africa twin

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Anyone ridden the crf1000L? They seem to be saying in this month's Bike that it's comfier i.e. plusher, and pretty much better, than the GS.

There were two recalls - for rusting mild steel spokes and for chocolate side stand (probably not tested by honda as riders mounting the bike from the N/S peg, w/ full panniers and top case). Also, apparently, three crucial frame welds at the front somewhere - although these were more contentious and might have been hushed up.

DCT is 10kg (?) heavier and doesn't really make sense to me. I'd guess it was primarily for US market where many states have crisp-packet and cornflake box licensing laws. Honda thinks hey, if we can convince people this mahoosive bike is really a scooter - look! no weird clutch w/ left hand and gear box with left foot shenanigans - we can sell boatloads in Buttfuck Tennessee etc. etc.

They strike me as tall, heavy, and pricey. But then there's Guy Martin breezing one around Cadwell in 1:50-ish, so then you foolishly think hmm. Maybe that 21" front isn't such an impediment to progress after all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSBR5DrYdMw

I see a fair few out on the road, and I suppose I'm guessing that in a couple of years there'll be "low" milers for £6k - okay 7.

Then I see v-strom thous for 8 grand new.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[wr6133]

Friend has one (DCT) amongst his collection. He doesn't keep things in his collection unless he really likes them and he's had this since about a year after they launched. He's ridden it all over including the far end of Scotland and back. Not a bad word to say about it.

I've not ridden his, only had a chance to sit on it in the carpark at Haynes and paddle it about a bit. It "felt" alot lighter than the a GS and like a premium product. If I was after that type of bike it would be my choice (not DCT though).

DCT I've tried in an early incarnation on an NC. Didn't like it, ignoring the fact the bike was a steaming heap of shit, the DCT felt like an auto box stuck in economy mode, even when you overode it to tell it what gear, if it thought you were being a hooligan it would upshift itself. Could see why it would be great on a bike used purely for A-B commuting but otherwise it really stripped any fun from riding. That said my mate reckons on the AT it has been hugely improved.

I see them on occasion when I'm out on the Plain, it's one of the few big ADV's I've seen in the actual mud on shit days. The Beemers and KTM's you never see on anything but the metalled bits in the dry.

[MCN]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

One other thing - the more recent Crf1000s have tubeless rims w/ spokes on wheel's outer edge iirc; earlier bikes have tubes. Don't try the tubeless conversion bodge - it's had quite mixed feedback.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[PotatoHead202...]

Am I right in thinking they share the same painfully stupid fixed subframe design akin to the Tiger 800 and a few others? As in if you drop it and it damages something like the rear hanger it can bend the frame as the subframe isn't a separate piece to the main one?
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Suzuki V Strom 1050XT, Honda CBF500 ABS,

[Kentol750]

It's tall, and not a gs. Dct version isn't any good when you really want to shift down, and not a ktm 1290. Costs a lot compared to more powerful road biased rivals, it's not a v strom 1050. The lower priced lighter bikes out there are better off road, it's not a ktm 790/890. It doesn't have a triumph badge, it's not as good as the 800 tiger or explorer. The 900 tiger is one I haven't ridden and I'm not sold on the white frame.
Kudos to the attempt, but, it's a Honda and they sell. Old Africa twin was better on mild green lanes.
A fully loaded gs adv and crf are too expensive to consider for serious off roading if you have no spares budget. Husky 701lr and a tracer 7 new aren't far off the money, (or a gsxs1000 and an older single for laning would probably cost less!)
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Some bikes.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Kris]

I posted my thoughts when I had a loaner in 2017 here:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=4453183#4453183

HTH
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Kris]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

that alone is enough to put me off

i love being able to slither up and down queues
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Kentol750]

The tiger just felt better all round. On the road, the xrt was much better than the AT and although ive never taken an AT off road, the xcx i had was fine on green lanes. For the money I think it's not quite good enough.
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Some bikes.

[c_dug]

A guy at work has a 19 or 20 plate with DCT and uses it for all sorts, including London filtering and touring with pillion.

He loves the DCT and says the latest version on the Africa Twin is a very different kettle of fish to the earlier versions (i.e. VFR12) and more budget focused bikes (NC750). It still has a foot controlled shift lever.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Jim Mc]

I had a go on one a few years ago, loved it. It was very comfy and i would have one in a heartbeat. Can understand the side stands failing as these bikes are extremely heavy. Thats the worst thing about them really, they're very tall and you really feel the lean weight so maybe less flicable? Didnt try it in heavy traffic.

I just remembered I wrote about the experience here, although it's mostly bollocks you might be interested in my comments about the neck jarring DCT:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=4498175&highlight=#4498175

[xX-Alex-Xx]

I had a VFR1200 with DCT for a bit. Really liked it. Was great to not have to back off the throttle to upshift, and it was silky smooth.
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DILLIGAF

[struan80]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

That reminds me - the difference in weight between the AT w/ DCT and without is 250kg vs 237.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[xX-Alex-Xx]