I'm full of surprises mate

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Looks like the Africa Twin release is coming up soon. Probably by the Fall.

Any predictions/comments regards the first reviews? In the UK, no doubt MCN will be one of the first with "Spy shots", secret 1st ride and such!

My guess is initial reviews will rave about the bike. This is the typical pattern we see after all the Journos have been wine'd and dine'd at Honda's fancy product launch in some exotic location.

First reviews from launch parties are almost always stellar ... yet somehow ... a short 6 months later when the bike is put up against the competition, suddenly these same journos find all sorts of faults.

We've all seen this a hundred times. It's just what happens. My advice?
Hold onto your cash for a year until the bike has really been sussed out and put up against serious competition over the long term in a variety of riding conditions.

I'm guessing the Africa Twin is a year out for release in USA. (EPA certification takes forever and will cost Honda about $150,000 for the privilege)

You're not wrong, mate. I was very much looking forward to the launch of a LIGHTER, bike. No need for a 1200cc motor, no need for 150 hp, etc, no need for ride by wire electronics.

Just LIGHTER, as proof HONDA was putting it's "TRUE" Adventure money where it's mouth is....

Disappointed, as well. And a bit outraged. HONDA comes on with this "True" Adventure hype, dances around the essential WEIGHT factor in the promo video by saying, "Well, really, when riding it, it FEELS light".

Give me a break.

Other than than for the 'mystique' of the old Africa Twin on which HONDA marketing is so flagrantly piggybacking, other than the "UNTrue Adventure" nomenclature, other than the narrow profile (which IS good, thanks for small favors!)... why would anyone with his head not in the sand buy a 93 HP, sub 1000cc bike instead of.....

1200 cc GS, MST, KTM at 20% greater displacement?
at 50-60% greater HP?
at the SAME 500 lbs+

So, let's see. WAY Overweight. 50% Underpowered. 20% Undercapacity.

And.... OVERHYPED.

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"If you're not on the Edge, you're taking up too much room."

That's my main problem with the specs. OK, so a Honda will be (hopefully) very reliable, BUT at the same (to a few KGs) weight as a 1200GS it's not going to work for many people. If it weighed the same and had more power, I could see the point; if it weighed the same with a full, larger tank I could see the point; if power were roughly the same but it weighed less, I could see the point. I guess they're banking on DTC selling the bike over everything else.

For me, it's too heavy for real off road (my F800 isn't exactly light, although it is less than the new AT!), it isn't spec'd enough to compete with road tourers (no cruise control etc) and it doesn't seem flash enough (electronics wise - fancy suspension etc) for bragging rights down the pub. I'm a little confused who this might be for? I read somewhere that someone else felt they'd made a bike "just good enough", without really going overboard. When the new Fireblade came out in the '90's, the low weight changed the face of the sports bike - I appreciate 'off road' bikes take more punishment, but to have not really shown any interest at all about addressing this aspect of a new bike is a real disappointment.

Still, perhaps they'll be a smaller cc version in the future

I doubt this, however. Fewer cc's cost the same to produce, but sell for less. The economics of the situation say this is unlikely to happen.

what you said, plus the cost will be over $10K usd. I sold my highly modified klr and stashed the $ to buy one of these, until I saw the weight. I have a very nice dl650 instead.

Nearly 1/4 tonne kerb weight in the DCT model.
Honda Worldwide | October 16, 2015 "16YM HONDA CRF1000L Africa Twin"

Near future bike shows will produce pricing information.

The claimed fuel economy figure is about 61 miles per UK gallon, by the way.

__________________
Dave

From the above website: "The lightweight subframe features diagonal cross bracing and will carry a cargo weight of 30kg".

Now, if it's essentially (as near as damn it) the same weight as a 12GS, then this doesn't sound like a lot. Perhaps the 30KG is in addition to a pillion? I appreciate that the mantra here is often 'lighter is better', but as Honda seem to be pitching the new AT pretty much in the same territory as the BM, then this figure looks a bit weedy.

234kg for the ABS model is just too heavy!

I think it's going to be OK for it's intended audience. I'd call the new AT a road biased "All Rounder" sports touring ADV bike. Will probably compete more directly with other similar bikes in class:
Yamaha 1200 Tenere'
Suzuki DL1000
Aprilia Capo Nord

May not be able to match off road ability with BMW or KTM. But hopefully the price will reflect this ... should be thousands less than either. (Honda have not released price yet, far as I know)

If it's comfortable on highway two up, doesn't vibe too much, has reasonably quiet shield and gets good fuel economy ... could be a winner for Honda. I do like the LOOK of the bike. Think that's not important? IT IS!

I'm sure the 30 kgs. figure is for the rear rack alone. That is A LOT for a rear rack. Rear racks typically rated about 11 kgs.
(3 Tigers, CapoNord, Vstroms, GS's) I'd never hang that much crap off the back. Asking for trouble on washboard roads.

But this AT may never go too far beyond nice dirt roads? But should be a good "bad road" bike ... which frankly is what most riders really want.

I'd say Honda are looking to tackle the more serious end of the scale ala KTM. It's a better looking bike than the KTMs too I reckon.

In the looks dept perhaps. It is a good looking bike isn't it. But that picture is just pure marketing.

I'd say Honda are going after the 1200GS/ 1200 Tenere market. People with plenty of cash to throw at Sunday touring bikes.

The new AT is too heavy, too expensive and too electronic for me.

I'm sure it will sell well though.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Seems like they are quite capable off road unloaded!
Same weight as a GS but less tech to go wrong and strong steel frame.
I was all set on a Tiger 800XC but now I think the new AT will suit me just fine for UK potholes and a little 2 up Euro touring.
Saying that, for another £1700 (a little more saving) the base R1200GS could be had. Hmmmm. What dya think Ted?

The AT is growing on me. But the fact is that it's a new bike and as fully loaded with tech and electronics as the BMW. I have faith in Honda but only time will tell if it's reliable.

If I had to own a 1200GS it would be the last of the air-cooled ones. Most of the problems were ironed out.

I don't like the new water cooled motor in the GS. I don't trust them.

The 800XC is a nice bike. Two up though. I don't know.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Several riding friends own those last generation NON water cooled GS's. Good reports, very few issues from what I've heard.

Folks here in USA are lined up for the Africa Twin. They don't arrive here until May or June. No one is happy with the LONG wait ... EU already had the bike over a month or two.

Honda are rumored to be developing some sort of new ADV/dual sport, a 500 or 750 parallel twin ... like a MINI Africa Twin perhaps? Using a hopped up CB500 P-Twin motor would be my choice of power plants. Get 10 more HP out of it, steel frame, good components. Super light weight. (light equals $$$$)
So won't match CB500 for price but could be a good one if done right.

Yamaha are almost certainly set to release a MINI Tenere' using FZ-700 parallel twin motor. Hopefully Yamaha will make it FAR lighter than the 650 lb. Plus 1200 Tenere'. That big Ten rides light (on road) but I can't pick it up and did not like it OFF road.

Also likely KTM will jump into this party too. Most likely some sort of smaller, lighter weight twin. P-twin is rumored. Dunno. I feel a super light 500cc P twin in full ADV style would do well for them. KTM are going to find out that not that many riders doing RTW want a 1300cc, 550 lb., 160 HP, $22,000 USD bike. Also, an ADV version of the Indian made 390 will also likely appear soon.

Finally the big boys are interested in this market.

But if we think we will see anything but commuter/touring bikes with adventure stickers on them, were dreaming.

I can't think of a single hardcore Adventure bike since the ktm640 bone shaker..

Still !! If one of them did bring out a near perfect mid weight offroad capable travel bike then we'd have nothing to adapt, engineer and farkle with

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

MT-07 Tracer for solo road touring or an MT-07 Adv bike for RTW would be great.

180Kg 73Hp 70Mpg

I recon they would be around £6500 New.

(Still going to Honda for a test ride on the AT )