Bought and sold 1/2 dozen R1200GS/A, KLR650, and loved them. Went to buy an African Twin and got talked out of it by Honda/KTM dealer, talked me into buying KTM 1090 Adventure, fantastic hotrod bike, junk factory acessories -poor fit, gas cap broke off first ride, second ride fuel sender got stuck 8 weeks to fix -sold it with joy. Went back and bought my Africa Twin, rode 1200 miles in 3 days, through 5 storms, rock solid bike, hauls ass, agile and nimble, kick ass ride, reliable period. Thanks for a great review.
MetreX You can’t really go wrong either way. I’ve got an Africa. Great bike. She’s a bit portly, but I really haven’t noticed while riding. Not as exciting as the KTMs. Had them before too.
This is the type of review that guys need to watch when deciding on a bike. A 50,000 km ridden review is so much better and accurate than a 100 km, two day demo ride. I am on the verge of finalizing the Twin (DCT version) and the vid and comments have just inked the deal for me. Thanks William for a great review....
I bought an AT in June because of your VLOGs (also bought a Mavic Pro). Rode from Phoenix to Prudhoe and back the following few weeks. 12,000mi in 3 weeks. Love it. Zero regret.
@@youngboomerragevictim8857 I think you are right hahaha, 20k km in 3 weeks equals approximately 950km (590 mile) per day. Possible? Maybe. It would take non-stop riding every single day for those 3 weeks, with barely any breaks between. Even if you average 100km/h (unlikely) you'd spend 9.5h in the saddle not including breaks, fuel stops, food. I'd say extremely unlikely, and if true extremely unpleasant no matter what bike. 500 miles for most people is on the way high side for a day of touring, 300-400 is more reasonable.
Yes, bed over and take one for the team or just a Honda cheer leader? Let’s see faulty: universal joint in the driveshaft recall, metal shavings in the engine recall, all this on the VFR1200 which was...still is the flagship bike in Honda line up.
@@MR-vt3np yes be careful as Honda has been selling on their name alone since the mid 1970's ...as I was one of the first factory trained goldwing technicians and then schooled on every new model since to 1983 when I loaded up my tool box after I found out why the CX500 V-Twin makes so much valve train noise as thought there is way too much gap in the value stem to rocker arm clearance ..(not the problem) there is a cam follower at the bottom of the push rod that has NO oil supplying lubrication to the cam lobes AT ALL causing them to grind down filling your engine full of tiny particles of steel ..show me one with over 30,000 miles that does not sound like a bucket of bolts ..I told the Honda factory service rep and he said keep it under your hat cause Honda was discontinuing that model anyways !!! Then I bought a V45 Magna that had valve train noise to start with ..after trying to run the valves on a customer's bike that same week , I found that after you adjusted the intake cam followers to 0.002" as required the adjuster would slip off the end of the valve stem and had to open up the clearance like the factory settings was as it came out if the shipping crate that was about 0.006" to 0.011" or more ..so I didn't even pull the cam cover on the one I bought but instead didn't say a word and traded it back in for a two year old 1980 FXDB Sturgis Low Rider , packed up my tools and said bye bye .. during my eight years of wrenching on Honda's every day there are many other unnecessary problems associated with Honda's too long to list ..as in 1983 Honda made their brags of building 52 totally different models of road bikes, dirt bikes , on/off road bikes ATV's , UTV's , Scooters, and mopeds .with no interchangeable parts from one model to the next selling about a million and a half all together of each year in the USA alone ..and claimed to only have a +or- 15% failure rate ..which is more Honda's failing every year than Harley Davidson can build and sell in one year as Harley's sales are based only on bikes larger than 1000cc . In which Harley Davidson is still the king ..and they have an all new from top to bottom end to end adventure bike this year that should be released already ...DOHC 4V EFI liquid cooled 1200cc V-TWIN ..as it is Harley's goal to have 100 totally different models to choose from in and around 2027 ? Give or take ? Just like Honda does ! Wont that be swell .?
Great vid as usual...I have an Africa Twin but so far have only managed a few thousand miles around Scotland 🏴. Feeling inspired to go further afield thanks to your vlog...just gotta convince the missus.
Funny enough my most amazing ride, possibly ever, was riding your beautiful NC500 2 years ago within 4 days of sunshine. Was on the zzr, not the AT, but I need to take my ATAS there, it's calling again.
That how you do a review. Quick, no bullshit and to the point. Looked this bike today and this review helped a ton. Sadly won’t be riding around the world but riding never the less. Nice work.
Hi William, you can adjust the brightness on the screen there is a secret menu you can use. Hold down SEL and SET together. This menu allows you to change the time and brightness. Just cycle through and you will see the brightness option
William Gloege I only found out because I needed to change the time for GMT’s time change. Quick google! Can even change MPH/kph is the menu. Loving the vlogging thank you for sharing with us all.
Yep me too brought one in September ..needed to change clock as it was set wrong!..and as Mike said found screen brightness!....was a bit fed up as dealer didn't tell me Honda was doing a new 30th AT addition with great paint job!....could have waited till next year!!!...still it's a great bike and lov watching your vids William!
I just bought a 2018 AT with DCT at the age of 76. I decided to start riding again and this was a great review with everything I needed to give me confidence in Honda.
Great VLOG`s watched all of them. Some thoughts about BMW GS Adventure and the Africa Twin. Before two month I sold my GS adventure 2014 built. I made just 55.000km and had already to replace the clutch with 42.000km. Expensive part and limited chance to do it by yourself because of the special tools you need. It was my second GS and with the older model I made nearly 105.000 Km without any mayor problems. I was looking for an Alternative as I found your VLOG and that’s why I remembered the old, first Africa Twin and she was nearly un-destroyable. Honda parts you get nearly everywhere and the normal service or brake pads changing, I can do by myself.Thanks for your Input and as Honda will bring the new model "Africa Twin Adventure Sport", it looks like this will be the wright choice for me.Wish you the best and go on like that!
guenter48 it's hard to go wrong with Honda..and like been saud;you meet good people..the new sport adventure diffenetly will be something to conclude in your shopping cart..but notice that it may not be comfortable in touring as GS..!
I think this rewiev should be on top of the page when searching for africa twins. I mean, your opinion is the most solid, taking you made 50.000 km arround the world on it, in all conditions. None of those guys on the tube have these km on it! So yeah, I'll take your word for it. And yes! Nothing beats Honda in terms of reliability. Fact.
I have had my 2016 AT here in the US since March 2017 and I have Managed a little over 14K miles in that time with about a 60/40 on road to off road ratio. We have amazing riding here in Utah I believe the best of both worlds. I have come to the same conclusion on the suspension. After 5 KLRs I just simply had to learn how to work with all of those adjustments. You have produced some amazing videos, Thanks for sharing. I am running the Batzen windshield adjuster and when I saw the vid where your wind screen frame failed I had the same thought. I notice the windscreen in the raised position flexes that bracket a lot more. Surely that has an impact on the metal bracket being moved back and forth so rapidly for long periods of time. I love my AT!
William...what great info, thanks. I just took an expat assignment in Santiago Chile, (from Texas) and am about to pull the trigger and buy this bike. I have test ridden the GS 1200, the Yamaha Ten, and the KTM 1290...but, you know, I feel the same way about Hondas...for the money, it has a lot of value and reliability, and not to mention parts availability. Your review made the difference for me...thanks.
I have a 2016 DCT AT and a 2008 KLR and I love going back and forth between the two. I just did the New Mexico GCDR on the KLR and now want re-do it on the AT. Great bike. Great videos, thanks.
It was an awesome trip. I rode from Demming, NM up to Del Norte, CO over 6 casual days. Here's a video of my trip: th-cam.com/video/qqKMu-YSL1E/w-d-xo.html
Niel i have just completed a 6 week 14500mile trip from Key West , Pike Peak, YellowStone, Glacier Park into Canada to Fairbanks ,Anchorage , Vancouver, Seattle and back to Key West Florida . If you tour USA you just have to tour Alaska Its ffffffing AMAZING and easy. I was two up,on a big Harley Ultra, NO PROBLEM
How was the transition to the dct? I also have a 2008 klr, looking to replace it with a dct AT. But I do a lot of off road, not sure how the dct will do
Thanks for a real world practical review. Good video focused on perhaps the most important point....RELIABILITY. My son and I rode 5200 miles on the TransAmerica Trail last August on two old Craigslist bikes. (Riding some more remote location in Nevada highlights the importance of reliability.) Somehow we made it with the skin still intact on our rear ends...even with "unfarkled" stock seats. (We did have some padding in cycling shorts that we wore.) Amazingly the stock bikes made it too...despite being 1990 and 1996 model years with only routine maintenance.
Thanks for an honest review of a bike that you have lived with for 50,000k's. It's nice to know that there are still some bikes out there that don't fall apart or need a fortune spent on them to make them work or improve reliability. I think I should stop thinking about the choice between the AT and the T7 and stay with Honda. If you want to see what a maniac can do on a near stock AT, look up MVDBR Enduro and Mad Mick. He proves just how much punishment the AT can take and still get up for more! I have hit the subscribe thingo!
Nice review...its smart to keep most of the original parts on the bike..if anything breaks its aftermarked parts..it has een a joy to follow your trip around the world. Thanks
Enjoyed your review. Entertaining. I've got the same bike. Made a lot of the same mods. Only thing I have to disagree with you is about the suspension. But then again, I'm 6'2" and weigh 190 lbs. Add to that the amount of luggage and camping gear I carried with me from Oklahoma to Alaska and I can tell you the stock suspension is wholly no bueno! My sag was so sag I slapped a Touratech HP Explore shock and a new set of springs for the front forks before I left. So glad I did. Carry on! I've subscribed.
Great review. I love my Africa Twin, but I've got one of the few old models in the US, a 2000 XRV750. 125,000 km so far and still going strong. Eventually I'll get a new one.
I’ve watched all of the other Africa twin blogs from people and this one was the best, banged on about welding a lot but some one actually out there doing what the bike is supposed too! Well done, I pick up my Africa twin tomorrow and plan to ride England-holland-Germany-Austria-Sweden-Norway-Scotland back to England so advice was welcome. Safe riding all
Verry good review agree with all you says, i bouth Africa twin 2016 model in April second hand with 4000 km i travel in France alps from Chamonix mt-Blanc to south true many diférent small mountain road included off piste,my wife stay in south of France..crossing Pyrénnées mountains and i am doing one week in Corsica and 6000km in 14 days Maroco and Mauritania included off piste. The bike now total km 37000 its mean 33000km 20500 miles in 9 month and i am verry happy with my bike, the bike looks new like yours and the engine feel more and more better. Thank you for your diférents review, simple and clear. sorry for my speaking...
Great to the point no BS review! I love the rotopax position. I had those same racks on my 990 and they broke very easily but like you said its an easy cheap fix and when you crash w hard cases something has to give and it may as well be the racks.
My friend, a ride isn't over till you have experienced Leh-Ladakh in the Himalayas. I wish you ride on the Manali-Leh route & Khardung la Pass one day. Love from India! 🇮🇳
Funny, I have lots of the same ideas. Who cares what everyone else is riding? I just bought one today. I kept my promise to Honda and got the white. In my opinion, it is not only much better looking, it also feels just as capable as the 1200GS. I know because I rode one 20k miles. On and off road. I’m going to keep my twin on the pavement until I get some protection. Ride safe and enjoy the brap!
William, this was a great review! I'm currently researching to figure out what ADV bike to get so hearing all the little nuances etc is really helpful. Regarding the seat comfort, you should definitely look into getting an 'AirHawk' seat pad, I guarantee you wont regret it. I'll have to check over your other videos incase you've already covered it, but what are your thoughts on the ABS/TC resetting every time?
William, I like your style. I'm so happy to find your review as so many reviews are with less than 10k miles on the bike. I put 36k on my R1150GS in one year of owning it, so I need a reliable bike into the higher mileages and I figured Honda would do well (especially, as you said, with a lower compression engine). With that said, how often are you adjusting valves on this bike? That's one concern I have as valve adjustments come around pretty quickly for me on these GS's, even at every 12k miles. Again, thank you so much for the review. I just subbed and will be watching from here on out.
I laugh when people say this bike is underpowered. I've had an HP2 for over ten yrs and never felt it was underpowered; riding with old KTM 900 or new 11/12 models. The AT makes the same power (more or less) as my HP2. Plenty of power.
Would of been good if you had made it to Australia I would have joined you Been following your adventure from the start excellent Cheers from Australia
What about the feint fork seal, you shiny mention it in yr list of failures. Great trip, would love to do it, unfortunately too badly damaged from past bike crashes. Well I can dream.
Yes, tell what other bikes you had for context this is very important. Because if its your first adv bike your opinion have pretty low value as opposed to someone who had like 5 other adv bikes for comparison and have some baseline
can't beat honda in my opinion. i pulled out 1,80,000 miles with only £120 spent on repairs during the ownership of it. i did took care of routine service always. there would be many more nice and luxurious vehicles with a lot more gizmos but nothing beats honda for me.
Excellent concise and thorough review. It’s also inspiring to discover how ‘stock’ you have left the bike. I find the fascination (it seems to be standard in The States in particular) with changing end cans at huge expense to be so pointless!
Great bike. I just wish they had cruise for those long highway drones. Mosko Moto soft luggage has replaced my hard cases. After getting my right leg sucked under a Zega while paddling was the deal and leg breaker.
Nice honest review William. Do you wish you would have waited to get the Tri color one? I like the red but the white with gold wheels is dope! I love my AT!!
I really like your review and your attitude, style. I have grown up on bikes my entire life. I am from San Francisco California where there is some of the best riding in the world. I first test rode the AT here in Beautiful Gorgeous Bangkok Thailand and absolutely loved it after owning a GS 800...... I am 6'4",220lbs....the ergos felt great. Now we are in 2019....what are your current opinions and what other bikes are you liking??... Maybe you are on something else now??... I actually prefer a shaft drive bike but don't want the big gs.... I prefer Reliability..... Dependability.... Honda... Yamaha.... Or the new Moto Guzzi V85TT. Anyway, I am still looking at this bike along with the Yamaha GT 900....their Super Tenere and the Honda Crosstourer. Thanks again for your excellent review.
I've owned a new AF from sept 2017. To see your excellent review of the bike after 31k miles has reinforced my opinion of it. One query how often have you been changing the oil and filters. Incredible what you have achieved. How much further have you got to go. Have a safe journey.
Excellent talking love your bike and want to go around the world on bike two hehehe keep uploading and sharing it the experience cheers mi pana saludos by a venezuelan that is living in argentina. Im traveling trough your travel too hehhee.
Love your videos! Since you have used both a KLR and the AT now for long distance travel, I would love to hear your opinion on choosing one vs. the other for such a trip. What are the pros and cons of each? Is the trip significantly better on one verses the other? Might make an interesting vlog post :-) .
Nice vid mate. Honda must have listened to you! Every thing that was not quite right has been improved with the 2018 adventure sports. Will you be changing to one of those?
I know I am over 4 years late to the party but hey ... did you have to get the valve clearances done at around 30,000 kms? if so then was it a big job? Geat review by the way!
Bought and sold 1/2 dozen R1200GS/A, KLR650, and loved them. Went to buy an African Twin and got talked out of it by Honda/KTM dealer, talked me into buying KTM 1090 Adventure, fantastic hotrod bike, junk factory acessories -poor fit, gas cap broke off first ride, second ride fuel sender got stuck 8 weeks to fix -sold it with joy. Went back and bought my Africa Twin, rode 1200 miles in 3 days, through 5 storms, rock solid bike, hauls ass, agile and nimble, kick ass ride, reliable period. Thanks for a great review.
MetreX You can’t really go wrong either way. I’ve got an Africa. Great bike. She’s a bit portly, but I really haven’t noticed while riding. Not as exciting as the KTMs. Had them before too.
Man I'd like to get one
Would it be good for a dude that is 6"4
@@hesko125 I'm 6'9", works fine for me.
This is the type of review that guys need to watch when deciding on a bike. A 50,000 km ridden review is so much better and accurate than a 100 km, two day demo ride. I am on the verge of finalizing the Twin (DCT version) and the vid and comments have just inked the deal for me. Thanks William for a great review....
Zero criticism! Honest and entertaining review from someone who has walked the walk! Great job!
Finally the guy who likes his stock pipes. I thought I am the only one. Thanks for objective review.
Nomad Nomad original exhuast nice shaped..
Right, SoloRide. good shape, nice sound, good quality and weight. Really no sense to buy 'watch me' pipes.
Except it sounds like a scooter with stock pipe
I like them too. Snd the worst ones and most boring stock pipes are on BMW f800gs😋
Michal Kadlec that’s true. Had to change mine on the first days with an Arrow.
I bought an AT in June because of your VLOGs (also bought a Mavic Pro). Rode from Phoenix to Prudhoe and back the following few weeks. 12,000mi in 3 weeks. Love it. Zero regret.
Strong work!
How is it in the freeway with the nobby tires?
12000?? So you went cross county like 4 times?? Liar
@@youngboomerragevictim8857 I think you are right hahaha, 20k km in 3 weeks equals approximately 950km (590 mile) per day.
Possible? Maybe. It would take non-stop riding every single day for those 3 weeks, with barely any breaks between. Even if you average 100km/h (unlikely) you'd spend 9.5h in the saddle not including breaks, fuel stops, food.
I'd say extremely unlikely, and if true extremely unpleasant no matter what bike.
500 miles for most people is on the way high side for a day of touring, 300-400 is more reasonable.
Peace of mind traveling on a Honda = priceless.
I used a 5th gen VFR to travel the US for years. Honda makes fantastic machines.
There are two brand i completely trusts. One is Honda, and the other is Yamaha. Kind of bullit proof bikes. And you got to love that about them.
"Honda"... a Japanese word for "bullet proof".
Richard Mourdock no. You are wrong. It means "invincible ninja with an eight foot sword". Hahahaha. Thanks for watching.
Roger that amigo!!
Just not in formula 1 ;)
Yes, bed over and take one for the team or just a Honda cheer leader? Let’s see faulty: universal joint in the driveshaft recall, metal shavings in the engine recall, all this on the VFR1200 which was...still is the flagship bike in Honda line up.
@@MR-vt3np yes be careful as Honda has been selling on their name alone since the mid 1970's ...as I was one of the first factory trained goldwing technicians and then schooled on every new model since to 1983 when I loaded up my tool box after I found out why the CX500 V-Twin makes so much valve train noise as thought there is way too much gap in the value stem to rocker arm clearance ..(not the problem) there is a cam follower at the bottom of the push rod that has NO oil supplying lubrication to the cam lobes AT ALL causing them to grind down filling your engine full of tiny particles of steel ..show me one with over 30,000 miles that does not sound like a bucket of bolts ..I told the Honda factory service rep and he said keep it under your hat cause Honda was discontinuing that model anyways !!! Then I bought a V45 Magna that had valve train noise to start with ..after trying to run the valves on a customer's bike that same week , I found that after you adjusted the intake cam followers to 0.002" as required the adjuster would slip off the end of the valve stem and had to open up the clearance like the factory settings was as it came out if the shipping crate that was about 0.006" to 0.011" or more ..so I didn't even pull the cam cover on the one I bought but instead didn't say a word and traded it back in for a two year old 1980 FXDB Sturgis Low Rider , packed up my tools and said bye bye .. during my eight years of wrenching on Honda's every day there are many other unnecessary problems associated with Honda's too long to list ..as in 1983 Honda made their brags of building 52 totally different models of road bikes, dirt bikes , on/off road bikes ATV's , UTV's , Scooters, and mopeds .with no interchangeable parts from one model to the next selling about a million and a half all together of each year in the USA alone ..and claimed to only have a +or- 15% failure rate ..which is more Honda's failing every year than Harley Davidson can build and sell in one year as Harley's sales are based only on bikes larger than 1000cc . In which Harley Davidson is still the king ..and they have an all new from top to bottom end to end adventure bike this year that should be released already ...DOHC 4V EFI liquid cooled 1200cc V-TWIN ..as it is Harley's goal to have 100 totally different models to choose from in and around 2027 ? Give or take ? Just like Honda does ! Wont that be swell .?
Great vid as usual...I have an Africa Twin but so far have only managed a few thousand miles around Scotland 🏴. Feeling inspired to go further afield thanks to your vlog...just gotta convince the missus.
David J yes..you must ride when ever you got the chance..make it commitment..and ride must include some off road;It's what bike biased to..
"A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do"
Funny enough my most amazing ride, possibly ever, was riding your beautiful NC500 2 years ago within 4 days of sunshine. Was on the zzr, not the AT, but I need to take my ATAS there, it's calling again.
1,000 Cylinders 😳 1:20
50K miles.
1000 cm³
HazardSports the point went right over everyone’s heads. 😂
Dampening 😳
It's official, I like you. I'm not necessarily a Honda fan, but I've had a bit of seat time on this bike and I like this bike a lot.
Dang! Finally a cat who tells it like it is with no BS.
That how you do a review. Quick, no bullshit and to the point. Looked this bike today and this review helped a ton. Sadly won’t be riding around the world but riding never the less. Nice work.
christian sendra I hope you get one!
Discovered this by accident but now I'm going back to watch your entire around the world VLOG
What a decent review this is! Straight talking guy...very few of them out there. Thanks!
Hi William, you can adjust the brightness on the screen there is a secret menu you can use. Hold down SEL and SET together. This menu allows you to change the time and brightness. Just cycle through and you will see the brightness option
Mike Bee are you messing with me??? I guess I should read the manual at some point!!!! Thank you!!!!!
William Gloege I only found out because I needed to change the time for GMT’s time change. Quick google! Can even change MPH/kph is the menu.
Loving the vlogging thank you for sharing with us all.
Real men never read manuals. Respect yourself, think experimental ;)
Yep me too brought one in September ..needed to change clock as it was set wrong!..and as Mike said found screen brightness!....was a bit fed up as dealer didn't tell me Honda was doing a new 30th AT addition with great paint job!....could have waited till next year!!!...still it's a great bike and lov watching your vids William!
I was just about to write about this menu :P
I just bought a 2018 AT with DCT at the age of 76. I decided to start riding again and this was a great review with everything I needed to give me confidence in Honda.
Why would you have confidence in anything else?
I just got the same bike!
I love your videos! I just got one also. How is yours holding up?
@@HOARedneck very good, had to get spokes replaced from corrosion but honda did it for free even after warranty. I have the 2017 red tri-color manual
Great VLOG`s watched all of them. Some thoughts about BMW GS Adventure and the Africa
Twin. Before two month I sold my GS adventure 2014 built. I made just 55.000km
and had already to replace the clutch with 42.000km. Expensive part and limited
chance to do it by yourself because of the special tools you need. It was my
second GS and with the older model I made nearly 105.000 Km without any mayor
problems.
I was looking for an Alternative as I found your VLOG and that’s why I remembered the
old, first Africa Twin and she was nearly un-destroyable. Honda parts you get
nearly everywhere and the normal service or brake pads changing, I can do by
myself.Thanks for your Input and as Honda will bring the new model "Africa
Twin Adventure Sport", it looks like this will be the wright choice for me.Wish you the best and go on like that!
guenter48 it's hard to go wrong with Honda..and like been saud;you meet good people..the new sport adventure diffenetly will be something to conclude in your shopping cart..but notice that it may not be comfortable in touring as GS..!
Good point on the racks breaking before the frame.. I always thought i wanted the toughest racks that wouldn't break.
I think this rewiev should be on top of the page when searching for africa twins. I mean, your opinion is the most solid, taking you made 50.000 km arround the world on it, in all conditions. None of those guys on the tube have these km on it! So yeah, I'll take your word for it. And yes! Nothing beats Honda in terms of reliability. Fact.
I have had my 2016 AT here in the US since March 2017 and I have Managed a little over 14K miles in that time with about a 60/40 on road to off road ratio. We have amazing riding here in Utah I believe the best of both worlds. I have come to the same conclusion on the suspension. After 5 KLRs I just simply had to learn how to work with all of those adjustments. You have produced some amazing videos, Thanks for sharing. I am running the Batzen windshield adjuster and when I saw the vid where your wind screen frame failed I had the same thought. I notice the windscreen in the raised position flexes that bracket a lot more. Surely that has an impact on the metal bracket being moved back and forth so rapidly for long periods of time. I love my AT!
Thanks for the straightforward & informative review! I enjoy watching your videos. Safe travels for the remaining legs of your journey.
William...what great info, thanks. I just took an expat assignment in Santiago Chile, (from Texas) and am about to pull the trigger and buy this bike. I have test ridden the GS 1200, the Yamaha Ten, and the KTM 1290...but, you know, I feel the same way about Hondas...for the money, it has a lot of value and reliability, and not to mention parts availability. Your review made the difference for me...thanks.
I have a 2016 DCT AT and a 2008 KLR and I love going back and forth between the two. I just did the New Mexico GCDR on the KLR and now want re-do it on the AT. Great bike. Great videos, thanks.
Thomas Burnett I would love to tour the USA from Neil a UK biker
It was an awesome trip. I rode from Demming, NM up to Del Norte, CO over 6 casual days. Here's a video of my trip:
th-cam.com/video/qqKMu-YSL1E/w-d-xo.html
Niel i have just completed a 6 week 14500mile trip from Key West , Pike Peak, YellowStone, Glacier Park into Canada to Fairbanks ,Anchorage , Vancouver, Seattle and back to Key West Florida . If you tour USA you just have to tour Alaska Its ffffffing AMAZING and easy. I was two up,on a big Harley Ultra, NO PROBLEM
How was the transition to the dct? I also have a 2008 klr, looking to replace it with a dct AT. But I do a lot of off road, not sure how the dct will do
Thanks for a real world practical review. Good video focused on perhaps the most important point....RELIABILITY. My son and I rode 5200 miles on the TransAmerica Trail last August on two old Craigslist bikes. (Riding some more remote location in Nevada highlights the importance of reliability.) Somehow we made it with the skin still intact on our rear ends...even with "unfarkled" stock seats. (We did have some padding in cycling shorts that we wore.) Amazingly the stock bikes made it too...despite being 1990 and 1996 model years with only routine maintenance.
Thanks for an honest review of a bike that you have lived with for 50,000k's. It's nice to know that there are still some bikes out there that don't fall apart or need a fortune spent on them to make them work or improve reliability. I think I should stop thinking about the choice between the AT and the T7 and stay with Honda. If you want to see what a maniac can do on a near stock AT, look up MVDBR Enduro and Mad Mick. He proves just how much punishment the AT can take and still get up for more! I have hit the subscribe thingo!
Good review
Straight to the point.
Keep the rust it's conversation patina!
Nice review...its smart to keep most of the original parts on the bike..if anything breaks its aftermarked parts..it has een a joy to follow your trip around the world.
Thanks
Great review, no bullshit and straight to the point!!
Enjoyed your review. Entertaining. I've got the same bike. Made a lot of the same mods. Only thing I have to disagree with you is about the suspension. But then again, I'm 6'2" and weigh 190 lbs. Add to that the amount of luggage and camping gear I carried with me from Oklahoma to Alaska and I can tell you the stock suspension is wholly no bueno! My sag was so sag I slapped a Touratech HP Explore shock and a new set of springs for the front forks before I left. So glad I did. Carry on! I've subscribed.
Where ya been man?
I like your take on the suspension, you just saved me some dough
Safe travels & keep them coming! 👍
What a refreshingly honest review, nice one.
I just bought this exact bike. its a left over 2017. I am stoked
Great review. Help me feel better about buying one as next bike.
Wil
I came from a KLR650 and bought a 2016 AT a few months ago. It is surprising how much more confident I feel riding offroad with such a bigger bike.
Great review. I love my Africa Twin, but I've got one of the few old models in the US, a 2000 XRV750. 125,000 km so far and still going strong. Eventually I'll get a new one.
I’ve watched all of the other Africa twin blogs from people and this one was the best, banged on about welding a lot but some one actually out there doing what the bike is supposed too!
Well done, I pick up my Africa twin tomorrow and plan to ride England-holland-Germany-Austria-Sweden-Norway-Scotland back to England so advice was welcome.
Safe riding all
Not that I needed it but this just confirms what I love about my AT...can't beat it
It's very nice bike. It has some minor cons but after 10.000 km I can say, so far so good. I did not want to buy BMW GS.
Excellent real world info, thanks and keep on filming!
To the Point Review. Liked it. Planning on Buying one. Safe Travels Mate !
Now that's a review! Take care on the road William.
Thank you William it's been a while, the bike is good. Take care . 👍🇬🇧
Verry good review agree with all you says, i bouth Africa twin 2016 model in April second hand with 4000 km i travel in France alps from Chamonix mt-Blanc to south true many diférent small mountain road included off piste,my wife stay in south of France..crossing Pyrénnées mountains and i am doing one week in Corsica and 6000km in 14 days Maroco and Mauritania included off piste. The bike now total km 37000 its mean 33000km 20500 miles in 9 month and i am verry happy with my bike, the bike looks new like yours and the engine feel more and more better.
Thank you for your diférents review, simple and clear. sorry for my speaking...
Great review! You kept everything on point and was very informative. I like your bike, safe travels
YES way to go the big Africa Twin
Great to the point no BS review! I love the rotopax position. I had those same racks on my 990 and they broke very easily but like you said its an easy cheap fix and when you crash w hard cases something has to give and it may as well be the racks.
Been looking for a review like this for a few days. Wanted to know the weak points of this bike. Good vid, thanks
I enjoyed your trip around the world while I just ride my A/T to work and back. Don't feel too bad for me. I live in Florida and don't have a car.
I also love you prove that giant gas tanks are a waste. I've never heard anyone ever say, "I wish my bike was heavier."
I really like the Africa twin, looks like a great ride! I have a ktm 790 adventure R on deposit can't wait! Good riding, be safe.
Great JOB !... I got one and I love it
Awesome review my son and I are talking about getting one each. This helps a ton
Great review - I could actually understand what you were talking about lol!! I'm deciding what to buy atm that helped a lot. Thanks William
My friend, a ride isn't over till you have experienced Leh-Ladakh in the Himalayas. I wish you ride on the Manali-Leh route & Khardung la Pass one day. Love from India! 🇮🇳
Funny, I have lots of the same ideas. Who cares what everyone else is riding? I just bought one today. I kept my promise to Honda and got the white. In my opinion, it is not only much better looking, it also feels just as capable as the 1200GS. I know because I rode one 20k miles. On and off road. I’m going to keep my twin on the pavement until I get some protection. Ride safe and enjoy the brap!
the Velcro is for your push to talk button I think, At least that is where I put my PTT.
honest review by a smart guy
Fantastic video...I have a 2018 Adventure sport
Dude this vid is great!!
That breaks part😂😂
1:20 ohhhh those 1000 cylinders 👌🏼
Great review. No BS, direct, informative and straight to the point. Thanks man
Now I gotta start savin up to buy 1
William, this was a great review! I'm currently researching to figure out what ADV bike to get so hearing all the little nuances etc is really helpful.
Regarding the seat comfort, you should definitely look into getting an 'AirHawk' seat pad, I guarantee you wont regret it.
I'll have to check over your other videos incase you've already covered it, but what are your thoughts on the ABS/TC resetting every time?
Wonderful review! Great job.
William, I like your style. I'm so happy to find your review as so many reviews are with less than 10k miles on the bike. I put 36k on my R1150GS in one year of owning it, so I need a reliable bike into the higher mileages and I figured Honda would do well (especially, as you said, with a lower compression engine).
With that said, how often are you adjusting valves on this bike? That's one concern I have as valve adjustments come around pretty quickly for me on these GS's, even at every 12k miles.
Again, thank you so much for the review. I just subbed and will be watching from here on out.
I laugh when people say this bike is underpowered. I've had an HP2 for over ten yrs and never felt it was underpowered; riding with old KTM 900 or new 11/12 models. The AT makes the same power (more or less) as my HP2. Plenty of power.
My 1966 Volkswagen beetle had 36 horsepower and it got where we wanted to go and it weighed more than the AT.
Would of been good if you had made it to Australia
I would have joined you
Been following your adventure from the start excellent
Cheers from Australia
How's the bike on highways (higher speeds)? What about weather protection? And you're right, was waiting for a bike review.
What about the feint fork seal, you shiny mention it in yr list of failures. Great trip, would love to do it, unfortunately too badly damaged from past bike crashes. Well I can dream.
Yes, tell what other bikes you had for context this is very important.
Because if its your first adv bike your opinion have pretty low value as opposed to someone who had like 5 other adv bikes for comparison and have some baseline
And sorry but if I had to judge based on this review I'd say your new to this sport
can't beat honda in my opinion. i pulled out 1,80,000 miles with only £120 spent on repairs during the ownership of it. i did took care of routine service always. there would be many more nice and luxurious vehicles with a lot more gizmos but nothing beats honda for me.
Very entertaining my friend, and I agree with all your opinions, not that that is important :D
Great vid ! I've got a couple weeks to wait on my '18 AT AS. Thanks
Your opinions helped me answer some questions and confirming my suspicions about the bike. Thank you so much 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Excellent concise and thorough review. It’s also inspiring to discover how ‘stock’ you have left the bike. I find the fascination (it seems to be standard in The States in particular) with changing end cans at huge expense to be so pointless!
Great bike. I just wish they had cruise for those long highway drones. Mosko Moto soft luggage has replaced my hard cases. After getting my right leg sucked under a Zega while paddling was the deal and leg breaker.
It's crankcase ventilation to the airbox (PCV valve) oil vapor.
Ace. Thanks for sharing. Ride on.
fantastic vid. BIG thumbs up. thanks for the effort and the sharing. if you are ever in nyc, i'll buy the coffee.
Nice honest review William. Do you wish you would have waited to get the Tri color one? I like the red but the white with gold wheels is dope! I love my AT!!
I really like your review and your attitude, style. I have grown up on bikes my entire life. I am from San Francisco California where there is some of the best riding in the world. I first test rode the AT here in Beautiful Gorgeous Bangkok Thailand and absolutely loved it after owning a GS 800...... I am 6'4",220lbs....the ergos felt great. Now we are in 2019....what are your current opinions and what other bikes are you liking??... Maybe you are on something else now??... I actually prefer a shaft drive bike but don't want the big gs.... I prefer Reliability..... Dependability.... Honda... Yamaha.... Or the new Moto Guzzi V85TT. Anyway, I am still looking at this bike along with the Yamaha GT 900....their Super Tenere and the Honda Crosstourer. Thanks again for your excellent review.
John Flano Greetings from Oakland
@@oldtimer3824 Greetings. How is the east bay these days??.... The 880...??
John Flano ha ha, 880 is still a gridlocked hell on earth. Oakland backroads like Redwood Rd just as beautiful and twisty as ever. Ride on.
th-cam.com/video/5MrZzVOroPE/w-d-xo.html
Now thats a proper review
Rode my wing from Florida to Oklahoma and back this year….. Glorious
Also I want this Africa Twin but the pegs are too high
I've got a GS with ESA but the AT stock suspension for road use is easily as good, if not better IMHO.
loved last comment, KEEP to yourself
Excellent review. Thanks
Good stuff. Earned a sub
I've owned a new AF from sept 2017. To see your excellent review of the bike after 31k miles has reinforced my opinion of it. One query how often have you been changing the oil and filters. Incredible what you have achieved. How much further have you got to go. Have a safe journey.
John E I change the oil at 5,000 km. I have 20,000 km to go. Thanks for following.
Picked up a new 2018 AT AS on clearance last year and absolutely love it. Thanks for the great review!
Excellent talking love your bike and want to go around the world on bike two hehehe keep uploading and sharing it the experience cheers mi pana saludos by a venezuelan that is living in argentina. Im traveling trough your travel too hehhee.
Thank you. I rode one the other day and I like it more than the R1200GS! It just feels great to ride.
Velcro for mounting GoPro....
Nice video, nice bike and nice journey..... cheers
Great review! I may have missed it, what tire do you ride?
Hey man! Bike looks really shiny after 50000)) Tis a beauty.
Whats the model of throttle lock? Do you use it often?
Love your videos! Since you have used both a KLR and the AT now for long distance travel, I would love to hear your opinion on choosing one vs. the other for such a trip. What are the pros and cons of each? Is the trip significantly better on one verses the other? Might make an interesting vlog post :-) .
Extra respect for the Salomons.
1000 cylinders woooow thats a pretty freaky engine XD (1:19)
Nice vid mate. Honda must have listened to you! Every thing that was not quite right has been improved with the 2018 adventure sports. Will you be changing to one of those?
I know I am over 4 years late to the party but hey ... did you have to get the valve clearances done at around 30,000 kms? if so then was it a big job? Geat review by the way!
Sir, Do faced any issues with this tube tires? in travels or off road?
great review man,subbed.