Well I'm only 4 minutes into the video and I'm not sure which bike is going to win, but so far you've sold me on making a trip to Romania! It's gorgeous!
Those bikes are like pick-up trucks in United States and Canada... They are all relatively good, they all have their goods and bads, but at the end, you will choose the one with the looks that you prefer!!! In my case, I prefer the looks of the Tiger.... Thanks for that very good video!
Correct. The looks of a vehicle are more important than the function. You can't drive something that is super ugly. The reason you buy a motorcycle is because they are supposed to be beautiful, and fun. Not because you "need" one.
Your riding footage and aerials are just getting better and better - your team nicely conveyed how close these 3 are and how likely, we'd be very happy with any of them... special mention needs to be made regarding your videographers and editors - really great job guys! Much thanks for sharing such excellent, happy, quality work!
Nice introductory review sir, and after reading a lot of the comments below I felt a need to contribute. I think I'm coming from the opposite side of the arguments below. Now being a senior citizen with a life time of enduro riding, I'm looking at 'adventuring' farther by incorporating touring into the enduro aspect. I smile at all the comments about tubed tyres and the 'stranded' comments. We rarely ride without having to remove wheels and change or patch tubes. Sometimes even stuffing grass into tyres to 'get home'. Its all part of 'our' adventure. Ahhh... Nice to have first world problems! I spent yesterday participating in planned test rides of the new triumph explorers and the BMW GS Rally X. Given my brother grabbed a GS 1200 about 6 mths ago I have spent a few hrs on that, and he is attempting to motivate me to join his longer 'adventures'. Honda was across the road from Triumph, so after lunch I thought I should at least sit on one, given I was so close. And at 10k cheaper there was no way it could be near as good - could it? How disappointed was I. This bike should not be so good !!! All my seating position and bar height complaints to the former 2 where solved. The AT sport was perfect for position - particularly standing. And those brakes. Wow! The rear triumph brakes where almost non existent in comparison. I could go on & on I'm sure - but in Summary, the purpose of my comment is to suggest that folk Test Ride this bike prior to making any final decisions on the other majors. Particularly if you do want to 'adventure off road'. They are all great bikes. For me this was a fantastic bike - but I have an offroad bias. Given my age group, the lack of 'tech' gives me more time to concentrate on 'the ride' . And for us old fellas without the previous luxuries of tech - we have spent our lives producing ABS and Traction Control through lever and throttle control. So for me the Africa Twin had way more Tech than my Yamaha and KTM enduro bikes. This Africa Twin is now at the top of my short list.
I'm (quite) happy owner of the new Africa Twin Adventure Sports with manual gearbox. I cannot say anything about the comparison between the bikes since I did not try new BMW 850 but I can share with some pros and cons about this bike. Pros: - Great sound with stock exhaust, I'm surprised you didn't mentioned it. - Very good looking, - I love the suspension offroad it eats up every potholes and obstacles on the trail without bottoming and rebound problems, - It has lovely engine clearance especially comparing with the other 2 bikes, - Good brakes - Provides good space for a rider, - It comes with quite high handlebar position which helps in riding in a standing position - Great for offroad - Ability to turn ABS (rear only) and Traction control without a hassle, - Easy to change the tyres (well engineered), - Heated grips, Cons: - I'm very surprised about you saying that the weather protection is good in AT. I'm 186cm and in my opinion it is opposite of good. The vibration and buffeting on the helmet was so strong that it was almost unbearable. Only after purchasing visor deflectors, wind deflectors, forkshield the problem of the vibration was lowered to the acceptable level. Of course I use a highest seat hight possible. - Crash bars fitted to it are just a not funny joke. They have to be replaced ASAP after purchasing the bike. It is a pitty that customer has to pay for them, - No cruse control, - Seat is not comfortable in longer trips, - the preload adjustment should have some scale which would help to set the suspension to already known levels for different types of terrain or luggage, - My bike have problems with backfiring of the engine (maybe it is isolated problem only for my bike) - There should be more power for 1000cc engine. For my taste it would use at least another 40-50hp - It is not easy to predict the behavior of the front tyre. After time I got used to it but there is not enough feedback on the corners about the traction of the front end, - I think Honda should rethink the lights. It looks stupid that one of the lights is on and another not, - The throttle is a little bit to sensitive. They should dial it down a bit. On bumpy roads it is hard to keep the power linear. - The stash and tool boxes way of opening is just a joke - Aftermarket, handguards, crashbars, forkshield, skidplate, panier racks are essential if you want to keep the bike safe in low speed offroad crashes. The OEM equipment is shit. I could talk about it for hours but probably no one will read it anyways, so I will end up here for now. If anyone have some questions I can gladly answer them in comments. All in all I can recommend the bike to anybody and judging only on the reviews and articles it is no brainier for me to pick AT against F850 and Tiger 800. The only motorcycle I would consider instead would be KTM 1090 or upcoming 790 and the only reason for that would be much more hp than AT. Cheers
In general I'd like to express that I would buy this bike second time. My review may seem negative which was not my intention. In my opinion it is one of the best options on the market if not the best. You have to be aware though that it is not a perfect bike. No motorcycle is.
Good feedback, and I am considering it as well. Between the Honda and the KTM, but I think the KTM is a little more pricey. The back fire is on many new bikes due to emissions....that and you throttle issues are probably easy fixes with a Power Commander and a little adjustment with the air flow. Would you recommend getting the plain AT and getting aftermarket crash bars & hand guards? Thanks again!
A good review, but still superficial for ADV bikes. These bikes need to cope with weeks of travel with load( luggage) and see how the riders feel about them then. For me the AT needs cruise control to be serious ( add $2000 for the McCruise system). The Tiger is the third update of a proven bike available since 2011. The AT is still very new and the BMW is unproven. Hopefully your part 2 won't be just a bit of rougher dirt use only. Add some weight and do a multi day ride so we can see what breaks.
I've ridden the Transalpina last year on my 2012 Tiger 800XC. I had a great time in Romania. Anyway, I've test ridden the Afria Adventure Sports and it's really fantastic, however, it's the most expensive of the three in Slovenia. I don't use it as dual sport, I ride my bike on Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 tyres and it feels very sporty an manouverable in corners. I do a lot of touring, often riding from breakfast to late dinner and riding comfort is a big thing for me. With some handlebar raisers and an aftermarket touring screen, the Tiger is an awesome bike. Wouldn't mind having either of the three brand new in my garage though. :)
I tested all three of the bikes but I liked the Triumph very much so I bought that. The AT was very good but the screen created horrible buffeting. The BMW's biggest problem is that front end, I didn't like the feeling on the front. For me the Triumph is my favourite.
hahaha Honda Africa is hands down the best adventure bike you can have without breaking the bank. They just need to add the god damn cruise control 😂. Question Tho: why you guys always pick the DCT not the manual?
Outstanding! I was looking forwards to this and you haven't disappointed. One thing I'd say, you guys shouldn't be afraid of using your names. Your work is so good, where's the harm in getting your name out there a little? Tell you what though, Africa Twin surprises... It would be really interesting to see how the regular AT with the quickshifter option would have done it :) I'm surprised the F850GS wasn't quite up to scratch. BMW seem to have thrown the features at the wall without really dialling in the stuff that matters. Very good to know, will give me stuff to try when I test ride all three myself. Thanks guys.
I also agree. The ATAS is begging for cruise control and BMW will make a huge mistake if they don’t bring DCT to the market soon. BMW should also stop underestimating the competition who are pulling out all the stops to perfect their adventure motorbikes to steal numbers from yet unreleased BMWs. I sincerely hope BMW fix the issues with the release of the adventure version in the same way Honda fixed the issues with the release of the adventure sports. The standard Africa Twin never excited me, but this new model tickles the soul.
I was always drawn to the AT. I'm more bothered by tubed tyres. Both other bikes here have tubeless tyres, Honda stubbornly refuses to give us the option, just like they're refusing to add CC despite the fact the bike is ride by wire so it would be trivial to do. As for the ATAS, the protection is a little lacking, particularly the engine bars. I saw a vid where a guy test rode an ATAS and had a very slow speed off and smashed the engine. I'd rather a standard AT and then add aftermarket protection. Irritatingly, in Australia, the standard 2018 AT is not available with DCT, you *must* buy the ATAS. Oh Honda, why do you make it so hard? Throw us a bone.
I'm thinking that the Tiger is the best street bike of the bunch: more pistons to do the work, better lighting for the road, cruise control, and it rev's the lowest RPM's while cruising over 80 mph... The Africa Twin has inner tubes in the tires, No cruise control but love that DCT and Honda quality.... Works it's but off on the highway.... The new GS has that BMW elegance, best electronics, outer flange wire spoked wheels, tubeless tires, cruise control. Not sure what it rev's like on the highway?
Yes I also loved the production value. Major kudos to the crew! It goes without saying that all three of these bikes are excellent and anyone would not go wrong in owning any one of them. It factors in as to who is your best dealer. What ever you ride, be safe and have fun!
Another great video! Top spec Triumph and BMW in Canada are more than $20,000 CDN. Meanwhile the Africa Twin Rally is $5000 cheaper. Maybe the Honda isn't quite as 'premium' as the other two, but I'd wager it will be more reliable, and you can get a lot of goodies for the Honda with the money you save buying it. Also where I live, in northern British Columbia, Canada, the nearest BMW and Triumph dealers are 800 kms away, Honda dealer is 160 kms away. A no brainer for me.
If the criteria is just a 21" front, in the UK Honda featured here £13,549 (non DCT version £12,559, non DCT regular Africa Twin £11,575), Triumph XCa £12,450 (XCx version £11,250) and the BMW starts at £9,775 for a base model. What's going on in Canada?
MrKdr500 - hopefully now they are, my 2016 Africa Twin had rotting spokes (very common) but I reckon that engine would of gone on forever trouble free.
Carrying capacity (payload) of each might be a useful comparison too, perhaps you covered that in part two? I know the BMW takes a healthy 216kg, the Triumph 222kg and the standard Africa Twin is a lot less at 195kg (not sure on this DCT-AS model, it is very hard to find). Honda using tubed Vs tubeless tyres for the others is another obvious difference, pros & cons for each type. Great review, looking forward to part 2. I will say on the BMW, it's no looker.
I like reviews but remember it all comes down to personal preference, your going to have fun on any of the three bikes, I like the looks of the Triumph :)
The AT is an interesting bike... it's a bit beefier than the other middleweights (though they're all tipping 500lbs now which is too much imo) but doesn't really fit the heavyweights either (lower power, more offroad capable). If you've got the skills to manhandle a 500lb bike around offroad then it should be at/near the top of your list... but personally I really want an adv bike in the sub 400lbs range. Something with DS capabilities but ADV range and service intervals. Not that I'd sell my "same weight as the AT but 75% more power" road oriented Multistrada if I got one - they'd compliment each other imo.
Tiger sounds the best with Arrow cans. Triple engine rumbles and its silky smooth engine. Lightest among the three is Tiger. Tiger is also fun on twisties. Only downside is not much resale value on Tigers as there are too many of them. Don’t forget it depends on the rider too :) when it comes to who wins the race.
Great review guys. Here in the uk, the new BMW 850GS is getting very little love. I was interested in it last year, but after seeing the new ATAS at the bike show, I’m really glad I went with that. I agree with you guys on the cruise control, Honda need to address this, most large bike can now be had with it, so Honda have no excuse. As for the Triumph, it’s got all the toys, but I don’t like the sound or looks. Don’t know how to vote, so here’s my vote below. As you may of guessed, the winner for me is, 1st, Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport. 2nd, Triumph Tiger 800. 3rd, BMW 850GS.
The Triumph Tiger 800 is my favorite compare to the 850GS. That triple sound is just amazing, but the Tracer is also my favorite bike. By the way, perfect comparison with these two bikes sir.
Great review again guys, really enjoy your tests 👍🏻😄. ATAS is the winner in my book too, not only because I own one, but because, I only use it as a touring and twisties bike, very rarely venture on to the dirt (I don’t have access to Offroad tracks like you guys ride, otherwise I would). If Honda fitted cruise control and tubeless wheels, nothing would touch the ATAS imho. It also has a fantastic oem soundtrack. The GS is a real disappointment, bike looks awful (and the exhaust system,😮) ergonomics aren’t good, the only real good thing about it is the electronics. The triumph sounds great, has all the toys, but it’s very fussy looking design and paint finishes are not to my liking. I can’t comment on how it rides (same for the GS), but there aren’t any really bad bikes anymore, so it just comes down to personal preference. I’m guessing the Gs will be the best Offroad, but the ATAS is great Offroad and the triumph will be a good 3rd place 😜. Looking forward to what you guys have to say.
Another great review guys. I absolutely love Romania 🇷🇴. I lived in Oradea for 2 years and travelled all over this beautiful country. Greets from Australia
My pick, Africa Twin for off road, then BMW 2nd, then Tiger 3rd. For on road BMW 1st, Tiger close to 1st 2nd, then Africa Twin. PS: Auto trans on Africa Twin would make riding boring in my opinion.
People keep comparing the AT to the GS1200R... They should compare the BHP cause that is what that engine is developed and designed to output.. The africa twin is a middleweight adv bike...
An interesting review, but in the end I didn't like it - Africa, Africa, Africa - All in one voice repeat. You lost your head from this Japanese motorcycle, and stopped seeing its shortcomings at all. The same thing about BMW, - the worst of the worst, unanimous verdict. It doesn't look like an objective review. Your silent colleague agrees and says that he agrees with you in everything, but it looks like he was driving a BMW all the time, and if he had the opportunity to speak out, he might have said something on his own. I think Tiger is far from ideal, having a boring 3 cylinder vibrator. From my point of view, it was not engineers who put more effort into it, but designers. Everything is already hanging out in it from the factory and the flimsy design is unlikely to have a presentable appearance in 3-5 years, which will be appreciated by the 2nd and third user - this is the most unprofitable purchase of the three. BMW has good traction at low revs and a normal landing? Why it is worse than a Triumph is not clear to me.
The Africa Twin is the ugliest of the three Motorcycles, it looks like someone hit the wall with the front of it! Triumph Tiger 1 BMW 2 Honda NA- it is ugly... Just my opinion.. have a nice day!
Well, it's not correct. All three bikes in the test have the same price tag. About €15,500 - €16,000, depending on the market. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports with DCT costs €15,900, for example, while the cheapest Africa Twin is €13,000.
DriveMag Riders it might not be correct for your country but here in Turkey these are the prices. You can check from the websites if you don’t believe me.
DCT sounds like a nightmare. I don't understand why it's so popular. Most of the used africa twins I've come across are the dct version. Not interested.
F850 built from scrap is more the right thing (www.1000ps.de/motorrad-haendler-news-detail-121359-motorrad-tests-bmw-news-auslieferungsstopp-bmw-f-750-gs-und-bmw-f-850-gs )
Another great video, guys, well done! Having swapped a manual bike for a big scooter due to left hand/wrist pain (probably made worse by clutch lever use), I now wish I had gone for one of the Honda DCT bikes. Time to head over to part 2...
After 10,000 miles on an ATAS with DCT in places like the Swiss Alps, Wales and Scotland's NC500, forget manual gearchanges - dial down the traction control, max the engine power and engine braking, flip the gearbox into Sports mode setting 1 and have the time of your life!! That said, after watching this I fancy the F850GS
I like how much your production value has improved. You could still make it seem a little less awkward and artificial, but I think that will come with time. I have subscribed and look forward to the next episode.
Super glad you're making these videos, I'm deciding between the AT and the GS. So this should really help me. The only bike I've ridden (on road) is the Triumph so that helps give me an idea. Looking forward to the offroad test, that will be important to my decision. Also great cinimatogrpahy on these videos! Great to have multi angles and stuff rather then just one talking head.
Congratulations! nice review, amazing landscapes, I wish I could go there someday (with an Africa Twin of course! :D ) I long for the next episode. Regards from Barcelona!
They are from Romania....😁 Right guys? I'm in US...and I'm about to get the Tiger 800... LoL...I can tell you for sure they are Romanians....look how they argue in the video, like gypsies 🤣🤣🤣 sanatate si cat Mai multi kilometrii ....😋 Fara evenimente neplacute.
Good review , but I think you asking the wrong questions. It's not " which on is best" , so much but ,what are the different between them that is more interesting a question. Which bike has the most comfortable seat? Did anyone ask
THE AFRICA TWIN IS NOT A MIDDLE WEIGHT. If you put the Africa Twin against its actual competition it is completely outclassed by the likes of the GS1200, The Tiger 1200 and the KTM 1290. As a 1000 CC bike the Honda cannot be rated against proper middle weight bikes. I'm slightly disappointed that you guys are putting bikes from different classes in the same test and calling them 'middleweights'. Other than that I really enjoy your reviews you guys do some proper riding and test the bikes on some amazing roads. Keep up the great work guys!
I’m thinking of buying a 2019 Triumph Tiger 800 XCX. I’ve been riding a 95 BMW R1100 GS for years. I need something lighter. I’m 66 years old. The Africa is too tall for me. I don’t think the BMW 850 performs as well. It’s got less horsepower and torque than the Tiger. And according to this, the Tiger has better suspension. I’ve owned a 1200 GS. And I own a K1600 GT. I like speed. But I need a lighter bike in my old age.
Good information, but lets not do a "whats the best" comparison. Better to just explain the differences between them and offer opinions about the ride and operation. Good to have riders of differing stature to compare ergos. There really is no best bike for everyone. Yeah, you can do faster, lighter, etc. Those are measurable differences, riding experience isn't so much.
In my world, pavement is to get somewhere where things will get interesting off pavement. You didn't run any of these on dirt, rocks, sand, not even dirt roads. Any modern scrambler would perform better and be as comfortable on pavement. And a touring bike would be better suited. Having ridden many of the roads in the video on a '77 KZ1000A1 years ago, yeah, I had more fun, even with having to tweak my carbs for the altitude. Disappointed you were so narrow in your surface selection. I really wanted to see how the new GS850 compared on trail. But, no trail...
I'm a fairly new subscriber, but love your channel! Great review, I just bought A new FJ09 (Tracer 900 over there) but an ADV bike is next on my list, and I must Admit I'm happy to see the Africa Twin win this one. Not having ridden any of these machines, it is the one I tend to be most drawn to. I love it's looks and it's great to see it rocks the twisties! Can't wait to see part 2!!!
I have a 2017 Africa Twin and bought it after selling my 2014 BMW f800GS. For me, there's no comparison. The Honda beats the BMW hands down. More power, easier to use, better off-road, better & adjustable suspension, dash, controls, weight distribution and maneuverability.... everything. With the BMW you need a lot of extras: hand guards, bash protector, ABS sensor protector, splash guard, light guard....that are standard or you don't need on the Honda. Love it.
you shall point out fuel consumption and fuel tank capacity. I agree with you verdict regarding this on road test. I had opportunity to ride Africa Twin AS without DCT last weekend with my girl onboard and I managed to get 4,8l/100km when smoothly traveling through Poland. So with 24 liter fuel tank capacity I could do around 480km between filling it up. F850 shall not be called adventure bike anymore with its tiny fuel tank.
BMW what have you done? With some refinements to the previous F800GS you would have had a winner. Instead, you tossed the baby out with the bathwater and now have to start from scratch. With all the bikes in this space, I can't think of a single reason to buy this F850GS. Next year KTM could launch their 790ADV and that could be massive.
Hi, I always like your comments about all type motorcycle. I really need your assistance for me to choose which the overall best motorcycle between tiger 800 gt and bmw 850 gs. Looking forward to own this motorcycle. 👍Cheers
Some key things overlooked during the video. 1) Honda has a history of reliability that Triumph does not have. 2) Dealer support, parts and services are more common for the Honda, you can throw a stick in any direction and hit a Honda dealer. 3) The Triumph is more top heavy than the Honda 4) The Honda weights about the same when you compare their wet weight and yet you get an additional 198cc engine. 5) The Honda has the DCT as an option. 6) The Triumph has a nice engine but because it is a triple it uses more gas, when traveling on an adventure gas mileage is extremely important. These were just a few of the facts that this review overlooked, both are great bikes but I believe that Honda is the bike I would trust to get me from point A to point B.
I know I am three years late in seeing this but I really emjoyed your review of this trio. I bought a standard CRF1000L DCT because I wanted the auto box. The only think I wish it had is the gold wheels from the Adveture Sport but in every other way I think it is exceptional.
I think the new Vstrom would be a worthy comparison. It might be the best road bike and I think it's better off road than people think... Me however I have a KTM 1190 and the only bike I would consider changing to is a new 1090R, BMW GSA or the Africa twin.
What is the fad with these bikes recently? Too heavy for dirty, not aggressive enough for fast cornering, crazy tall riding position, and out of all of them the Honda looks the best but on a scale of 1-10 even that the Honda sits at 6 for me(3 for tiger 5 for BMW)
I thought the F800GS would topple the ATAS from my mind but thankfully all the reviews are maintaining my love for the ATAS. I would also love the Tiger except Triumph dealerships are few and far between in North America.
Hi guys Lovely review Thumbs up Tell me your opinion Why Honda did not equip its flagship product with cruise control? Otherwise it would be No.1 ADV bike on the market Cheers
Well I'm only 4 minutes into the video and I'm not sure which bike is going to win, but so far you've sold me on making a trip to Romania! It's gorgeous!
Google transfargarasan highway
Yes...and it's very wild...and very free (for exploring)...
So the honda 1000cc is fastest bmw 850cc middle and 800cc triumph slowest. I see a pattern here !
CCs are less important than HP. As they mentioned, all are equal in HP.
@@ClinttheGreat lol no replacement for displacement.
Those bikes are like pick-up trucks in United States and Canada... They are all relatively good, they all have their goods and bads, but at the end, you will choose the one with the looks that you prefer!!! In my case, I prefer the looks of the Tiger.... Thanks for that very good video!
Correct. The looks of a vehicle are more important than the function. You can't drive something that is super ugly. The reason you buy a motorcycle is because they are supposed to be beautiful, and fun. Not because you "need" one.
Your riding footage and aerials are just getting better and better - your team nicely conveyed how close these 3 are and how likely, we'd be very happy with any of them... special mention needs to be made regarding your videographers and editors - really great job guys! Much thanks for sharing such excellent, happy, quality work!
LookattheBiggerPic Here here
I’m the proud owner of Honda AT DCT no words to express on twisties and hairpins up hill and down hill with DCT just glide with it . 👍👍
Just picked up the Tiger 800 Xrx (road version). Very pleased with the decision...great bike!
Nice introductory review sir, and after reading a lot of the comments below I felt a need to contribute. I think I'm coming from the opposite side of the arguments below. Now being a senior citizen with a life time of enduro riding, I'm looking at 'adventuring' farther by incorporating touring into the enduro aspect. I smile at all the comments about tubed tyres and the 'stranded' comments. We rarely ride without having to remove wheels and change or patch tubes. Sometimes even stuffing grass into tyres to 'get home'. Its all part of 'our' adventure. Ahhh... Nice to have first world problems! I spent yesterday participating in planned test rides of the new triumph explorers and the BMW GS Rally X. Given my brother grabbed a GS 1200 about 6 mths ago I have spent a few hrs on that, and he is attempting to motivate me to join his longer 'adventures'. Honda was across the road from Triumph, so after lunch I thought I should at least sit on one, given I was so close. And at 10k cheaper there was no way it could be near as good - could it? How disappointed was I. This bike should not be so good !!! All my seating position and bar height complaints to the former 2 where solved. The AT sport was perfect for position - particularly standing. And those brakes. Wow! The rear triumph brakes where almost non existent in comparison. I could go on & on I'm sure - but in Summary, the purpose of my comment is to suggest that folk Test Ride this bike prior to making any final decisions on the other majors. Particularly if you do want to 'adventure off road'. They are all great bikes. For me this was a fantastic bike - but I have an offroad bias. Given my age group, the lack of 'tech' gives me more time to concentrate on 'the ride' . And for us old fellas without the previous luxuries of tech - we have spent our lives producing ABS and Traction Control through lever and throttle control. So for me the Africa Twin had way more Tech than my Yamaha and KTM enduro bikes. This Africa Twin is now at the top of my short list.
I'm (quite) happy owner of the new Africa Twin Adventure Sports with manual gearbox. I cannot say anything about the comparison between the bikes since I did not try new BMW 850 but I can share with some pros and cons about this bike.
Pros:
- Great sound with stock exhaust, I'm surprised you didn't mentioned it.
- Very good looking,
- I love the suspension offroad it eats up every potholes and obstacles on the trail without bottoming and rebound problems,
- It has lovely engine clearance especially comparing with the other 2 bikes,
- Good brakes
- Provides good space for a rider,
- It comes with quite high handlebar position which helps in riding in a standing position
- Great for offroad
- Ability to turn ABS (rear only) and Traction control without a hassle,
- Easy to change the tyres (well engineered),
- Heated grips,
Cons:
- I'm very surprised about you saying that the weather protection is good in AT. I'm 186cm and in my opinion it is opposite of good. The vibration and buffeting on the helmet was so strong that it was almost unbearable. Only after purchasing visor deflectors, wind deflectors, forkshield the problem of the vibration was lowered to the acceptable level. Of course I use a highest seat hight possible.
- Crash bars fitted to it are just a not funny joke. They have to be replaced ASAP after purchasing the bike. It is a pitty that customer has to pay for them,
- No cruse control,
- Seat is not comfortable in longer trips,
- the preload adjustment should have some scale which would help to set the suspension to already known levels for different types of terrain or luggage,
- My bike have problems with backfiring of the engine (maybe it is isolated problem only for my bike)
- There should be more power for 1000cc engine. For my taste it would use at least another 40-50hp
- It is not easy to predict the behavior of the front tyre. After time I got used to it but there is not enough feedback on the corners about the traction of the front end,
- I think Honda should rethink the lights. It looks stupid that one of the lights is on and another not,
- The throttle is a little bit to sensitive. They should dial it down a bit. On bumpy roads it is hard to keep the power linear.
- The stash and tool boxes way of opening is just a joke
- Aftermarket, handguards, crashbars, forkshield, skidplate, panier racks are essential if you want to keep the bike safe in low speed offroad crashes. The OEM equipment is shit.
I could talk about it for hours but probably no one will read it anyways, so I will end up here for now. If anyone have some questions I can gladly answer them in comments. All in all I can recommend the bike to anybody and judging only on the reviews and articles it is no brainier for me to pick AT against F850 and Tiger 800. The only motorcycle I would consider instead would be KTM 1090 or upcoming 790 and the only reason for that would be much more hp than AT. Cheers
Eu li. Obrigado!
Thanks a lot for your very instructive comment
Yes..you light on points that most review didn't mention..thnx..that to be considered when deciding..
In general I'd like to express that I would buy this bike second time. My review may seem negative which was not my intention. In my opinion it is one of the best options on the market if not the best. You have to be aware though that it is not a perfect bike. No motorcycle is.
Good feedback, and I am considering it as well. Between the Honda and the KTM, but I think the KTM is a little more pricey.
The back fire is on many new bikes due to emissions....that and you throttle issues are probably easy fixes with a Power Commander and a little adjustment with the air flow.
Would you recommend getting the plain AT and getting aftermarket crash bars & hand guards?
Thanks again!
A good review, but still superficial for ADV bikes. These bikes need to cope with weeks of travel with load( luggage) and see how the riders feel about them then. For me the AT needs cruise control to be serious ( add $2000 for the McCruise system). The Tiger is the third update of a proven bike available since 2011. The AT is still very new and the BMW is unproven. Hopefully your part 2 won't be just a bit of rougher dirt use only. Add some weight and do a multi day ride so we can see what breaks.
I have my Afrika twin for 1 week now and i love it! i dont regret anything! :)
great review i am picking up my honda africa twin adventure sport next week
well done that man!
You will love it! I know that for a fact 😏
Mathieu Terzian thanks man I am looking forward to getting it
NIce! Trading up from?
Mat Bettinson 2012 Yamaha xj6
I like the Africa Twin, the looks, the sound and the driving
I've ridden the Transalpina last year on my 2012 Tiger 800XC. I had a great time in Romania. Anyway, I've test ridden the Afria Adventure Sports and it's really fantastic, however, it's the most expensive of the three in Slovenia. I don't use it as dual sport, I ride my bike on Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 tyres and it feels very sporty an manouverable in corners. I do a lot of touring, often riding from breakfast to late dinner and riding comfort is a big thing for me. With some handlebar raisers and an aftermarket touring screen, the Tiger is an awesome bike. Wouldn't mind having either of the three brand new in my garage though. :)
I tested all three of the bikes but I liked the Triumph very much so I bought that. The AT was very good but the screen created horrible buffeting. The BMW's biggest problem is that front end, I didn't like the feeling on the front. For me the Triumph is my favourite.
This is by far my favorite “Borat Bike Review” parody. Well done, sir.
Borat the movie 😂😂
hahaha Honda Africa is hands down the best adventure bike you can have without breaking the bank. They just need to add the god damn cruise control 😂.
Question Tho: why you guys always pick the DCT not the manual?
RoaringPistons just because only the DCT is available at our dealer
I road the manual and the gearbox is something special. It was unbelievably better than the V-strom box. There's also a quickshifter option...
DCT is uninteresting and unnecessary, it ads cost and complexity.
Forget it, I do not want to see this. I just want the F850gs. I have made up my mind, don't confuse me with facts :-)
I love the BMW
Outstanding! I was looking forwards to this and you haven't disappointed. One thing I'd say, you guys shouldn't be afraid of using your names. Your work is so good, where's the harm in getting your name out there a little? Tell you what though, Africa Twin surprises... It would be really interesting to see how the regular AT with the quickshifter option would have done it :) I'm surprised the F850GS wasn't quite up to scratch. BMW seem to have thrown the features at the wall without really dialling in the stuff that matters. Very good to know, will give me stuff to try when I test ride all three myself. Thanks guys.
Yeah was also surprised the BMW seems pretty unrefined. Very big head scratcher as to why the Africa Twin is missing cruise control though.
I also agree. The ATAS is begging for cruise control and BMW will make a huge mistake if they don’t bring DCT to the market soon. BMW should also stop underestimating the competition who are pulling out all the stops to perfect their adventure motorbikes to steal numbers from yet unreleased BMWs. I sincerely hope BMW fix the issues with the release of the adventure version in the same way Honda fixed the issues with the release of the adventure sports. The standard Africa Twin never excited me, but this new model tickles the soul.
I was always drawn to the AT. I'm more bothered by tubed tyres. Both other bikes here have tubeless tyres, Honda stubbornly refuses to give us the option, just like they're refusing to add CC despite the fact the bike is ride by wire so it would be trivial to do. As for the ATAS, the protection is a little lacking, particularly the engine bars. I saw a vid where a guy test rode an ATAS and had a very slow speed off and smashed the engine. I'd rather a standard AT and then add aftermarket protection. Irritatingly, in Australia, the standard 2018 AT is not available with DCT, you *must* buy the ATAS. Oh Honda, why do you make it so hard? Throw us a bone.
th-cam.com/video/2S6hwq41Pok/w-d-xo.htmlm53s
I'm thinking that the Tiger is the best street bike of the bunch: more pistons to do the work, better lighting for the road, cruise control, and it rev's the lowest RPM's while cruising over 80 mph...
The Africa Twin has inner tubes in the tires, No cruise control but love that DCT and Honda quality.... Works it's but off on the highway....
The new GS has that BMW elegance, best electronics, outer flange wire spoked wheels, tubeless tires, cruise control. Not sure what it rev's like on the highway?
Yes I also loved the production value. Major kudos to the crew!
It goes without saying that all three of these bikes are excellent and anyone would not go wrong in owning any one of them. It factors in as to who is your best dealer.
What ever you ride, be safe and have fun!
Another great video! Top spec Triumph and BMW in Canada are more than $20,000 CDN. Meanwhile the Africa Twin Rally is $5000 cheaper. Maybe the Honda isn't quite as 'premium' as the other two, but I'd wager it will be more reliable, and you can get a lot of goodies for the Honda with the money you save buying it. Also where I live, in northern British Columbia, Canada, the nearest BMW and Triumph dealers are 800 kms away, Honda dealer is 160 kms away. A no brainer for me.
holymolie In Europe they have the same price
Thanks for your appreciation
If the criteria is just a 21" front, in the UK Honda featured here £13,549 (non DCT version £12,559, non DCT regular Africa Twin £11,575), Triumph XCa £12,450 (XCx version £11,250) and the BMW starts at £9,775 for a base model. What's going on in Canada?
The Honda is definitely "premium" in the build quality.
MrKdr500 - hopefully now they are, my 2016 Africa Twin had rotting spokes (very common) but I reckon that engine would of gone on forever trouble free.
Great video !!! Brilliantly filmed too. It would be helpful when talking about comfort of bikes to know how tall you are. Keep up the good work ! :)
The lead guy is odd in how he asks questions. He just seems disconnected from the conversation.
@@Bob-Maplethorpe LOL
Test rode AT and found it way to big, bought the triumph buy the way and loving it , great work by the way love the channel 👍🏻
NIce one! No bad bikes here.
Carrying capacity (payload) of each might be a useful comparison too, perhaps you covered that in part two? I know the BMW takes a healthy 216kg, the Triumph 222kg and the standard Africa Twin is a lot less at 195kg (not sure on this DCT-AS model, it is very hard to find). Honda using tubed Vs tubeless tyres for the others is another obvious difference, pros & cons for each type. Great review, looking forward to part 2. I will say on the BMW, it's no looker.
I like reviews but remember it all comes down to personal preference, your going to have fun on any of the three bikes, I like the looks of the Triumph :)
That new Triumph tiger 800 xca are so cool... My next bike l belive. Even if its not the fastest.
I love BMW but the Africa Twin is the queen in this category, if we want a BMW we will need the 1200 GS to compete with the Honda...
TJ Roelsma Thx for your input, mate ✌️
The AT is an interesting bike... it's a bit beefier than the other middleweights (though they're all tipping 500lbs now which is too much imo) but doesn't really fit the heavyweights either (lower power, more offroad capable). If you've got the skills to manhandle a 500lb bike around offroad then it should be at/near the top of your list... but personally I really want an adv bike in the sub 400lbs range. Something with DS capabilities but ADV range and service intervals. Not that I'd sell my "same weight as the AT but 75% more power" road oriented Multistrada if I got one - they'd compliment each other imo.
David Kuhn Thx for the input mate ✌️
BMW expensive no thanks
Tiger sounds the best with Arrow cans. Triple engine rumbles and its silky smooth engine. Lightest among the three is Tiger. Tiger is also fun on twisties.
Only downside is not much resale value on Tigers as there are too many of them.
Don’t forget it depends on the rider too :) when it comes to who wins the race.
I feel like the time trials changed the entire dynamic of the review. Once the AT proved the fastest, EVERYONE fell in love with it.
For the video I was waiting for!! 😎
You guys do a great review. Very impressed by your reviewing in a language that isn’t your native language. Bravo!
Great review guys. Here in the uk, the new BMW 850GS is getting very little love. I was interested in it last year, but after seeing the new ATAS at the bike show, I’m really glad I went with that. I agree with you guys on the cruise control, Honda need to address this, most large bike can now be had with it, so Honda have no excuse. As for the Triumph, it’s got all the toys, but I don’t like the sound or looks.
Don’t know how to vote, so here’s my vote below.
As you may of guessed, the winner for me is, 1st, Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport. 2nd, Triumph Tiger 800. 3rd, BMW 850GS.
The Triumph Tiger 800 is my favorite compare to the 850GS. That triple sound is just amazing, but the Tracer is also my favorite bike. By the way, perfect comparison with these two bikes sir.
Great review again guys, really enjoy your tests 👍🏻😄. ATAS is the winner in my book too, not only because I own one, but because, I only use it as a touring and twisties bike, very rarely venture on to the dirt (I don’t have access to Offroad tracks like you guys ride, otherwise I would). If Honda fitted cruise control and tubeless wheels, nothing would touch the ATAS imho. It also has a fantastic oem soundtrack.
The GS is a real disappointment, bike looks awful (and the exhaust system,😮) ergonomics aren’t good, the only real good thing about it is the electronics.
The triumph sounds great, has all the toys, but it’s very fussy looking design and paint finishes are not to my liking. I can’t comment on how it rides (same for the GS), but there aren’t any really bad bikes anymore, so it just comes down to personal preference.
I’m guessing the Gs will be the best Offroad, but the ATAS is great Offroad and the triumph will be a good 3rd place 😜. Looking forward to what you guys have to say.
Africa Twin is my favorite
Great bikes I've just bought one and love it.
Realy high production quality! Great job;) excuse my English :) nice bikeselection for comparisation
Tiger is the best
Thank you so much for doing a great review! You'd be the first to run the Tiger 800 XC vs Africa Twin! Great stuff
The Suzuki Vstrom 1000 won!
Another great review guys. I absolutely love Romania 🇷🇴. I lived in Oradea for 2 years and travelled all over this beautiful country. Greets from Australia
Here I am praying that Kawasaki releases a cheap KLR700 this year... These more expensive ones will become obsolete :)
My pick, Africa Twin for off road, then BMW 2nd, then Tiger 3rd. For on road BMW 1st, Tiger close to 1st 2nd, then Africa Twin. PS: Auto trans on Africa Twin would make riding boring in my opinion.
People keep comparing the AT to the GS1200R... They should compare the BHP cause that is what that engine is developed and designed to output.. The africa twin is a middleweight adv bike...
An interesting review, but in the end I didn't like it - Africa, Africa, Africa - All in one voice repeat. You lost your head from this Japanese motorcycle, and stopped seeing its shortcomings at all. The same thing about BMW, - the worst of the worst, unanimous verdict. It doesn't look like an objective review. Your silent colleague agrees and says that he agrees with you in everything, but it looks like he was driving a BMW all the time, and if he had the opportunity to speak out, he might have said something on his own. I think Tiger is far from ideal, having a boring 3 cylinder vibrator. From my point of view, it was not engineers who put more effort into it, but designers. Everything is already hanging out in it from the factory and the flimsy design is unlikely to have a presentable appearance in 3-5 years, which will be appreciated by the 2nd and third user - this is the most unprofitable purchase of the three. BMW has good traction at low revs and a normal landing? Why it is worse than a Triumph is not clear to me.
awesome review. Real life info that is useful for us who actually ride the bikes in normal conditions.
The Africa Twin is the ugliest of the three Motorcycles, it looks like someone hit the wall with the front of it!
Triumph Tiger 1
BMW 2
Honda NA- it is ugly...
Just my opinion.. have a nice day!
Africa Twin costs €11,5k while Triumph is €18k and BMW is €20k. It is idiotic to pay almost twice as much for anything at the same category really.
Well, it's not correct. All three bikes in the test have the same price tag. About €15,500 - €16,000, depending on the market. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports with DCT costs €15,900, for example, while the cheapest Africa Twin is €13,000.
DriveMag Riders it might not be correct for your country but here in Turkey these are the prices. You can check from the websites if you don’t believe me.
No, no, it's the bmw :) the AT is a pig off-road. The BMW is the clear winner if you include serious off-road travels.
DCT sounds like a nightmare. I don't understand why it's so popular. Most of the used africa twins I've come across are the dct version. Not interested.
Quality stuff made in Romania.Great job guys!
Once you go DCT shifting gears feels stupid ,it shifts in a hundreds of a second ,it is the future
F850 built from scrap is more the right thing (www.1000ps.de/motorrad-haendler-news-detail-121359-motorrad-tests-bmw-news-auslieferungsstopp-bmw-f-750-gs-und-bmw-f-850-gs
)
Africa Twin is the best, Honda reliability is unbeatable. Ryu Wins!
LOL. Very funny guys. I liked the review very much. I can't wait to see the off-road test.
Next week :)
That’s the African twins kingdom
Cross the centerline much? Comon guys! Setting a bad precident for all the noobs who will think that's ok. Dangerous riding.
Tiger all day! Honda needs stiffer suspension and cruise control. BMW would be better off road.
So after GTA 4.. Nico Belic lives in peace reviewing motorcycles... fuuuuuuuckin great
What a bunch of jokers. Is this how you review a adventure touring motorcycles? 2 km race?? What a waste of time.
I dont bother the bike much. only I see is that it is a beautiful country.
Nice video guys, it was a surprise.
Never subscribed to their channel, way to biased towards BMW.
Did you even watch the video?
Another great video, guys, well done!
Having swapped a manual bike for a big scooter due to left hand/wrist pain (probably made worse by clutch lever use), I now wish I had gone for one of the Honda DCT bikes.
Time to head over to part 2...
After 10,000 miles on an ATAS with DCT in places like the Swiss Alps, Wales and Scotland's NC500, forget manual gearchanges - dial down the traction control, max the engine power and engine braking, flip the gearbox into Sports mode setting 1 and have the time of your life!! That said, after watching this I fancy the F850GS
Another great video and review. Where are these roads? Keep it up guys!
Fredo C Thank you! Romania
Great video...
Which is place u riding these amazing road...
You guys are great. Complete, knowledgeable and honest. Much appreciated.
I like how much your production value has improved. You could still make it seem a little less awkward and artificial, but I think that will come with time. I have subscribed and look forward to the next episode.
Thank you very much.
Super glad you're making these videos, I'm deciding between the AT and the GS. So this should really help me. The only bike I've ridden (on road) is the Triumph so that helps give me an idea. Looking forward to the offroad test, that will be important to my decision. Also great cinimatogrpahy on these videos! Great to have multi angles and stuff rather then just one talking head.
LITTERING AND LITTERING AND LITTERING AND... SMOKIN THE REEFER.
Congratulations! nice review, amazing landscapes, I wish I could go there someday (with an Africa Twin of course! :D )
I long for the next episode.
Regards from Barcelona!
Thanks for watching. Barcelona... what a nice city. Visited three times and I can't get enough. (Cristian)
Good job there..I must say your quality and overall editing has improved by miles...Love from India.
Great content, I like your accents!
- A dude from Canada
They are from Romania....😁 Right guys? I'm in US...and I'm about to get the Tiger 800... LoL...I can tell you for sure they are Romanians....look how they argue in the video, like gypsies 🤣🤣🤣 sanatate si cat Mai multi kilometrii ....😋 Fara evenimente neplacute.
Best motorcycle review of the year! (Just because I want all three in my garage :))
Tiger só tem status pra mulher do tiozinho que não escolhe o canal da tv em casa
Good review , but I think you asking the wrong questions. It's not " which on is best" , so much but ,what are the different between them that is more interesting a question. Which bike has the most comfortable seat? Did anyone ask
THE AFRICA TWIN IS NOT A MIDDLE WEIGHT.
If you put the Africa Twin against its actual competition it is completely outclassed by the likes of the GS1200, The Tiger 1200 and the KTM 1290. As a 1000 CC bike the Honda cannot be rated against proper middle weight bikes.
I'm slightly disappointed that you guys are putting bikes from different classes in the same test and calling them 'middleweights'.
Other than that I really enjoy your reviews you guys do some proper riding and test the bikes on some amazing roads.
Keep up the great work guys!
I can easily see the AT winning twisties. But I don't see the Triumph being third. Maybe they didn't spin it up enough
I’m thinking of buying a 2019 Triumph Tiger 800 XCX. I’ve been riding a 95 BMW R1100 GS for years. I need something lighter. I’m 66 years old. The Africa is too tall for me. I don’t think the BMW 850 performs as well. It’s got less horsepower and torque than the Tiger. And according to this, the Tiger has better suspension. I’ve owned a 1200 GS. And I own a K1600 GT. I like speed. But I need a lighter bike in my old age.
Good information, but lets not do a "whats the best" comparison. Better to just explain the differences between them and offer opinions about the ride and operation. Good to have riders of differing stature to compare ergos. There really is no best bike for everyone. Yeah, you can do faster, lighter, etc. Those are measurable differences, riding experience isn't so much.
Thank you, gentlemen. Enjoyed very much!
Like the video very much.....would have been more comprehensive with Suzuki V Strom 1000 2018 model...with almost 95-99 BHP power
Hello. Yeah, but in comes with a 19 front instead of 21. Not a direct match
yes, that is an important point..but please do a review of Suzuki V Strom 1000 2017/ 2018 model also
Tks for the review guys.
In my world, pavement is to get somewhere where things will get interesting off pavement. You didn't run any of these on dirt, rocks, sand, not even dirt roads. Any modern scrambler would perform better and be as comfortable on pavement. And a touring bike would be better suited. Having ridden many of the roads in the video on a '77 KZ1000A1 years ago, yeah, I had more fun, even with having to tweak my carbs for the altitude. Disappointed you were so narrow in your surface selection. I really wanted to see how the new GS850 compared on trail. But, no trail...
On those roads? You should have taken Lambretta scooters, boys.
I heard new Africa twin 2018 is not as comfortable as 2016 and 2017 model. Is it true?
I fo have my Africa twin 2016 model, im very happy about!!!
I'm a fairly new subscriber, but love your channel! Great review, I just bought A new FJ09 (Tracer 900 over there) but an ADV bike is next on my list, and I must Admit I'm happy to see the Africa Twin win this one. Not having ridden any of these machines, it is the one I tend to be most drawn to. I love it's looks and it's great to see it rocks the twisties! Can't wait to see part 2!!!
Thank you, Erik! Next week it's time for the off-road movie
Hell yeah, looking forward to it, keep up the awesome reviews!
I have a 2017 Africa Twin and bought it after selling my 2014 BMW f800GS. For me, there's no comparison. The Honda beats the BMW hands down. More power, easier to use, better off-road, better & adjustable suspension, dash, controls, weight distribution and maneuverability.... everything. With the BMW you need a lot of extras: hand guards, bash protector, ABS sensor protector, splash guard, light guard....that are standard or you don't need on the Honda. Love it.
you shall point out fuel consumption and fuel tank capacity. I agree with you verdict regarding this on road test. I had opportunity to ride Africa Twin AS without DCT last weekend with my girl onboard and I managed to get 4,8l/100km when smoothly traveling through Poland. So with 24 liter fuel tank capacity I could do around 480km between filling it up. F850 shall not be called adventure bike anymore with its tiny fuel tank.
BMW what have you done? With some refinements to the previous F800GS you would have had a winner. Instead, you tossed the baby out with the bathwater and now have to start from scratch. With all the bikes in this space, I can't think of a single reason to buy this F850GS. Next year KTM could launch their 790ADV and that could be massive.
Only one running headlight on the Africa twin? Nope - I’d rather be slower! hahaha
Hi, I always like your comments about all type motorcycle. I really need your assistance for me to choose which the overall best motorcycle between tiger 800 gt and bmw 850 gs. Looking forward to own this motorcycle. 👍Cheers
Some key things overlooked during the video. 1) Honda has a history of reliability that Triumph does not have. 2) Dealer support, parts and services are more common for the Honda, you can throw a stick in any direction and hit a Honda dealer. 3) The Triumph is more top heavy than the Honda 4) The Honda weights about the same when you compare their wet weight and yet you get an additional 198cc engine. 5) The Honda has the DCT as an option. 6) The Triumph has a nice engine but because it is a triple it uses more gas, when traveling on an adventure gas mileage is extremely important. These were just a few of the facts that this review overlooked, both are great bikes but I believe that Honda is the bike I would trust to get me from point A to point B.
I know I am three years late in seeing this but I really emjoyed your review of this trio. I bought a standard CRF1000L DCT because I wanted the auto box. The only think I wish it had is the gold wheels from the Adveture Sport but in every other way I think it is exceptional.
H O N D A H O N D A H O N D A H O N D A
Amazing Transalpina RO. !!!
Very nice review, and it was great to get 3 different riders' views. Nice to see you discuss the finer points in riding. Great job!
I think the new Vstrom would be a worthy comparison. It might be the best road bike and I think it's better off road than people think... Me however I have a KTM 1190 and the only bike I would consider changing to is a new 1090R, BMW GSA or the Africa twin.
What is the fad with these bikes recently? Too heavy for dirty, not aggressive enough for fast cornering, crazy tall riding position, and out of all of them the Honda looks the best but on a scale of 1-10 even that the Honda sits at 6 for me(3 for tiger 5 for BMW)
I thought the F800GS would topple the ATAS from my mind but thankfully all the reviews are maintaining my love for the ATAS. I would also love the Tiger except Triumph dealerships are few and far between in North America.
Hi guys Lovely review Thumbs up Tell me your opinion Why Honda did not equip its flagship product with cruise control? Otherwise it would be No.1 ADV bike on the market Cheers