I think it will be a fat lardy 'Pretends to be capable' Adventure bike like the big GS's, Super Tenere etc.

Built for rich old men to admire from their 5* Swiss chalets while their Moet chills in the fridge.

If it turns out to be a lightweight 750 Twin that wears knobblies as well as it's road tyres then I'll sell a kidney to own one

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

Ted, if some clever fabricator was really keen and had a fair bit of "budget",
could he re-make an Africa Twin? Modernize it a bit, shave weight off it, up grade suspension. Could it be done or is it a fool's errand?

How much weight could be taken off with custom bits like Ti exhaust, lighter wheels, Shorai battery, lighter plastic (Carbon Fiber?), LED headlights. ???

Maybe convert to F.I. to UP fuel efficiency, increase range without having to carry massive huge fuel tank? :confused1:

Seems to me there's still a fair number of these sheds running round the UK.
Would any of the owners go for such a program? Or ... too expensive? Not worth it? I've heard of AT specialists in
Germany ... anyone doing anything like this over there?

I really like the basic look of the bike. Seems to me it could be made loads better ... Pipe dream?

As you know yourself. People have been doing this for all bikes..

With enough time and money, anything is possible. Fools errand ! Probably...

I've seen some amazingly tricked out Africa Twins with KTM suspension, race systems and tuned engines.. The only original part is the frame and engine.. The cost is off the charts. The reason behind it is pure fanatical. If I had wads of cash burning a hole in my pocket then I'd probably do the same. too It's fun...

I kind of like doing this too but on a smaller scale. My current 2001 Honda Dominator now owes me £3000 and you can buy them on Ebay for a grand.

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

But you have to compare apples with apples Ted. You can't compare a Dommie to an AT. If you want to compare it, compare it to the same class bikes. I've already agreed they're overpriced in some places (e.g. here in Aus a DL650 will be >2k cheaper than an AT and I'm not sure the average bloke will find it 2k better- and then you add the zero-Honda support here, and it starts to loose it's appeal).

But in Europe (and maybe I'm totally wrong about this), they'd be more expensive than say a Super-Tenere of the same year/age etc, but maybe the price difference is not THAT great? And having reviewed my fair few Super-Tens, I think the AT is a better bike and more reliable etc.

And different places have different markets. I'd love a Dommie, but they're around 4k here and I don't think they're worth it. I got a Tiger 955 for 2.5k: much more bike for the money, and yes not the same, but as my focus was a budget bike to ride-and-leave, I can work with it and live with the shortcomings.

and the final 2c just for context - which bike you buy off the shelf has great suspension? Guys here spend plenty of $$ on already expensive bikes like the 800XC etc to get them ready. Even KTM's aren't perfect. Yes, a DR650 will be much cheaper to setup, but then we're once again not comparing apples to apples are we?

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Squily

Look at this..

Nearly £5000 for an Africa Twin. Clean with low miles but WTF !!!!

It's worth half that...

Honda XRV 750 AFRICA TWIN | eBay

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

People pay 18.000 for a BMW that breaks after only 44.000 km see translation here

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ke-do-52163-17

so a AfricaTwin that lasts for 400.000 km is worth £70.000 and you can be happy to get one for less but dont tell anyone, otherwise the price will go up

I can think of 50 bikes that can be picked up for £1000 which can match an AT on reliability and longativity...

And I love AT's... I'm sure they will be back to £1500 once the fashion wears off and realisation sets in. And then I'll have another. Maybe..

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

hi , i have a AT 650 and am getting crappy mpg and i dont know if its normal or there is a problem..

i have a like to my Thread for more info here..
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-650-mpg-81829

any info would be great thanks