feel confident on our CO mountain passes on the GSA but I find more enjoyment on my 250 cc bike when off road with rocks etc.
BUT getting to where I am riding off road is a different story. That is where the R1200GSA excels.

In hindsight I would not have bought the 1200GSA but now have too much money invested. This African Twin would have been attractive as well as some of the KTMs or maybe even the KLR.

For highway I would obviously use the K bike.

I didn't come up with it but do agree- "There is no such thing as a quarter-ton dirt bike".

When someone mentions my F800GS as a "dirt" bike, I tell them- "it's an adventure bike". I then tell them it is a bike with capability to travel multiple road surfaces.
OM