African Twin anyone?

Different discipline.... same Hoon behavior
Post Reply
User avatar
louis mielke
Posts: 96
Joined: July 15th, 2009, 7:08 am
Location: Maryland

African Twin anyone?

Post by louis mielke »

Not a lot of chatter in here. Whats everyone think of the new African Twin? I'm kinda of excited but also disappointed. I have a short inseam so it's really tough for me to street tall bikes, not much easier in the dirt but I manage.

Also kinda sad it's a 500lb machine.
"Don't worry, it will grow back!"
User avatar
Rhino89523
Posts: 1230
Joined: November 18th, 2010, 1:45 pm

Post by Rhino89523 »

I have not thrown a leg over one but I think they look pretty cool. My Buddy at work has a KTM 950 and I have ridden that, I also used to own a GS1100 BMW and I think this is kind of the market they are after. The GS's are fun on the street but are total whales in the dirt and any comparison to a dirtbike in my mind is total false advertising, My Harley does about as well in the dirt as my GS did and I'm not kidding. I have ridden other GS's like the 1150 and 1200 and don't find them to be any better. The KTM950 is also a whale on paper and I was hoping when I rode it I would have the same feelings as a do about the GS. Not the case. My buddies has the S suspension on it so it sits tall. On the street its pretty fast and feels good. Not as stable as a GS and the windshield isn't as good but you can throw miles on it pretty easy and fairly comfortable and it has a ball bag. I don't really care how it does on the street because if I'm clocking miles down the Hiway I have never thrown a leg over anything I like as much as my Harley so I don't need another streetbike. If it handles corners to good I will kill myself so we just cruise. In the dirt I thought the KTM would suck because it's so heavy, it actually rips. It rides smooth over everything, I even single tracked it. Its fast as hell like makes a 500 feel slow. It carries its weight low so you dont really notice its girth when you are riding. The only time you notice the weight is stopping...its like a runaway freight train. Its heavy if you drop it or get stuck other than that it rides off road like a dream....I wanted one.

If the Honda feels like the KTM but it's a Honda I might need to get one.
O.ne B.ig A.ss M.istake A.merica
User avatar
louis mielke
Posts: 96
Joined: July 15th, 2009, 7:08 am
Location: Maryland

Post by louis mielke »

I'm definitely going to test ride one if I get a chance.
"Don't worry, it will grow back!"
User avatar
Rhino89523
Posts: 1230
Joined: November 18th, 2010, 1:45 pm

Post by Rhino89523 »

Me too if I can, a guy here at work is talking about getting one and I would love to throw the leg over. For now my favorite is that KTM but I don't mess with orange.
O.ne B.ig A.ss M.istake A.merica
User avatar
sabreguy
Posts: 2915
Joined: June 1st, 2007, 5:07 pm
Location: Middle of the Freakin Mojave Desert!

Post by sabreguy »

I like the looks of the African Twin but I don't see it as need for me. I'm either going to get a XR/XL650 or the KTM 500EXC not sure if I want to pony up the moolah for the KTM though......
88CR500
ROOST ON PEOPLE!!!
User avatar
Rhino89523
Posts: 1230
Joined: November 18th, 2010, 1:45 pm

Post by Rhino89523 »

I like the XRL the best of all the street legal whales. I had a KLR and I have ridden the DR650 and had XT's. The KTM is the best pure dirtbike but the XRL does pretty good and is bulletproof. I love the 650R but they take a special breed to enjoy and for some can be a bitch to kick especially when jetting isn't right.
O.ne B.ig A.ss M.istake A.merica
User avatar
sabreguy
Posts: 2915
Joined: June 1st, 2007, 5:07 pm
Location: Middle of the Freakin Mojave Desert!

Post by sabreguy »

Back in 86 I had an XL500 (might have been a 600 not 100% sure) but I LOVED that bike wish I never got rid of it. The 650 is probably the way I'll go just because the KTM is $10,000....
88CR500
ROOST ON PEOPLE!!!
User avatar
TYSTYX
Posts: 1316
Joined: June 25th, 2007, 6:30 am
Location: Dark Side of the Moon

Post by TYSTYX »

New Africa Twin is gorgeous. I want one, but will wait until the 2017"s come out so they can work out any "first year" bugs.
99 CR500R
2006 Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade

My Drinking team has a Racing problem !

Image
User avatar
jbird_710
Posts: 551
Joined: August 9th, 2007, 5:37 pm
Location: League City, Texas

Post by jbird_710 »

Picked up a 2017 about 3 weeks ago. So far, it's a blast. Only problem is you have to add so much to them. Even though is has the mounts, Honda sells the center stand separately. I figure I'll have another $2k into it before it's got what it really needs over what you get. One other downside are the tires that come on it aren't good for any kind of offroad riding. But, it has healthy power for a parallel twin. It also feels solid on the road but not heavy. The 2017's are available in red, white, and blue with gold rims. I went with the standard model (non-DCT) as I rather have a clutch and shift gears (personal opinion). You can manually shift the DCT version, but it uses paddle shifter on the bars. Image
'87 CR500R / (2) '01 CR500R / '02 MPS CR500R AF / '06 XR650R / '06 XR650L / '01 XR400R / '01 FLHTCUI / '04 CRF 450R / '84 CR500R / '89 Transalp /'05 CRF450X / '02 XR200R
Jay Birdsong

Don't you know about the Bird?
Post Reply