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New Africa Twin debut?

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Not enough to go by yet, but i don't see a bike there that has the real dirt capability that is important to me. I see something more like a competitor to a Yamaha Super Tenere. Good bike, but a styling exercise when it comes to true off road capability. Hopefully I am wrong as I would love to see Honda build a dirt-biased Adventure bike.
 
I've taken a leap of faith that it is exactly what I'm looking for.

Put my deposit on one today and have it in writing I will get the first bike at my local bike shop.

The Honda rep is expected to visit in the next couple of months. Based on that Intel he will call and inform the date he can order and ultimately the day I pick it up.

The dealer isn't expecting to have an actual demo bike availible for curious riders for some time. He expects his first several shipments to already be spoken for.

And now I just need to find some patience.

Safe travels,
TTR
 
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Having followed the build-up to the release announcement, this is exactly what Honda has been promising. Hyping essentially being built on real dirt bike roots and hinting at something more akin to the KTM Adventure than to the Tenere/GS genre. I've heard mumblings of weight of a KLR with twice the horses, and such.

We can only hope it might be so.

Waiting for the specs to be made public to know for sure.
 
Watch "Africa Twin CRF 1000L 2015" on YouTube
Africa Twin CRF 1000L 2015: [ame="http://youtu.be/tS6PaGHTRBM"]Africa Twin CRF 1000L 2015 - YouTube[/ame]
 
TimeToRide said:
Watch "Africa Twin CRF 1000L 2015" on YouTube
Click to expand...

Well, if that was enough to get you to commit you got more out of it than I did. :lol2:

I really am looking forward to more information, becasue Honda could knock it out of the park if they gave any effort at all, but I think back to the Tenere before it was released and all these same rumors were floating around (light weight, dirt capable, big HP) and it was nothing like the hype.
 
I've done a ton of research over the last several months on this bike so this video is one piece of evidence that played into my decision.

Honda has a legacy to protect. They will not link a racing legacy and the founding of the adventure motorcycle genre to a fat slow pig. It would be disastrous for them.

I may eat those words but that is what helped me make my decision.
 
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Johnf3 said:
Well, if that was enough to get you to commit you got more out of it than I did. :lol2:
Click to expand...

My thinking exactly. I see zero specs, no reviews and not even a full photo of the bike. Leap of faith is correct. Think hard before committing to the DCT version also.


Johnf3 said:
I really am looking forward to more information, becasue Honda could knock it out of the park if they gave any effort at all, but I think back to the Tenere before it was released and all these same rumors were floating around (light weight, dirt capable, big HP) and it was nothing like the hype.
Click to expand...

I think this is the market they're shooting for as that is where the sales currently are. Big Adventure bike competition not serious dirt capable bike that you can also ride on an adventure. I'm guessing near 500 lb weight, gas tank too small, suspension lacking, etc. Basically same shortcomings as the rest and will put it somewhere mid pack.

_
 
TimeToRide said:
...Put my deposit on one today and have it in writing I will get the first bike at my local bike shop...
Click to expand...

Just thought of something. You have a non refundable deposit on a bike you have no idea of what the price will be? Another leap of faith or the dealer gave you a range of acceptability before you lose your deposit upon backing out?

_
 
SilverBullet said:
Just thought of something. You have a non refundable deposit on a bike you have no idea of what the price will be? Another leap of faith or the dealer gave you a range of acceptability before you lose your deposit upon backing out?

_
Click to expand...
A chance I am willing to take...

I lose if the bike is heavier than the KTM 1190. I win if it is lighter with ~100 HP. Kind of like the KTM 990...something I considered buying after learning the wet weight of the 1190.

Ultimately price and a small deposit are not my major concerns....

I absolutely love adventure riding. Doing this hobby requires each of us to assume some risk. This simply is a different kind of risk.

TTR
 
Here's the deal as I see it. Honda started the whole ADV thing two decades too early. They set the bar that KTM and everyone else had to aim for in the Dakar races.

They introduced the original Africa Twin, then turned their backs on the ADV market when it didn't respond to their offerings at that time. There was no demand for this style of bike. They took it off the market and waited patiently.

Now, the time is ripe. All the other manufacturers offering models in this class have defined the genre. Considering how they have waited, I doubt that this will be a mediocre attempt at an also-ran. That isn't Honda's style.

They have been leaking tidbits about the bike for at least two years. They have been carefully keeping information from the public. There have been none of the usual spy-shots. Even after debuting the prototype at several shows worldwide. They have spent an enormous amount of time, money, and energy building the "True Adventure" hype with videos and web teasers. They are still doing this, now. Even after the official announcement they are keeping the cards close to their chest, building the hype, brilliantly.

This is not the recipe for introducing some half-baked effort.

This "non-refundable" deposit is something that could be marketed should any who have taken the bait decide otherwise. The place in line could be profitable, sold to any early-adopter who missed the opportunity and is willing to pay.

Even if the hype unfolds differently than expected the bike looks to be at least a contender on par with most of the others. But, it could be a game changer. Only time will tell if Honda is ready to back up all the mystery with a prize worth waiting for.

I'm enjoying watching it unfold. We've seen the cards they've dealt face up, and the time to show their hole cards is getting close.

Are they just bluffing? Anyone care to make any last bets?

New Tenere owners, perhaps? ;-)
 
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I couldn't agree more. You have obviously been keeping up with the Africa Twin saga.

It is a blast just to have some skin in the game!

TTR
 
I knew Soda Pop would like this news.

I remember how quickly Super Tenere's were on the used market when they first came out. Maybe all bikes are like that when brand new, I dunno. I really hope Honda has made something here that fits the hype. As for me I'm still shooting toward getting a Tiger 800 someday. Maybe by that time a better contender will be out, maybe not.
 
TimeToRide said:
I've done a ton of research over the last several months on this bike so this video is one piece of evidence that played into my decision.

Honda has a legacy to protect. They will not link a racing legacy and the founding of the adventure motorcycle genre to a fat slow pig. It would be disastrous for them.

I may eat those words but that is what helped me make my decision.
Click to expand...

+10

...if this is truly the bike and under 400'ish pounds.

honda-crf1000l-africa-twin-6.jpg


RB
 
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My R1150GS is 544lbs dry/588lbs wet... A replacement at 400 has me intrigued....
 
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So four thoughts of mine in no particular order:

  • Dang, does that front end look like a Tenere front end just painted red, or what?
  • This isn't really Honda's leap of faith into the "adventure touring" market. This is just the first modern bike that might come stateside.
  • If they wanted to bring a GS/Tenere/KTM/Guzzi'ish bike to the states then I'm thinking it would be much easier and cheaper to just bring the Crosstourer over here.
  • With that being said, IF it makes it in at 400lbs or less, IF it is decently suspended, and IF it doesn't run upwards of $20k it might be a pretty cool bike. Judging on what the Crosstourers were priced at, I have a feeling that this one is going to be spendy.
 
MotoTex said:
...Are they just bluffing? Anyone care to make any last bets?

New Tenere owners, perhaps? ;-)
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How can they be bluffing? They are telling us nothing! Has there been even a single specification released?

I'll bet you.
  • curb weight will be over 400 lbs
  • hp will be under 100hp
  • fuel range will be 150 miles or less
  • price will be $14,999 or higher

_
 
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TimeToRide said:
A chance I am willing to take...

I lose if the bike is heavier than the KTM 1190. I win if it is lighter with ~100 HP. Kind of like the KTM 990...something I considered buying after learning the wet weight of the 1190.

Ultimately price and a small deposit are not my major concerns....

I absolutely love adventure riding. Doing this hobby requires each of us to assume some risk. This simply is a different kind of risk.

TTR
Click to expand...

I get to try yours out after she gets broke in. Might be my next bike!
Afterall, I got you hooked! :lol2:
 
SilverBullet said:
How can they be bluffing? They are telling us nothing!
Click to expand...

Is that not the very definition of a bluff? :trust: :lol2:

For me the questions are;

  • How much over 400 lbs.? (~10 over would be superb, 80 over would be nothing particularly jaw-dropping)
  • Will range exceed 200 miles? (what is the fixation of manufacturers to make bikes with less range?)

Price and horsepower will be commensurate with whatever they feel are necessary to match or beat the competition.

90-110 hp is a reasonable expectation. Power to weight ratio will be more important than either measure alone.

Price will be whatever the market will bear.
 
MotoTex said:
what is the fixation of manufacturers to make bikes with less range?

Price will be whatever the market will bear.
Click to expand...

Well, it's like cheating. Having a smaller gas tank means less overall weight on the spec sheet. Since liquid weight so much, one less gallon means like 10 pounds less. A bike that weights 299-lb on paper looks like a light weight; and one that weights 309-lb on paper looks like a pig.

Economy is booming. I suspect people this year have a lot of discretionary income to throw away. And baby boomers 's 401k are swelling. And with retro being the fad, a name like Honda African Twin evoking the glories of Dakars from the 80s. I suspect this thing will be very successful in sales.
 
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I'm still not liking Yamaha for not bringing us their XT660 variants.

So being there aren't any specs on the Honda I suppose anything is possible. It seems most here figure this will be competitive with KTM - light and powerful. Wait and see.
 
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