The middle of the road ADV's Africa Twin, Norden, s10

[adventure steele]

Just thought I'd give this a bit of an update

Been out on the Rally all day today and kept notes and it's confirmed how my needs and thoughts have changed filmed a little while riding to.

Only through experience can we grow as people through riding and experiencing for ourselves new things can we make informed choice that's my take on it

Its like looking at a map and guessing what the places are actually like by visiting you know and I feel the same about motorcycle choice and experience.

The experience of the 300 Rally has been brilliant but the wind management keeps setting my neck injury off (belive me it's agony) this was part of the reason I went back to the GS platform after the Himalayan rejection, Just a shame I had to part with the GS but some situations outside of motorcycles can't be helped.

Still though the experience of the Rally has helped with learning what green laning is like on a light an manageable bike totally misshap free but now with moving away from lanes it's to compromised as a adventure travel bike for me personally down to my neck injury so its back to a Twin and a good wind management system so I can keep riding and exploring for long distances.

Now I'm 100% sure it's just light long gravel roads an for me my favourite experience on a bike is crunching long miles and seeing new places.

I've also done alot more research on the Husky and spoke to a few people that have had them who messaged on other platforms about wind management and reliability etc has meant that won't fit my needs especially regarding wind an buffeting for my height.

So looks like at the moment if I want to try something away from a GS it's gonna be the Africa Twin that I'll try.

The good thing is it's half the cost of my 300 Rally on the insurance to, so makes sense once I've moved to let the Rally go (not got the time to deal with it at the mo) then hunt about for maybe a 2018-2019 Africa Twin.

For anyone that's had the AT's and has any experience between the different years and the normal vs adventure sports or 1000 vs 1100 I'd love to hear about it.


Anyways that's my thoughts some may not agree but that's what my present situation and needs in a bike are

Back to a GS or GSA I know those tick the boxes although can be pricey on the parts or give the Africa Twin a whirl.

A few may say why not a 650xt again or the new transalp or 800DE that's Purley down to the insurance the Africa Twin is a third of the cost of those.

For those that have had a Africa Twin an a GS or GSA what's the wind management / buffeting like on the AT compared to the GS?

Anyways catch you all out OK the road somewhere an happy riding

[garyboy]

Test ride an NC750X dct.
Check out costs, mpg, reliability, comfort, etc

a larger screen needed, simple to add. Suspension not so good but OK, aftermarket available as always.
Add seat and bar risers. Drive away in comfort, cheaply.
Lovely ride.

[johnnyboxer]

Just thought I'd give this a bit of an update

Been out on the Rally all day today and kept notes and it's confirmed how my needs and thoughts have changed filmed a little while riding to.

Only through experience can we grow as people through riding and experiencing for ourselves new things can we make informed choice that's my take on it

Its like looking at a map and guessing what the places are actually like by visiting you know and I feel the same about motorcycle choice and experience.

The experience of the 300 Rally has been brilliant but the wind management keeps setting my neck injury off (belive me it's agony) this was part of the reason I went back to the GS platform after the Himalayan rejection, Just a shame I had to part with the GS but some situations outside of motorcycles can't be helped.

Still though the experience of the Rally has helped with learning what green laning is like on a light an manageable bike totally misshap free but now with moving away from lanes it's to compromised as a adventure travel bike for me personally down to my neck injury so its back to a Twin and a good wind management system so I can keep riding and exploring for long distances.

Now I'm 100% sure it's just light long gravel roads an for me my favourite experience on a bike is crunching long miles and seeing new places.

I've also done alot more research on the Husky and spoke to a few people that have had them who messaged on other platforms about wind management and reliability etc has meant that won't fit my needs especially regarding wind an buffeting for my height.

So looks like at the moment if I want to try something away from a GS it's gonna be the Africa Twin that I'll try.

The good thing is it's half the cost of my 300 Rally on the insurance to, so makes sense once I've moved to let the Rally go (not got the time to deal with it at the mo) then hunt about for maybe a 2018-2019 Africa Twin.

For anyone that's had the AT's and has any experience between the different years and the normal vs adventure sports or 1000 vs 1100 I'd love to hear about it.


Anyways that's my thoughts some may not agree but that's what my present situation and needs in a bike are

Back to a GS or GSA I know those tick the boxes although can be pricey on the parts or give the Africa Twin a whirl.

A few may say why not a 650xt again or the new transalp or 800DE that's Purley down to the insurance the Africa Twin is a third of the cost of those.

For those that have had a Africa Twin an a GS or GSA what's the wind management / buffeting like on the AT compared to the GS?

Anyways catch you all out OK the road somewhere an happy riding

I thought your Dad was having the Rallye???


For distance work you will never surpass a GS/GSA (that’s why they are the world’s best selling Adv bike, bar none) or even a BMW R1100/1150/1200/1250 RT tourer

I follow an experienced rider on facebook and in the last 2 years he’s had all manner of bikes - from a AT1100 to a Goldwing, various Kawasaki & Suzuki and XAdv & has come back to a R1250 GSA twice and now is keeping the latest, he uses a bike daily and says the GS/GSA platform cannot be beaten as a package
Not had a AT - but if the wind management is anything like a Tenere 700 it’s a costly dream that is hard to get rid of the buffeting (with the exception of no screen altogether)
Not sure any manufacturer does much R&D in a wind tunnel ….for rider comfort

[dave h]

i would take a test ride on the new transalp 750, and save lots of thousands compared to a gsa.

well i wouldn't i have a ktm ,

but the Japanese bike might be for you,

dave.

[Toe]

Wind management is a bit of trial and error and a bit of black magic
Unfortunately it can only really be tested by spending money. Or maybe time, skill, and a bit less money with homemade concoctions!
Sometimes a huge screen isn't always the answer, or at least the most practical one. It can occasionally be either a small deflector on top or even having much more airflow at the bottom of the screen.

[garyboy]

Wind management is a bit of trial and error and a bit of black magic
Unfortunately it can only really be tested by spending money. Or maybe time, skill, and a bit less money with homemade concoctions!
Sometimes a huge screen isn't always the answer, or at least the most practical one. It can occasionally be either a small deflector on top or even having much more airflow at the bottom of the screen.

True, Also a good screen will change characteristics with weather conditions, or side winds. High winds can cause buffeting with even a small screen.
Adjustable ones seem a good idea, but I suspect the preferred position stays set.

Have you thought of a neck brace???

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Serious suggestion....old British bikes hold no terrors for you and you like Norton Commandos

So police spec Norton Commando Interstate (Interpol?)

Massive fairing, massive fuel tank, little vibration and lots of class.

It was the standard UK police bike for most of the 1970s...so there must still be some around

[Snaf MKII]

Are you sure that it's wind causing neck ache or riding position, I get neck ache on the G310GS as the bars are low making me lean forward and raise my head. I'm surprised the CRF300 gets ridden fast enough for there to be much buffeting unless you're riding at national speed limit all the time.

[Toe]

Wind management is a bit of trial and error and a bit of black magic
Unfortunately it can only really be tested by spending money. Or maybe time, skill, and a bit less money with homemade concoctions!
Sometimes a huge screen isn't always the answer, or at least the most practical one. It can occasionally be either a small deflector on top or even having much more airflow at the bottom of the screen.

True, Also a good screen will change characteristics with weather conditions, or side winds. High winds can cause buffeting with even a small screen.
Adjustable ones seem a good idea, but I suspect the preferred position stays set.

Have you thought of a neck brace???

Very good point about the adjustable stuff. I guess what I was trying to say is any rider would need to look at aftermarket or custom to make themselves comfortable, once they're comfortable then yes it'll almost certainly stay where it is then
As an example, I used to struggle on a 990 Adventure because wind would come straight over the screen and catch me in the visor so I could ride with my visor opened and it'd buffet my head around. One of those add on style screen extenders/deflector/spoilers from supplier of choice angled right made all the difference.

[adventure steele]

Hi everyone really appreciate the replies, extremely helpful as always and great suggestions,

I actually agree with that Johnny when I was on the 1200 Rallye TE it was superb with the Puig on it totally pain free an light an day, was gutted when I had to sell that I wanted to help my dad out for a month n it made the most sense to do that with it being a model I could always replace in the future.

Yep I'm actually riding the Rally alot at 50-70 spent 2 hours sat at 70 yesterday visiting an elderly relative after the move I'll have a 10+ hour ride once every other month to visit so going back to a twin is a major consideration. I doubt it'd bother anyone else but it's an issue for me at the mo.

The riding position is actually really nice triangle wise.

I can actually feel it smacking the top of my helmet I'm quite tall it's no where near as bad as a f800 but still enough to cause issue I was riding from 6am to 6pm yesterday that's a pretty average days riding for me when I'm able to get out. I'm gonna dig my RX7-GP out this week an give that a try.

I'm talking the Rally over with dad at the mo he's been going on about really liking the idea of it an tbh he drove the whole move to try swap to lighter bikes since the 650xt,

I was actually watching one of my older videos back before just to remind myself an I said in that I wanted to hold onto the 650XT but couldn't do it at the time.

I'm gonna make him have a few ride's on it over the next couple of weeks an see what he thinks. He actually got round to sitting on it yesterday always reluctant to try my bikes an I'm not sure he's sure on it so a few rides should answer all an I need to give the Norton 650ss a run.

The Neck brace is actually a brilliant idea I used to have a leatt I might look into that again as well as changing from my Tour X4. I just like the level of open feeling with it visor size wise and chin bar compared to a sports helmet like the RX7 I had.

Talking about insurance they must be making up as they can go along.

I can insure a 2017-2019 Africa Twin or 18' Adventure Sports for a third of any Suzuki 300 - 900
The 1200LC TE GS is the same as a 2010 GSA at 600
my Rally just jumped up at Renewal to 600 with the rear shock

Once the move is done I'll hopefully have a clearer idea on stuff,

At the Mo the AT is standing out a bit but not sure between the two versions, or failing that I'll just go for a GS again after the 1300 comes out so the prices will have settled a bit.

I've actually been looking at the 1990s AT and the 1150 GS/GSA again as well

That's a good point about the Commando an it's fairing gonna be doing lot of miles on my updated 68' Commando Norman White did the frame mod for me an I've rebuilt the engine in my bedroom

Nothing will probably happen till after the house move gives me a chance to maybe get a few test rides on a couple of bikes if I get a spare afternoon an see where the finances are exciting times though! Worst case I'll get back on a GS or a GSA an as Johnny says that's probably the most logical option but the Honda's are interesting to have a research off especially with the insurance being good.