New African Twin Maybe 1200cc

[Paul_E_D]

No doubt. The 690 exhaust is gross. It'd probably look better with pants stains all over it.
Blech.

You're talkin beaker though, right? SMC looked more like a normal dirtbike.

[Chippertheripper]

You're talkin beaker though, right? SMC looked more like a normal dirtbike.

Like oxx's? That whole bike is gross. 690enduro...e, r, whatever they call it.
A beautiful machine otherwise...but the stock exhaust is ugly.
I haven't looked if any of the full systems out there are better looking or not.

[nhbubba]

Not sure what the hell you guys are talking about anymore.

[Chippertheripper]

Don't get me wrong, I love Oxx, and busting his nuts, but that bike is not for me.

[Paul_E_D]

The 690 smc and 701 look nothing like that though.

[markbvt]

Hmm...

--mark

[Garandman]

Honda Africa Twin Rally Price Announced

It's not just the power and the weight. The Rally version of the new Africa Twin comes with many high-spec elements that transform Honda's maxi-enduro to a pure-breed dirt racer. Honda Africa Twin Rally Differences to the standard model:
- rally fairings
- LED rally-replica lights
- rally-style aluminum nav holder
- off-road seat
- tougher rally raid aluminum rims
- rally suspensions
- anodised fork
- rally fork internals
- braided steel brake lines
- silicone rubber cooling lines
- carbon fiber engine guards
- other carbon fibre elements
- radiator cover
- rally tires
- rally footpegs
- electronic rewritable ECU - the ECU can be configured via smartphone App - UMAP
- Termignoni Titanium exhaust

[Chippertheripper]

I'm sure if I went sniffing around adv I could find out, but what's the ballpark on a stock AT with seat, suspension, and wheels vs this?
I could give a nasty about the rally dash, but the mentioned upgrades (and maybe the can) seem like standard upgrades to me.

[Paul_E_D]

I prefer the low front fender. Suspension work seems like something you might do anyway. How are the NESRians with ATs enjoying them at this point? Or no news since it's been winter and all?

[nhbubba]

I dig the fender.

Mark is the only one I know who actually followed through and bought one. Last review I heard was he liked his tiger better. Sounded like he regretted buying the Honda.

[Chippertheripper]

A kid I know bought one, and has been shredding it, but I don't know how well he likes it or not.

[Paul_E_D]

I think the ADV craze may die back a bit. People are realizing that without a career in enduro racing, these things aren't really fun to dirt ride. I Guatemala last month I rode 7 days on a few different bikes over incredibly rough roads. The spectrum from GS800 to CRF250X. The shocking conclusion that I came to was that teh best true ADV bikes for rough roads, single track, and some pavement are 250cc dualsports. (Don't sell the KLX yet Bubba! We had Honda Tornados which are based off of the xr250 platform! ancient and anemic, we all agreed that covering big days off pavement was easiest and least fatiguing on these little turds.

The MX bikes are too tall, too harsh, and just don't like to cover big miles. (wheelies do break things up though). My ass was literally swollen after a 150 mile punishing day.

The ADV bike is just too tall and heavy. It does float over moderate terrain well making you think this is the ticket, but when things get rough, the white knuckle time adds up fast and you end exhausted.

The whole time you are on the ancient tech dualsport, you are hating the way the front tire is glues to the earth, but at the end of the day you aren't as smoked, white knuckle time is very low, and your ass is more or less the same size as when you started.

Just my observation from a grueling week off grid.

[SprintPoser]

Nice summarization Paul.

I ride a Tiger 800 and to me it's a road bike that I could take down a smooth VT dirt road. If it's ever seen off-road, call emergency services because something's gone awry.

I bought it as a suitable platform to sit upright, carry a boatload of crap when I need to, start and run reliably and smoothly in almost any weather. It does that just fine. I didn't need GP brakes, high end suspension or gobs of power. Even a sport tourer didn't check the right boxes for me anymore, so this genre of bike did and still does for what I want. Others want other features and there's plenty other options to suit every rider.

[loudbeard]

I think the ADV craze may die back a bit.

I certainly hope so. I've always viewed the ADV class in the same way I view a great deal of my co-workers; they spend a great deal of time and resources creating solutions for things which aren't problems to begin with.

I'll admit sometimes when a cool new one comes out I think it's neat and shiny...then it always fails when I try and think about what I'd actually do with it. Most people I know (myself included) aren't a good enough dirt pilot to know what to do with 240 pounds and 35 horsepower of a proper dirt bike...yet the same crowd thinks they're going to run 500+ pounds and 150 horse through the Dakar Rally. Give me a break.

[GearHd6]

I've been riding an adventure bike now since 2011 and still to this day I wouldn't change that platform for anything. I plan rides consisting of mostly dirt roads, if I find trails off them and have time in the schedule, I take them. I've been through stuff with my XCx that I'd love to see someone do with a sport touring bike. Yes, I've had to turn around when it becomes dirt bike territory but I've gotten a lot further down them (and had tons of fun doing it) than someone that glances down it on his, say.., R1200RT and shakes his head and says "no way" and rides off. I agree, they're not used to their potential by most but they do offer mileage eating comfort and a nice comfortable riding position that can haul tons of gear.

And I believe that new African Twin retails for over $22,000. They can keep it.

[ducatirdr]

I had a 2012 Triumph 800 XC. I rode the thing like it was my KTM 350EXC. Berkshire Big Bike ADV ride its second year was a blast till I had a guy in front of me going up a trail that was sort of pussy footing it on a KLR. I tried to pass him but he was filling the trial and making himself a mile wide. With slipping the clutch I crawled up the trail and then let the clutch out and gassed it to pass him. The rear tire slipped and the bike didn't move. I gave it more gas and looked down to what was going on. No wheel slip it was the clutch smoking. #$@%#@$! I was stuck in the middle of a hero section with a molten clutch melt down to go along with my mood.

I was able to nurse it up the trial a bit more. I adjusted the clutch to get a little more grip before it slipped but I couldn't ride it out of the hero section. I let the bike cool down and just then a town cops showed up in a Humvee. I joked, "you don't have one of those pick-up truck versions?" Turns out the fire dept did and they brought it down and gave me a ride back to camp. I loaded up and brought the bike home and to the shop. The whole clutch was fried. Anything clutch was needing replacement. It was over $700 in parts. I later found out it is the same clutch as the 675 Street Triple. Talk about under sized for any off road. So a long story on how these bikes are really meant for Starbucks runs. Much like an SUV.

[Chippertheripper]

I'll just leave this here then...

[Paul_E_D]

What was your point?

[ducatirdr]

This is the video that sold me on the Triumph.

[Chippertheripper]

Your butthole is swollen?

I guess my actual point would be: all of us have very different happy mediums.

[Paul_E_D]

Your butthole is swollen?

Was...yes.

[Chippertheripper]

Gimme the raw for a sec though: you don't have access to a fleet of varying bikes in Guatemala, you have one bike (any bike) to do the same trip with. What is it?

[loudbeard]

BUT WHAT ABOUT HILLARY'S EMAILS?!?

[Paul_E_D]

We met and chatted with a lot of long distance ADV guys on our trip. Several riding from B.C to Chile. We all agreed that the real ADV bike does not yet exist. Requirements would seem to be: sub 300 pounds, good power, field serviceable, big tanks, seat that does allow 2 up riding (cause on a trip like that you will be picking up someone, somewhere), and able to tackle tough terrain without exhausting you in 10 miles.

Consensus seemed to fall on the 690 enduro as the closest thing in current models. It lacks the seat for any real 2 up time though. But with 50/50 tires and a fuel cell, it could do some serious trekking. Serviceability is a concern.

[Paul_E_D]

I already answered that. The mighty Tornado.

Edit: Ok, ANY bike, I think it would be a hopped up KLR 350.

Gimme the raw for a sec though: you don't have access to a fleet of varying bikes in Guatemala, you have one bike (any bike) to do the same trip with. What is it?