new Africa Twin - perfect adventure bike?

[ross dean]

On weight - having been given the chance to ride a 400cc or so (cannot remember the spec - just the ride) off-road KTM once I can only concede that a lighter bike does the business compared to a 1000cc Adventure bike, no matter how authentic its off-road heritage. However, a 800 to 1000c bike designed with off-road potential can get you to and from the event you are interested in with luggage at motorway speeds and only needs luggage removal and quick suspension and tyre adjustments to create a useable machine in difficult conditions. My experience is only with two BMW F800Rs and an KTM 990 Adventure but I have seen amazing things done with a Yamaha 660, a BMW 1150 Adventure and a number of BMW 1200GS bikes. Try http://allterrainrallychallenge.co.uk/ - they run training days that I cannot recommend enough.

[Hoggyf]

Why don't aprillia do something adventure wise with the dorsoduro??
Discuss :laugh:

[ZX Raziel]

KTM were close with the 990 Adventure and technology has moved on since.

As have the emissions and noise regulations , if KTM had to build the 950 again for the next year it would have to weigh more than when in was first launched .
But i agree with all the criticism the bike its heavy ( i have predicted it to be around 220kg for the basic version , i was close ), the fuell tank its too small for a " true adventure " bike , empty tank weighs nothing ( nearly ) , 30 liter tank would work much better for me , you dont have to keep it full if you like it light . Even if it gets 60mpg , 19 liters of fuell its not much .
I have no problem with the wheels and tyres , there are good and bad points for both types .I can see few more problems with the bike , i really want to see it in flesh to make my mind up , as it seems to me it was rushed and build to be cheap ... not happy about it .
I am considering to cancel my order , but what else to get ? All the other bikes out there have faults too :pinch:

[robson]

we know big bikes can fly too...

[video width=425 height=344 type=youtube]NpCubYprqFQ[/video]

so that's reassuring

[Steve T]

Why don't aprillia do something adventure wise with the dorsoduro??

I asked Aprillia themselves that same question about 5-6 years ago, when they first released the 750 V-Twin engine!

I seem to recollect their answer consisting of verbal shrugs (Itailian style, of course :whistle: ) and a sort of "We see wot we see . . .Cee?"

Steve T

B)

[ross dean]

"I am considering to cancel my order , but what else to get ? All the other bikes out there have faults too"

Go with your instinct when shopping - it works for food,clothes and most other things so why not bikes? Provided the Honda offers something above the BMW 800s and the KTM 990s why not?

By the way, I do not see the latest KTM offerings as any better as true Adventure bikes over the 990! KTM need to:

1. Improve the range significantly
2. Reduce the weight significantly
3. Sort out the build quality (corrosion, paint quality and fastenings)

THEN they will dominate the market!

As for BMW, the Adventure 800 just looks like a bike on a gym weights regime! If they made that bike similar to the standard 800 GS without the extra plastic and truly ding-proofed the vulnerable bits it would be the standard to beat. Why make it look like a 1200 Adventure when its not? The current BMW marketing team would be better on cars ...

[AndyB]

I always look at a bike and consider how much damage it'll suffer if I crash it off road. Now engine bars, axle bungs and other such parts all help but one of the most crash resistant bikes I've owned is my 2009 Tenere which Yamaha saw fit to put plastic panels that are cheap to replace in vulnerable places.

The only other modern 'adventure bikes' I've owned were a 1200 Multistrada and the 1190 KTM I currently own. The Multistrada would have near enough exploded if dropped on rocks and I'm not convinced the 1190 would be a lot better.

Looking at the pictures I don't think the new Honda would stand up very well if thrown on its side on a rocky track and let's be honest here; if you're not crashing you're not trying hard enough :whistle:

[minkyhead]

i think it looka ace and seems to be priced well too ...im sure it will be pretty capable on rough tracks ...
some of the folks on this forum ride big bikes really really well off road ...my personal expieriance is that they are ace when its all going right but a feckin big handful when its all going wrong
...lots of folk are straight on to the power tourque motorway aspect of the bike blah blah ...

first thing ill do on it is ride it really slow in first gear and hope to god its not overgeared like most of the rest check out the balence and the fueling when riding and picking lines in tricky spots ..if that feels good ill take the rest as given ... a lot of bigger bikes could be so much better with alower one two and a softer delivery off tickover ....

ill be all over it when it comes out ..i do think it will be good (thumbs)

[V_King]

did not read the whole thread, but all I can say is yo udid a massive mistake - there is no detachable subframe - you will definatelly be left stranded with a bend subframe in the middle of nowhere ......... the aa man could be found in 30mins

[V_King]

.....
By the way, I do not see the latest KTM offerings as any better as true Adventure bikes over the 990! KTM need to:

1. Improve the range significantly
2. Reduce the weight significantly
3. Sort out the build quality (corrosion, paint quality and fastenings)

THEN they will dominate the market!

.....

and how much are you expcting to pay for such a bike? everything in the list has been achieved, with a proper price tag - ktm rally replicas B)