Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports On and Off Road Test and Review 19 Inch Front Wheel

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Correction, Honda backtracked and brought back the manual Adventure Sports in Canada and the US. Thanks to the commenters who pointed that out.

[@lbmax1]

@DifferentSpokesTV - Does this change your mind regarding preferring the base model to the Adventure Sports? I have a 300L Rally that love, which I'm keeping, but I often find it underpowered and buzzy when I have to put in a little pavement time. I'm on the fence between the AT base and AS. Found the AS to be more comfortable with the nicer seat, heated grips, etc. and I'm intrigued by the electronic suspension. The main thing I didn't like about the AS is the noticeably heavier front/top. I have a little concern about the smaller front wheel and less ground clearance, but I wouldn't ride this bike that aggressively off-road. I do intend to complete BDRs on it though. Any thoughts/perspective for me?

[@TheMrB]

Ive had one for months the DCT is AMAZING. I thought I would hate it, but its great. Its a gentle giant this bike, do not be afraid of its size

[@russellbreyley6387]

I own a 2018 Africa twin DCT sports model. Yes all the changes they made to the 2024 model are the things that I don't like about my 2018. So yes they did improve this model 👍

[@trekkydelirium-vroom5821]

In Canada, in USA, in England… the 2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES is still available in manual; not only in DCT! Me & my friend, we own & love our Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES 2024 Manual! Best regards from Montreal! There is countries, like France, for example, where the 2024 Adventure Sports is only available in DCT… not here! We’re lucky!

[@Motor_m10]

You know DTC is so called G4Y transmission ;)

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Yep, I guess Honda thinks Americans and Canadians like that easy life.

[@coolhandchunk]

I got my '24 ATAS Manual back in mid-May - and it truly is an absolutely fantastic bike. Only complaint is the seat for rides greater than 200km... looking at options now. She is a pavement queen, but that is what I bought it for... 100hp is plenty. 19" front wheel holds a line like a sport-touring bike. Brakes are fantastic. You quickly get used to the dash, features and buttons - they become intuitive after 500kms or so. Cruise control is great. Heated grips are hot. Windshield does a reasonable job. Gas mileage/range gets better as the bike breaks in (after 1200-1500kms).

[@terrellgarren7125]

The seat on my V-STROM 1050XT was not very good for 400+ mile days. Added a Windrider seat cover for $65. Very comfortable from North Carolina to Alaska and back, 10K miles in 25 days. Well spent $65.

[@coolhandchunk]

​@terrellgarren7125 good to know... will look that one up for sure

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Yep, the manuals are still sold, just not in my market.

[@coolhandchunk]

@DifferentSpokesTV they are. I am in Ontario as well... got mine in May from West City Powersports in Belleville.

[@user-ok5jv7ew5k]

Another good review with great insights! It reconfirmed my decision to go with the Yamaha Super T over the AT. (Which your channel influenced as noted previously) For my purposes, It’s better 2-up, touring on asphalt and no faffing about with a chain. Cheers!

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

I think I’ll do a comparison next.

[@gryphongryph]

The Super Tenere still looks good today, but I so wish that Yamaha would update it for next year, doesn’t need to be big updates, just a bit more power and a little less weight.

[@got_to_roll]

I'd replace my 2015 SuperTenere ES wIth a new one if they'd update electronics, like the Tracer9GT+.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

I think it might be time for the big Japanese ADV tourer comparison.

[@got_to_roll]

​@@DifferentSpokesTVI sure like my Yamaha, but again, it's long overdue for updates to TCS, abs, cc, etc.

[@vincenttarquini4235]

Yamaha has discontinued making the Super Tenere'.

[@got_to_roll]

Still available new where I live. ​@@vincenttarquini4235

[@jamesmuller4232]

Thanks for the review. Does the windscreen work effectively?

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

At 6 feet tall in the higher position it worked great for me. It’s better with the seat in the lower position.

[@johninflamez]

Thank you for the review! Booked my 2024 ATAS ES DCT at the Motorcycle Show Toronto in Feb 2024. Dealer initially said delivery will be in April then shifted to July. Today (July 12th) they are saying that delivery will be in Sep and it will be a 2025 model. Apparently Honda Canada did not send a 2024 ATAS DCT for Canada at al! Can I believe this?I have been waiting whole 2024 Spring & Summer for this bike and now the expected delivery is in Fall and even that is unsure.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

I was in the same boat with my T7. Got it at the end of the summer.

[@turtle19dad]

DCT same controls as Rebel 1100T DCT. Love it. And Yes, I want the ATAS . Only debate is manual or DCT….🤔

[@posteroonie]

Nice review, nice bike, thanks. You're right about shaft drive IMHO. It's totally worth the extra price and weight to not deal with chain maintenance. And for road use a belt might be the best of both worlds. Come on Honda and Yamaha, give us some middleweight shafties like you did in the 1980's, or suck it up and give Gates some money for belt drive systems.

[@Sasquatch_by_Day]

You're not wrong about belt drive. I have a 2003 HD Night Train with 75,000 miles and it still has the original belt.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

I think belts are a no no off road in case rocks get under the belt. Shaft is great though. The Super Tenere is the only Japanese choice there but I’d go for the Tiger 1200.

[@Sasquatch_by_Day]

@@DifferentSpokesTV Absolutely belts wouldn't work off road, I think the point "@posteroonie" was hinting at was the '24 ATAS is more of a pavement touring machine (it certainly is for me) so a belt would work. My preference would be shaft drive.

[@marcinkrakus]

I mostly use M mode, because it gives me 100% control on shifting, with D, even S sometimes it shifts tricky, for example on roundabout sometimes it shifts down to 1st gear, with M, it never does, maybe in one condition - the speed is almost to stall the engine

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Yeah, I’m sure that it gets intuitive after a few days of using it. I just got lazy and used S and D.

[@UncleWally3]

A DCT Africa Twin requires skillfully applying the rear brake to enhance its parking lot manners. It’s fun once the skill is mastered, not so fun mastering the skill.

[@MarvFitBikesKicks]

Looking at this and the tracer 9 gt+.

[@gordonwallin2368]

(Family doing well?) Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

We’re having a great summer at the cabin. No air conditioning and we have a heat wave right now, but we’ll survive.

[@Sasquatch_by_Day]

I got my '24 ATAS manual about a month ago, it is a far superior bike to the 2019 Africa Twin I test rode in '19. I did not like the handling of that bike at all with the 21" front and the power of the '24 model has a noticeable bump compared to the '19. My only gripes with the '24 ATAS is there isn't enough room between the exhaust and my boot when riding on the balls of my feet, the brakes are a bit soft compared to the '21 Pan America I traded for it, and the windshield is bit short for me at 6'2". In regards to the power, up to 100mph it wasn't much different compared to the 150hp Pan America or the 160hp KTM 1290 Super Adventure Sports I had for a multi-day test ride. Right now I'm averaging 45mpg (5.2l/100km) but I haven't finished the break-in period yet so that may get better.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Yes, the 21 inch front wheel ATs were okay but not great in the pavement handling dept. I also noticed the issue with my heel on the exhaust.

[@Ozzy62863]

Debating on this or the 24 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Have not rode this Honda yet though. Thoughts?

[@orientationandmobilitywith5902]

Excellent video! 😊

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Thank you! 😃

[@IRLtrolls]

I don’t understand the 19 front wheel with a chain drive. Feels completely pointless to sacrifice off-road ability but keep the chain drive. Just get a GS or Super Ten if you want a 17/19 wheel

[@Sasquatch_by_Day]

For some of us that isn't an option. Where I live my choices are Honda, KTM/Husqvarna, or Harley-Davidson.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

I'm a Suzuki fan, I might be taking the V-Strom 1050 before this AT, if we're working with 19" front wheel options.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

I think the Suzuki also has a 21 version.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@DifferentSpokesTV Yes, that's a recent development for the V-Strom series.

[@pigmeal2224]

​Bought 800DE in December. Australia. Zero regrets ... ❤

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@pigmeal2224 One option I wish Suzuki would have trickled down from the 1050: cruise control.

[@pigmeal2224]

@exothermal.sprocket and tubeless ... but hey - I'm oldschool!!🤭🤭

[@igneous85]

19" front will definitely handle potholes better than a 17"

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

It’s a good road/off road compromise.

[@igneous85]

@@DifferentSpokesTV it's a good on road size for most real world roads. Especially in Canada.

[@davidmallia628]

When it comes to the Africa Twin, the looks, and reputation for reliability gives it credit. Otherwise, for me, the BMW R1200/1250/1300 GS are the best overall adventure bike. BMW caters for all inseams, comfort levels, safety, with intuitive controls. For a basic, reliable adventure travel bike, I would go for the Tenere 700, the Explore version for shorter riders, even though it is a bit top heavy. Even a Multistrada V2 could fit the bill as something in between, or a Suzuki 800DE v-strom, or Honda Transalp 750. The Africa twin, as good as it is, I find a bit of an outlier, in the options out there.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

I like the standard model best but I don’t really motorcycle tour.

[@davidmallia628]

@@DifferentSpokesTV Yes, the standard version makes more sense.

[@coolhandchunk]

@DifferentSpokesTV you mentioned that the ATAS only came with DCT on your last AT video as well... this is not true. Manual and DCT available for both trims (base and AS) for most markets. The pre-release rumors of DCT only are not true....

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Sorry, I cater primarily to the North American markets. I know that overseas from us the manual is still sold.

[@7erdogdu]

00:30 We have the same sandals .

[@wrenchmonkey3920]

same mirrors as on the rally?

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

They looked a bit different but to be honest I don’t exactly remember.

[@MarvFitBikesKicks]

If I want to learn about a bike, I come here

[@twmclean1]

Wonder if Honda will introduce the NT 1100 to North America?

[@coolhandchunk]

I was hoping so too... but, to be honest, the '24 AS now does everything I wanted from the NT... except maybe the seat comfort.

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

It seems the new ATAS is very close to the NT1100. Wonder if there’s any point now.

[@twmclean1]

@@DifferentSpokesTV I was thinking the same other than a 17" front wheel.

[@Roo0ooD]

i spent 20k on a dr650 sold it for 8k around 2012 bags and all bbq rack

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

That DR better have Dakar winning performance for 20k.

[@ahsansaeed9103]

Why not hard-core off-road? Isnt it built for this purpose?

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Not really. The standard Africa Twin is better there but no bike over 400lbs is really suited for serious off roading.

[@timwhalen4691]

Tube or tubless wheels?

[@coolhandchunk]

tubeless on both the base and AS models

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Tubeless.

[@jonr3891]

Just give me a CRF300l Rally and I'll be perfectly happy ; )

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

It’s way better off road.

[@robertlindstrom540]

Almost everybody can ride a fast bike slow. But not even more experienced riders and that includes you and me can ride these litre bikes to their limits. So personally these, for me, are not that interesting. I want to enjoy my ride, and occasionally in good and safe conditions test my skills that 50 years of riding have honed. For me the 700-800cc bikes are the top of the mountain. Maybe if I ride fifty more years I´d qualify for a litre bike?

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

The Transalp is not too far behind the ATAS in performance and it remarkably sporty on the road.

[@patrickkennedy7756]

I would NEVER buy an automatic motorcycle. Thats the whole point of riding one.

[@luiscardozo0000]

not even close 21 is a lot better

[@jamesonpace726]

I'm torn, 100hp, DCT & low seat are fine, but it's the ugliest UJM ever & now we need to worry about losing our clutches, like cars....

[@blueheelerfriend8450]

100% not for me either. 😊

[@DifferentSpokesTV]

Looks are so subjective. I think it’s head and shoulders above every other big ADV. The new BMW GSA is atrocious looking.

[@ahsansaeed9103]

Same for me. The looks are bit different. The new BMW 1300 is amazing looking but too expensive....

[@gigi9467]

There is no doubt in my mind thay now days ppl are more posers than rider. These look offroad but they dont use them that way hell they dont even ride the , any real rider knows that if u want to tour these bikes are no it unless u want to look offroad, a rt1300, or any other sport tourer would do a much better job, hell even a cruiser, cant wait till this off road fad goes away

[@Romenet310]

This bike is not good looking.

[@KennethJoines-th4jk]

Neither was my ex girlfriend

[@allenantonio4389]