Africa Twin

[Me!]

I've been toying with one of these a while now. However having dug around it appears they are fraught with a few issues. One of which is corrosion to the spokes due to them not being ‘double dipped’. Having looked at one the other day I was surprised at how cheap some of the castings appear to be finished too. So having nosed about I’m not sure what to go for. Triumph do not float my boat (sorry John!). Ulysses ? Is not for me nor is a GS or a Multi strada. Any one tried or used anything else? Had a Varadero a while but found it heavy, fun but top heavy with a full tank. Transalp is a sows ear in my view and gutless.
The Bird will stay, has become a lovely ornament of late and unlikely to see more than a couple of thousand next year in miles. It’s too good to move on but I have an urge for an adventure bike these days. Old joints and multiple ops make riding harder etc ...

 

[Stammo]

KTM 1050 or 1090.
I've had both 990SD and 990SMR. Top notch machines. Never had a single issue with either.
Servicing at dealers ain't cheap though. I would have a 1050 as a bit of a bargain as overshadowed by flashier models in the range.

 

[noobie]

I did look at the Africa twin last year and quite a few reports gave it back as slightly under powered and like you said, the ones I saw in the stores seem to look like Honda had dropped their usual high standard finish. Had a a varadero and an early strada, enjoyed both but would not have one again.

Quiye a few of the strada chaps have moved to ktm's but as stammo mentions, it is a higher cost. Have you considered a V strom? much improved over the early ones and have been around for a while even in the latest version to get a fair price?

Personally if it's only for a few thousand miles per year then I'd look at something like the KTM smt or gt or the bmw s1000xr

 

[Stammo]

Good call on the V strom Noob, you need to keep on top of the finish, but good value and strong engine in both 650 and 1000.

 

[damientt]

I have just bought a Versys 1000 GT and, so far, I'm very pleased indeed.

 

[Me!]

Strange, just been looking at those and a Tracer 900.....

 

[Stammo]

Tracer gets duff reviews for jerky fuel injection, seen a few relatively cheap ones though.
Wild card, Moto Guzzi Stelvio?

 

[Me!]

Really? Just watched a cracking review on the Tracer. Shame as I was toying with booking a ride..

Guzzi..... hmm interesting.

 

[Stammo]

Have a read...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...zzi/8590268/Moto-Guzzi-Stelvio-8V-review.html

 

[noobie]

Russ in here has a tracer and loves it? post 14 onwards

http://www.superblackbird.co.uk/index.php?threads/should-i-sell-my-bird.74923/#post-804472

 

[Me!]

I kinda like tha5 but a5 260kgs I th8nk I’d struggle, hmm, good looking though

 

[Stammo]

Platform boots could help?

 

[Jaws]

Triumph do not float my boat (sorry John!).

No need to say sorry mate
They did nowt for me ..But they do ride nice, have a reasonable power spread, do not seem to decompose to quickly and handle reasonably well

I still regret buying one and would not recommend Triumph to any one.. It aint the bikes but the firm,, Absolutely terrible ..

 

[bmwdumptruck]

No ones suggested the Yamaha Superten!! Once i've sold my GS its firmly on my list next to an FJR. Although the FJR is more likely as it needs to replace the Pan really.

 

[Me!]

Chunky at 260kgs ?

 

[mickvfr800fiw]

Really? Just watched a cracking review on the Tracer. Shame as I was toying with booking a ride..

Guzzi..... hmm interesting.

I have 65 plate tracer as a company bike . Sorted the lean fuelling at hilltop and the budget suspension with Adriani fork cartridges and a Nitron R1 shock .
I’ve put 50k on mine in just over a year . Don’t do as many miles with my contract job as I did on the circuit . Only problem I’ve had with it so far is the clocks misting up which were replaced under warranty .
You should test ride one theyre light as a feather and a lot of fun to ride

 

[ricko]

I have 65 plate tracer as a company bike . Sorted the lean fuelling at hilltop and the budget suspension with Adriani fork cartridges and a Nitron R1 shock .
I’ve put 50k on mine in just over a year . Don’t do as many miles with my contract job as I did on the circuit . Only problem I’ve had with it so far is the clocks misting up which were replaced under warranty .
You should test ride one theyre light as a feather and a lot of fun to ride

I had a test ride on a Tracer 900 but didn't like it - lots of vibration and the engine seemed "coarse" rather than smooth.
But it was a brand new demo bike - do they improve with miles ?

Rick

 

[Centaur]

Have a read...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...zzi/8590268/Moto-Guzzi-Stelvio-8V-review.html

Or as I posted earlier!

http://www.superblackbird.co.uk/index.php?threads/bike-exhausts.75273/

 

[mickvfr800fiw]

Hi rick . How many did you test ride , just the one ?

I’ve personally never had any vibration issues with mine but I have heard others mention this .
What I can say is that they’re very sensitive to having the correct chain tension , maybe the one you rode was too tight ? The service manual states 5-15mm of play .This is a typo , should really be 25-30mm .
As for the engine it’s probably the best triple I’ve had to date the other one was in a 1050 sprint but to get it running properly low in the rev range I had the ECU mapped and put on a dyno at hilltop . Before I did this is was a bit lumpy almost like it had a misfire at low speeds .
Probably not everyone’s cup of tea but an ideal workhorse for me and one that doesn’t cost me a penny as my firm pays everything including fuel costs . I just ride the thing , badly most of the time

 

[ricko]

Hi rick . How many did you test ride , just the one ?

I’ve personally never had any vibration issues with mine but I have heard others mention this .
What I can say is that they’re very sensitive to having the correct chain tension , maybe the one you rode was too tight ? The service manual states 5-15mm of play .This is a typo , should really be 25-30mm .
As for the engine it’s probably the best triple I’ve had to date the other one was in a 1050 sprint but to get it running properly low in the rev range I had the ECU mapped and put on a dyno at hilltop . Before I did this is was a bit lumpy almost like it had a misfire at low speeds .
Probably not everyone’s cup of tea but an ideal workhorse for me and one that doesn’t cost me a penny as my firm pays everything including fuel costs . I just ride the thing , badly most of the time

Yep I just rode the demo at Skellerns in Worcester ... interestingly when I mentioned the vibration to the sales guy he said that his MT09 was the same and he thinks they all do that !! Not a great sales pitch ! I then went and tried a Trumpet 1050 sport, which I liked, but think its a bit pricy.

Keeping the Bird for now, will rethink in another 18 months maybe