Finally someone that actually doing a great review, i almost listened to everything. And that didn't happen in the last maybe 80 reviews that saw. Please do more and compare bike too. 💯💯💯💯
Wait a minute, 24:23 minutes long video and no ads in the middle of the video, really? Wow, I am impressed. Wait, or am I dreaming? I hope it was real. Seriously, great review with no commercials in the middle to interrupt, it's a beautiful combination. I'm subscribing! I typically stop watching videos with ads the moment the first mid-roll ad starts, give the video a thumbs down, and if RUclips suggested the video, I block the channel. Yes I hate them that much, at the start and end it's OK, but not in the middle. Good job!
Dude, most people in India think offroading is just riding on a mud and gravel road or a little bit of large rocks. You guys have done a great job of showing what the real deal looks like! Great skill btw, it's a frickin heavy bike at 230-240 kg like the 1250GS
Wow! I've watched many many reviews on this bike as I purchased a 2020 ATAS es this spring. Your review is the most informative, detailed and realized that I have seen to date. I have 9000 km on mine, absolutely love it, and extremely saddened, as winter is on my doorstep! Please open your border so we can go south eh, lol. 🇨🇦 Praying for your citizens, and fires to extinguish in Western USA 🙏
The thing that struck to me more than anything from this great review (other than the gorgeous AT) is the way this guy is narrating. So calm and smooth, almost ASMR-ish.
I own the 2020 and have watched a ton of reviews, but this one is my favorite. Really great job. Thanks for covering the details, everything from Gravel Mode to Wheelie Control! 25 minutes we’ll spent!
Really good review. Nice to have a professional's perspective. Lot's of 'tubers with 15 minute dealer "test rides" posing as "reviewers"... Thank you. Many "reviews" repeat what they read somewhere or saw on another "review" on RUclips. This review made a difference in my choice of next ADV bike. I've owned VStrom's and GS's... my next ADV will be a Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports. I'm tired of giant pigs, but I do ride a lot of street and something like the T7 is not quite enough.
That was one fantastic review! Nice work. The knowledge of and experience with the bike really came through. Thanks for doing a deep dive on the electronics. Everyone else just complains about the complexity and you simplified it.
Thanks! I think part of the "complexity" in the system is that it's so non-intuitive. There are arbitrary feature set designations (e.g., "gold", "silver", "bronze"), and no comparable system to use as a point-of-reference that I can think of (other than CarPlay perhaps, it doesn't behave like an iPhone or anything else familiar). Really just a matter of going through it to learn the structure, after that it's pretty easy.
All the information I could ever want from a review, I don’t feel like you missed anything out. Loved the fact you really went in to the off-road aspect and reflected what you were saying with the footage. Brilliant. I want one! Time to book a test ride.
I'm 8 minutes in to this review, and came out to comment. I bought a 2020 AT blind a few months ago, as I am in Cairo, and home is the UK. Retiring next month and will see / ride it for the first time. Before I bought it, I watched HOURSSSSSS of reviews and I am with Max (below). This is without any doubt the BEST review of the many, many, many I have seen, in terms of really useful advice....... and I've still got 16 minutes to watch. Jon / ADV Pulse - awesome job. Thank you guys !!. For anyone looking for AT reviews, also see another brilliant channel - Richy Vida - UK. Richy has done some BRILLIANT reviews also about the "Experience" of the AT
Great review. Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly review the electronics package instead of simply dismissing it as being too complicated like every other reviewer.
Thanks for the comments, and it was definitely my pleasure to dive into the electronics of this bike! I'll admit, part of the incentive to figure it all out stemmed from frustration over the electronics working against me when things weren't set up appropriately for the conditions either on or off-road. Well worth the effort, as it's a blast to ride this thing when it's correctly dialed in for the terrain.
This is one if the better reviews out there. Maybe because guys pushed it hard on gravel and offroad. The environment which is natural to these types of motorcycles. One moment I was thinking I could also do some of those tricks offroad myself. But of course it is not the motorcycle but the years of learning and skills. Great job done by ridier and filming crew P.S how do you find AX41 tires in comparison to other similar models like Anakee Wild or TKC80?
That's what I wanted someone who knows the bike, and explains how it works on and off road. Also good off road review not like most just gravel roads, you did a great review and now have a much better understanding of how it all works, much appreciated.
Best Africa Twin review I’ve seen. I’ve been hunting for an ADV bike to compliment me and I think this guy is the one. I’m a Triumph classic guy moving into new territory (Japanese bike)...exciting!
The best, most concise, fair honest and informative review for this bike I have found on the web coupled with great presentation video and stills. Great job. Hence I've bought the DCT ES and already covered 7K miles in 38 days.
Congratulations for the great review. Clear, complete, pragmatic, objective. This AT to me has too many bottons and too much electronics. I have the 2016 model and don't feel the need to replace it by this one. Greetings from Portugal.
Fantastic review sir. Expecting mine in couple weeks. Currently riding Enfield 500 n this is a big leap for me. I can easily say I hold world record of most viewed videos of AT. Ur review stands above par from the others. Thanks so much.
Great review. So much better coming from someone familiar with this style of bike and not a reviewer that just jumped off a R1 or GSXR after a track day.
Just rode this bike yesterday , I think I’ll end up getting one ( I had the 2016 model) I liked it but this one is leaps ahead , I think for me this is the best option atm , I’ve not seen this bloke before , great review had to sub . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
The audio of this review was outstanding. Specifically the voice microphone. It made the tone of the voice sound very warm and pleasant. Whatever microphone you used, you need to use that microphone for all recording. It provided very good, very warm audio. Thank you. As a criticism, the end of this video was extremely vague and confusing as the summary of the bike was described with a series of confusing questions by the host. As people watching it from home, it would be helpful to hear your personal opinion on it, rather than being asked what we want. I left the end of this video feeling a bit confused, as there were more questions than answers. (Great review though overall!).
I absolutely loved this bike on my test ride. I rode the old model 3 times because I really wanted to love it but I always found the suspension to be terrible and it was way more difficult to ground the feet. With the new model all of that has changed and it is (at least for me) a much more better motorcycle. The suspension is great, it is easier to ground the feet and overall it is much more fun then the previous model. Now it is an AT that I may buy but I also absolutely love the 790 ADV R. At this moment I don't know how I will decide ...
One of the better reviews by someone who knows his stuff. Thanks. I have owned only 3 (Enduro/dirt) Hondas, but this could be my return thanks to your great and helpful review.
Super late comment, but I am just now finding your channel, and i have only watched the first 5 minutes of this video - incredible presentation , professionalism and fun. 10/10 subscribing
Wow!, what a great review! You showed everything u talked about. As a Bmxer/Mtber I totally understood what u were explaining about how to ride. This sounds like it will be my first motorbike. Although I’ll set to level 7 when I start! 👍
Very in depth review. Like that you didn't try to paint everything rosey or bash on the bike's shortcomings either. Definitely one of the most objective reports I have seen, or read, on the 2020 version. And, SO GLAD you didn't review the automatic or the Adventure Sports versions like about 90%+ of reviews out there. The average person, with some riding experience, is going to benefit more from the base model. Less weight, lower cost. A few things you missed though, and it's probably attributable to the amount of time you spent on this bike off-road. Wondering how the lights perform at night, the comfort of the seat for highway miles, the fuel economy riding it on the road, the steering lock and how predictable and controllable the power is at slow speed and in corners. The last well-written review of this bike complained about its immense weight and top-heavy design. Wondering if you could elaborate on this point which you only glossed over in the video. Also, do you think a tubed tire/wheel design is safe enough for mostly road use, as many will drive this bike realistically. What would a catastrophic loss of air look like versus a tubeless design at highway speeds.? Thanks again for a fantastic write up. I'm definitely going to turn to your channel again for reviews of other bikes.
Appreciate the comments! Lot of good points there - I'll try to give my 2 cents as succinctly as possible... Lights: Didn't mention performance of lights as I didn't do much night riding in an "evaluation" context on a darkened road or trail. FWIW I don't recall ever wanting for more illumination, but your point is a good one and that would have been interesting to evaluate. Seat: I can attest to seat comfort being good, with the caveat that I went into this test having last spent extensive time on the 2018 AS model which (IMO) has a very uncomfortable seat. I did several 200-300 mile days on the 2020 standard model with no noticeable discomfort. Economy: Fuel economy is described in the written review. Averaged 37-47 mpg depending on riding conditions. Steering/power: Based on riding impression, steering stops fall into that "normal" space most bikes occupy somewhere between KTM 950/990 and BMW GS 1150/1200/1250 extremes. Power is smooth and controllable, however to what degree varies depending on the settings. In most cases I preferred the least amount of computer intervention. Weight: Honestly this bike didn't feel overly top-heavy when compared to similar bikes in the adventure class. They all are to more or less of a degree. I'm more concerned with how it carries the weight, and how easy it is to change direction. Some of the scenes in the video on the tighter trails show the bike dancing around a bit. It's a big adventure bike no doubt, but the chassis carries the weight well, and allows it to be controlled in a somewhat "dirt bike like" way. Tires: I run tubes the vast majority of the time. Have experienced dozens, maybe hundreds of flats over the years but can't recall any I'd consider "catastrophic". I have, however, experienced sudden (but fortunately not catastrophic) loss of air on tubeless setups - either by virtue of denting a rim and losing a bead, or ejecting a repair plug.
Well done mate. I agree with all who wrote before me, total in depth and expertise in presentation..keep it up. You think of everything, and in detail, that's what we all want. It helps that you can ride (skilz) and relay that info.
Easily the best Africa Twin review I have ever seen. Articulate and understated. Fantastic-looking bike, as well. The electronics are too complex for me.
I bought it with DCT. This review really sold me. It is spot on. The four preset modes (Tour, Urban, Gravel and Off Road) on the 2020 basic model do not allow us to change the Power or Engine Breaking values. But we can change the Traction and Wheelie settings. Does this mean P and EB are the most important elements of the bikes performance and stability? What should we set T at, in these modes? Why do the engineers trust us to select T in these defined modes? I’ve been riding for a couple of years and I’ve already ridden this bike in tougher/slicker places than many will ever try. But I’m realizing I don’t really understand the HSTC. I don’t want to overthink it but I’d like to understand it.
Great review! The newer Honda AT has definitely come a long way since its introduction in 2016. I'm not big into electronic rider aids but what an amazing electronics package for the price. Plus you get the Honda reliability. I would love to ride the new AT as well as the Yamaha T7 and see which one works better for me.
First review I've seen where you actually use the bike for what it's made to do and more. Sick of "adv" people taking this on fire roads. This is a 1000 dirtbike. USE IT.
This is a fantastic review! It's probably the best one I've seen on the revamped Africa Twin. I just bought a 2021 base model bike. It's at the dealer awaiting the arrival of some accessories. I'm so looking forward to riding it. Thanks for this video, I think it will be a tremendous help!
If you're riding over half an hour, you probably want to get one of these on order: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JMK7N8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 cut the straps that secure it under the seat and sew the ends into loops so you can attach it to the bike frame. It'll make SO much difference!
Just like with a modern car, you ignore it for the first 15-20 seconds and get on with your ride. You can actually ignore that display if you want, your speed and such are still there on the LCD underneath.
It does show up every time, however while the video shows pushing the "ok" button to make the message go away, it's not necessary. Per zugmeister314's comment, just ignore it and the normal display is there in 20 seconds. It's different for sure, but you do get used to it after a while.
I was torn between the Tenere and the Africa. I just can’t get past all the electronics! I want full control, I hate pushing buttons. This confirms I’m getting the Tenere!
Great review ! This is a bike i am seriously considering now. In the UK there seems to be some great deals for the 2020 model so i am just going to wait for the right package to come up and take the plunge. I also very immaturely laughed at 4:02 thinking that you farted when the scene changed (After looking back i think its a fly but the editor clearly wanted to leave it in)
Thumbs up 👍 for this review. I feel that 6th gear could be taller. What were final User 1/2 settings for Road and Off-road you settled on by the end.? And also your rebound/compressions setting for dirt compared to factory settings? BTW a lot of that weight was saved with lithium battery as standard. Great 👍 review, probably the best/most thorough one out there 🥇
Thanks! Settings ended up being (for the most part): Offroad: User 1, P-1, EB-3, traction control and wheelie control both off. General cruising: Tour mode. Twisty pavement: User 2, P-1, EB-3, wheelie control - 1, and traction control somewhere in the middle of the range depending on the road. Unsure about clickers as the shop set it up for my weight before I hopped on board.
Sounds like way to many mode options for me. Thought that's what the rider is supposed to do. Getting older now but could go anywhere on a crf450f except not road legal
Best review around. I have one question.. Is the adventure sport with manual gear box and analogue suspension, as good as the base model offroad? main difference should be the bigger tank and larger fairing. But local dealer will not get the standard model beofre late 2021 and would loe o see wether the larger tank hinders its offroad capabilities too much.
Love my 2021 ATAS! Sure lots of electronics but with a little familiarization it’s great. I need to do highway to get some good riding and this bike will get me there in comfort and then be totally competent off-road. Honda reliability is also important when I’m in the backwoods!
Hello, great review on the 2020 AT, in fact after primarily watching your video and a few others, I decided to buy one and on June 4 2021 I purchased a base DCT model brand new from my dealer in Calgary. If you were to add to your video though I would say that it would be worth explaining how the pie icons for Power, Engine braking and so on work. As they do in fact work backwards to what common thinking would be. The more blue sections to a pie, whatever setting it is, means less engine power or the most intervention of limiting the potential of the bike. One would think by nature, being non Japanese thinking, that the more blue pie pieces would mean more and more power or less and less computer intervention, but in fact that is the opposite to how Honda designed it, the smallest the pies are blued out means the max power, least ABS, most engine braking. Lastly, one mode you did not touch on and I would love to see what you think but under the star button one can turn on the Gravel Active icon, it will flash and say its active. I have ridden my bike now 3000 kms and I'm still trying to find the actual result of what this feature is, from what the manual says it affects the clutch on the DCT models. Can you shed some light on this for me. Thanks for the great videos. Yours was by far the best one to explain the new AT and showing what is behind the machine and its versatility. I ride mine around my Lake Cabin trails and roads in Northern Saskatchewan, this consists of; *Hard dirt packed trails with sandy consistency *Further from the lake clay and rock trails *Good old black mud sections or bog stuff where go arounds are best option *Grasses or moist green marsh weeded green type areas *Saskatchewan grid - gravel roads, *Secondary asphalt "often with broken out sections" aka Oiled on top of gravel grid roads *Last but not least good old open road main highways - concrete or asphalt. My bike has from the factory the Metzeler Karoo Street tires that so far have proven to be very good on all of the above riding except for the Grasses or moist green marsh weeded green type areas. In these areas the tire is almost like a racing slick tire, the closer lug design that works so well on the almost sand paper clay with sand hard pack, almost like pavement traction on the tire. On the greens although it's not very often that we ride there I'm considering going to the Michelin Anakee Wild tires for my next set to see. My worry with this tire is I hope it's not a rock thrower as the gravel is plentiful and the Karoo don't pitch them at all. Any comments would be fantastic. Thanks in advance. Reg Riemer, Turtle Lake Sask. p.s. Any of you have comments on these tires and gravel roads please pm me or post here if ADV Plus does not mind. 😬
The Honda NC750X is my "adventure" bike. It makes me a better rider because it's smaller, lighter, has a lower CG, and is more agile than the African Twin. It's also a whole lot less expensive than the excellent CRF1100L Honda! I know that I'm comparing apples and oranges here, but the NC750X deserves a mention.
Check out the full review at: www.advpulse.com/adv-news/honda-crf1100l-africa-twin-review/
Finally someone that actually doing a great review, i almost listened to everything. And that didn't happen in the last maybe 80 reviews that saw.
Please do more and compare bike too.
💯💯💯💯
@@bbmoti That means a lot. Thank you!
Wait a minute, 24:23 minutes long video and no ads in the middle of the video, really? Wow, I am impressed. Wait, or am I dreaming? I hope it was real. Seriously, great review with no commercials in the middle to interrupt, it's a beautiful combination. I'm subscribing!
I typically stop watching videos with ads the moment the first mid-roll ad starts, give the video a thumbs down, and if RUclips suggested the video, I block the channel. Yes I hate them that much, at the start and end it's OK, but not in the middle. Good job!
Best review of the African Twin I've seen on YT so far. You really took it through its paces especially offroad. Well done.
This review sold me on the CRF1100L, bought one and love it.
I want one. I have a street bike and have heard these are the way to go more comfortable and more fun obviously.
@@randysmith8604 certainly fun, heaps of power too, I’m really happy with the bike thus far.
What a great explanation without music interference..keep doing more motovlogs buddy ..I like your way of explanation the nuts and bolts
"without music interference"?!
Most thorough review I have seen. Very professional, polished and yet almost like listening to your buddy tell you about the bike. Great job!
Thank you Robert!
Articulate and informative review; well worth the watch.
Thank you, Walter. Much appreciated!
You have got an amazing presentation style, man. Very approachable, non imposing, straight to the point and above all very competent.
Dude, most people in India think offroading is just riding on a mud and gravel road or a little bit of large rocks. You guys have done a great job of showing what the real deal looks like! Great skill btw, it's a frickin heavy bike at 230-240 kg like the 1250GS
For sure the best review of the AT!!! Solid work!!
Thank you Lance!
Great to see a review like this that isn't scripted or coerced by the manufacturer. Definitely sets the standard how reviews should be done.
He is the best reviewer I have seen. A real pro.
Wow! I've watched many many reviews on this bike as I purchased a 2020 ATAS es this spring. Your review is the most informative, detailed and realized that I have seen to date. I have 9000 km on mine, absolutely love it, and extremely saddened, as winter is on my doorstep! Please open your border so we can go south eh, lol. 🇨🇦 Praying for your citizens, and fires to extinguish in Western USA 🙏
The thing that struck to me more than anything from this great review (other than the gorgeous AT) is the way this guy is narrating. So calm and smooth, almost ASMR-ish.
I own the 2020 and have watched a ton of reviews, but this one is my favorite. Really great job. Thanks for covering the details, everything from Gravel Mode to Wheelie Control! 25 minutes we’ll spent!
Really good review. Nice to have a professional's perspective. Lot's of 'tubers with 15 minute dealer "test rides" posing as "reviewers"... Thank you. Many "reviews" repeat what they read somewhere or saw on another "review" on RUclips. This review made a difference in my choice of next ADV bike. I've owned VStrom's and GS's... my next ADV will be a Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports. I'm tired of giant pigs, but I do ride a lot of street and something like the T7 is not quite enough.
That was one fantastic review! Nice work. The knowledge of and experience with the bike really came through. Thanks for doing a deep dive on the electronics. Everyone else just complains about the complexity and you simplified it.
Thanks! I think part of the "complexity" in the system is that it's so non-intuitive. There are arbitrary feature set designations (e.g., "gold", "silver", "bronze"), and no comparable system to use as a point-of-reference that I can think of (other than CarPlay perhaps, it doesn't behave like an iPhone or anything else familiar). Really just a matter of going through it to learn the structure, after that it's pretty easy.
Easily the most articulate and thorough review I’ve seen for this bike. Very well presented and impressive riding on such a big bike.
Best Africa Twin (and not only) review I've come across!! Congratulations for the fantastic work!
Best off road review for the Africa Twin by far!!!
Best review of the CRF1100L I have seen. More information with less subjectivity. Bravo.
As a 6'4 dude this bike was the one that felt perfect sitting in. First and only bike for me, the AT!
One of the best motorcycle reviews I’ve seen.
So thorough and detailed! This is a high quality review.
Undoubtedly, the best review of the AT ,I have seen so far . Thank you for all the efforts !
All the information I could ever want from a review, I don’t feel like you missed anything out. Loved the fact you really went in to the off-road aspect and reflected what you were saying with the footage. Brilliant. I want one! Time to book a test ride.
I'm 8 minutes in to this review, and came out to comment. I bought a 2020 AT blind a few months ago, as I am in Cairo, and home is the UK. Retiring next month and will see / ride it for the first time. Before I bought it, I watched HOURSSSSSS of reviews and I am with Max (below). This is without any doubt the BEST review of the many, many, many I have seen, in terms of really useful advice....... and I've still got 16 minutes to watch. Jon / ADV Pulse - awesome job. Thank you guys !!. For anyone looking for AT reviews, also see another brilliant channel - Richy Vida - UK. Richy has done some BRILLIANT reviews also about the "Experience" of the AT
Great review. Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly review the electronics package instead of simply dismissing it as being too complicated like every other reviewer.
Thanks for the comments, and it was definitely my pleasure to dive into the electronics of this bike! I'll admit, part of the incentive to figure it all out stemmed from frustration over the electronics working against me when things weren't set up appropriately for the conditions either on or off-road. Well worth the effort, as it's a blast to ride this thing when it's correctly dialed in for the terrain.
Near the 15 minute mark I was pleased to see about 10 minutes remaining. Great thorough review!
This is the most focused, thorough review on the AT I’ve seen and I’ve watched a lot. Really informative. Subbed.
This is one if the better reviews out there. Maybe because guys pushed it hard on gravel and offroad. The environment which is natural to these types of motorcycles. One moment I was thinking I could also do some of those tricks offroad myself. But of course it is not the motorcycle but the years of learning and skills. Great job done by ridier and filming crew
P.S how do you find AX41 tires in comparison to other similar models like Anakee Wild or TKC80?
Thanks for the feedback Martynas! Really appreciate it. Regarding the AX41, grip is pretty similar to the TKC 80s and we got 4700 miles out of a set.
That's what I wanted someone who knows the bike, and explains how it works on and off road. Also good off road review not like most just gravel roads, you did a great review and now have a much better understanding of how it all works, much appreciated.
Best Africa Twin review I’ve seen. I’ve been hunting for an ADV bike to compliment me and I think this guy is the one. I’m a Triumph classic guy moving into new territory (Japanese bike)...exciting!
This is one of the best reviews of anything on RUclips. Well done
Incredible review on a motorcycle. Not even in the market for an ADV bike and the info is really good. You can tell he knows what hes talking about
Not only the best review I've seen on the AT but the best motorcycle review I've ever seen! Excellent!
Appreciate that, Ken! Thank you!
Without a doubt the best motorcycle review I've ever seen, top notch my friend. Thanks so much for the wonderful job.
Wow, thank you so much!
Wow man, fantastic review! 👍
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback 🙏
The best, most concise, fair honest and informative review for this bike I have found on the web coupled with great presentation video and stills. Great job. Hence I've bought the DCT ES and already covered 7K miles in 38 days.
Congratulations for the great review. Clear, complete, pragmatic, objective. This AT to me has too many bottons and too much electronics. I have the 2016 model and don't feel the need to replace it by this one. Greetings from Portugal.
This will be my bike one day I swear this thing just keeps looking better
Fantastic review sir. Expecting mine in couple weeks. Currently riding Enfield 500 n this is a big leap for me. I can easily say I hold world record of most viewed videos of AT. Ur review stands above par from the others. Thanks so much.
Do more reviews JB. Yer good at it fella..🍻
Thanks! Really enjoyable getting to spend sufficient time with a bike to understand what it's all about. Hopefully more to come!
Great review. So much better coming from someone familiar with this style of bike and not a reviewer that just jumped off a R1 or GSXR after a track day.
One of the best reviews out there.
Thank you! 🙏
Just rode this bike yesterday , I think I’ll end up getting one ( I had the 2016 model) I liked it but this one is leaps ahead , I think for me this is the best option atm , I’ve not seen this bloke before , great review had to sub . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Definitely one of the better bike reviews I’ve seen of late
The audio of this review was outstanding. Specifically the voice microphone. It made the tone of the voice sound very warm and pleasant. Whatever microphone you used, you need to use that microphone for all recording. It provided very good, very warm audio. Thank you. As a criticism, the end of this video was extremely vague and confusing as the summary of the bike was described with a series of confusing questions by the host. As people watching it from home, it would be helpful to hear your personal opinion on it, rather than being asked what we want. I left the end of this video feeling a bit confused, as there were more questions than answers. (Great review though overall!).
I absolutely loved this bike on my test ride. I rode the old model 3 times because I really wanted to love it but I always found the suspension to be terrible and it was way more difficult to ground the feet. With the new model all of that has changed and it is (at least for me) a much more better motorcycle. The suspension is great, it is easier to ground the feet and overall it is much more fun then the previous model. Now it is an AT that I may buy but I also absolutely love the 790 ADV R. At this moment I don't know how I will decide ...
Fantastic video. Great work guys
Thank you! 🙏
One of the better reviews by someone who knows his stuff. Thanks.
I have owned only 3 (Enduro/dirt) Hondas, but this could be my return thanks to your great and helpful review.
The plushiness of the suspension is visibly noticeable in this vid. Great review btw!
Super late comment, but I am just now finding your channel, and i have only watched the first 5 minutes of this video - incredible presentation , professionalism and fun. 10/10 subscribing
Wow!, what a great review! You showed everything u talked about. As a Bmxer/Mtber I totally understood what u were explaining about how to ride. This sounds like it will be my first motorbike. Although I’ll set to level 7 when I start! 👍
Very in depth review. Like that you didn't try to paint everything rosey or bash on the bike's shortcomings either. Definitely one of the most objective reports I have seen, or read, on the 2020 version. And, SO GLAD you didn't review the automatic or the Adventure Sports versions like about 90%+ of reviews out there. The average person, with some riding experience, is going to benefit more from the base model. Less weight, lower cost. A few things you missed though, and it's probably attributable to the amount of time you spent on this bike off-road. Wondering how the lights perform at night, the comfort of the seat for highway miles, the fuel economy riding it on the road, the steering lock and how predictable and controllable the power is at slow speed and in corners. The last well-written review of this bike complained about its immense weight and top-heavy design. Wondering if you could elaborate on this point which you only glossed over in the video. Also, do you think a tubed tire/wheel design is safe enough for mostly road use, as many will drive this bike realistically. What would a catastrophic loss of air look like versus a tubeless design at highway speeds.? Thanks again for a fantastic write up. I'm definitely going to turn to your channel again for reviews of other bikes.
Appreciate the comments! Lot of good points there - I'll try to give my 2 cents as succinctly as possible...
Lights:
Didn't mention performance of lights as I didn't do much night riding in an "evaluation" context on a darkened road or trail. FWIW I don't recall ever wanting for more illumination, but your point is a good one and that would have been interesting to evaluate.
Seat:
I can attest to seat comfort being good, with the caveat that I went into this test having last spent extensive time on the 2018 AS model which (IMO) has a very uncomfortable seat. I did several 200-300 mile days on the 2020 standard model with no noticeable discomfort.
Economy:
Fuel economy is described in the written review. Averaged 37-47 mpg depending on riding conditions.
Steering/power:
Based on riding impression, steering stops fall into that "normal" space most bikes occupy somewhere between KTM 950/990 and BMW GS 1150/1200/1250 extremes. Power is smooth and controllable, however to what degree varies depending on the settings. In most cases I preferred the least amount of computer intervention.
Weight:
Honestly this bike didn't feel overly top-heavy when compared to similar bikes in the adventure class. They all are to more or less of a degree. I'm more concerned with how it carries the weight, and how easy it is to change direction. Some of the scenes in the video on the tighter trails show the bike dancing around a bit. It's a big adventure bike no doubt, but the chassis carries the weight well, and allows it to be controlled in a somewhat "dirt bike like" way.
Tires:
I run tubes the vast majority of the time. Have experienced dozens, maybe hundreds of flats over the years but can't recall any I'd consider "catastrophic". I have, however, experienced sudden (but fortunately not catastrophic) loss of air on tubeless setups - either by virtue of denting a rim and losing a bead, or ejecting a repair plug.
Well done mate. I agree with all who wrote before me, total in depth and expertise in presentation..keep it up. You think of everything, and in detail, that's what we all want. It helps that you can ride (skilz) and relay that info.
Great review. More from John please!!
Man, you do great reviews. You seem to cover all the information I want to know.
insanely comprehensive review, wish you did cars
Best review Of a bike I’ve seen. Just came across this channel. Well done and thanks
John, your reviews are on point and nicely delivered. Possible to give Rob some hints?
What a comprehensive review. You covered everything I needed. Thank you, you got a sub.
Easily the best Africa Twin review I have ever seen. Articulate and understated. Fantastic-looking bike, as well. The electronics are too complex for me.
My favourite traction control setting on my 2017 - OFF. ;-)
T7
I pulled off the ABS rings, having to turn off TC every single time I start/restart the bike was driving me nuts
Superb review .... I need to test drive one!!
Can’t remember when last I watched such a great review. Well done!
I bought it with DCT. This review really sold me. It is spot on.
The four preset modes (Tour, Urban, Gravel and Off Road) on the 2020 basic model do not allow us to change the Power or Engine Breaking values. But we can change the Traction and Wheelie settings.
Does this mean P and EB are the most important elements of the bikes performance and stability? What should we set T at, in these modes? Why do the engineers trust us to select T in these defined modes? I’ve been riding for a couple of years and I’ve already ridden this bike in tougher/slicker places than many will ever try. But I’m realizing I don’t really understand the HSTC. I don’t want to overthink it but I’d like to understand it.
Thanks Jon, great review. Nice editing, Top marks
Great review! The newer Honda AT has definitely come a long way since its introduction in 2016. I'm not big into electronic rider aids but what an amazing electronics package for the price. Plus you get the Honda reliability. I would love to ride the new AT as well as the Yamaha T7 and see which one works better for me.
First review I've seen where you actually use the bike for what it's made to do and more. Sick of "adv" people taking this on fire roads. This is a 1000 dirtbike. USE IT.
Yeah and Chuck Norris currently uses it as a trial motorcycle.
This is a fantastic review! It's probably the best one I've seen on the revamped Africa Twin. I just bought a 2021 base model bike. It's at the dealer awaiting the arrival of some accessories. I'm so looking forward to riding it. Thanks for this video, I think it will be a tremendous help!
Excellent review, well detailed and coverage of all points. Thank you.
Great review! Like many others have said, this is a very informative and thorough review. Thanks for sharing!
I just picked one of these up. It’s an awesome bike.
Congrats on the new machine Connor! We had a blast on it.
If you're riding over half an hour, you probably want to get one of these on order:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JMK7N8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
cut the straps that secure it under the seat and sew the ends into loops so you can attach it to the bike frame. It'll make SO much difference!
GREAT!!!!! REVIEW!.. Can't wait to see more like this!
Thank you so much!
The best review for AT in my view! Some trails from video I would not be able to ride, but I have a DCT model. THX👍
You can change traction control by setting the star button to do that so you do not have to go in the menu each time.
Good review, but if that message shows up on the TFT every time the bike is started...that would shit me to tears.
Just like with a modern car, you ignore it for the first 15-20 seconds and get on with your ride. You can actually ignore that display if you want, your speed and such are still there on the LCD underneath.
It does show up every time, however while the video shows pushing the "ok" button to make the message go away, it's not necessary. Per zugmeister314's comment, just ignore it and the normal display is there in 20 seconds. It's different for sure, but you do get used to it after a while.
Just bought the Africa twin adventure sports last week. Awesome bike
I was torn between the Tenere and the Africa. I just can’t get past all the electronics! I want full control, I hate pushing buttons. This confirms I’m getting the Tenere!
Just bought exact same bike used. Good review with tons of useful info.
Great review ! This is a bike i am seriously considering now.
In the UK there seems to be some great deals for the 2020 model so i am just going to wait for the right package to come up and take the plunge.
I also very immaturely laughed at 4:02 thinking that you farted when the scene changed (After looking back i think its a fly but the editor clearly wanted to leave it in)
Best review so far. Thank you for choosing the manual version.
I could tell you were riding highway 330 and 18 up through big bear first clip you showed haha born and raised in these mountains and great review
Really good review cheers
Thank you!!
Excellent review. Seriously considering the DCT model.
Happy with my 17 dct
Thumbs up 👍 for this review. I feel that 6th gear could be taller. What were final User 1/2 settings for Road and Off-road you settled on by the end.? And also your rebound/compressions setting for dirt compared to factory settings? BTW a lot of that weight was saved with lithium battery as standard. Great 👍 review, probably the best/most thorough one out there 🥇
Thanks! Settings ended up being (for the most part): Offroad: User 1, P-1, EB-3, traction control and wheelie control both off. General cruising: Tour mode. Twisty pavement: User 2, P-1, EB-3, wheelie control - 1, and traction control somewhere in the middle of the range depending on the road. Unsure about clickers as the shop set it up for my weight before I hopped on board.
@@motoadventure2539 So, maybe you could have made improvements if you had tried tweaking it.
Great review, thanks mate!
The King of Adventure Bikes...and this guy say ...it's a good road cruiser.
Sounds like way to many mode options for me. Thought that's what the rider is supposed to do. Getting older now but could go anywhere on a crf450f except not road legal
Best review around. I have one question.. Is the adventure sport with manual gear box and analogue suspension, as good as the base model offroad? main difference should be the bigger tank and larger fairing. But local dealer will not get the standard model beofre late 2021 and would loe o see wether the larger tank hinders its offroad capabilities too much.
Awesome review with an awesome bike! 💯
Love my 2021 ATAS! Sure lots of electronics but with a little familiarization it’s great. I need to do highway to get some good riding and this bike will get me there in comfort and then be totally competent off-road. Honda reliability is also important when I’m in the backwoods!
Best review on YT. Thank you
best Africa Twin review - abundantly insighful
Hello, great review on the 2020 AT, in fact after primarily watching your video and a few others, I decided to buy one and on June 4 2021 I purchased a base DCT model brand new from my dealer in Calgary.
If you were to add to your video though I would say that it would be worth explaining how the pie icons for Power, Engine braking and so on work. As they do in fact work backwards to what common thinking would be. The more blue sections to a pie, whatever setting it is, means less engine power or the most intervention of limiting the potential of the bike. One would think by nature, being non Japanese thinking, that the more blue pie pieces would mean more and more power or less and less computer intervention, but in fact that is the opposite to how Honda designed it, the smallest the pies are blued out means the max power, least ABS, most engine braking.
Lastly, one mode you did not touch on and I would love to see what you think but under the star button one can turn on the Gravel Active icon, it will flash and say its active. I have ridden my bike now 3000 kms and I'm still trying to find the actual result of what this feature is, from what the manual says it affects the clutch on the DCT models. Can you shed some light on this for me. Thanks for the great videos. Yours was by far the best one to explain the new AT and showing what is behind the machine and its versatility.
I ride mine around my Lake Cabin trails and roads in Northern Saskatchewan, this consists of;
*Hard dirt packed trails with sandy consistency
*Further from the lake clay and rock trails
*Good old black mud sections or bog stuff where go arounds are best option
*Grasses or moist green marsh weeded green type areas
*Saskatchewan grid - gravel roads,
*Secondary asphalt "often with broken out sections" aka Oiled on top of gravel grid roads
*Last but not least good old open road main highways - concrete or asphalt.
My bike has from the factory the Metzeler Karoo Street tires that so far have proven to be very good on all of the above riding except for the Grasses or moist green marsh weeded green type areas. In these areas the tire is almost like a racing slick tire, the closer lug design that works so well on the almost sand paper clay with sand hard pack, almost like pavement traction on the tire. On the greens although it's not very often that we ride there I'm considering going to the Michelin Anakee Wild tires for my next set to see. My worry with this tire is I hope it's not a rock thrower as the gravel is plentiful and the Karoo don't pitch them at all. Any comments would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.
Reg Riemer, Turtle Lake Sask.
p.s. Any of you have comments on these tires and gravel roads please pm me or post here if ADV Plus does not mind.
😬
The Honda NC750X is my "adventure" bike. It makes me a better rider because it's smaller, lighter, has a lower CG, and is more agile than the African Twin. It's also a whole lot less expensive than the excellent CRF1100L Honda! I know that I'm comparing apples and oranges here, but the NC750X deserves a mention.
I just bought one !Thanks honda .99% apr 5 years! Great review!
Best review I’ve seen yet! Great job.
What engine bars are on that thing? They look aftermarket, but love how minimal they are.
Good job on the review. A lot of information. Thanks
Great review. Nice to hear from someone who can.