I enjoyed mine but I really wanted a TL1000, nicknamed here as the "widow maker".

I was trying to ignore the V1300 and V1800 behemoths aimed for the cruiser market: I did test ride the 1300cc quite a few years ago.
Brutal torque.

For the rumour mongering to continue, I hesitate, somewhat, to quote the UK rag!
Secrets of the new Africa Twin | MCN

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Dave

Yes, I followed all the action in the UK back then. Pretty amazing. Guys tried to race the TL1000's here in USA AMA Superbike. No one had success. Lots of problems, that weird rear damper unit being primary culprit. But also many issues Suzuki are not known for. (water pump issues, F.I. problems and more)

The DL1000 was a complete remodel of the TL1000 concept .... and just about everything was changed. Sure, less power but reliable as a stone. Did over 90K miles on two DL1000. (one bought from Suzuki press fleet .. a normally risky thing ... but not with the V-Strom. TOUGH BIKES!)


Very interesting link! It pretty much confirms my previous speculations regards release dates. I knew the bike was not close. If Honda really get serious ... could be a seriously GOOD BIKE.

Looks like it is official now!
Glad DCT is an option. Not sure if I wanna learn a new way to change gears.
The Africa Twin is back! CRF1000L Africa Twin confirmed for 2015.

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Japan touring information

That will look amazing covered in touratech goodies whilst parked in starbucks.

It's just a another lardy, electronic motorway bike with some stupid 'adventure' bolt on's to make it look a bit gnarly.

It's not even got a V-twin.

But hey, that's the market....

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

agree Ted, I will keep my old AT with only 240.000km on the clock just run in. mika

After this press release, I think yours has just doubled in value as well.

It's another 'Adventure bike' which needs an umbilical cord to a dealership computer and specialised Honda workshop.

Adventure bike my f**king arse. Just another bike I wouldn't dare taking out of Western Europe without a huge wallet for recovery and repairs.

Being a Honda, I don't doubt that it's well made. But if anything does go wrong, you're down poop creep without a paddle.

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

This is great news!
I'm guessing in the next few months we'll begin to hear more detailed spec's on the new bike beyond the DCT option. DCT Hondas in the USA have NOT sold well, some models discontinued here. Interesting Honda claim they've done well in EU. (53% DCT bikes?)

I'm sure Honda will offer the new bike with traditional gear box with DCT as an option.

I'd like to know the development history of Honda's new 1000cc parallel twin
engine. I've not seen this motor ... is it simply a bored/stroked NC750X?
Or something totally new? What does it weigh? HP? Torque?

Weight and amenities will be the next interesting thing to track. Depending which direction Honda go here, this could define the category where the bike fall's into: Luxury Tourer ADV bike (IE: KTM 1290, BMW GS-W-ADV, Ducati Multistrada, Yamaha Tenere')

... or will it go towards a lighter weight, sportier model like earlier KTM 950SE? (a bike with true off road potential)

I'll bet on first category, (very high profit margins there) which means it will have STIFF competition from established models. Will it have features like Electronic suspension like the BMW, Ducati and KTM? Cost?

I'm guessing we could see something like a warmed over Yamaha 1200 Tenere'. Heavy, not off road capable in any serious way, but luxurious on road, two up with 100 kgs. of luggage, with full suite of Electronic gizmos.

This is ironic given the content of the article linked above, where most of the ink recounts Honda's illustrious past and current Dakar race history.

What the writer did not answer is why Honda have been virtually absent from
this category (Dakar, ADV bikes, Dual sport) for the last 25 years.

But it's still very good news as it means at least Honda have awoken from a long slumber ... and perhaps we will see other "more interesting" bikes in the near future ... if the world does not end before that.

Ted

Never was named Africa V-Twin

Was and still be called AFRICA TWIN.

You sound like a Grumpy old man... go and get an old Jawa for you future trips!

Saludos

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

I am a grumpy old man.......................

I'm just bored to death of pretend adventure bikes. They keep promising "Lightweight, off-road capable, fun bikes" and after years of speculation and dreaming they wheel out another soulless, overweight, over-complicated, boring and unreliable posing machine which are only available to those with deep wallets...

UUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Just like the new 'Super Tenere'... I'd love to see one of those in the desert

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

Give it another ten years Ted, when your back's on the blink and your knees are shot, the desert's too hot and you can't be bothered with the hassle of shipping and all that stuff, you'll be queueing up to buy one

How do I know? Because I remember looking at the original AT when it came out and thinking what an overweight, lardy, underpowered POS. What on earth were Honda thinking of and who the hell will buy one. The first time I saw one on the road, droning along the motorway near Malaga, I actually felt sorry for the couple on it. And now look at ATs - knocking on the door of mythological status. Just goes to show how wrong I was.

It'll be interesting to see where Honda pitch it - it's a bit hard to tell from the arty teaser pics exactly what it's like, but on the face of it I'd expect it to be going head to head with the GS (even if it is over ten years late). Whatever engine they're using I hope they've done a better job with it than they have in F1

*Touring Ted*
"I'm just bored to death of pretend adventure bikes. They keep promising "Lightweight, off-road capable, fun bikes" and after years of speculation and dreaming they wheel out another soulless, overweight, over-complicated, boring and unreliable posing machine"



So if I buy one, you don't want a go?

Cam chain on side of engine.
Screw & locknut tappets - OK, hydraulic would have been better, but still...(if the picture is the new engine, which it appears it may not be.....)
Chain final drive.
Fuel injection.
Parallel twin.
Honda quality.

Seems OK to me and actually not particularly more complex than my XT660Z Tenere or DL650. Bigger ECU probably and a couple more buttons, but I'd say this is a good start. I'd like to see it lighter and about 650, but apart from that I think Honda have it right on......

There are plenty of lighter bikes that fit the bill for those wanting smaller, but they ain't necessarily less complex.....

Of course I want a go.......

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

Nothing against fuel injection.....It's very reliable these days. Solid state electronics. And Honda don't use crappy cheap pumps and controllers like our Bavarian friends.

But I don't want a bike run by electronic control units which dependent on hundreds of sensors and electricirypokery which can go wrong everywhere and anywhere and can't be diagnosed without a £20,000 computer. I can't see this bike not having a full fly by wire system, ABS, electronic suspension etc. All the stuff that just goes wrong all the time...

And just looking at the arty pictures and knowing it has a 1000cc engine, I can't see this thing weighing less than 250kg...

For me, that's when you know it's aimed at the GS market. And for me, that ain't no adventure bike.... But I don't blame Honda because they're a business and that's where the money is.

For me, If it can't be fixed without a computer and a specialist workshop, then I wan't nothing to do with it...

I'm a dealer trained BMW Technician. I've pretty much stripped, rebuilt, repaired and serviced every part of BMW's bikes made in the last 15 years.

And I say with no shame that If I was to break down on one, after a few simple checks, the first thing I'd do is call a recovery truck because there is almost bugger all you can fix yourself on a modern high tech 'Adventure bike'

As always though, that's just my opinion which is worth it's weight in fresh air

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

The 4th video references the original Fireblade, which was considerably lighter than it's rivals at the time. I'm hoping that this bodes well when we do find out details in the (near?) future. For me, the crux of the matter will rest on overall weight, mpg and whether the suspension's any good.