Rode an Africa Twin today

[fredz43]

Rode one today at Niehaus Cycles in Litchfield, IL. Briefly, I will say that this is one very fun motorcycle! I am on my second S10, a 14 ES that I love and this AT really impressed me. It felt so light and flickable and handled great on the few sweepers that I had it on. The rest of the 20 mile loop was country blacktop with a rough surface and it handled that very well, with a smooth ride. It was very comfortable and the engine was quite responsive. I turned the traction control (torque control, Honda calls it) off and as I approached a small rise while in second gear, I rolled the throttle on and it did a wonderful, controllable sky shot and sat back down easily. If I still had my first gen S10, I would probably be ready to trade. I have grown to really like my Gen 2 ES and will stay with it for a while, since I do about 90% road riding. It seems to me that my S10 is a great adventure TOURING bike and the AT is a great ADVENTURE touring bike. Well done, Honda!

I think that any of our fellow S10 owners that do a lot of off road would love this bike.

 

[spinalator]

Good report ::003::

Was it about the same reach to the ground? How was the motor compared to the S10?

 

[cromschild]

I appreciate this write up, thank you. I was wondering about the African Twin and was very curious to see how Honda would respond to the Adventure market. I love my 14ES, but want to try at least a test ride myself.

 

[jmcgilroy]

I wrestled with the idea of waiting for the Africa Twin or purchasing my S10. I wasn't interested in the DCT model so that wasn't an issue. The thing that killed the deal was Honda's 4.9 gallon tank on the AT vs. 6.1 on the Yamaha. My choices of destinations usually include some long stretches of wilderness and the 4.9 tank wouldn't cut it. This may not be a problem for others and I'm sure that Honda puts out a fine product.

 

[limey]

I wrestled with the idea of waiting for the Africa Twin or purchasing my S10. I wasn't interested in the DCT model so that wasn't an issue. The thing that killed the deal was Honda's 4.9 gallon tank on the AT vs. 6.1 on the Yamaha. My choices of destinations usually include some long stretches of wilderness and the 4.9 tank wouldn't cut it. This may not be a problem for others and I'm sure that Honda puts out a fine product.

The rang on AT is around the same as the S10.

 

[fredz43]

Good report ::003::

Was it about the same reach to the ground? How was the motor compared to the S10?

The reach to the ground was about the same as my 14ES. I recently rode the new VFR1200X (Crosstourer) and I was on tip toes on that bike. I didn't like that bike at all and was very glad to get back on my ES. When I got back on my ES after riding the AT, it was still nice to get back on a bike that I really love, but it felt kind of mellow in comparison (not that there's anything wrong with that) ;D

The motor had a familiar characteristic, being a parallel twin with a 270 degree crank, just like our bikes. I don't know the HP rating on the AT, but it felt very responsive and I liked it a lot. Of course, it is carrying a lot less weight around. As I mentioned, I do at least 90% of my riding on the road, and take some long trips, so the ES suits me better. The AT reminded me of my 2 DR350's (one is a 435) in that it had more of a hooligan character, or at least it tempted me to act like a bit of a hooligan on those back roads. I enjoy exploring those kind of rustic, rough roads on my DR's and think that would be a blast on the AT.

 

[fredz43]

One thing that is pretty poor, though is the display. I could easily see the speed and gear indicator digits, which are large and near the top of the display. Below that is a lot of info in rather small digits on a small panel that is too vertical, which makes that info hard to read.

The TCS is switchable on the fly and that is really great. There is a switch at the front of the left switch cluster and you just tap it with your forefinger, while your left hand is still on the grip and TCS changes while moving. You an even turn it off without stopping.

 

[jmcgilroy]

The rang on AT is around the same as the S10.

Well, I'm not buying Honda's reported mileage of 61.6 MPG. Downhill with a 40mph tailwind?

Time will tell when we see some on the road.

 

[yoyo]

I considered one before buying my S10 as it's cheaper in the UK than the S10 and I like the look of the bike but it's reported to have a really poor pillion seat so didn't consider it, sods law the Mrs hates the ride on the back of the S10, seat and suspension felt hard compared to my old Strom, luckily she has her own bike!

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[True Grip]

Your the man Fred! I still want to be you when I grow up. The AT would be very tempting for me if Yamaha wasn't doing a XT700. I'm speculating that the smaller Tenere will be even more hooligan than the AT for the stuff I like to do. I will have a hard time parting ways with my 1200 I've enjoyed it to much, who knows one of these days I may have two Tenere's. Lighter multi cylinders will appeal to lots of people chains and tubes are not a big deal to most who really want to ride rougher tracks.

Patrick is in Arkansas spent the day yesterday picking up GS's and riding up hills. Ended up all alone ::025::

 

[cosmic]

S10 is definitely a keeper.
The first time a sat on AT, i was unpleasantly suprised how small the thing is. With 6'4" i felt like I sat on Dominator 650 or something. With that suspension travel and ground clarence, I was expecting 950/990 kind of feeling, with my legs stretch out to the ground, only to find out I have to invest more money to make it work for me.
On top of that, for the price of AT, here in Croatia you can get S10 with travel pack, and travel pack is shit load of stuff, including, bash plate, led fog lights, panniers etc, etc.

 

[colorider]

Great review Fred! Before I pulled the trigger on my Gen 2, I was considering the AT as a potential. I'm now convinced I made the right choice!!!

Rod


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[fredz43]

Your the man Fred! I still want to be you when I grow up. The AT would be very tempting for me if Yamaha wasn't doing a XT700. I'm speculating that the smaller Tenere will be even more hooligan than the AT for the stuff I like to do. I will have a hard time parting ways with my 1200 I've enjoyed it to much, who knows one of these days I may have two Tenere's. Lighter multi cylinders will appeal to lots of people chains and tubes are not a big deal to most who really want to ride rougher tracks.

Patrick is in Arkansas spent the day yesterday picking up GS's and riding up hills. Ended up all alone ::025::

Hi Mark,

Yes, I was thinking that Patrick would be the typical S10 rider that would like the AT. Like you, I think the thought of a 700 Tenere is very exciting. I have ridden the FZ07 and absolutely love that engine. When I first heard of it, I told Brad Niehaus to put me down for the first one. It looks like it will be a 2018 model, available sometime late next year. Might get a surprise, though, as Yamaha will be announcing 2 new bikes in June.

BTW, I hope that I don't grow up too soon. After all I'm just a 72 year old kid. ;D See my signature for my outlook on life.

 

[WJBertrand]

The AT has to be the best bike Honda has put out in a decade. I'm sure they'll do really well with it. For me, also a 90% street rider, I'd miss the shaft drive, tubeless tires, cruise control and the extra highway power, but Honda has the VFR-X for that. I haven't had the chance to ride one but heard one running. I like that the engine seems mechanically quieter than the Ténéré.


-Jeff

 

[Dogdaze]

The AT has to be the best bike Honda has put out in a decade. I'm sure they'll do really well with it. For me, also a 90% street rider, I'd miss the shaft drive, tubeless tires, cruise control and the extra highway power, but Honda has the VFR-X for that. I haven't had the chance to ride one but heard one running. I like that the engine seems mechanically quieter than the Ténéré.


-Jeff

I have to agree with that, and I think it's a colossal mistake for Honda not to have cruise control, even as an option, for both the AT and the VFR Crossdresser, after all, it's all electronics anyway.

 

[mbabc]

Great report Fred. Sounds like a winner Honda!
I'll be keeping my '12 Tenere as I've a wr250r for a lightweight.

Mark B.

 

[fredz43]

Great report Fred. Sounds like a winner Honda!
I'll be keeping my '12 Tenere as I've a wr250r for a lightweight.

Mark B.

Hi Mark,

Yeah, I've got two DR350 light weights to play around on. That AT reminded me of them, but with more power. I'll be keeping my 2014 S10. I never thought that it was particularly heavy until riding the AT and now my beloved S10 feels like a big heavy bike. Still a very good adventurer TOURER though.

 

[markjenn]

....I think it's a colossal mistake for Honda not to have cruise control, even as an option, for both the AT and the VFR Crossdresser, after all, it's all electronics anyway.

Don't know about the VFR, but on the AT is is not "all electronics" because the bike has conventional cable-controlled throttle bodies, not electronically-controlled throttles like the S10. There is a lot of cost-cutting in the AT to hit Honda's price point; from a variety of respects, it is a simpler, less-complicated motorcycle than the S10 or GS which is both good and bad - difficulty in fitting any kind of cruise control is one of the bads.

- Mark

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Thanks for your thoughts, Fred. Sounds like it is meeting the expectations I had set in my head based on all the info leading up to the release. I anticipate replacing the '12 S10 in our fleet. Not positive what will be next.

 

[trikepilot]

Doh!!! Too late for me. Had the AT been out 3-4 months ago... it is very likely that it would have replaced Fancy as my TAT bike. Although, I must admit the smaller Tenere that is "rumored" to be coming might be an even better fit in the stable - right between Fancy and whatever "little" bike I have.