Halfords (and I'm sure others as well) do a plastic "side stand plate" for £1.99. Drilled and bolted to the foot of the stand it lasts virtually forever - I've got two, both over 10ys old and going strong. Unbolt it and (apart from the hole) you're back to std.

I'm beginning to think the "mincing bozo" look is the way of the future as the stone axe simple 400/600 singles are consigned to history. A quick gallop through the major players websites shows just two currently available in the UK (discounting "grenade tech" from KTM, the CCM voyage into the unknown and the reincarnation of the Raj from Enfield). Contrast that with the number of 800/1000cc adventure "soft roaders" flooding the market on the GS's coat tails - the new AT just looks like Honda's "me too" to me.

I went to my local dealer today to ask when anything official might come out - we're nearly in June, and if it's coming out in the Autumn we can't be that far off, surely? Turns out we're not getting it until January, with no info before September at the earliest; probably nothing until the NEC in November! Price info will be just before the launch to take account of the exchange rate at the time.

Anyone seen this video? Doesn't show much but the sound track of the engine is not bad.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2015/...ows-something/

Seems the new Honda A.T. is generating more interest and analysis. Here is a short history of DCT (auto shift trans). They've left a few key bits and pieces of this story out .. but educational nonetheless.

Should Motorcycles Be Equipped With Automatic Transmissions? | BikeBandit.com

Africa Twin spied on the road | MCN

Feel free to ignore the text (MCN!), but there are pictures - six of them - which have sparked some debate elsewhere! Is it a low seat version, possibly weighed down with luggage? Will there be a 'Touring-specific' version AND a more off road version? Is the guy riding just really heavy?!

Looks kinda like a V-Strom 1000! ... but not as stylish!

Final specs and pricing released.
Honda Officially Releases CRF1000L Africa Twin Specs

And a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzT_bKsItLA

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Japan touring information

hmmmm......water pump inside the clutch cover; don't like that at all....otherwise looks like quite a fun bike.
I won't be rushing to sell the DL650, though...

Interesting video. Surprised they've trotted out the old saw "it rides much lighter than it is". We've heard this before ... But when it falls on you ... it's still a 500 lbs.+ bike. Add luggage, even more.

I fear 85 rear wheel HP (claimed 93 HP at crank) will not be enough in todays market ... both BMW and KTM top that. BMW is heavier, KTM about same weight. (KTM about 150, BMW about 100 HP)

I like the look of the bike, looks smaller and lighter. It will be great as a commuter or two up sport tourer. But Honda could do so much more. But I guess at the price point ... it's a good effort if reliable.

The young Honda guys in the video may not have been alive when the first AT was released, but their Sensei said something like "Honda had no competition when the first AT was released in the early 80's."

I guess they'd like to revise history? But some of us were there ... Competition in the 80's? Yep!

Suzuki DR Big 800
BMW R80GS
Cagiva Elephant 750 and 900
Yamaha 750 Tenere' (which routinely beat Honda's ass in the Dakar with
Peterhansel aboard)

All the above bikes were available in road legal race replica versions just like the Africa Twin was. So really, they have LESS competition now depending what you count as a "True Adventure" bike (Honda's moniker for the new Africa Twin)

I guess you could throw in bikes like the Vstrom, Guzzi Stelvio Aprilia Capo Nord ... but none of them will be as good as the new Honda is off road ... but may be BETTER on road and as travel bikes.

So, who are Honda's real competition then?
Here is my list:
KTM big twins (all)
BMW F800GS, BMW R1200GS-L
Yamaha 1200 Tenere'
Triumph Tiger 800XCX

Will it sell? Hell yes! It will be cheaper in the USA than UK or EU. I don't believe the DTC Auto clutch will be accepted in USA.

Interesting to see Honda now playing catch up to BMW in the ADV market niche. I think they've left it too late ... by the time they catch BMW ... ADV bikes may move out of favor. But what's next?

Whatever happened to the old Japanese marketing practice where the first version of a new bike is the power crazed rip-yer-arms off version to set the bike's reputation and the subsequent versions are dialled back to cut the accident rates but the bike still sells on past performance. Stuff like the original Fireblade comes to mind. The AT2 reminds me more of the 70's CB350 - the one where you meet the nicest people while riding it.

I hope they do sell loads of them - if nothing else it'll break up what looks a lot like an on the road monoculture. I was bike watching as I rode along in France / Italy a couple of weeks ago and if bikes were cars you would only see three or four different cars - not makes, cars. You'd have X5s and 5 series BMWs to cover the tourers / GSs, Mazda MX5s to cover the sports bikes and the occasional tractor ignoring priorite a droit and pulling out in front of you to cover the Harleys / clones. Not a lot of ADV spirit when everyone is buying the same bike and riding them in packs.

The Japanese always think long term model life, never fire all their guns at once. They don't tend to give us everything they've got in the 1st generation of a bike. They strive for long term model life.

The Fireblade and CBR600 Honda's are perfect examples: The 600 especially. It was updated every 2 to 4 years for decades. All new basically. The Fireblade is similar but lately Honda is doing less with the CBR1000 and 600 too. ... now making "Classic" or "legacy" models, or "replica" versions. This indicates they may be at the end of their development cycle. But something spectacular may come up to replace them. ???

The CBR600 has had an incredible run ... since about 1988 IIRC. And it's been better with every new generation. I was lucky enough to attend 3 CBR600 "new model" intros over about 10 years ... and got to spend over a month on the new bike each time.

So, with the new Africa Twin, if it does well initially, it could mean Honda will get behind it and develop it. Trust me when I say ... they've got A LOT more room to make it better in every way. Probably already have at least a 10 year development cycle on the books. But whether they do it or not depends on it's success in the first couple years.

Every Japanese company have a slightly different approach. These days all are more conservative and careful. Only Kawasaki really have the money to burn on mistakes. (Google Kawasaki Heavy Industries to see all they are into)

Suzuki are in most danger of going under and I think Yamaha make more profit on Boats than motorcycles. Honda Auto division are struggling to battle the Koreans and their Japanese rivals are very strong. They've lost significant market share in the last 5 years.

Yeah this is the biggest BS line in motorcycle marketing. I dont really care if it rides like a goldwing weight or c90 weight when its on the highway. The weight is relevant in the sand. Its relevant in bogs. Its relevant crossing rocky rivers in siberia. Its relevant pushing it over trees in the road. When the bike is doing 5 km/h clutching thru any of the above, it doesnt ride lighter than it is. No bike pushes lighter than it is. No bike crosses rocky bottomed rivers lighter than it is. A bike fallen over in a sand dune weighs what it weighs.

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Although the new AT probably will be more dirt-oriented with its tire sizes and will offer more ground clearance, it seems to have almost exactly the same curb weight as the newer version of Suzuki´s DL1000.

And it still has tubed wheels – just wondering, is this thing REALLY gonna end up in a true dirt-bike environment very often, or will most owners cover most of their miles on tarmac, or gravel roads, in which case tubeless would have certain advantages..?

My heart sank when I saw the specs and video.

I haven't been that disappointed since I unhooked my first wonderbra.

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

Ted, I didn't realize you wore a wonderbra......try a Triumph - my GF tells me they are much better.