Should you buy an Africa Twin?
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- čas přidán 3. 03. 2022
- In this video, we provide a detailed review of the 2017 Honda Africa Twin and compare it to other bikes we own/ride like the R1200GS, KTM 1190, Yamaha Super Tenere, and other smaller bikes. Enjoy!
The KTM's and BMW's get their increased horsepower by using higher compression. This means they need to run premium fuel. Some can adapt to lower grades of fuel. I don't know if there are side effects to this, but it is probably advisable to carry octane booster.
The Africa Twin runs on regular fuel. I've been in situations where I had one choice for fuel and was glad to have it.
I have a 2019 ATAS that comes with the tall screen. I replaced the screen with a short screen from an AT. I live in Western Washington and I ride year round including the occasional trip across the Western US. When it is hot, I want the vents on my helmet to catch the wind. When it's cold and wet, I need the wind to hit my faceshield to reduce fogging.
I bought a 2021 ATAS and you have described closer than anyone what this bike is. It is not meant to “fit in” its in a class of its own. I absolutely love mine.
Can’t wait to try a new one!
I absolutely love my AT...sold my BMW G1200GSA and bought the Adventure Sport..
I'm 75 ride every day.. For me the BMW was too big too heavy...I love this AT..2017 with 1500 miles now
I prefer the AT over the 1200 GSA as well!
Their stock LED lights they are phenomenal I have a 2016 1st Gen it's been the funnest bike I've ever owned and I've had many thank you so much for your great input keep the good videos coming
I recently picked up a ‘17 AT over Christmas. Enjoying every ride. Excellent video pal.
Thank you!
Thank you. A very frank and balanced review with some good upgrade tips. I am collecting a 2017 CRF1000l with the DCT box at the weekend and I already know some of the things I need to check and perhaps adapt to personalise it. Thanks
Best video coverage on the twin, thanks!
Thanks!
Timely video as I'm looking to go buy one tomorrow!
Hope you love it as much as I do!
Cool video, thanks!
Can’t wait your new video on T700 vs AT🎉🎉
Great video
yeah man it's an off road goat, I upgraded from a street bike and never looked back. got the 2019 DCT version and it's strong enough to take a beating.
To those wanting a pre 2020 AT (crf1000)
If you do not purchase an ATAS, you should plan on buying a 2018 or 2019 ATAS fork body set as the stock AT forks will eventually develop a problem with the inner anodization rubbing off, causing unusual stiction (sticky friction)
Not cheap. Around 800 dollars for the set. Totally worth it, with proper suspension tuning it feels great and you don't need to worry about the wear because they changed the anodization coating. Or you can send off your stock tubes to be reanodized, but its not really much cheaper.
I read they fixed fork coating in 2o18 update regardless of AS or not ?
@@Angry-Lynx 2019. 2018 they had the forks in the AS fixed, 2019 and after all were the new update
Nice review and its 506lbs (on standard version without accessories) ;) I used mine for touring and gravel roads. At 6’1” it just needed a rally seat (1” taller) and bar risers. Still not a GS but 5-600km a day no problem. On stock seat, after 45 minutes I was about done hehe
I feel ya there! haha
Still not a GS? lucky for you
@@roadwarrior8560 It's no GS, but I actually prefer it over the GS for the riding I do! That stock seat is killer on long rides though!
Love mine too is a great bike and super reliable
I own the AT (Africa Twin) and S10 (Super Ténéré).
I’ll tell you what makes the S10 easier to ride, lower center of gravity. Unless your an accomplished off road guy, even though Honda (and others) market their bikes as having the weight down low, you can’t have ground clearance and low CG, you have to choose. The S10 is heavier, but feels lighter. The AT might be more capable off road, but you need to be honest about how much off road you’re planning. I take my S10 to dirt tracks and have a blast along side the dirt bikes. Then I ride home in comfort. AT is a decent tourer, but then the ground clearance has no benefit.
Those are great points! I had a ‘12 S10 and LOVED that bike. It feels way lighter than it is. If you plan to keep off-roading relatively tame, I could not agree more. The S10 is easier to ride on soft, flowy stuff. That being said, as my off-road riding has advanced, the AT is better for more aggressive stuff. The 21” front tracks easier over logs, through creek crossing, and over logs. The front feels lighter to lift up over stuff, and it feels lighter to pick up off the ground. The S10 is great in basically every comfort/easy riding category. For what most people are ACTUALLY going to do with their ADV bikes - I’d say the S10 is better. Thanks for adding that!
I ride a lot of street and also Autobahn here. I have a Tenere 700 which is quite fun on the road but in your opinion, is the AT better for this job? I like the around 200kg weight of my Tenere. AT is significantly heavier, is it noticeable?
I currently have a T7 as well. The AT is netter on the road. Period. The AT actually feels lighter at slow speeds to me than the T7. You will notice the weight pushing it around, but you will appreciate the highway capabilities of the AT more. Now, I just took a 5.5 hour trip one way on the T7 yesterday and it cruises GREAT! AT is still better. It also has better wind protection in my opinion and w/ my 5’10” stature
I’m considering to trade my current KTM 1290 Super Adventure for an Africa Twin 1100, but you touched the point that keeps me from doing it: limited power to overtake while riding at 70 mph
I will say that the power difference between the 1000 (in this video) and the 1100 is substantial. Even the 1000 can overtake easy enough - just not as easy as your 1290 would. I have to ask though - What's your reasoning for wanting to make the switch?
@@bfeadventures thank you for your answer. There are few reasons why I consider changing: I’m 5,8 and the 1290 R is a slightly too high for me, the DCT seems cool, aldo I haven’t had any reliability issue with my KTM (11.000 km in 12 months) I still believe Honda does better in that department, and I can get a good deal for a brand new Twin 2023 and still a reasonable value for my KTM. That’s about it 😀 So do I trade the extra power for this...? Will I miss it...? That’s the question 🤔
@@christianmouraux7269 Ah... That all makes sense! Keep in mind, the 1290 is basically an upright sport bike. haha Otherwise, the AT is pretty awesome. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong!
Best Review! So many non-worthy ones out there.
Thanks!
I had a 2017 AT and I liked a lot about the bike but didn't think it was a very good touring bike. I never liked the way it cornered with the 21 inch front wheel and long travel suspension. I have heard that the new AT's with 1100 cc engine and electronic suspension are big improvements for on road handling, but the price is much higher too.
You hit the nail on the head! It is definitely an “in between” bike when compared to the touring capabilities of a GS and the off road capabilities of a KTM 890.
Just watched your video I own a 22 t7 I was thinking of the super teneray 12 but I rode one Sunday and I didn't care for it but I'm leaning toward now a Africa twin a 22 model standard transmission I don't want the DCT not interested in that thanks for your input on your bike thank you for your input been helpful yes I want an Africa twin
Want to sell us your T7? Haha Just curious - why the switch already?
Actually three days ago I bought the 22 blk/red Africa twin know I need to learn he electronics lol I really like the bike
@@bfeadventures I live in North Central Florida and a lot of Sugar Sand any bike even a lighter bike you lose control in the sand easy and a 450 lb of 500 lb motorcycle still isn't going to be fun Off Road in the sand I do a lot of street riding to get where I trail ride and that's all I do I play off-road not too aggressive so eventually I wanted to Adventure ride farther and the Africa twin 1100 would be the bike to do it the t7 dont get me wrong I loved it I just wanted something more for the street adventure riding and still be able to trail ride adventure and I like the big bore twin cylinder it just seemed like the t7 didn't struggle but it seemed like it just needed a bigger motor it would have been perfect and I rode the super tenerate 12 and it was a pig I didn't like it too low to the ground just I wasn't impressed
@@mototechsam3051 that makes sense! Enjoy your new At
@@bfeadventures its a nice bike red/blk still breaking it in lol
Hi great vid thanks, how would you compare performance for like low down torque from the AT with the S10? Thanks
I would say the S10 felt more powerful because it is. However, the power is easier to use on the AT. It’s hard to explain it. In a drag race, the S10 would win out of the hole. From a 30 roll, they would be extremely close.
the Africa Twin is truly a great design. If Honda would just make a mid-sized version AT with a smaller motor and lose some of the weight, would be even better.
I can see that coming down the line! Would love that!
Any issues with the anodizing on the inside of the front Forks? Heard that was an issue; looking to get a 17' AT and was wondering if I'd need to upgrade the suspension.
Hi, Blake! My AT came with the Ohlins already, but I have not seen any anodizing issues w/ 35k miles.
@@bfeadventures Thanks!
Good informational video. Thanks for making it.
Would you buy this bike if you were only 5'8" with 30" inseam?
Yep! One of our guides is shorter than that and rocks a KTM 1190 which is even taller!
I love the way the AT looks but it’s very unprotected for what it is… To me it’s a road oriented adv bike. Would I buy it yes for the reliability and just use it as a Swiss Army knife 😀 good stuff
It is very unprotected stock. However just the crash protection you see here has kept mine safe multiple times haha
¿Carretera?... Eso también.
i’m in the process of getting a adv tourer. do 20 percent off-roading and the rest is back roads and slight interstates. between the new africa twin and the new yamaha super tenere which one would you recommend?
Honestly, it sounds like you're more road oriented. I'd pick the Tenere. I had one. It was an incredible street bike. The AT is a way better dirt bike, but the S10 is a much better street bike.
@@bfeadventures thanks a lot. Keep up the good work.
This is my Lady!
I’m 250lbs I’m wondering if this bike can take me gear and maybe a pillion..? That why I’m thinking a gs. But the affordable and reliable AT is a bang for my buck.
I just wonder if it will have enough power.
If you want reliability, the AT is a great choice. It will easily handle you, gear, and a pillion. The GS has more power. If you want a speed demon, go for a Multi. If you want something that will take you anywhere, the AT is a great choice!
I have a 2022 klr650 & honestly it’s just lacking power for me, is this is a 2022 Africa Twin with the dct a good upgrade? I wanted one manual but there isn’t any around just dct. Also to add in, I do light off road riding . Nothing too crazy
The AT will feel like a monster compared to the KLR in terms of power. I cannot speak to the DCT as I only have experience with the manual. I personally would stick with the manual because it is what I know. 🤷🏼♂️
@@bfeadventures thanks for the reply, I sat on one and it seems like the seat is going to take some getting used to . Same here as far as the manual goes, the salesperson was trying to sell me with the dct, but let’s just keep things original.
My 16 feels so much better off road than a KLR.
KLR feels like it is a bit more top heavy.
Agreed!
Hi there! Just wanted to ask what year GS you’re comparing it to? And what would you say which one is better bike for 80% road use 20% gravel - GS or AT? Stay safe and greetings from Croatia✌🏻
Hi, Toni! If you are sticking primarily to Road, GS is the way to go. We have the 08-11 generation and it is a far superior road bike but still manageable off-road. The main reason I switched to the AT primarily is because I plan to ride it like a dirt bike. Ride Safe! You can also check out my GS review on this channel!
@@bfeadventures thats an old gs with the extra weight and only 109hp the LC 125hp and shift cam 138hp would probably widen the on road power difference. As a cheap comfortable road bike with soft suspension the Africa twin is a nice cool looking bike.
@@chrishart8548 great points! I also don't feel near as bad when the AT takes a nap off-road!
I picked my 16 Africa twin back in September and they do come stock with those LED lights. I Definitely need to look into the windshield that you have on yours though because the buffering is awful at speeds over 60 miles an hour. One thing you didn't mention was the stock kickstand is hot garbage that can snap if too much pressure is applied to it. Camel ADV makes a much stronger kickstand with a wide base for about a hundred bucks that along with the windshield brace, and right foot peg brace are considered to be essential kit for anyone that has a first gen Africa twin.
Great points! I have upgraded the kickstand as well, but forgot to mention that. So thank you! The windscreen extender is the MRA X-creen and it’s worth every penny.
Does this higher windscreen brings more pressure to the support cradle? It is known that it brakes when used to support a gps. It develops fatigue cracks under vibrations.
On mine, 16MY, I mount just a mobile phone and use a light short screen when offroading. For road I swap for the taller windscreen, but it directs all the turbulence to my helmet. I am 6"2.
@@mobydick126 I imagine it does, I made sure to get the windshield brace and camel ADV before I started messing around with different windscreens.
@@mobydick126 what Deaux said! I put on the Camel ADV windscreen brace before I added the X-creen
Is that really a problem? Like the stand is so week that it can break?
Do you think this would be an okay motorcycle for a beginner? I’d like to buy one but I’m afraid it could be too much for me
Yes.
Hey, that crashbar, is it SW-Motech?
Yep
@@bfeadventures AT looks great, much better without crash bars. I think sw-motech is a compromise between nice look and functionality. Other higher crash bars make Honda look worse. I appreciate your information about that black plastic part which is capable to take ground hits. Didnt know that. Very comprehensive review. Thx!
@@woitika5983 You're welcome! Enjoy the ride!
I allwyas have the doubt if the AT is the right bike for me.
I am 57, 6"2, and worst, just started to ride 4 years ago.
Started with a cb500x but swaped for a second hand AT just one year after because ergonomy and the lousy suspension. Then the T7 was not yet available and i did'nt want a new bike. So, the MY16 AT made more sense for me. And yes, I Am going off road with it. Yes I droped it some times, yes did some scratches and broke blinkers.
Would make more sense to start with a lighter bike? Probably would be less painful the learning curve with a 250 enduro bike or if I kept the lighter cb500.
...following..
But the question I tried to answer is what is really my riding program?
I do mostly road, but when I go to off roading, even if I look for gravel roads, hopefully hard packed, no mud, no loose rocks, there are allways some sections more dificult that require more skills and are challenging. These sections, on my opinion, will tell what kind of bike is more apropiate.
So I chose the heavier AT against the nimble and lighter cb500 or other more road biaised bikes. Also i do need to do a lot of road miles to reach my favorite off road spots, so a 250 would be a pain.
I never go fast, never ride alone, and I am very happy with my AT and improoving my skills as I would never dreamed of.
Thanks for your thoughts.
@@mobydick126 I think you are fine with the AT. I think you could benefit greatly from one of our training programs or ADV training near you! It sounds like you have the right bike. You just need a coach!
@@mobydick126 Once you are confident on the AT, you will go LOOKING for challenging stuff!
👍yes, for sure I will attend some training program and might also buy a training mule. May be a used drz400.
Hey Moby. I’m 68 and 5’10” I had several bikes when I was younger.
I bought the 2023 500x with the upgraded suspension. I put new foot pegs and crash bars on it. And I’ve ridden it 2500 miles this summer.
I havnt upgraded the tires or put bark busters on it yet…
My son in law has a new AT and he keeps it in my garage.. But that AT is too much bike for me.
Lol I have just traded in my Africa twin adventure sport DCT on a 2020 plate for a BMW 1250GS Adventure Rallye, I have to say , BIG MISTAKE !
don't get me wrong I like my BMW but I kid you not the Africa Twin Adventure sport DCT is better , ITS more manageable, more versatile, exhaust sound is WAAAAY better, engine sound was not clunky and noisy , better at speed in wind , I can't really explain this ???
Possibly the extra gyroscopic force from big front wheel??
The cruise control is far more accurate to your inputs on Africa Twin, there are some down sides though !
My BMW is slightly quicker, the seat is WAAAY more comfortable, in fact if you are doing long hours in the saddle this could be the deciding factor, the Africa Twin seat is IMO just not acceptable for an adventure TOURER , Honda REALLY NEED to sort that out, after 1hr in saddle on AT and you've had enough, well I had anyway , once your mind is on your sore ass more than the enjoyment of you ride then its a no from me !
But one HUGE THING from Honda blows my BMW right out of the water , that DCT box !!
Please believe me once you get used to this there is no going back !
Now have this GS tell me constantly when it wants to change gear is SOOOOOO DAMN TIRESOME , I will not be keeping this bike and I can only hope some other manufacturers come out with DCT , it is definitely the way forward, Changing gear with your foot is frankly barbaric lol
Wow! Now that's a testament to DCT! It's personally not my flavor, but I know I don't have enough time with a DCT to form a biased opinion. Hope your Beemer finds a good home! haha
@@bfeadventures
I will keep it for 12 months just to make sure I have given it enough time , I really like the look of the bike and TBH I don't think it would make any difference what bike I bought , if it wasn't DCT it is going to piss me off , funny thing is manual cars don't bother me at all ??
Its something to do with the bikes reaction when you are taking off fast from 1st to 2nd there is a learch , I hate it 😑 😒
And sometimes I just like to forget about changing gear , not a chance on this BMW ffs lol 😉👍
@@bfeadventures
At least your honest and true to yourself that you don't have enough time on a DCT , there is loads you can do with DCT , you can just go manual if you want and its seamless smooth or you can just put it in one of the sport auto modes and just interrupt it whenever you feel like dropping a couple of gears and gunning it , WIW man if that bike had 160 bhp it would blow your mind 😉👍
85hp. i was like what? lol. then i seen it was a 2017😝
So what about the new gen. 100hp. you think it’s a game changer now compared to other bikes?
According to many reviews by other great riders, the new motor is apples to oranges. Can’t wait to try one out!
how tall are u?
5’9”
1000 or 1100?
1000
Is this the 1100 or 1000
This is the 1000. The 1100 is better in virtually every way - unless you value simplicity above all else. If you have the budget for it, the 1100 is worth the upgrade in my opinion.
Thanks 🙏🏼
I have a 2016 in very good condition, sould i change to 2023?
Just depends! If the electronics, suspension, and power are worth the extra money to you, then yes! I have thought about it, but this is paid off, it already has plenty of scratches, I can turn off ABS/TC in 3 seconds, and I don’t care if I have more power. So, I’m keeping the ‘17 for a while.
@@bfeadventures thanks bro✊
if you have the $$$, hell ya.
Is actually 94 hp Ive got one...
Africa Twin is like a KLR on steroids.
It feels much lighter and more nimble to me as well.
short answer , depends who you are , me ? no
Different strokes for different folks!
@@bfeadventures great bike had 1 rode it for 11k/miles just not the best fit for me
@@justsomedude445 what did you move on to?
@@bfeadventures from the Africa twin to a 1090r & had a 690r and now a Husqvarna 901
@@bfeadventures the africa twin better road bike than any other ive had
I have had a 2017 KLR650, a 2020 Africa Twin, and a 2021 CRF300 Rally. The rally is by far the most fun bike of all 3 of them.
Don't let anyone lie to you, unless you are willing to risk your hefty investment learning to ride a 500+ pound bike off road to its full potential, you will never truly enjoy it. Every wreck is a potential $1000+ repair and broken bones. The AT is very top heavy. That much weight is a liability off road, not an asset. The guys in the promo videos are riding them that way 1, because they are pros, 2 because they have no skin in the game. Honda is paying for those bikes. Also look at the tires they use in those promo videos. They aren't the OEM tires you get when you buy. And if you buy knobbies for it, you just put a serious dent in your touring capabilities. No one wants to ride 500 miles on pavement on knobbies. So you have a choice, buy some knobbies and risk your money and your health or acknowledge what these huge bikes really are - tourers with a little off road capability. And without a doubt, the AT was a great tourer.
I owned my 2020 AT for 7 month and put 5000 miles on it. I just got tired of fighting all the weight and being scared the front end was going to wash out off road. It just wasn't a fun bike.
I value your opinion here, but I would argue the AT has been my favorite off-road ADV bike to date! It's a riot! Do I crash it more than a dirt bike? Sure! But, that's what happens when you rip a 530 pound ADV bike off-road. I also run knobbies to make it more fun off-road. This bike is good at light off-road in stock form. People see promo videos and think they will ride it like the pros. Truth is: most will only see gravel roads and the AT is damn good at gravel roads. haha
Some guy….. Pogo here with BFE Adventures.
I have to disagree with you as the rally being the most fun bike. In its own way, yes. Off-road, well it’s a 300cc dirtbike, if it’s not more fun off road then there is something wrong. However, a klr650, Africa Twin, and crf300 are not anywhere close to the same bikes or comparatively speaking. So to say the 300 is the most fun I’ll respectfully disagree sir.
Don’t think anyone is going to just jump on a 15k 500lb adv bike and ride it off-road without any prior experience. If that’s the case I highly suggest looking into one of our training courses before doing so.
Don’t give people false information like every wreck is a potential $1000 repair. Most people who ride these big bikes off-road spend the money to set them up for doing so. Protect the investment. Protection, crash bars, bark busters etc….
Another piece of false info, the AT is actually very nimble off-road and weight is very low slung. More so than my KTM 1190r that feels significantly heavier up top than Alex AT. Learn to ride with the weight, practice slow maneuvers, sliding the bike, drifting in the dirt, etc….
Tire selection is key, look for our video coming out this week showcasing many different choices and personal ridden opinions (that’s exactly what they are)
They are more than tourers with a “little” off-road capability. Tire selection will dictate what your gonna do with a 500lb bike off-road. I’ve taken my KTM 1190 places guys with dirt bikes wouldn’t even try to go. Hill climbs guys on Dirtbikes wouldn’t do. If your worried about the front end washing out, one thing to combat that is throttle. While I’m not saying throttle out of everything, these big bikes like being under power. It makes the front end light and they don’t wash. Just think of riding on sand or loose stuff. Your front end wants to wash, what do you do? Keep your weight back and front end light. They have plenty of capability if your willing to try.
Train, practice, ride….. repeat.
Long story short, those are 3 different bikes with 3 totally different mind sets
Thanks for checking out the channel, we value everyone’s opinion here. Glad you left your feedback!
@Jay Bee Exactly.
All these guys talking about riding them like in the promo videos are full of crap. Their egos are bigger than their brains.
@Jay Bee Yeah man. You nailed it. There is too much of a compromise and the cost/risk is too great to truly enjoy the bike.
The AT is a great bike for touring and casual off road. There is no doubt about that. But so are a lot of other, cheaper, lighter bikes.
I lasted 5000 miles with my AT before I got tired of stressing out over all the compromises and thoughts of wrecking it off road.
@Jay Bee Yepp! ADV Bikes are not Dual Sport Bikes!
ADV Bikes are for Touring and Travelling, so called Adventure Riding, some even to ride it around the Globe.
YAMAHA SUPER TENERE OR HONDA AFRICA TWIN
Depends how you plan to ride it. If you are 70/30 road/dirt, I'd go AT. If you are 60/40 road/dirt or more dirt - T7
@@bfeadventures Sorry for the long post. Do you prefer the Yamaha T7 or Honda Transalp 750?
@@MohamedQureshi Great question. I think at that point of comparison, pick your favorite brand. From the factory, the Honda is more street oriented and the Yamaha is more dirt oriented. However - everything is subtle. It does not take much to make the T7 better for the street; and it does not take much to protect the Honda off-road.
@@bfeadventures As for you, you prefer which one
@@MohamedQureshi The Yamaha
sorry ninety five
No you should not buy Africa. Bought 2 month ago and regret. Slow and unintuitive menu. Warning message I have to dismiss every start-up. Dislike
What year do you have?
@@bfeadventures 2022
@@dmvitaly1 Yeah, I hear that is a big annoyance. My 2017 does not have that.
You don’t make any sense the bike is under powered but in the same sentence it’s a hand full! I have a 2019 atas it’s a the best bike out there for on and off road adventures
ON road - it's underpowered compared to most bikes of similar size. Off road, it's a handful. I agree - it's an incredible bike. "Best" really depends on how the rider uses it, in my opinion.