I've also heard this rumor, so spoke to my Honda dealer last weekend and he doesn't know anything about it and can't see where it fits in the range.

Rob

Not sure the AT needs further praise ... as anyone paying attention knows well it's long earned positive reputation among travelers! One of the best ... ever, that is for sure. Nice web site!

Only got a short test ride on an AT, (AT was never sold in USA). Rode a used example while waiting for MOT on my Tiger at a shop near Oxford, UK.

That AT (I think?) was a '98? dealer was asking (IMO) way too much for the bike. Quite rusty, went down the road like a garden shed on wheels. Felt worn out, not looked after from what I could tell. :confused1: This back in 2003. I'm sure a proper AT would be a different bike entirely. In USA they are considered "collectors items". Too dear for most.

But not many bikes can match the AT's long term reliability, ease of maintenance and versatility. KTM and BMW can't come close when you're talking about 100,000 mile of hard use.

But the Suzuki V-Strom can. Many showing well over 100K miles without major failures or expensive repairs. The Transalp was sold here in USA but never did well. Honda pulled it off our market after just two years. I rode one in the early 90's ... not impressed at all.

Compared to a Suzuki DL650 V-Strom? No comparison. As tough and reliable as both the AT and Transalp are ... they are just a bit outdated in some respects at this point. Also, quite heavy once loaded up with luggage and full gear.

I remember one AT traveler/Hubb member, (Marteen Munnick). He weighed his loaded up AT ... over 700 lbs. (318 kgs) !! Marteen did over 100,000 miles around the world on his AT, wrote a book about his trip.

Motorcycle travel styles have changed since those years. More riders now going smaller, lighter, cheaper. Is it better? Dunno ... :confused1:

Did 90,000 miles on my DL1000 V-Strom, no problems. Not as easy off road as smaller, lighter DL650 "Wee Strom", but made it through some tough going. Fully loaded with luggage/fuel it was around 560 lbs. (254 kgs.)

Since then I've gone even lighter and smaller ... Suzuki DR650SE. fully fueled, loaded, about 430 lbs. (195 kgs.) 55K miles and counting!


Anxious to see what Honda comes up with at the Milan show ... right round the corner. My guess is it will be something BIG and HEAVY and expensive to compete with latest BMW, KTM offerings.

I've had three Africa Twins. All RD07's. Done full engine/frame rebuilds on two of them.

Good and bad thoughts.

Good:

Lovely road handling and comfort, nice power, great mpg, very reliable motor when cared for, simple enough.Looks cool with that big headlight and the dig dash is cool too. A really enjoyable bike to ride. 15 years ago.

Bad.

Bikes have moved on A LOT since then... It's Heavy, heavy, top heavy and heavy... Did I mention they're heavy ? That is the last thing you want in an adventure bike. That and saggy undersized suspension , crap brakes and they're a pain to work on. Callipers and rims corrode badly and the choke plungers are prone to jamming up too. And don't even bother leaving the country with the stock fuel pump. They're toast after 30-40K. vacuum or facet pumps work great on them.

Would I ever had another one. In a heart beat.

Why I don't have one now..I refuse to pay the premium.

Idiots are paying £3500 for them and giving them an non deserved 'Ultimate bike' status.

They're good bikes but nothing special AT ALL.. And not worth £3500.

Just saying

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

My AT has over 200k on it. Still my favorite bike in the shed. But I have to agree with Ted, they're not worth the premium.

But then again, neither are the BMW's here in Australia - >8k for 20 your beamer!?!?!

So I guess it's upto the individual and what they're willing to pay. I doubt I'll ever sell my AT and in fact I'm looking for an RD04 at the moment to replace some of my newer bikes in the shed, but like Ted said, I ain't paying what they're askin'...

__________________
Squily

I´ve owned one 650 AT and a total of four different 750-models in the Nineties... great bikes in many ways, but I agree with others, the goalposts have moved since those days. My current DL650 does just about everything the same, or better, although it is more road-biased (..but so am I nowadays!), has more punch, much better fuel economy, better headlights, well working ABS brakes, and reliability is just about the same, both very reliable.

Some people got baned for using this word

Even for 18.000 Euro you dont get a bike that lasts 400.000 km: Seit 13 Jahren auf Weltreise: Ian Coates bei Touratech

Insted people are giving the "Ultimate bike" status to the BMW 1200 GS, that fails the long term tests of a magazine 3 times. No other bike is less relyable then this.


BMW R 1200 GS Dauertest : TOURENFAHRER ONLINE
Dauertest-Abschluss BMW R 1200 GS - Motorrad-Dauertests - MOTORRAD
Dauertest BMW R 1200 GS Getriebeschaden - Motorrad-Dauertests - MOTORRAD

Still after 20 Jears the AfricaTwin is better then anything else on the marked. Thats why its still one of the most seen bikes on traveler meetings, even you cant buy it anymore.