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new Africa Twin or F800GS? new Africa Twin or F800GS?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 9 Aug 2015
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new Africa Twin or F800GS?
Hi,
I'm returning to adventure riding after a break and I am on the market for a new bike. I have tested tiger 800XCx already but I didn't like it at all, also tested DL650 XT which was way better but not dirt oriented. Finally I rode F800GS and I quite liked it but new crf1000l is to be released soon and wonder if not to wait and try that too. What do you think, will new AT be too heavy based on specs posted already on honda sites? I really prefer offroad and bad road riding but don't like very light bikes, planing trip to Mongolia soon so bike has to be reliable, torquey engine, high ground clearance and good range.
thanks
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  #2  
Old 10 Aug 2015
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I'd wait to see what the new AT has to offer, price will be it's major consideration and unfortunately they still have not given it a decent sized fuel tank so distance will be a bit limiting, otherwise it is shaping up to be a good bike. You can't beat Honda reliability and build quality.
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  #3  
Old 10 Aug 2015
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If you've got that kind of cash to buy, personally I'd get the new AT over any of the bikes you mentioned.
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  #4  
Old 10 Aug 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by docsherlock View Post
If you've got that kind of cash to buy, personally I'd get the new AT over any of the bikes you mentioned.
that's what I am inclining to but the AT is kinda expensive for throwing around...
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  #5  
Old 10 Aug 2015
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Tremens, where do you live? its good to know which market you will be buying a bike in, as some bikes are not available in different markets, take a moment and fill in your location in your profile!

Im interested to know what you didn't like about the 800XCx?

The new AT looks good, but I couldn't recommend buying the first year of a new production run, there are bound to be some niggles with it, unless you have time for them to work themselves out and be addressed before you head to Mongolia.

If you want a bigger bike, then its hard not to recommend the 800 GS Adventure, with its 24 litre tank, though be aware that some owners have found the rims are made of cheese..... if you don't mind a thumper, the XTZ660 has good range and is physically quite big (and heavy)

Also, if you are handy with the wrenches and don't mind buying an older model, a late, low kilometre KTM 990 Adventure would be a lot of fun
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  #6  
Old 10 Aug 2015
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I rode the f800 for a year, but found it "buzzy" on road right at the speeds I wanted to cruise
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Old 10 Aug 2015
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I find the first and even second year of a new models bike's are generally a bit unfinished.

This is where they let YOU find all the problems.

If you really want the Africa twin why not wait a year until ride reports are back in and maybe pick up a nearly new one for £2000 less than new.
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Last edited by *Touring Ted*; 11 Aug 2015 at 10:39.
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Old 11 Aug 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnail View Post
I rode the f800 for a year, but found it "buzzy" on road right at the speeds I wanted to cruise
One of the problems with the F800GS and its F650GS twin and F700GS twin variants is that it has a close ratio gearbox which is fine for a road sports bike but not ideal for a dual sport. Consequently BMW had to choose between having all the ratios biased towards low (F800GS) or biased towards high (F650GS).

If you had changed the F800GS 16/42 sprockets to the 17/41 of the F650GS twin you would have found it much nicer for road cruising. I once did 960 miles in 23 hours on the F650GS twin from Poland to the UK (with the help of an AirHawk saddle).
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Last edited by Tim Cullis; 11 Aug 2015 at 10:22.
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  #9  
Old 11 Aug 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gipper View Post
Tremens, where do you live? its good to know which market you will be buying a bike in, as some bikes are not available in different markets, take a moment and fill in your location in your profile!

Im interested to know what you didn't like about the 800XCx?
Hi Gipper,
Regarding Tiger 800 XCx I didn't like fly by wire, I didn't like high pitch, annoying engine sound, disconnected engine from throttle feeling, lack of torque at low revs, heat coming to my heap from the left side etc etc
I live in Poland at the moment BTW and I don't see anything interesting on the market except F800GS and xt660z but the tenere is not available somehow in here this year. That's why I'm looking forward to new AT. If not, BMW will be the one.
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Old 12 Aug 2015
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I test rode a Tiger 800XC a couple of years ago and I found the throttle was pretty bad - the fact that the dealer had not bothered to set up the bike properly and adjust a bunch of slack out of the throttle too did not help, I agree it feels snatchy and disconnected.

Its bottom end torque can feel pretty weak compared to a twin, a lot of owners drop a tooth on the front sprocket or increase rear sprocket size, but it is super smooth at highway speeds and loves to rev

Good luck!
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Old 12 Aug 2015
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Originally Posted by Gipper View Post
I test rode a Tiger 800XC a couple of years ago and I found the throttle was pretty bad - the fact that the dealer had not bothered to set up the bike properly and adjust a bunch of slack out of the throttle too did not help, I agree it feels snatchy and disconnected.

Good luck!
if you felt tiger cable throttle was bad then I can assure you now it's worse with the new fly by wire one...
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  #12  
Old 9 Mar 2016
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I rode an AT today
I rode the CRF1000l today and I am impressed. It was only the base bike but I liked it much more than my r1200GSA - 2012. It was relatively balanced. Excellent application of power. The sound it makes is most addictive also.

I would stay with the base bike. I rarely ride on the tar so ABS, auto,
and anything else that involves electronics and flaps is not a great option in the dirt.

Am definitely getting one.
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  #13  
Old 9 Mar 2016
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AT all the way. I know the model is new and some issues are bound to show up, but the AT should beat the 800GS on all fields relating to build quality and longevity

But look at the price- here an AT is upto 25% cheaper than an 800GS (depending on model and specs), so a no-brainer. If you have to pay more for an AT- apart from personnel preferences, is it really that much better in relation to the price difference?

The AT is very easy to ride off-road, well balanced and lots of torque. Not as fuel efficient as the GS IMO (or not mine anyway) and mixed offroad riding only gives me a range of only 250-280km.

But at $300 cheaper than a 800Xcx Tiger and $1500 for the top 800GS compared to the DCT, its the best available at the moment
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  #14  
Old 1 Aug 2016
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F800GS vs Africa Twin.
I finally got to test drive a manual Africa twin this weekend. I wish they had the automatic but they did not.
I have a 2013 F800gs that I bought it new. I have to say, Africa twin kick ass!
Way more powerful and smooth. Felt at the same weight and hight.
To do 90mph on F800GS you have to install a Handle bar stabilizer. I could not believe how smooth and no vibration the Africa twin was a t 90mph. Night and day. I am just holding up for October to see if BMW will have a new model, like an F900 or something, because as it is, just change color scheme on F800GS as they have done in the last 3 years will no longer be enough!
I really want to test drive the automatic next, but I think it is time to have another Honda! For sure, this is my last year owning an F800gs, even though it has being a fantastic bike, I am sure the Africa twin will be just more fun.
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  #15  
Old 1 Aug 2016
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Unfortunately I see more and more complains on different forums about new AT build quality and finish. Kinda deal breaker for me at this price range.
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