Charley Boorman - Honda Africa Twin 1100 Off road

Hey there,
We put the Honda Africa Twin 1100 through it's paces off-road.
I had a great time riding this bike.
Let us know what you think and subscribe.
Cheers,
Charley
www.charleyboorman.com
Facebook - @HondaMotoUK
Facebook off road - @HondaMotoUKOffRoad
Twitter - @HondaUKBikes
Instagram - hondaukmotorcycles

[@_Corsa]

Where's Claudio? I do miss his humbleness, fantastic guy.

[@srhintz]

I just love the way Charley speaks. The accent and elegance. I get the feeling he would be just great to hang around or adventure with.

[@IslandADV]

Looks like a blast! Extra props for putting it through its paces in the rain as well.

[@maximusmiles8435]

I was just thinking the same. I guess if you wait for better weather in the U.K. You'll probably just not do it.

[@reinmansmith]

Most riders, I agree with Charlie, will probably turn away from Honda’s DCT gearbox as not ‘real motorcycling’, but having tried one I also agree with Charlie, they’re brilliant and just leave you free to focus on your ride. Having had a good 45 min ‘fast paced’ test ride with a DCT bike I couldn’t believe how it always had me in the right gear at the right time… I’m sure that off road it must make life so much easier 👍

[@offroadagain]

This looks like great fun. I agree that the DCT enables you to focus on your riding without having to worry about clutch and gears. I love my DCT.

[@luuk341]

I love mine too! DCT is where its at for me

[@garthlundquist3623]

A little honesty about the DCT transmission in off road riding would be helpful for those trying to choose which transmission is right for you. The DCT is remarkable, but know that the skilled rider gives up a measure of control in technical situations. That transmission adds considerable cost and weight, and is particularly vulnerable to ride ending damage in event of a tip over. The DCT unit sticks out further than the standard shift box, and the side covers are very thin and puncture easily. Novices without real clutch skills will probably find it easier. In road riding scenarios the DCT shines, especially when riding with a passenger.

[@offroadagain]

@@garthlundquist3623 Sure, the clutch control is a fair point. Experienced DCT riders compensate for that with a combination of throttle and rear brake. I cannot judge if that provides the same level of control as I am an intermediate rider. For me the DCT is perfect. I can focus on my line and do not have to worry about stalling or shifting gears. The right crash guards should protect either option of transmission.

[@terrystratford1235]

@@offroadagain I found the clutch a bit sharp and easy to stall! Dct with rear brake is easy for low speed stuff!

[@robertcoulter7592]

Great Charley! Good to see you here mate. The narration really brings the footage alive. All the best mate x

[@vickyosbourne1376]

‘All comes down to what you like the look of’. For a lot of us, I think you’re spot on considering where we truly ride.

[@motorcyclin]

And for a few of us what we can afford. I love a bike i can afford. 😀

[@drzrider3440]

Charley has some skills...i saw many times that bike sideways and just throttled out. Big fan and the Charley Man.

[@amigojefe7708]

Very glad to have stumbled across CB's channel - has a level of realism that others strive for and that's wildly refreshing.

[@Charley.Boorman]

That’s very kind, hopefully keep watching.

[@Me7roiD]

Charley + the new Africa = quite a bit of a love story brewing there, it would seem! Rightly so, it does sound like a right swipe all the way ;)

[@deadagainjeff]

Dave Thorpe triple 500cc motocross world champion. Let’s skip over that. This guy is a legend of British and world off roading.

[@JayKay730i]

Yep. I was here last year and the guy is awesome. Can’t believe they didn’t introduce him.

[@88davidw]

Excellent video. Looks like a fun bike. Nice to see you have a KZbin channel 👍🏼

[@billmcmeekin7909]

You need to try an electronic suspension model Charlie, if you haven't. It's the bomb! Dampening is amazing for offroad highway, urban, with panniers or pillion, all done at a flick of a switch. I won't have another AT without it. I'm a gear head, have muscle cars and numerous dirt bikes, mountain sleds ect. But on this bike, riding throughout BC mountain roads, highways, cities, and big miles, I and my Baja race buds prefer DCT. It's rewarding in more ways than you could imagine. Cheers from Canada.

[@dankorolyk5917]

Great bike review in real world conditions!

[@ebiebrahimi7472]

Lovely bike

[@Waranus36]

Hello Charley! Good to see you!

[@simonthomas5367]

Charley is such a gentleman! Love my 2018 ATAS. I'm booked on a 2 day off-road course this weekend. Can't wait!

[@NorCalSaint]

Had the same bike but sold it about 6mo ago. Only real complaint was the wind buffeting, just wanted something a little more sporty. Ended up buying a 2020 Multistrada 1260 Enduro

[@simonthomas5367]

​@@NorCalSaint Nice bike. I've upgraded the ATAS for off-road. Better tyres, protection etc. I'm pretty keen to see how well she does tomorrow. And there'll be lots of BMW GS so the comparison will be interesting. Did you hit the trails with your Ducati?

[@NorCalSaint]

@@simonthomas5367 - Only was able to ride her once before we got hit with snow here in Wisconsin but I never took the ATAS on anything more than a dirt/gravel road. That was another reason why I sold her, I really didn't need the 21" front. I have smaller trail bikes that I ride up North when I want to hit the dirt. Loved the range of the ATAS so that is why I went with the Enduro model of the Multistrada, wanted to stay around that 300mi mark.

[@JayKay730i]

How did you do? I did the two day course here last year and absolutely loved it!

[@ruhardtcloete2991]

Hey there Charley, love you videos and love seeing you on long way up! After doing the South American trip on electric motorcycles it’d be rather interesting to see you review some of the new ones. The Zero DSR/X in particular. Would love to see your thoughts on the motorcycle as it’s a large step in the future for electric motorcycles.

[@damiansmigielski]

Good choice Charley 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@oliverlawson6269]

Love the videos Charley. Would love to see you review the KTM 890 Adventure and the R Models in comparison to those you have reviewed so far.

[@CaptLawrence]

fantastic really impressed by your skills in the wet and mud. I have been a fair weather rider most of my life and its not as easy as you make it look

[@Charley.Boorman]

It’s just a practice. Anyone can do it.

[@CaptLawrence]

@@Charley.Boorman right on man even if your humble your still an inspiration to me

[@maximusmiles8435]

Looking forward to the growth of this channel. Maybe go on your own long way somewhere.

[@lukeprice7820]

how can you not introduce Dave Thorpe?!?! The guy is a legend.

[@mikerowe-roberts9336]

That’s Dave Thorpe???!!! Daaaammmnn. Should have let him narrate!!! A hero

[@JayKay730i]

I was thinking the same, can’t believe he wasn’t introduced. I was at this place last year for two days and it was the best experience I’ve ever had on a bike. I will be going back again at some stage for sure. I used a manual bike and have a ATAS manual at home.

[@phillipdaulton9861]

That’s some beautiful backcountry to ride!

[@islamialo]

From Bangladesh 🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@mototechsam3051]

The (P) is for power lever increase or decrease . (W) is wheelie controll

[@frankmorris2603]

When it comes to pure bike nouse, give me Charlie over Ewen any day. 👍

[@roadwarrior8560]

Jes Charlie I thought you were dead😄 subbed,

[@PissTakeProduction]

Will you test the Suzuki VStrom 1050XT or 1050DE?

[@taz473]

A review on the suzuki 1050 de would be great

[@Skiamakhos]

Did you get to grips with the manual mode on the DCT? A lot of people seem to like that for off road better than the drive or sport auto modes - I know Vanessa Ruck ended up doing that on her Iceland trip. I rode all day in D mode myself - didn't feel the need for anything different though there were a few moments where it felt a bit luggy.

[@AndrewAtkinson1]

Oh, D mode is horrible in my experience. I've had the 2020 AT DCT for a few years and it's S2 for me every day. I think perhaps D mode set as default lets Honda claim better mileage, and it may be useful when doing long trips where you need to just put down km and aren't interested in playing around. But for playing, it's S2 all day.

[@terrystratford1235]

I notice their line up was the base model,not the adventure sport! Interesting!

[@chewie8]

Triumph Tiger for me but the Honda was a close second.

[@lifesjourneyat50]

The suspension is extremely poor compared to all others in the class - great video but the bike is way behind others in this arena...IMO - keep them coming Charlie!!!

[@josephSF]

I have a 2017 AT DCT and a 2021 AT AS ES. While the 2017 is a touch soft, I have been able to stiffen the suspension and tuned for mainly off-road. The 2021 Adventure Sport has electronic suspension and you can essentially customize the suspension to the riding conditions. In either case I dispute that the suspension is “extremely poor”.

[@ez123ification]

Love watching your adventures. Crack on 😂

[@mikeyoung20074U]

Do you have any future plans for a road trip again Charley and if so , To which part of the world and On which Bike ?

[@Opposable_Thumb]

I’d love to see something like a “Long Way Under” on the Desert X or Pan America.

[@Swaggerlot]

Given the choice, would you have taken this or the BMWs on your previous long rides? Honest answers only please 🙂

[@gooner9798]

Derek...? 😂 Thought that was Dave Thorpe, 3x world motocross champion

[@tazyt3388]

im a honda nut rode the africa twin too big stick to my transalp i think does the same job just a little nit easier

[@highspeedboom]

Next can you do a two stroke dirt track video?, I think you would be surprised how much attention you will get from it.

[@UncleWally3]

Increasingly, isn’t a major indicator of a “good bike” the one that’s easiest to pick up . . . without tears?

[@davidkozlowski6982]

The engine literally pig snorts. Looks like it rides better than a pig for sure

[@axelfiraxa]

Charley, you really should spend some more time scripting a video. Bike world did a piece in this exact same place over a year ago. The filming is top notch but after getting a great vista in the intro we start by staring at the back of your head, you dont introduce where we are or why we are here and make the trainer do that for you. Mind you as with any social interaction you would have had to set the scene first.

[@burtdanams4426]

hilarious to see how charley's personality is still as vindictive and awkwardly rude as it was in Long Way Round. Keep on rockin charley

[@caenmyles]

Not as Bad as The Road of Bones 😏

[@Charley.Boorman]

Haha

[@ronlawson5819]

Just my two cents…..your comment that all the bikes are good …..it comes down to the dealership if they can support you and your machine

[@thevtadventure1062]

Waiting for HD to make a lighter 975 Pan Am.

[@matthew3136]

Next up. ADV750.

[@eomat]

“Nice”...

[@SimonBrisbane]

This marketing really is tarnishing Charlie’s reputation. Bye bye independent, critical thought, hello all-shining PR talk.

[@coolhandchunk]

I dont think so... he isn't really praising the bike and saying it's the best thing...but he is highlighting things that are good about the bike. To be honest, I found this particular video a little like he is trying to promote motorcycling in general without saying Honda is the best...but rather that all bikes today are good (which they are for the most part).

[@Charley.Boorman]

Evening people. I’m actually doing all of this of my own back. Purely because I enjoy riding motorcycles. And looking for a way to ride as many as I can. I’m hopefully just being honest and talking about what I think about them. That’s all.

[@coolhandchunk]

@@Charley.Boorman keep it up! I love the content!

[@zenrising3314]

@@Charley.Boorman It's plainly paid, and the other Africa Twin video is not a "review" in the least it's a 100% advertisement. There is literally a giant Honda logo on the screen. This is called an ADVERTISEMENT. And the way you seem to love to argue with people bringing this up in the comments suggests you probably shouldn't be doing this sort of thing, because it's making the brand look bad. You're coming off as nothing more than a big spoilt rich kid.

[@Charley.Boorman]

I’m so sorry you feel that way. Sending all my regards.

[@trehanero]

Yes to africa No to DCT