Africa twin first bike?
Discussion
Hi all! New here and new to being a biker!
I am currently pushing through my bike test at the moment. Had my first lesson on a 'Big' (CBF600) bike yesterday for a 2-hour appraisal. I have been booked on for my MOD1 for next week with a hope of doing my MOD2 shortly after! All being well that is.... Theory is boxed off already so I will hopefully have a bike in the near future!
I have been looking at various bikes and the Africa Twin has been mentioned a few times so I have been looking into those! What are everybody's thoughts?
I am not a complete novice and do have riding experience and plenty of road experience. Being a 'Bigger' bike doesn't put me off. I am looking for something to be able to eat miles on with some euro trips and the odd Sunday ride. I won't be using it for my commute as such as I already have a vehicle for that.
Thanks in advance!
I am currently pushing through my bike test at the moment. Had my first lesson on a 'Big' (CBF600) bike yesterday for a 2-hour appraisal. I have been booked on for my MOD1 for next week with a hope of doing my MOD2 shortly after! All being well that is.... Theory is boxed off already so I will hopefully have a bike in the near future!
I have been looking at various bikes and the Africa Twin has been mentioned a few times so I have been looking into those! What are everybody's thoughts?
I am not a complete novice and do have riding experience and plenty of road experience. Being a 'Bigger' bike doesn't put me off. I am looking for something to be able to eat miles on with some euro trips and the odd Sunday ride. I won't be using it for my commute as such as I already have a vehicle for that.
Thanks in advance!
Plenty of musings here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Maybe a bit boring but a solid choice
Maybe a bit boring but a solid choice
Currently own an ATAS (the big one) with DCT. Its not my 1st bike having ridden bikes for most of the last 30years (old fart now-in my day etc). The ATAS has a high saddle, normal AT less so but still tall and relatively heavy, DCT has some low speed peculiarities that may result in unexpected acceleration (for new riders and old). Even if you're long of leg you need to be confident in your bike handling skills, if your not make sure it has decent crashbars fitted, not the honda accessory light bars as they are only there for fitting spots to not for protecting the bike in a spill.
The bike you ride is a personal choice that you need to be happy with or you wont enjoy it.
As an aside despite its gargantuan weight the XT1200Z i owned was easier to steer in low speed stuff as it had a manual box/clutch and low CofG. PS I love the DCT on the move but for low speed work i think it needs a LHS bar rear brake to allow for crawling clutch control thats hard to do with the RHS foot brake (the foot for which you want to have available for balance/dabs etc).
The bike you ride is a personal choice that you need to be happy with or you wont enjoy it.
As an aside despite its gargantuan weight the XT1200Z i owned was easier to steer in low speed stuff as it had a manual box/clutch and low CofG. PS I love the DCT on the move but for low speed work i think it needs a LHS bar rear brake to allow for crawling clutch control thats hard to do with the RHS foot brake (the foot for which you want to have available for balance/dabs etc).
HairyMaclary said:
I nearly went down this route and will probably get one in future but for me the commuting miles I do it didn't make sense.
Check out the insurance costs as I suspect it will be fairly painful to insure a 1000 with no ncb.
I have checked and it is coming in at £850 currently based on 6k per annum I do feel this is fairly excessive but as a new rider i was kind of expecting it. I am trying to sway my fleet insurer through my company to allow bikes on the policy... Fingers crossed it brings it down somewhat.Check out the insurance costs as I suspect it will be fairly painful to insure a 1000 with no ncb.
I can't really find any bad reviews on the AT apart from the fact its a fairly large bike? I am 6ft so how would be on the bike does everyone think tip toes? Or flat footed?
fedis33 said:
I have checked and it is coming in at £850 currently based on 6k per annum I do feel this is fairly excessive but as a new rider i was kind of expecting it. I am trying to sway my fleet insurer through my company to allow bikes on the policy... Fingers crossed it brings it down somewhat.
I can't really find any bad reviews on the AT apart from the fact its a fairly large bike? I am 6ft so how would be on the bike does everyone think tip toes? Or flat footed?
I’m also six foot and can ride the bike on either seat setting quite easily.I can't really find any bad reviews on the AT apart from the fact its a fairly large bike? I am 6ft so how would be on the bike does everyone think tip toes? Or flat footed?
I do prefer the seat on the lower setting as I find it more comfortable and it’s also(as others have already mentioned)easier to get a quick panic dab in whilst using slow speed manoeuvres.
What are these like for doing big distances such as on a Euro tour? The OP specifically mentions that’s the sort of use he has planned, yet I’d probably go for something like a VFR or Z1000SX as I think the 4 cylinder might make for less vibes and I also think they may be more stable and less blustery at speed.
Just to add I’ve never ridden an AT so the above are just preconceptions and not based on experience.
Just to add I’ve never ridden an AT so the above are just preconceptions and not based on experience.
Not ridden one but as regards the fact that you're only just about to get qualified to ride a "big bike" I would say don't worry a jot. I went straight from a Honda CG 125 to a VFR 750 and the 750 was a lot easier to ride than the 125.
I've seen plenty of Africa Twins touring around Europe and have yet to meet an owner who was complaining about the experience.
Ride one and see how it feels to you.
I've seen plenty of Africa Twins touring around Europe and have yet to meet an owner who was complaining about the experience.
Ride one and see how it feels to you.
I find them super stable at speed and can cruise at high speeds. With the wind deflector and decent screen on ( I have the batzen screen riser) it is brilliant.
I find the seat a bit arse numbing after about an hour and the lack of cruise control pisses me off and I find my hands hurt a bit as I think the grips are quite thin. I have fitted a clamp to the throttle and in use it as a crude cruise control and it works quite well for £15!
I find the seat a bit arse numbing after about an hour and the lack of cruise control pisses me off and I find my hands hurt a bit as I think the grips are quite thin. I have fitted a clamp to the throttle and in use it as a crude cruise control and it works quite well for £15!
I can vouch for their touring ability, I've done 2 touring holidays on mine which were about 3 1/2 wks and just over 5000 miles each to Eastern Europe, the most I did in a day was about 550 miles, on motorways, the rest of the time I travelled on normal and minor roads... For me I changed the seat and screen, I have never noticed any vibes, and it never missed a beat .. So for me I have no issues with touring on it ..
GTiWILL said:
What are these like for doing big distances such as on a Euro tour? The OP specifically mentions that’s the sort of use he has planned, yet I’d probably go for something like a VFR or Z1000SX as I think the 4 cylinder might make for less vibes and I also think they may be more stable and less blustery at speed.
Just to add I’ve never ridden an AT so the above are just preconceptions and not based on experience.
Depending on the model range is less than a lot of ADV bikes (190-230 miles still), other than that they're perfect for distance. The DCT especially.Just to add I’ve never ridden an AT so the above are just preconceptions and not based on experience.
There's no vibrations at all. It's a very good, if slightly beige, engine.
I think it's horses for courses really. Regardless of experience, if you're doing ADV type things, i.e. big miles in all weathers, exploring those rubbish roads, the odd bit of muddy road/light off roading they're great. It's the tool for the job, and they're absolutely brilliant.
If you're not though, and you are more fast or road focused, they have real limitations. That front end is vague, that front tyre is too skinny to push hard. It's too big to maneuver easily through traffic on the commute (although not impossible), and they really are very easy to drop at slow speeds as the weight is so high up. If you have the DCT as well, it's fantastic for distance but it can make slow control even more challenging.
I think your additional challenges as a new rider will be the slow speed control which is much harder, you also will find it very difficult to build experience in riding faster as the Africa Twin is tiring to hussle along. Like most ADV bikes though, it isn't actually slow, it's just a PITA to ride fast.
I have a real love/hate relationship with mine.
If you're not though, and you are more fast or road focused, they have real limitations. That front end is vague, that front tyre is too skinny to push hard. It's too big to maneuver easily through traffic on the commute (although not impossible), and they really are very easy to drop at slow speeds as the weight is so high up. If you have the DCT as well, it's fantastic for distance but it can make slow control even more challenging.
I think your additional challenges as a new rider will be the slow speed control which is much harder, you also will find it very difficult to build experience in riding faster as the Africa Twin is tiring to hussle along. Like most ADV bikes though, it isn't actually slow, it's just a PITA to ride fast.
I have a real love/hate relationship with mine.
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