Honda Adventure School (Dave Thorpe)

[Evo Sean]

Hi all

My brother and I are looking at booking up with the Honda Adventure Centre (Dave Thorpe) riding Africa Twins for 2 days around Exmoor. We're both complete novices at off road riding but it's something we're desperate to start with an eye on doing some of the TET in 2028.

Anyone ever done this experience? it's >£500 so not a cheap day out.
Any recommendations for other places to do this that are better/different?

The main attraction is riding adventure bikes rather than dirt bikes and picking up the skills required. Also my brother has an AT so he's sold already!

Opinions and thoughts welcome...

[GavC88]

Do it 100%.

I did it in February in the cold and on and off rain and it was brilliant.

I had never done off roading before so did the two day course.

Started on an Africa Twin (with 2 miles on the clock) and after half a day downsized to a Transalp (48 miles on the clock) and found it much more manageable.

They’ll do an hour of group riding to start with and make some assessments and then split you into groups. You can choose to stay together (in the lower of groups) if you want to.

Everyone on our course was chill including the instructors.

Really good venue and learnt so much.

Came away and bought a Transalp..


Probably do it again next year.

[mobile chicane22]

If you haven't already have a look at the ABR festival, expensive but most enjoyable.

I have a bad knee so cant manage anything over about 150kgs off road.

I bought arguably the worst condition CRF250L and have thoroughly enjoyed pottering around off road on it, 75 can be achieved on trail tyres on the road but the handling at that speed is best described as "interestingly vague"

Anything you take off road will get dropped at some point bear that in mind

[Alex9]

I did it a few years ago, it was a fantastic couple of days. Great instructors who know how to make you feel comfortable on the bike, in a great setting too.

[JohnoVR6]

100% worth it - I was there last week on a work event. I've never ridden off-road before, and Dave and the team are exceptional at guiding you through it.

Because there were 15 of us, and all on different bikes, we rotated over the day and I ended up with a pretty progressive route starting with the CRF300 to a lightly modded CL500 to Transalp ending on the AT.

I'd have to agree with Gav and say the sweet spot for me was also the Transalp, AT felt a touch too big.

But amazing day, even if I still am feeling it in my shoulder...

[Bob_Defly]

I'm amazed they would start people on Africa Twins. If I was there I'd pick the smallest bike they had, preferably a CRF300L, it would be way more fun.

[Alex9]

Bob_Defly said:

I'm amazed they would start people on Africa Twins. If I was there I'd pick the smallest bike they had, preferably a CRF300L, it would be way more fun.

I don't think the aim is purely to teach people off-road riding (they have the off-road school for that, with CRF125, 250 and 300L), this is more aimed at adventure bike owners who want to see what their bike can do.

[Roono]

I've seen this place advertised and it's not a million miles away from me. I got a CRF250L in 2019, lovely little bike. It's like a powered bicycle.
I enjoy pottering around the little lanes enjoying the countryside.

Did an off-road course somewhere else and they used CRF250L's and they did 60mph on the road easily, so I said to myself if I was going to get back into biking (CBR600 gathered dust after daughter was born!) I would get one of those.
Been using it more recently for the ~12mile work commute.

Only downside with a narrow bike is people think your a 125 learner and try and overtake in 20/30 zones.

[Bob_Defly]

Alex9 said:

Bob_Defly said:

I'm amazed they would start people on Africa Twins. If I was there I'd pick the smallest bike they had, preferably a CRF300L, it would be way more fun.

I don't think the aim is purely to teach people off-road riding (they have the off-road school for that, with CRF125, 250 and 300L), this is more aimed at adventure bike owners who want to see what their bike can do.

I was going with the: "We're both complete novices at off road riding"

You build way more confidence off-road by starting with something you can dominate, rather than the other way around. I'm just recommending starting with the smallest bike they offer, be it CRF300L or Transalp, over an AT.