You Will Definitely Boost Your Confidence And Off-Road Skills After Watching This - Beginner Tips

[@theflyingkiwi4803]

The bike sounds nice going through the forest..like a soft growl! 👍

[@advRedseven]

Oh yes! And I only had the action cam mic. Next time I will record a bit of engine sound with a better mic. The sound of the AT is amazing. I love it.

[@georgetumino9652]

Thanks for this video. Inspiring. Starting from the beginning is the way I like to do things also. I also have a AT DCT 1100 and I've taken it off road many times and you're right, the DCT requires a different approach because you have no clutch. When doing slow manouvers, I'm always conscious of the weight of the bike, which you can feel, and the incredible power of the motor therefore controlling the throttle is crucial. I like to practice as often as I can and it's rewarding knowing that you can control such a beast of a machine. It's a great bike. All the best.

[@advRedseven]

Thank you for the kind comment. It is nice to have someone who thinks exactly the same.

[@AlgeriaRiderdz]

The engine of that Africa Twin roars like a lion, great sound

[@paulfaiers345]

Gooder.... better

[@advRedseven]

Get gooder 😁😁

[@someguy5035]

Congrats on the best motorcycle purchase you will ever make - training! I have some experience riding off road...Dual sport, big ADV... Dirt, mud, sand, rocks, etc. I also had an AT. I currently ride a R1250GSA or a CRF 300 Rally off road. Tip 1...a tip that they never cover in these videos... get better tires. Your OEM tires likely suck for actual off-road riding. Better tires will level you up instantly. Tip 2 is more of a question...why are you standing when you don't need to? And that is the tip... See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faCuZZuGqbxgqMk Tip 3 you have to be willing to drop your bike if you want to learn. There is no way around it. Tip 4 Ride sand. It is terrible. it sucks. But you get exponentially better every time you do it. The deeper and looser the sand, the worse. (and the better you get).

[@advRedseven]

Thank you for your insight. We appreciate your advice!

[@erikwhitley413]

Nice video. I have a big adv bike too. I was feeling really confident to take it off road since I have watched so may videos. Rude awakening. After my 3rd fall I couldn't wait to get back on pavement. I think this first experience on dirt has made me overly fearful. Recently went riding on my cousin's 450... much easier. However... that riding style is incredibly strenuous if you haven't done it before. The bike tracked through sand and over rocks much easier, and was easier to pick up, but standing so much on the bumpy roads left me completely exhausted in about an hour. Plus, at my age (almost 56), I am not quite as invincible as I used to think I was. I still think I fell with style though. Gotta put on a good show!

[@advRedseven]

Interesting. What were the causes for the falls? Off road was too hardcore? Because I am thinking to start with some gravel and some light tracks, then go to harder ones, but if you fell on easy off road tracks then I need to rethink my approach as well.

[@sis1296]

I fall routinely when I go off road with my AT AS DCT. It is almost a 600 lb bike after all. The front wheel must not slip. If it does, I am toast. For me - off road must be flat and dry, dirt or gravel. If there are hills or if it's wet, then I am in trouble. But that's me. That's why crash bars are essentiel for me.

[@wave6413]

👍

[@thodoris3790]

if you play in the dirt,and drop and damage a 18k bike,of course there is fear.except if you are rich

[@advRedseven]

True, true. We all have bought an adventure bike so it must be taken out in the dirt and when that happens, then we better be prepared and know a thing or two about bike handling. That fear will still be there though…

[@sis1296]

That's why you put crash-bars on the bike. For the AT, it is a must. I drop mine off-road everytime the front wheel slides a bit. It is a 550 pound bike after all!!! Every time the off-road trail is not flat and dry!!!

[@advRedseven]

@@sis1296 are the standard engine bars OK? Any idea? Thinking on going for these ones ruggedroads.co.uk/OEM-Honda-Kit-Engine-Guard-CRF1100

[@sis1296]

@@advRedseven These are the Honda OEM ones? That's what I have. Be sure to get the two parts. I think they are OK. I have seen videos where guys have other crash bars which seem better. With the Honda OEM ones, you can even drop your bike on the street - happened to me - and everything is OK. The whole front ferring with the head lighs is protected. And the rear is protected by the rack and the rear foot-pegs.

[@fsmitje5084]

A couple crash bars is needed Heed or Outback and also barkbusters hand guards. It always hurts the first time but that is the risk if you go off road with a adventure bike.

[@Arizsh]

Would u still prefer to buy a DCT version or manual if you have decide to buy again? I’m confused.. I’m a manual rider.. don’t know if DCT will be better?

[@iRedseven]

@Arizsh, if I would buy another bike, I would buy another Africa Twin with DCT. I commute almost daily with my ATAS and DCT is the most amazing piece of technology I have ever had. Now, will it do good on off road? Yes and no. I have done an off road course and I felt the need of a clutch for tight and small situations, where very fine tuning is required. That was a small disadvantage for me but the advantages for off road are multiple: never stall, never worry about shifting gears and a lot more. Conclusion: every time I look at the bike, I’m like: dude, for real!? Is this really my bike!? So, yes to Africa Twin and yes to DCT Edit: Sorry for answering with my other channel. Its still me 😁😁

[@livinginnewzealandandthail5055]

I have a sudden urge to watch an Arnie film. No idea why.

[@advRedseven]

Ahahahah! Not because of my Learning, right?

[@livinginnewzealandandthail5055]

@@advRedseven don't know, I just have an image of Arnie in my head...😆

[@alibehani4914]

thanks for your video! next season.. next possibility.. march or april.. i'm looking forward to do my first off-road-training myself (with my cb500x). who organised your's? perhaps you.. or anyone reading.. has a suggestion for the area berlin-brandenburg!?

[@advRedseven]

Thank you! Mine was organized by High Enduro End, a motorcycle guiding company I found on the web. There has to be something close to your area as well.

[@meinekleineweltreise]

There are tons of them! Safarix, Marco Straubel, … or enduroactionteam (Leipzig). Just go out riding!

[@danielkramer8586]

Correction: with DCT it is less challenging , NOT more, to control your bike at slow speeds.

[@advRedseven]

For me a lot more challenging because when the bike is moving then its always “in gear”. Which means, you have to pay huge attention to the acceleration, because there is no clutch you can quickly pull to stop accelerating, in case you have a balance problem or you accelerate too much by mistake. For me its more challenging for sure.

[@RolandoErnesto1]

@@advRedseven you are right that is a challenge. I was recommended to use to use the foot brake or the parking brake as clutch - and use the throttle with a feeling of two fingers only. I would like to tune the parking brake like this : kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnrUqpxnpNx-gac

[@meinekleineweltreise]

DCT or manuell, both are challenging when you are not used to it riding off-road. 😉

[@idiot-983]

Just take a trials course you will learn more from that.

[@daveduncan798]

It would be far better to get on an old RM125 and spend a few hours riding around the nearest MX track, instead of starting with the top end bike, then trying to learn how to ride properly..........sort of back to front logic.

[@advRedseven]

I agree 100% but, you see, where can we get that RM125 from? Who is going to give us one to test off-road knowing we are beginners? Doing a sort of a course or so, then yes but time and money are limited for the majority of us. Its def. worth spending some money and time on learning to off road, instead of paying 2000 or so for repairing the Africa Twin with which you crashed because you have no idea how to off-road on gravel for example. Makes sense, right?

[@daveduncan798]

Better to start at the bottom and fall off a small junk bike in a backyard somewhere, at least you learn to ride properly, gravel is probably just a dirt road, still not off road.

[@Wrong-Way-Round]

Dave Duncan, I don't know where you live mate but here in Germany offroad is not allowed unless on the Tet or at one of the Offroad Schools, of which there are several throughout Germany. All have qualified instructors that teach every aspect of riding offroad (except falling off). From balance, position on the bike, obsticles, choosing your path etc. All schools have diferent sections with gravel, sand, mud, woodland etc. Anyone caught offroading, even wildcamping faces a €500 fine under the environmental laws. Crap I know but that's the way it is here.

[@jurgenhaneklaus8444]

ABS on, when accelerating? Any difference when on and off? 😉

[@advRedseven]

ABS off mate. I did a mistake there but corrected it with a note on the screen.

[@advRedseven]

And with ABS off on the rear wheel the bike can literally throw you down if you accelerate too much.

[@jurgenhaneklaus8444]

@@advRedseven I'll have my third AT DCT in january, I really don't understand what ABS has to do with acceleration, u probably mean traction control😏

[@advRedseven]

@@jurgenhaneklaus8444 Oh dear God! Now I understand!!! You are soo right. Traction control absolutely. Braking and ABS - Acceleration and Traction Control. Thank you for insisting. I wouldn’t have understand it. Thank you, Sir.

[@RolandoErnesto1]

Hi, i agree that's a very good advice to attend technical and safety training courses. As Returnee - after 40 years of riding only MTB's and road bikes in the Alps ;) - I attended 4 training courses this year to start my career as motorcycle traveller with my African Twin 1100 DCT (2000). One offroad training course with the Police of Vienna (yes they offer free courses to everyone) and one with a Scottish coach in Spain in the lower Sierra Nevada. I made so many mistakes but learnt everything from the scratch, and had a lot of fun and made good progressafter it training alone. DCT : according your comment in the video, which electronic settings of the DCT, brakes and traction control would you recommend for dirt roads ? Tires : which tires (70:30 or 60:40) would you recommend for travelling through the mountains in Spain and Marokko on (wet) small roads and dirt / gravel roads for the African Twin ? At the moment I use the Michelin Anakee Adventure, and i have to order new tires right now. What do you think about the Pirelli Scorpion STR or the Heidenau K60 Scout ? Keep on Riding ! Roland African Queen in Red instagram.com/rolandernst?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= (pics and vids)

[@sis1296]

Hi Roland, I use Michelin Anakee Adventure also on my AT. Love them. They are more expensive, but they are 'bi-gomme' or 'bi-ploymer'. Hard in the center and soft on the sides. For off-road, I simply use the two off-road pre-set settings on the bike (trail and off-road), and maybe in S1 or S2 mode. I don't do enough off-road to program one of the user settings for it. For the road, I have programmed at least one of the user settings as P1 (most power), EB 3 (least engine brake) and keep Traction control and Wheelie control on max (7 and 3). I have also hardened the electronic suspension to avoid rebound. Those are my settings for road use. and I usually ride either D or S1 on road. Yes people find D useless, but I suspect it is much more gas-friendly (economical) than S1 - even when in 6th gear. In D mode, If/when I need to downshift, I usually down-shift 2 gears!!!

[@RolandoErnesto1]

@@sis1296 Thank you very much for your advice, I will try out your user settings for onroad.