New African Twin Maybe 1200cc

[Chippertheripper]

One thing you should definitely not do is be sorry.

[feralchimp]

Africa Twin or keep my lousy little V-Strom for eternity!

Hahahahah...I've mostly decided to get myself a bike for my 40th birthday. A DL650 is clearly, CLEARLY the most versatile complement to my little CRF250L. But man, it makes me sad that I might reasonableness my way out of spending a little too much and getting an AT.

ETA: ...and dammit, I want the RWB tri-color.

[e30addict]

^ from what I hear the AT might be more $$ but it'seems a better value all around for the $ compared to the Strom.

[markbvt]

^ from what I hear the AT might be more $$ but it'seems a better value all around for the $ compared to the Strom.

100%. Without question.

--mark

[nhbubba]

100%. Without question.

Hey now. Remember that you can get a lightly used gen-2 DL650 for about $6500 now. I saw brand new leftovers advertised that low earlier this spring. That's HALF the current going rate of this nifty new thing. That is.. significant. Room to rework the entire suspension, buy an aftermarket seat, swap the tires for something knarly, add luggage, a top-shelf GPS, change the screen and still have enough left over to add a nice KDX220 woods toy to keep it company in the garage.

Better. Sure, it better be!
Better value.. meh, not sold.

[Kurlon]

Hey now. Remember that you can get a lightly used gen-2 DL650 for about $6500 now.

That's getting dangerously close to new YZ450FX territory...

[nhbubba]

2-3 year old used Tiger 800 money too. Well, close anyway.

[markbvt]

Hey now. Remember that you can get a lightly used gen-2 DL650 for about $6500 now. I saw brand new leftovers advertised that low earlier this spring. That's HALF the current going rate of this nifty new thing. That is.. significant. Room to rework the entire suspension, buy an aftermarket seat, swap the tires for something knarly, add luggage, a top-shelf GPS, change the screen and still have enough left over to add a nice KDX220 woods toy to keep it company in the garage.

Better. Sure, it better be!
Better value.. meh, not sold.

But at the end of all that, it's still a DL650. :-P

I know you love yours, but remember that I owned one too, and put 40,000 miles on it. Now my dad has it, and I've ridden it a number of times in the meantime. I firmly believe that the AT (or the Tiger 800 XC) is worth every extra penny.

--mark

[nhbubba]

Fine then. Triumph Tiger 800 XC Tiger 800XC - $7000.
I was going to post a more local ad. But then I realized it was "just" a roadie (not an XC).. and then I realized it was Marks!

[e30addict]

Fine then. Triumph Tiger 800 XC Tiger 800XC - $7000.
I was going to post a more local ad. But then I realized it was "just" a roadie (not an XC).. and then I realized it was Marks!

That XC posted is a good deal for someone. I would have happily bought that, and then kittted it out to travel on for that money, if it had ABS.

The black bike went to Nikon, so not mine anymore

[markbvt]

Fine then. Triumph Tiger 800 XC Tiger 800XC - $7000.

That is a great deal.

For what it's worth, my argument was only in relation to new bikes. Obviously buying used can get you a fantastic bike for a much better price.

--mark

[reks95]

Is it illogical to keep looking at bikes that aren't out yet?
KTM is making a parallel twin.
There's a chance in hell that we might see a Nuda 901R in a couple years.

[zombie]

Hey Mark
what are your impressions of the Africa Twin?
thx

[SteveM]

I saw both an AT in red/black/white and a VFR1200X yesterday. Both have me thinking about making a change, but at this point I'm leaning toward the 1200X

[nhbubba]

The 1200x is pretty damned nice from all I can tell. Right choice for the 80-90% road crowd. Although I question their use of tubeless spokes on that bike. No need and a bit too 1200gs wannabe.

[nhbubba]

Hey. From those riding these. Any feedback on real life mpgs/fuel range?!? 250 miles? Better?

[SteveM]

From Fuelly:

VFR1200X 38mpg * 5.7gal = 216 miles
AT 49mpg * 4.96gal = 243 miles

[SteveM]

I would have preferred the Crossrunner Crossrunner - Athletic & Tough | Adventure Motorcycle | Honda UK.

[nt650hawk]

crossrunner = 53.1mpg (WMTC)


at 533 LBS.



MMmmmmmmm


i may have to check out the 1200X

[markbvt]

Hey Mark
what are your impressions of the Africa Twin?
thx

I've been working on a post about the Africa Twin from a Tiger 800 XC perspective (sort of a semi-comparo) that will be going up in the Tiger subforum on ADVrider; I'll post a link here once it's up.

--mark

[SteveM]

The vfr1200x was on the lot at Bettencourt's

[markbvt]

I've been working on a post about the Africa Twin from a Tiger 800 XC perspective (sort of a semi-comparo) that will be going up in the Tiger subforum on ADVrider; I'll post a link here once it's up.

And here it is:
2011 Tiger 800 XC vs 2016 Honda Africa Twin | Adventure Rider

--mark

[SteveM]

Mark,

Great write up, thanks. Preference like this is inherently subjective, but you did a thorough job looking at the key differences between the bikes. One thing that surmised me was the MPG. I would have expected the AT to consistently be in the jig 40's or better.

[nhbubba]

Most disappointing thing I've read so far. This is a farkin' thousand and it seems obvious they detuned it, leaving power on the table. Should at least get some killer range in exchange.

Maybe it will improve as the engine finishes breaking in?!

[Chippertheripper]

He didn't really define freeway speed. It could be pretty high.