Africa Twin Experience Living Thread

[m0lt3n]

Subscribed.
Coming from the 990, do you not miss the ground clearance?

[dieseldawie]

Do yourself a favour and fit some protection to those header pipes, especially it you get rid of those crappy OEM tyres that puncture everytime you hit a rock.
I bought a motorradical kit from runner designed for a GS1200, but only used one piece. The other is yours if you want it.

Saturday I went and fetched some cattle with the truck. On the way home I was passed by a Cruiser with trailer behind. On trailer a brand new red AT with CAW plates. Yip flat front tyre. Cruiser owner was a farmer near Vermaaklikheid giving bike owner a lift to Jongensfontein.
Did not look like the guy had anything with him to fix flats.

Did the bike have original Dunlop Trailmax tyres fitted? They are absolute K@K. Check my post of a few month ago when Pebbles was stranded outside Honda Menlyn with a flat and they could not fix it.
I see someone trying to sell a set. I will grow potatoes in mine.
The issue was as soon as I fitted the TKC rocks kept bouncing off the header pipes, hence my mod.

[SchalkL]

I need to post this:  A honest no bullshit review of the the twin after 50,000km in one year 

[meurig]

I have watched all of his vlogs, very entertaining.  He is in South America now after doing the Long Way Down thing as well

[SchalkL]

Did a 300km ride yesterday with 911 Against farm atacks riders. All tar  and around 300km. Speed was fairly fast at mostly 155km/h but went up to 190 once or twice just for fun.
OK - Fuel : I am a little bit disappointed; I got 15km/L and although it was fast riding i expected a little bit more? The BMW1200's and Truimph 1200 with me got around 17-18km/L 
Oh, I did ride in Sport 1 as always and sometimes used the paddle shifts for fun 

Next tar  trip i will try and stick to 140-145 and report back here.

Next Topic:

Just watched this video on changing the air filters (yes on both sides - I suppose thats a good thing)  - WHAT a mission 

[Striggs]

Looking good Schalk, 2 points if I may:

1. There has been a fair amount of chat about the "GPS bar" breaking. Are you going to strengthen / reinforce yours?

After reading about the "gps bar" breaking and do a little research, I did not really find a solution to the issue.  I have a Montana mounted on mine and after approx 70km of gravel in Transkei, the LHS screen support strut broke off inside the fairing... a couple of cable ties later and it secured in position to stop the shaking. I have had this setup on all of my previous bikes and never had an issue. When I took it to local dealer, they welded it!!!  I queried if this should not be treated as a warranty issue? I'm still waiting for an answer 

I did read previously that someone had designed a support to strengthen this bar, I requested that he show us how? Never got a response? So if anyone has a suggestion as to how we can beef up the gps bar, please do share.. alternatively I will have to mount on handlebar..something I am loath to do...

Any ideas/ thoughts/comments?

[Striggs]

Has anyone changed those filters at a dealer, I nearly fell over when I got the bill...approx R700 each...

[Constantinople]

Has anyone changed those filters at a dealer, I nearly fell over when I got the bill...approx R700 each...

Same price for the 250 Rally's air filter. At least I only have one!

Looking at the construction and looking at the air-box condition behind the filter after a dust sucking Kaokoland trip (rode 2nd and 3rd most of the time). These things are really effective! Zero dust.

[Losper]

Looking good Schalk, 2 points if I may:
1. There has been a fair amount of chat about the "GPS bar" breaking. Are you going to strengthen / reinforce yours?
After reading about the "gps bar" breaking and do a little research, I did not really find a solution to the issue.  I have a Montana mounted on mine and after approx 70km of gravel in Transkei, the LHS screen support strut broke off inside the fairing... a couple of cable ties later and it secured in position to stop the shaking. I have had this setup on all of my previous bikes and never had an issue. When I took it to local dealer, they welded it!!!  I queried if this should not be treated as a warranty issue? I'm still waiting for an answer 
I did read previously that someone had designed a support to strengthen this bar, I requested that he show us how? Never got a response? So if anyone has a suggestion as to how we can beef up the gps bar, please do share.. alternatively I will have to mount on handlebar..something I am loath to do...
Any ideas/ thoughts/comments?

Striggs,  I attached 2x alu angles from the cross bar to the top of the plate behind the speedo.
My Montana is 100% stable, it works perfectly and the brackets is hardly visible.
Totaly happy.

[SchalkL]

Looking good Schalk, 2 points if I may:
1. There has been a fair amount of chat about the "GPS bar" breaking. Are you going to strengthen / reinforce yours?
After reading about the "gps bar" breaking and do a little research, I did not really find a solution to the issue.  I have a Montana mounted on mine and after approx 70km of gravel in Transkei, the LHS screen support strut broke off inside the fairing... a couple of cable ties later and it secured in position to stop the shaking. I have had this setup on all of my previous bikes and never had an issue. When I took it to local dealer, they welded it!!!  I queried if this should not be treated as a warranty issue? I'm still waiting for an answer 
I did read previously that someone had designed a support to strengthen this bar, I requested that he show us how? Never got a response? So if anyone has a suggestion as to how we can beef up the gps bar, please do share.. alternatively I will have to mount on handlebar..something I am loath to do...
Any ideas/ thoughts/comments?

Striggs,  I attached 2x alu angles from the cross bar to the top of the plate behind the speedo.
My Montana is 100% stable, it works perfectly and brackets hardly visible.
Totaly happy.

That will work

[Striggs]

Looking good Schalk, 2 points if I may:
1. There has been a fair amount of chat about the "GPS bar" breaking. Are you going to strengthen / reinforce yours?
After reading about the "gps bar" breaking and do a little research, I did not really find a solution to the issue.  I have a Montana mounted on mine and after approx 70km of gravel in Transkei, the LHS screen support strut broke off inside the fairing... a couple of cable ties later and it secured in position to stop the shaking. I have had this setup on all of my previous bikes and never had an issue. When I took it to local dealer, they welded it!!!  I queried if this should not be treated as a warranty issue? I'm still waiting for an answer 
I did read previously that someone had designed a support to strengthen this bar, I requested that he show us how? Never got a response? So if anyone has a suggestion as to how we can beef up the gps bar, please do share.. alternatively I will have to mount on handlebar..something I am loath to do...
Any ideas/ thoughts/comments?

Striggs,  I attached 2x alu angles from the cross bar to the top of the plate behind the speedo.
My Montana is 100% stable, it works perfectly and brackets hardly visible.
Totaly happy.

That's looks solid!   

[Losper]

Super solid,  works perfectly 

[volroom]

Did a 300km ride yesterday with 911 Against farm atacks riders. All tar  and around 300km. Speed was fairly fast at mostly 155km/h but went up to 190 once or twice just for fun.
OK - Fuel : I am a little bit disappointed; I got 15km/L and although it was fast riding i expected a little bit more? The BMW1200's and Truimph 1200 with me got around 17-18km/L 
Oh, I did ride in Sport 1 as always and sometimes used the paddle shifts for fun 

Next tar  trip i will try and stick to 140-145 and report back here.

Next Topic:

Just watched this video on changing the air filters (yes on both sides - I suppose thats a good thing)  - WHAT a mission 

1200 engines don't have to work that hard, compared to a 1000 engine at high loads. But you should win again if you are cruising 120-140

[charliepappa]

Baie geluk met die bike!! 

Die DCT verbaas my nog elke keer as ek ry; kan net nie genoeg kry nie.

[Dwerg]

I find your lack of updates disturbing  

What sort of consumption do you guys get when riding relatively sedately? I struggle with the idea of commuting on a bike that won't give 25km/l

[bud500]

I find your lack of updates disturbing  

What sort of consumption do you guys get when riding relatively sedately? I struggle with the idea of commuting on a bike that won't give 25km/l

1000cc+ bikes rarely give above 20km/l. Best I got was on my GS, 21km/l at a very sedate pace through LS.

But then again, I also never get close to some of the tyre mileage some people quote....

[Dwerg]

I find your lack of updates disturbing  

What sort of consumption do you guys get when riding relatively sedately? I struggle with the idea of commuting on a bike that won't give 25km/l

1000cc+ bikes rarely give above 20km/l. Best I got was on my GS, 21km/l at a very sedate pace through LS.

But then again, I also never get close to some of the tyre mileage some people quote....

Of course. Not saying it can or should it's just my personal mental block. Although the way I ride when I commute, most bikes should do well above 20

[RobLH]

Mixed riding about 18 km/l, sedate gravel travel 20+

Pushing hard into a headwind (look away now) 12ish

[Mpandla]

I find your lack of updates disturbing  

What sort of consumption do you guys get when riding relatively sedately? I struggle with the idea of commuting on a bike that won't give 25km/l

Average sits at just over 19km/l. Thats part open road, then part N1 traffic filtering. (fuel log average)
I do notice if you ride sedately over longer distances that it gets a lot better than 20km/l

[Bikerboer1973]

I find your lack of updates disturbing  

What sort of consumption do you guys get when riding relatively sedately? I struggle with the idea of commuting on a bike that won't give 25km/l

My barber (haarkapper) also rides bike and eventually bought his dream bike, Hayabusa. Asked him what the fuel consumption is like and his answer: He has never ever tested any bikes consumption because he rides for the love and joy off it and does it everyday, only thing he does check is how many km's per tank so he can plan his bike trip fuel stops accordingly.  Maybe that's the way it should be done, after all we all ride because it's a passion!