Over in Portugal proper now could be MoreBikes editor Ross, astride the brand new Africa Twin from Honda. Right here’s what he’s needed to say up to now:
We’re off for a blast on the brand new Africa Twin Journey Sports activities. We’ll get an opportunity to place each the Guide and DCT variations of the rugged, electronically-assisted journey bike by way of its paces on a beautiful run by way of the Portuguese hills (within the sunshine)! **UPDATED! SEE BELOW**
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We’ve now had a superb blast on the brand new Africa Twin Journey Sports activities. This morning was spent on the £16299 guide model, whereas this afternoon we bought the possibility to see what the £17599 DCT mannequin was manufactured from – together with a fast stint alongside a hearth path.
The massive change for the 2024 mannequin is the brand new smaller 19-inch entrance wheel. On the floor, it looks as if a barely unusual resolution. Honda offered loads of ‘huge wheel’ Journey Sports activities – however taking a step again and looking out on the greater image is smart for a extra road-focused, touring-ready alternative within the line-up. Significantly if you check out the competitors, after which contemplate what most individuals need to use their huge journey bikes for…
A little bit of city work, earlier than winding our approach alongside an excellent, tight, twisty stretch of street up into the hills provided the proper alternative to see simply how nicely the brand new bike handles. It’s distinctive. Planted and poised, with much more feeling than the previous mannequin.
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The Bridgestone Battlax Journey A41’s assist the trigger, offering a dependable grip and permitting for swift, assured progress. The floor is nice and the roads are bone dry, although I’ve ridden with these tyres rather a lot and might testify that they’re simply as able to holding their very own on dirty British roads.
The digital suspension from Showa is high too. It really works simply in addition to it did on the earlier technology ATAS (although it’s now out there as an additional on the usual Africa Twin too), working to stiffen up the suspension the quicker you experience. A whole lot of fine-tuning is accessible, with SOFT, MID, HARD, OFF-ROAD and USER settings to select from. And now you can regulate the preload on the fly. Good.
The engine’s had some huge updates. Honda has managed to extend peak torque by 7% – which is similar enhance as once they upped the capability from 1000cc to 1100cc. It kicks out the identical 100bhp – however there’s now 83lb-ft of torque to play with. It really feels a lot peppier than the earlier gen, with a smoother however extra direct throttle response too.
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To realize all that, they’ve fitted an extended piston for a better compression ratio, they’ve reshaped the crankshaft, reshaped the conrod, added a bigger air duct, tweaked the exhaust valve timings – and there’s a lighter, extra environment friendly muffler with a shorter, wider and decrease tailpipe.
That each one combines to create a fairly potent bundle. Different journey bikes would possibly get the headlines. They’ve bought extra cc’s and extra outright energy – however the Honda is loads punchy and has luggage character. In spite of everything, how usually can you actually exploit 150bhp on the street?
The gearbox is sweet, the brakes are sharp and the electronics are plentiful – and comparatively simple to navigate after a little bit of time getting acquainted. There’s extra great things, like cruise management and Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatibility.
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The using place’s totally different than earlier than. That smaller entrance wheel and shorter, squatter suspension imply that it’s decrease (835mm at its lowest commonplace seat setting and 855mm at its highest, with a further low seat choice in case you want it). The centre of gravity’s decrease down too, and in consequence it feels simpler to handle.
The bar, peg, seat area is a bit of tighter and pushes you marginally additional ahead over the bars, it’s nonetheless tremendous snug for my 6ft 1″ body. There’s extra padding on the seat to make the lengthy stints it’s designed for much more tolerable. And Honda’s even carried out some work to enhance its aerodynamic skills, lowering a number of the buffeting and entrance finish lightness discovered at excessive speeds with the previous mannequin.
I had a fast probability to go for a blast on the earlier interation – and though I anticipated it to really feel totally different, I used to be shocked at simply how a lot the brand new smaller entrance wheel, shorter and tauter suspension and extra torque wealthy motor change the experience. It feels much more planted and exact within the corners, and smoother however sharper on the throttle. It’d nonetheless appear to be an Africa Twin, however it’s a special proposition totally…
There are compromises to be made although. We had been let free on a brief 5km lengthy gravel observe, and as enjoyable because it was, the newest ATAS is just not actually an off-roader. It’ll do it; and you’ll whack it in Off-Highway or Gravel mode, swap off the ABS and HSTC (traction management) to get it setup good – however the standing using place feels far much less pure for my lanky body. Fortunately, if the grime is the place you need to experience, you possibly can snag your self a ‘commonplace’ Africa Twin which retains its 21″ entrance.
The Africa Twin Journey Sports activities is a critically totally different beast than it was earlier than. The manufacturing unit’s determined to make a extra apparent distinction between the 2 fashions, and I reckon it’s all the higher for it. The modifications make an already nice journey tourer even higher. Good work Honda.
The one potential drawback is the worth. You will get plenty of bike for £16000; with Yamaha’s Tracer 9 GT a grand cheaper, Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GX a grand and a half cheaper and even Honda’s personal NT1100 for round three and a half grand much less. They’re barely totally different propostions although, and I feel there’s one thing fairly particular in regards to the new Africa Twin Journey Sports activities…
If you wish to know much more in regards to the newest ATAS, snag your self a replica of Motorbike Sport and Leisure journal. It’ll characteristic a full technical assessment that’ll go into far higher element than this preliminary using report tapped up on the facet of the street.
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