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Honda Africa Twin - Honest owner review
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2024
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From perspective of experienced ADV rider after 4k miles
UPDATE: I never expected this video to get so many views. I took it from my phone without a good microphone so I apologize for audio issues. Getting so many views on this video inspired me to build an actual channel. I am sorry the review was not more exciting or more complete. I am working harder on newer reviews.
R1200 / R1250GS : • BMW R1200GS / R1250GS ...
Ktm 690 Enduro : • 2018 KTM 690 Enduro R ...
KLR650 : • Kawasaki KLR650 Honest...
WR250R: • Yamaha WR250R Honest O...
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You lost me at the 1 min mark. Nobody cares about your age or experience. We clicked on this video to hear about the bike.
It seems like a disproportionate number of people are throwing shade at this guy for having had a lot of bikes. Like he’s not a “True Rider” because he doesn’t keep every bike for 8 years and 50,000 miles. You guys need to get a life. I find reviews like this much more valuable than a motorcycle magazine dude who rode a press bike for half a day. Ian has experience with every bike in the adventure category, and has put 4K miles on this bike. What more can you ask for? Great review, Ian!
Maxpower4908 absolutely agree!
Having had the same experience, lots of bikes, I think it's because we're all looking for "the one" and medium to big adventure bikes are a compromise. So finding the right compromise is best done through experience.
To each their own, but 20 something bikes in 17, or 18 years seems like you're throwing tons of money down the drain. Nice ride though!
@@504BigStud That's what money is for. I've done the same thing.
@@504BigStud It is their money, and because that have lots of it, it is their right to be as wasteful and stupid as they want to be.
Now if you believe he is independently wealthy and isn;t contributing to the destruction of North american economy, that't great.
But great on him if he can go through 20 bikes, without breaking his family.
Funny how the best review are not from the Profesional guys. Thank you Ian.
Exactly..the pro review guys are many times not true riders,"journalism" and advert dollars come first..a guy like this is giving a real world opinion..I have ridden over 45 yrs now and I personally value a review like this much more than one from Cycle World et al.
His is personal review, their’s are paid reviews...or hope to be paid in the future. 😜😜👍👍😂😂
This guy is a professional (see all the Rigg swag), AND he's good.
Wow! Talk about a thorough and well-thought-out review! Such a breath of fresh air compared to the "I haven't taken it on any road trips or backwoods excursions yet. But, I drove it home from the dealership and I'm really impressed. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!" ...Duhhh!
Now this was what I call a truly useful review. Right down to the 'soft bags disclosure'! You, Sir, are both a scholar and a gentleman. Thank you!
Great review as ever.
Always relevant. I envy your lifestyle and access to top kit. I have my budget range of 4 quality bikes. I'm retired so basic, used is good, esp if my ambition exceeds my talents...expendable.
05 CRF450X
96 CBR600F
05 F650GS DAKAR
03 R1150GS
My hands get stiff so bar end weights and soft overgrips help with vibration. Going offroad when the rain stops, though UK options are a different level to the BDR Network.
Onwards and upwards
He's right, this is a good honest owner review. I like the fact that Ian has spent his cash, bought & rode the bike, not some numpty journo who's had a 2 hr test ride & became an instant expert on the bike. Thanks Ian for taking the time to create & post this review. There's a reason it's had 400+k views.
thanks. yes, all my reviews so far are on bikes I have owned myself.
Hey dude, just wanted to drop a thank you. I’ve owned an Africa twin for a year now thanks to your reviews and I’ve never been happier with a bike. I found a low mileage 2019 at a great price fairly local and I’ve done everything from highways, to gravel/dirt, and even trails on this thing. It’s been an absolute blast. I appreciate the time, energy, and honesty you put into your videos. You’re not a salesman, which is by no means an insult. Thanks again!
To anyone considering an Africa twin, do it. It has plenty of power, takes unleaded gas, low maintenance, looks good, can handle almost anything you have the ability to ride, and it’s fairly comfortable. My only complaint is the suspension. I’m 6’1 260 lbs, and this bike seems like it was barely made to transport my skeleton let alone the beer belly and beard attached to it lol but I’ve yet to set it up for my weight so it’s probably a me problem…
Does 300 lbs on this bike damage the suspension or harm the engine?
I mean I’m probably putting a little extra wear on the seals but I’d think it also matters how you ride. The engine has no problem moving me but I’m skeptical to ride 2 up on it.
Love your no-nonsense reviews. Picked up my 2018 Africa Twin Adventure Sports last weekend and am loving it. What a fantastic all round machine it is. Had a 2 and a half hour ride back home thru the twisties in the Ardèche and had an absolute blast!
WOW someone who appreciates the KLR 650.
Oh my God, the view from your house!!!
I was looking at the bench as well. What a beautiful place to be.
this dude is blessed, if he has a charming wife and a dog i'm truly jealous :D
@@ricardorodrigues3508 haha exactly my thoughts!
Not his house.
sitting here in the UK in a built up area I'm just in awe of this scenery....I now think I was to go visit lol #Lane
FANTASTIC BIKE &
GREAT REVIEW
I purchased a 2018 African Twin 30 year anniversary edition 4 months ago and after 38 years of racing cr250s as a young guy and R1s from Yamaha on the track I must say I was impressed with this bike. I have the DCT model (automatic) I wasn't sure if I would like it but it is totally impressive. The rider is able to switch over to manual shift on the fly with upshifting from your trigger finger and thumb to downshift.. it becomes a devistatingly aggressive bike with 7 traction control settings. If you need anymore horse power than this bike offers you need a 2 stroke. This bike has balls, the front end wanting to be airborne and off the pavement going up hills during acceleration its got a lot of guts in the low to mid end.
I honestly thought it would be top heavy but again I was impressed..very low center of gravity and very well balanced.
This bike is one of the most well engineered bikes honda has ever made. I give it 5 stars all the way.
Cyrano De Bergerac I don’t know how your getting the front end up, I can only do it in 1sr gear or 2nd with the clutch! I wish it would pick up the front in hard acceleration!
Good review from a real rider with experience... hate the posers
I talked to a guy on a 2018 special edition,, thing was very tall,, wide tank and seat.
Probably to big for me.. I could probably not pick it back up if it fall on me,, unless the crash bars let me crawl out lol
Thinking about a DCT too, never been on a motorcycle before, so the auto is my best pick, Africa Twin or the NC750X
Thanks Ian! I just bought a band-spanking-new 2019 ATA. It's my second bike after a 3 year love affair with a '12 V-strom 650. This is the bike of my dreams. Reading your review is sorta like "buyer's remorse" in reverse. Learned a lot from your clear and articulate presentation, and only more excited about what I've got in the garage now.
How does it compare to the vstrom on the road handling and power
And how much (top)heavier does it feel?
Thanks
This was the best review of the Africa twin so far.
I appreciate the honest, down-to-earth opinion.
I loved to hear how it compared to the other beasts in the market.
Your experience with a lot of bikes came in handy!
Having owned the ATAS for 18 months now, I second all that you said. Fork a bit soft but I don't challenge it enough to feel its limitations. One of the best bikes ever made IMO. This is now my bike and may keep it passed the 3 yearmark. True, stock seat is amazing. Just rode 15 hours, my derrière feels fresh and ni complaints. Great vid, multiple owner gives value to your review. Good job, you've got a new subscriber.
Ian for not being a professional that was a really really helpful review.. more importantly thank you for your honesty
I'd rather listen to someone who has owned and riden so many bikes than someone who has ridden a lot of bike for a day, your experience and advice speaks for itself thanks mate.
I have an old Harley Heritage softail, and a DR650. I bought the DR for riding to work because it's 32 miles round trip and all gravel road, and the Harley hates gravel. I took an Africa Twin for an extensive test ride yesterday and I was totally impressed with it for gravel roads. It felt more sure footed on them than my DR does and the AT had pretty much street orientated tires on it. It will be my next bike.
Beautiful driveway, what a view! Looks like a great place to live
I was thinking, man look at that garage!!!
Excellent, excellent, excellent review. Thank you! I don't think anybody, including myself, could ask for a better or more honest review. We need more reviews like this
I think Honda is listening to reviews. The newer models have everything the last ones lacked. It's great to see that.
And you did a great job. Not just saying positive things, but also what you don't like! Keep up the good work. Have a great day!
Well said!
This is a good unbiased informative review that deserves more attention.
Great video; I appreciate the context you provided with with other models & background. Similar situation here & you nailed the stuff I had questions on. Many thanks...
I've been researching my first ADV bike since I rode a KLR in Mexico's Baja 20 years ago. It isn't easy to pick "The One". By their very nature, these bikes of course are a compromise between street and off road. None "do it all" perfectly. And, some are clearly better in some areas than others. I didn't want to go through a bunch of bikes to narrow my search. Even though I could have bought a BMW R 1250 GSA today, the dealer was kind enough after really listening to my needs to instead direct me to a 2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650 that just came in on a trade that was fully loaded with all the aftermarket and luggage with 9,000 babied miles on it for $5K.
It's perfect for me, and what I want it for. Nothing fancy, a plain Jane that will do the job. And, I'm excited about that!
northerniltree I loved my wee, never let me down, took me everywhere I pointed it, and the aftermarket has already thought of everything you could ever want to change or customize just for your riding. Enjoy!
This is a great review. I've ridden off and on for 30+ years, but I'm just now getting into adventure riding. Hearing the perspective of a guy who has owned a lot of bikes means he has the experience to give practical advice on any given machine he owns.
I have watched hundreds of reviews on bikes of this style and this is the first time I have felt the need to comment.
Top work sir, great review, don't apologise for the length or your review, you have covered so much without waffling.
I'm personally torn between this and the GS.
Thanks again.
Gotta respond to a couple of statements/questions,
DON TELL them where you live! LMAO!!!
Ian is a professional rider but too humble to say it!
Subscribed!!!!
Just saw this review and appreciate your honesty. I expected nothing less having met you almost 10 years ago in Death Valley. Your honesty and character are beyond reproach.
I just got my 17/AT and I'm loving it so far.... I won't post a review... I'm just gonna ride this bike till the wheels fall off!
I’m 6’6” ready to buy either the Africa twin DCT or KTM 1090 or 1290 I’m still not sure-
But I got $25 k for cash so price isn’t an issue
Your Thoughts??
Great review from the average Joe.. I appreciate it.
Coming from a dual sport background myself I finally got around to riding a friends AT over the weekend. Now I can’t stop looking up information on it. I’m only 5’9” so ADV bikes can be a challenge for footing but the AT fit me perfectly. I took it down a coal mine haul road and was surprised with its composure. Then a brief sprint down a paved road I was equally impressed with how poised it was around hair pin turns.
I want one.
Hey bud I am a 50 yr old rider .. I have had lots of bikes also..it’s my passion my 2018 ATAS is # 44 and man I have to say it’s my favorite bike I have ever owned.. people say they don’t have enough power.. I think she does it alright has the torque when you need it. And I honestly feel she does everything very well . I think most people who have a chance to ride one will walk away with a smile it’s a lot of fun .
had klr 650 put 86,000 miles on it in 14 years love that bike
but you could have gone through 28 bikes in that time frame, missing out man.
Definitely want a KLR
Mighty klr, good times
Great review and spot on. I've been riding since 1990 and been riding dual sports since 1996. I bought my '16 AT manual brand new sight unseen and have not regretted it at all. Personally, I think it's closer to the description OP made of the GS1200: It's a road bike that you can take offroad. No matter where the weight sits, the bike is still 500#. I use the bike to explore and camp. The dirt roads I ride are forestry and mining roads and ATV 2-track that are common to the mountains and deserts of the western United States. Because I'm not flying over whoops, the soft suspension is acceptable to me. I'm about 210# w/ riding gear and add another 30# for luggage. 2 gripes: No cruise control and a stiff clutch. 12 hour days in the saddle are common. I've ridden 700 mile days and the only thing sore is my throttle hand. The clutch gets very heavy when riding offroad. If you use your clutch like a dirt bike rider, you'll know what I mean. The bike handles unbelievably well onroad; I can scrape the pegs with Mitas E-07 tires on both ends (the original, not the plus). If I rode more offroad, I'd get a Tenere 700. If I rode single track, I'd get a Husky 701 Enduro. As it is, the AT is the perfect bike for my use case.
awesome, thanks for sharing
I have the 2017 - same colour scheme as yours with the gold rimes :) I added a rear sprocket with one more tooth and changed the front to one less. Low speed crawling is great now. Top speed may have dropped but I usually ride at about 90 to 100 k's And a load of AltRider aftermarket pieces including their 3 part crash protection. And so many other AltRider things. 3 electrical add-ons too. I always turn off the traction control before starting the engine. It was on while I tried to get up a steep gravel / rock fire road. I needed more power - it kept cutting power. Finally it stalled and over it went. Glad a guy in a jeep came by and helped get it up again on that very steep uphill road. That was day 2 I had it ! It took me many hours to fix the scratches especially on the stainless muffler and header cover.
When I am riding I can only see the speedo and the gear indicator - everything else is too small especially riding toward the sun.
There is supposed to be a fuel remaining display when you go onto reserve. I've never run mine that low so I dont know.
The Kaoko throttle lock works great. I can take my right hand off for 10 minutes sometimes.
Yes the center stand spring war ha ha I got the German made SW-MOTECH it was $200 less that the Honda and high quality.
On the real hot summer days I just remove the windshield.
Great video.
>
How did you fix the scratches
This way to give an honest reviews is to buy it and ride -this guy is a professional👍
A very valuable review of the machine. I wish more reviewers were like you who could give a definite answer rather than keeping the viewers in a limbo.
Great Job man!
Keep up the good work.
I got a black 2017 AT and solved the cruise control issue nicely with a Kaoka throttle lock. Works great on the AT
Really good balance calm review. I wish all American reviews were this good. Too much bs in many of them.
Practical, honest, with enough detail. Nice one.
I appreciate that!
Wow, twice as many views as the MC Commute and Review vids. Congrats! Well deserved!
Thanks. This was my first video and I never intended to even start a channel!
FANTASTIC all round review. I found it very useful. You were prepared and in my opinion, you missed no issue about this bike.To get this info from a guy who owned a few dual sport bikes is a treasure. I ride Italian dual sport bikes, like: Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini, Laverda (YES! Laverda) , Gilera and such. I keep them all. You made me curious how Africa Twin compares with these brands. I may take one for a test ride. Without your review, this thought would never cross my mind.
Thanks for the great vid! I just picked up my 2019 Africa Twin Adventure last week (brand new, for a screamingly low Corona Virus deal) and have lots of accessories to purchase! This helps a lot.
This is my next bike, I'm so happy Honda brought this back to the market. Low maintenance great resells value and will last forever if it's given some care. I really like the stock exhaust sound.
Yes sir exactly on point 👍🏽
I have owned the same bike for 4 years now. It has been great.The newer versions offer more electronics, but I like to keep it simple. I will probably keep this bike until I am too old to ride, it is that good. A great all rounder: not the best at anything but really proficient across a broad spectrum. I have a memorable ride every ride.
Man, the surroundings of your place are amazing.
My experience with the standard 2017 Africa Twin (manual transmission).
The Honda Touring windshield works well - better than the OK stock screen. In Winter you really notice the taller Honda brand Touring windshield. The only thing with this Touring windshield is you do get side wind on your arms.
IMO - *The engine power is plenty...* at least for me in the city & short highway use (who want to ride the highway and miss great sights -take the back roads). I rarely need to use 5th gear and 6th gear get used once a month.
IMO - The side stand on the Africa Twin works well. One of the best I have used. In dirt & muddy conditions it has never not worked. Sand?? I have not used the bike in but I think the stock side stand would work - it has a wide footprint.
IMO - The tires are fine for the road & OK for light off road. If you will ride off road medium to hard I would
highly recommend the Honda CRF250L or CRF450L. The Africa Twin is too heavy for medium to hard off road use ****unless you're an expert.****
I have own BMWs GS650Fs & BMW 1150 plus other bikes and the Honda Africa Twin is one of the best bikes I have owned
(stable, great engine, comfortable, nice looks). In reliability the Africa Twin IS the best.
That's is a very good honest assessment. I have the exact bike and we have them setup very similar. I had a 2015 F 800 GS before this and I feel they are very similar off road but the AT is hands down much better on the highway.
Well done, Ian. I have the same bike and couldn’t agree more with your observations. Yesterday a friend was testing my 2017 model and the front tire pitched up a big rock: the rock somehow jammed into the stock skidplate, and caved the skidplate into the aluminum sump. All 4 1/2 quarts of oil were gone in 60 seconds. Luckily the rider shut it down before any internal damage occurred. Towing the AT in the mountains with my Husqvarna 501 was interesting. Other than this incident the AT has been perfect. I too own and ride as many bikes as possible, and share with my friends. This is a wonderful hobby and community to be part of. Thanks again for your honest and informed review.
thanks!
I am following this channel for a long time and just now i notice. The place where you live is amazing. Looking at all those mountains surrounding you. And the wooden garage. Just on this video i see it. Thumbs up. And such an awesome place.
Awesome review and you answered so many questions, even questions I hadn’t thought of, thank you 👍
Man this is a GREAT review! Suddenly I want one of these again. If only they were a little older so used bikes were a bit cheaper :)
In the UK i think you can get a 2016 model for £7k now they were around £10.5k new at the beginning
eveRide ADV I keep going back and forth myself. They have 3 2017s at my local dealer. I might just have to pull the trigger.
@@bergoff they have about 12 at mine there bloody everwhere.
I keep asking myself would I swap my xr650r for this my xr is so light and it has enough power to put a grin on my face in the shitest of weather but it’s getting old now (16 years) HELP what do you think ??
@@thirlsw75 I think you should buy my xr650r it's only done 800 miles it's mint👌
Well I an just watched your 1st vid, and loved it, looking at getting an older AF 1000. Thanks for being here for us
I just got lucky and got a 2018 DCT with 1,000 miles, a full touratech Zega pannier system, remus exhaust, and outbak motortech skidplate/crashbars for 14 grand. I have never been more excited to purchase a motorcycle in my life. My first bike was a Harley Sportster because my dad always owned Harleys but I liked dual sport stuff so much I would literally ride it around farm fields and people thought I was crazy. After that I bought a Buell 1125R because I loved them but it wasn't realistic so own and unlike most 19 year olds I was terrified of sitting on 150HP.
That led me to the KLR 650. Your comment about owning one of those being mandatory is perfect lol, everyone should. I saw more of the world around me on the seat of that bike than any other. Eventually I got tired of bottoming out it's suspension and got a DRZ400S. I bought the Africa Twin because I wanted a smooth fuel injected adv bike that the wife would enjoy riding on the back of and she does. I think DCT is perfect when combined with the traction control and ABS for smoothly riding around with a passenger, and the thing honestly surprises me with how good offroad it is. It's definitely better than a KLR, which I think the manual would be too but the DCT just takes it to another level going through mud or up bumpy hills. I absolutely love this bike and honestly don't really see a replacement in it's future given how comfortable and versatile it is.
Mandatory KLR! time for every young rider. I love it.
Why?
@@gordongoodman8342 The gen 1 KLR650 is an easily obtained, easily maintained beast of a bike for young riders to learn on.. After your mandatory KLR time you'll have a much better idea of why the AT is such a good bike.
I’d have to say.....this is the best bike review I have seen, well done Ian. I assume this model has been superseded by the 2018 model, yes no?
yes, 2018 model has better suspension and saves user settings (abs, traction control) i'm speaking of the Australian model though so you'd need to check with your local dealer.
Very different bike but can't help think of my old Honda Transalp when I see these. What an awesome bike that was back in the day. Nice review Ian. Thanks!
The ABS on my 800GS did the same thing to be with gravel and a stop sign and I learned an important lesson. This will be my next bike. Thanks for the thorough review.
Glad it helped!
Great honest review. I've been thinking about trading my 1190R for the 2019 AT. The KTM is a great bike, I love the power, but the bike is just too tall for me to feel safe on uneven ground. I've tipped over several times. Also I'm 67 y/o and not as strong as I used to be so I'm hoping the seat height on the AT is a little more friendly.
That was a pretty good review. I was narrowed down to a DL1000 or Africa Twin...then my dealer brought in a S10. Bought it and love it. I was looking for something more long haul, 90% street so I’m happy. I think the AT is by far the best 50/50 out there all things considered. 3x $ of a klr...but 10x the bike. Nearly as “good” as KTM’s but without the outrageous costs. KTM is pretty top notch out of the box though. Nice review. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats on your success Ian, your one of the youtubers that actually deserve it.
This is my second time watching this. The first time was when I was looking at bikes...Now that I own a DR650, and discovering its highway limitations. In my defense, I have always liked the shiny and new.
The only complain I have about doing routine maintenance is the air filter. A beast to get at and change. Thankfully it should only be once a year....
1000% agree about the Scotts Dampner, i have them on 2 of my bikes!!!
I’ve wanted an African Twin for many years. Of course they came out one year after I bought the 1190r. However, after watching many reviews on the twin, I’m glad I went orange. Great review !
Man you sound like a polished veteran actor! Up close and detailed, one of the best vids I've watched on ATs. Bravo.
What a Stunning place you've got there WOW must be amazing living there 😮
Shoot. I have had a ton of bikes.... I keep downsizing.. Had Road Kings, Road Glides, Street Glides, Street Bob's.. Sportsters. etc.. , 1150 GSA's.. V-Stroms, KLR 650's. and lot's of straight dirt bikes from the 70's... I now own a Honda Rally CRF 250... and I armored her up and have Tusk Pannier racks w/ hard and soft (Wolfman) bags.... Takes me everywhere I need to go... I do more 2 lane and trails/offroad now..... More enjoyable...
Great review. Thanks for taking the time for this. It was very helpful.
Very useful and detailed review for anyone considering buying this bike - well done. I disagree slightly that the bike is a little under powered though & have noticed this sentiment echo'd in several reviews & comment sections. From a safety point of view, 94 hp is more than enough for a dual sport with long travel suspension & the bike's not exactly a slug. Check out the video on youtube of a stock Africa twin, on stock tires, completing a lap of the Nurburgring in 8.38. It's an insane lap time for a dual sport & would have many riders on 1000 cc super sport road bikes with sticky tires, soiling their pants trying to keep up : )
I agree , absolutely enough power, not underpowered. But its competition is winning the HP war and many people buy based on spec sheets unfortunately or bragging rights./
dude where in CA is this? Tahoe? not to be nosy but you have a beautiful house. Bike is perfect for that location.
Awesome review! Test rode the AT on pavement. Really liked it. Coming from a DRZ400S, looking for a more road worthy bike, I ended up with a 17 V-strom 650 for now. Might have to get one of these. I still think one needs 5 motorcycles in his or her garage, one for every occasion!
What a solid, informative, and thorough review. Thank you!
I bought one today guys! I am soooo happy! Went to buy a Tenere T700 and after a test ride i went back to the shop... while parking the Tenere i saw a just traded in Africa Twin... the rally version... and guys... i fell in love and sign the contract!
How do they compare?
How much heavier does the Africa twin feel
Mate.... Would you pls make an top 5 for us, of all Bikes you owned? :)
Yes plz bru. That would be awesome. Think about it. This cud be the start of something truly legit!
:) I was looking for a dishonest review but thought I'd watch yours anyway
Most if not the number one most beautiful off rood motorbike I've ever seen hands down!
Perfect commentary from the everyday person! Cheers.
You sound well qualified and I respect your opinion. Personally I prefer the cable throttle and the power should be plenty for me anyway. Not a big fan of abs even though I have a 650 V-Strom with abs and it seems to work fine. I'm not a big Electronics guy and most my bikes are old my newest bike is it 2012 zx14r. And I agree with you on the exhaust I prefer a quiet exhaust. Reliability, gas mileage, reliability and easy maintenance are number one in my book. Good review.
Like it or not, this shit is one thing most likely to save yo ass in emergency situation on road
Dude. Screw the bike, look at your house, driveway, view etc 😂 amazing
Great video! I love your approach. This is the first one of your videos I watched and have subsequently watched several others and realized it was your first video. Wow! I’ve watched the Chevy Volt review, the KLR review, and the Yamaha WR250R video. All fantastic! Just subscribed. New rider at age 54. Kids grown. I bought a used 2017 Honda CRF250L. Love it so far.
thank you!
it's one of the most honest review I have been seen in my life.
Thanks
Where can I get a house like that?!?! Living in a location like this I can see why you went thru so many ADV bikes!
4:38 to skip the introduction.
Thanks Ian for a truly comprehensive bike review. It seems that you have a lot of on and off road experience as well as ownership of the most common adventure motorcycles. I, for one would like to hear your pro and con
reviews on some of these.
stay tuned!
I'm a 2016 CRF1000L owner and love it...with that said. Screw the bike, I want your house. Since you won't give up your house then I'll just say spot on video and nice upgrades to your bike. My play bike is a highly modified XR650L so my CRF1000L bike will never have your off road upgrades but for me my one upgrade will be a rear sprocket change from 42T to 38T to improve long haul highway miles without putting a lot of high sustained rpms on the bike.
Thanks for all the detail. I want one.
Judging by some cases of stock Africa Twins dropped at low speed with clutch covers open and bolts sheared off, the aftermarket crash bars (really REALLY good ones), panniers and metal hand guards are an absolute must. Since it's a very heavy bike, the second it falls over and catches a sharp rock with the engine or the frame - it's game over. It will rip itself apart and leave you stranded (and probably pretty pissed after you see the towing+repair bills).
Sounds like any other bike on the market ;-)
@Peter Christensen
And you sound like any other wiseass on CZcams, posting comments without any arguments. See how that works? ;-)
That sucks... having to invest 15% of the bike's value in additional protection when it's supposed to be a freakin' adventure bike from the factory. Pretty lame if you ask me.
Like, don't even bother going to Africa with an Africa Twin. lol
The bike's too heavy for serious off-roading though, so everybody's gonna drop it eventually, even if it's just once or twice.
And there can only be a few Baja 1000 winners.
P.S. Sorry I meant 1000 after all.
"Protect the bike"
Exactly. Which is what I said in the first place. We go back full circle. ;)
Great! One of the best motorcycle videos I have seen, very factual, no music, no selfie-videoing! That Honda has some serious benefits. And it looks quite good. I possibly would not ride it off-road but if it had cruise control and DCT, it might be a great long distance ride too... I think soft panniers are the future ones!
i like how the mods are practical above anything else
Man, here i am watching this, even though I ain't got the slightest clue how a bike works 😆 great vid though
Same here
Great review! I've never ridden the Honda Africa Twin, but I did have a tryst with a beautiful Nigerian woman that happens to have an identical sister...does that count??
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
As long as you rode them both?
I came here for info on the Africa Twin, and that's exactly what I got. Thank you.
Great review! It really nice hearing from a rider with your experience.
great review, i just got a 2017 rally red
Why do all the ADV bikes have tablets for their instruments? Give me an ADV bike a mechanically activated analog speedometer, tach and fuel gauge. If I want a tablet on my dashboard, I’ll mount my own.
Great review. I just got mine with this same paint scheme. I think it's the best looking bike ever!
Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts on your bike.If it were shaft drive,I’d seriously consider one.
KTM1090R is way better bike for my taste. When we got on 2 wheels, it's all excitement, but the AT has quite a boring engine in comparison to KTM. The 1090R's hangling is much lighter and easier too, having not mention the WP suspension.
Binh Quach You do lose out on reliability though. I’m not sure how to word this properly, but a Honda is always a Honda. It’s not the best, nor the worst, but it will never fail you. They are always underpowered, always a bit slower and always reliable, probably because they keep the power down.
The price is also a big difference between both
Its not all about horse power numbers.
sebarmo actually when I bought my Africa, the dealer had a KTM 1090R for $1,000 more, but I already had my mind made up!
@theninja001 Were they used? In my country there is a difference of 3-4 k dollars between them NEW
You say that if I get one of these I won't be disappointed. Well I did have one and just got rid of it because I was do disappointed with it. Uncomfortable , and the handling eng suspension were not to my taste. You can't like every thing I guess. Swapped it for a much smaller bike, still a Honda. But this little thing is so much more fun and makes me want to go ride . Unlike the Twin.
Swapped for what? I have an AT as well and find it a bit too big for me...
Kenneth Slava Adamson . Dear Kenneth, l think Drop Tuned may be being modest. I suspect he swapped the AT for a Honda CRF250L. I exchanged a Fireblade for a CRF a year ago and it’s been a revelation. There are some detractors out there and l listened to them and delayed,for years, getting one. Mistake. I’ve kept the bike stock and it’s total fun; the best kept secret in biking.
@@KennethSlavaAdamson I swapped for a CB500X. It is so much better , for me and my riding wants and needs. Just fun simple and importantly comfortable. For me!
@@valaudae1809 , I did take a look at the 250 F beforehand and after , but tbh my off road days are behind me now . I used to ride MX and ride trials when I was younger and fitter. I am 50 now and my back , knees and ankles are fairly shot now. Recent lower disk decompression surgery really ruled it out. So went with the little CB500X . It works better and is a great tool.Like McDonald's " I'm lovin it".
Drop Tuned the 500 will unfortunately never get the credit it deserves for being a solid, fun, comfy and surprisingly quick (for the size) bike. I feel like it was Ari Henning that LOVED it, but my memory isn’t really that good these days.
It's a lovely bike....spotless even! I would love to have one but I my Multistrada keeps saying no. You certainly live in an incredible place! Thanks for the detailed review.
Great review thank you think of heading in this direction for my next bike the bike itself looks awesome 👌
I wouldn't wish a KLR on anybody!!!
@Tito Grass The KLR was a shitty motorcycle back in the 80s. There's a reason there's nothing else like it, it sucks
@Tito Grass The biggest selling motorcycle in history is the Honda super cub, and the Marines used Klr 250s dipshit. You wish you could get some of my mangina
Why? they provide an inexpensive avenue for people to get into dualsport / adv bikes ,they are super reliable and can do pretty much everything. I rode mine like a sport bike, took it on road trips, did dual sport rallies,as well as single track. they are hugely popular and can be modded heavily with a ton of after market parts availability. Whats not to like?
@@jeffferguson899 You're rght, they can and need to be modded heavily.
Everyone needs a KLR so they can learn. How would anyone know how great an AT is without that experience? How do you appreciate Abs if you never experienced spongey shit brakes? How do you appreciate 95 reliable horses without an oil chugging 30hp cement mixer in your past?
Mathematics tells me you don't keep a bike very long. Long term reviews are not your game.
I was thinking that his math just doesn’t add up here
wealthy weekend bikers, probably keeps for 6 months before selling it
Or like me, he owns several bikes at the same time... and no, I'm not rich or a weekend rider. It's about choosing what gets the hard rewarded dollar first... I thought the review was detailed and fair. I have or had previously owned several of the bikes he listed and agree with most of it.
akos81
If you are dumping women when they don't satisfy you 100%, you shouldn't even have one in the first place as you don't deserve to find one.
Mr Brightside he says early on that he did thousands of miles on KLRs, wasn’t referring to this bike.
I simultaneously owned the AT and the Husqy 701 enduro/SM. I sold the AT after a while and kept the husqy due to my riding preference. I usually rode short stents close to home a took the bikes on moderate trails. Obviously the Husqy is wayy easier to manage off road than the AT but the AT did fairly well. If I had been doing longer road trips then i would have kept the AT. It is more comfortable for longer saddle times. .
The view!!! Beautiful!!! Thank you Ian for the awesome review!!!