CRF1000 Africa Twin

[rboe]

Any of you guys seriously considering this machine (or just eager to drool over it)?

[Pterodactyl_imp]

I just drool. But to me they are Dakar Rally type bike. Too big for me to handle on a bush track. The Euros seem to be particularly enamoured of them. Range, carrying capacity, power, handle well, solid. What is not to like? After all they are a Honda.

Cheers, and Rboe, I know you are (a little) younger than me and can lift a CB with your little finger, but are you seriously considering?

[rboe]

Hmm, good question. I bought the 650L because the Quota was too heavy for my skill set off road. The 650L is still a couple hundred pounds too heavy for my skill set. I fear a CT110 (your posty bike sp?) maybe closer to what I can use.

Still, These bikes can make great road machines, especially for a tall guy like me. It's lighter than the CB, and I do like doing dirt roads from time to time so ...... dang, I'd like to. The budget will be great decider. As usual.

[Frulk_imp]

I want to see it in the flesh but am not at this point seriously considering it. I have in mind a three bike stable. 2 of which I own.

1) The CB 1100 as an extended 3-4 day weekend sport tourer for Utah/Idaho and Wyoming paved back roads and the occasional 3-5 mile stretch on well groomed dirt/gravel to get to a fly fishing stream. Last summer it began also seeing double duty as a daily rider on an 8 mile one way commute to work.

2) The Moto Guzzi V7 Racer as a weekend only bike to ride around the local area with friends and the occasional 50-250 mile one day trip through the mountains.

That leaves the 3rd slot for an ADV/Scambler type bike. With the terrain we have in Utah its almost mandated to have one. In 2009 three of us walked into a Kawi dealer in Logan Utah and bought 3 new black KLR's on the spot (only color they had and they gave us a smoking deal for clearing them out). Fast forward 9 months and I was the only one that still had the bike. Rode some gnarly stuff out in the Owyhee Wilderness in south-eastern Oregon just 2 months after I had an ACL replaced. Ended up keeping it for 6 years but always thought it was too top heavy even with the lowering links...especially with the tank full. Rode about a 100 miles on gravel with it last year in south western Wyoming. My bud was there with his Triumph Scrambler and went everywhere I went with a bike 100 pounds heavier right out of the gate without gear on it. Trick is he had a much lower center of gravity even though the Scrambler has less suspension travel.



So, chances are the Honda will have some of those same drawbacks. Heavy (to me) and somewhat high center of gravity. I'm waiting for the new Moto Guzzi Scrambler or scrambler kits to hit my local dealer. I like the V7 Stone, it's shaft drive, can go tubeless, has a LOW center of gravity, a 5.8 gallon tank that provides plenty of backcountry range between fill ups, and comes in at under 400 pound dry. I like those numbers and with a scrambler kit it may be the ticket for me if Guzzi doesn't have a V7 Scrambler model as standard.

[the Ferret]

Guzzi is producing the V7 Stornello scrambler for 2016 but in limited numbers I understand.

[rboe]

Any guzzi is going to be in limited numbers. Sheesh.......

[Frulk_imp]

Guzzi is producing the V7 Stornello scrambler for 2016 but in limited numbers I understand.

LOL...with a world-wide production of around 7-8K bikes EVERYTHING in MG's line-up is in limited numbers

[the Ferret]

Lol thats true

[redbirds_imp]

Africa Twin looks to be a winner for Honda but bikes like this simply do not work for me. Even when lowered they're too tall and with their high COG, give me the feeling of never really being in control. A traditional scrambler like the Triumph or Ducati work better for me off road. Though heavier and lacking suspension travel and ground clearance to match the likes of KTM's and such, scramblers are easier to handle at the lower speeds that I ride off pavement.

[Capo]

The 'scrambled' retro- classics like the Triumph and soon to be launched MG Stornello are primarily styling exercises, with precious little to make them off- road capable. I've used my Bonneville on some sandy one- track paths and it handled them fine, but even with semi- knobbies, another inch of suspension, and a bash plate, a Scrambler is still a heavy and vulnerable street bike at heart. I would love, love, love to see the return of the old fashioned 'Enduro' bikes of the '70's and '80's. 500CC, under 33 inch seat height, less than 400 LBS, and retro style. Sign me up!