Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L Owners Review on the road episode 2

[@jimbeaver27]

I did a 600 km day on Japanese twisty pavement and the only thing that kind of slowed me down was the front tire grip. The tire is obviously designed for long life not grip. I pushed the bike hard and the tires were definitely warm. Just a few times mind you the front tire slid a bit leaned into a tight corner, and the lean was nowhere near severe, nor was the road covered in sand etc. I didn't crash, it did warn me and I was able to recover. The suspension on the AT is very good. On the road I would not change a thing, the front end is just right if you stiffened it, you'd lose that posh ride on smoother roads. Once you get used to this bike, you'll ride faster and harder as it's so nicely balanced and is confidence inspiring. It is indeed a real Africa Twin, it's sturdy and solid with an engine that doesn't mind chugging up switchbacks or putting around town or going just about anywhere. Face it Africa Twins were never fast or powerful so that is where the new AT has the biggest change. I'm loving the traction control and just leave it on fully. Only a very few times have I noticed it cut in and afterwards I said to myself, 'very nice the rear wheel would have spun without traction control' and that has to be a good thing at any time.

[@SurfPilot]

+Jim Davis (Eastern Beaver) Great write up mate, Suspension is such an individual thing and rider weight plays a huge part in this too. I do genuinely think (for me) it would be slightly better a few clicks extra for on road use, but as you say and I agree in the video too it's perfect how it is for both on and off-road.

[@jimbeaver27]

I'm 86 kg, my buddy who's a bit shorter and heavier rode it and loved it. He commented the front end was a bit stiff. I later found out the front tire was overinflated. Feels perfect now, for an all around bike that I for one won't be taking it through any really gnarly stuff, I got a dirt bike for that. But when I encounter as I often do, those little mountain roads where nobody goes and it's rough to say the least, I'll be having fun while other bike riders will be just trying not to crash. Definitely front tire coming off soon.

[@yayoi1]

+Jim Davis (Eastern Beaver) I wouldn't say it's designed for long life, my front is down to the wear marks at 6500 km. Lots of life left on the back though.

[@jimbeaver27]

yayoi1 - 6500 consider that good mileage but I never leave mine on so long, the first half of a tire is the only part worth having - you might be doing a lot of hard braking to wear the front first - I've always got two rears to one front on other bikes, we'll see on the AT. What kind of roads do you usually ride on, hilly, flat, mix, city, rough roads?

[@yayoi1]

A mix of everything really. For the sake of comparison, I'd get about 14,000 km out of a front Anakee 3 on my Super Tenere (and 20,000 out of the rear).

[@grahew632]

nice review covered most of the bike, keep it up nice to hear a sensible report......ps ordered one in black for 03/17😆

[@SurfPilot]

Cheers Graham i appreciate the great Comment, i ordered mine oct 2015 and picked it up in march 2016. I know you'll love it my friend

[@fastfrankee]

Looks a great bike and made for the job, well done mate nice choice, might even get one for myself, keep thinking to myself BMW r1200gs or this, its a tough one.

[@ADDONRACER]

nice looking bike..the front looks like a scooter I had in the early days called Gilera Runner RST..The front lights and the stickers to be precise..

[@iSlanderEST]

I was thinking about DCT but got manual too. I ordered the bike back in August and didn't believe DCT could be any good on this bike. I like DCT bikes, I've ridden all of the Honda versions of DCT and I really enjoyed them. TC Level 1 has been quite good for me, wheel spins and no drama. Lvl3 is bad, doesn't allow any wheel spin at all

[@SurfPilot]

You're spot on about the traction control mate, did you test ride the DCT I've still not ridden one, and I'm not sure I want to in case I prefer it :)

[@iSlanderEST]

***** Try it :D you have to :D

[@EinkOLED]

All yorkshire crf riders need a 'yorkshire twin' sticker on the tank.

[@SurfPilot]

I'm with you there mate :)

[@mickwilliams6010]

Great video, no bull just saying it how it is. Picking mine up on Saturday - probably one of the last of the first batch to come over to the UK. Loved the bike when I tested it way back in February. Just wondering if there's anything you don't like about it.

[@SurfPilot]

Hey man thanks for the comment and view. You just got in on time my local dealer is say the end of the year now for certain versions. I actually like the bike better now than I did, I find myself going out for an hour and coming back 4 hours later, You really can just lose yourself on this bike, I've loved all my bikes as you do at the time, but this AT makes me not want to come home. I'm sure you will love your when you get it mate, I hope you have a great weekend ride on her :)

[@mickwilliams6010]

Ordered mine in Feb but the dealer has held it for me until tomorrow. There are some AT's in transit now from Japan but due to an earthquake damaging the factory there will be no more until December. Looking forward to picking it up and taking the long way home.

[@frankstocker5475]

BMW 1200, Africa Twin, I think you heading towards a Tracer 900 GT

[@SurfPilot]

I came from a 900 Tracer to the Africa Twin :)

[@frankstocker5475]

Yes but now the Tracer GT is coming with all the updates & plenty of extras stock.

[@SurfPilot]

Been there done that, won't do it again, the tracer is ok as per my video's on it, but it's not a comfortable mile munching tourer, even with the words GT stuck on it 😁

[@HJM1974]

Can I ask how it compares to the Tracer on the road. How is it on Corners too. I have a 2016 Crossrunner and I fed up of having to fire it up for five mins to warm the engine before I get on. I imagine you just jump on the twin and go. I aint the fastest of riders so think the africa twin might be for me.

[@SurfPilot]

I love this Africa Twin, it's hard to compare it to the tracer as the tracer was very much an on road sportier bike. but I have had this in 3 figures on the twisties, and it's a great fun. you can get to the bike limits which makes it safer in a silly way, and makes you feel really in control. I went around the Swiss alps on the Africa twin over 2500 miles, and I loved every single mile up the mountain passes and the sweeping B500 baden baden., I just suggest a test ride and see how you feel as the 21" front wheel does give it a more adventure feel then sports.

[@HJM1974]

Thanks for your detailed reply. I shall let you know how i get on. Great video's bye the way :)

[@jimbeaver27]

Bring the revs up in 3rd to around 5 grand and crank it, you'll be surprised hang on tight.

[@sem2504]

heah up old lad Iam a Selby/York lad and know the area you riding on, I live in Norton Doncaster now (Selby side). I do however have a question for you, I am thinking of coming of superbikes because I have a son however, my First choice was the MT-09 Tracer so I wonder why you got a rid of it it. Is it that bad? Cheers chief for you response in advance.

[@SurfPilot]

+sem2504 Hi there mate, no not at the tracer was a good bike, a great bike for the money to be fair, It was more of a falling in love with the Africa Twin, and over the past 6 years i made the change from sports to adventure bikes, and i just missed the litre+ twins. The tracer really would be worth a test ride the engine is a peach.

[@mikeldiazgoni7256]

+Surf Pilot Great reviews sir, I have just realized I had watched both your review on the tracer and the AT which are the two bikes I am trying to decide on buying, I have already placed a small refundable deposit for the first few AT's in my country but since there are only 7 coming for at least a while I wont be able to test drive it. I did test drive the Tracer and loved the power and torque the 3 cylinder puts out as well as very powerful brakes ( compared to my supermoto at least) they gave lots of confidence while riding, I also liked how the front suspension didn't travel much at braking. So I'd like to know if you ever miss the power and braking performance of the tracer while riding the AT, also how do they compare in the handling department (b-road fun). Also I'll mostly use it as my daily ride as well as some traveling about 2 times per year. Thanks a lot in advance.

[@SurfPilot]

Hi there Mikel, thanks ever so much for taking the time to view my videos. wow! such a difficult question, I'll start by saying I think the Africa twin is perfect, the torque is amazing, I simply can't fault this bike, but it is an adventure bike with a beautiful smooth twin cylinder engine. The Tracer as you know is a road bike and acceleration on this is a little better than the AT, and it delivers it in more of a revy triple way, I never got to the limits of what the tracer could do on the bends if I'm honest but it was heaps of fun. I don't miss the breaking performance as the Honda is spectacular, and with the slipper clutch you can bang it down the gearbox without locking the back wheel which ads to the fun, I can feel the limit of the Africa Twin and for me I prefer this as you can really hoon around it to it's limits. Both bikes are great but so different to ride, I prefer the adventure style bike and the torque twin engine, It really would be about what you prefer, but I know you will enjoy either. Ride safe my friend

[@mikeldiazgoni7256]

+Surf Pilot thanks so much for the quick and honest response!! Woow... I'm glad to hear about the braking of the bike since that was one of my concerns, since I haven't owned a true adventure bike, but I've ridden a Tenere 660 a bit and the Brakes on that just didn't give me enough confidence where the Tracer really impressed me and made me feel like I could do it all and break whenever (maybe a bit of dangerous thinking there). I watched your r1200 GS and can see you really really loved that bike, so is the AT really better than that bike? In terms of handling as well as touring comfort. Oh and sorry for all the questions SF, it is just a couple of very different bikes that would never be Ina comparison together or come up In either bikes reviews and you've owned them both and many more bikes as I can tell, so you're most likely the best out there to be asking these. Keep making awesome honest reviews! ;)

[@SurfPilot]

Your welcome mate, The GS lc version was beyond brilliant at everything the smaller front wheel made it better on the road than the AT, and I did love it. I still do think they are brilliant. they have their quirks the boxer engine is fantastic but you can feel the twin nature of the bike, The BMW electrics are amazing but they are a very expensive bike compared to the AT and Tracer. The AT is not as quick or as good on the twisties, but it has a 21" wheel and that makes a big difference, the AT is priced perfectly it's smooth no vibrations and I really do get out on it and just forget the time and enjoy the ride, It's real riders bike, the big wheel makes it feel like your on the edge when cornering, but then you look down and your doing 100mph, it will do more, but you don't feel like you have to tear it to bits, the GS and Tracer both saw 130MPH on trackdays ;) and both were great bikes. I just love the AT it's fast but not as quick as both the other bikes, fast enough to get into trouble with, it blows past traffic with no head down drama's, and it does the green lanes when you want to get off the beaten track. It really is about what you want from a bike, The adventure style of the road style. The AT is great all rounder and comfortable, the GS probably was a better all rounder, just heavy, expensive, and quirky with the boxer engine, The tracer a great road bike a little uncomfortable after a few hours but for hooning around at speed brilliant, just not an all rounder but for a little over 8 grand you can't complain.