Revisited: The Africa Twin four years on from launch

The reborn Dakar replica can now be yours for a very tempting £6999

What we said then

In the all-important looks department the Africa Twin scores high and makes its sporting and adventure credentials clear even at a standstill. The wide tapered bars ooze quality as does the switchgear and standard-fit hand guards.

On the road it’s seriously comfortable, the seat is spacious as is the relation to the pegs, meaning that there is plenty of room for 6ft plus riders. Yet the bike itself has an impressively low seat height, meaning that slightly shorter riders will be able to put both feet flat on the ground at a standstill.

The impeccable fuelling and throttle connection make for assured rapid progress, but the 94bhp motor fails to truly inspire. It lacks the bottom and mid-range engagement of the 125bhp BMW GS boxer twin, and doesn’t have anything close to the top-end rush from KTM’s ballistic 150bhp 1190 Adventure. But that is not to say it’s a slow bike. It has a decent torque figure of 68.6lb.ft, and thanks to the confidenceinspiring throttle-to-rear tyre connection it means that it’s easy to access every bit of the power. It just doesn’t deliver it in an overly exciting way. Despite significant 230mm travel from the beautiful 45mm Showa USD fork, and 220mm travel from the rear to cope with off-road riding, the bike still feels solid and planted on the road. Ultimately, the limiting factor when riding hard is the profile of the tyres; with its 21in 90/90 front and 18in 150/70 rear you ultimately run out of tyre when the going gets really twisty and the pace starts to hot up.

The new Africa Twin boasts true globe-trotting credentials both on and off-road. It feels lightweight and is reassuringly frugal. This is one of the most impressive true adventure bikes you can buy, and a stunning return for the prestigious Africa Twin name. Taken from the launch report, MCN December 9, 2015

What’s it like now?

There were some fantastically tempting deals to be had on the DCT model a few years ago, resulting in strong new bike sales. Many of those bikes have filtered into the used market now, meaning you can pick up a three-year-old Africa Twin with average mileage (16k) for around £7000. It’s very much a buyers’ market with plenty of choice, so you can afford to be selective and hang out for the machine with the best combination of condition, extras and mileage. Reported problems of water ingress into the switchgear causing starting or mode-selection failures on early models should’ve all been addressed under warranty, so too should the notorious rust issue that plagued the original bike’s mild steel spokes. Servicing happens every 8000 miles with the major service and valve clearance check coming at 16,000 at an average price of around £500.

Worthwhile additions

Heated grips are welcome on any bike in the UK, but don’t be wooed by a used Africa Twin with the official Honda grips fitted – owners say they’re just not hot enough and you’re best opting for some Oxford Hot Grips instead. Many used examples will have an aftermarket end can too, in order to save a bit of weight and set free some of the fruity burble from the pleasing parallel-twin engine, just make sure the standard pipe is included in the deal. Owners who like their road riding on the brisk side will benefit from uprated fork springs and shock for a bit more composure at speed; Hyperpro are a good bet and you can have both ends sorted for around £500.

‘It’s a buyers’ market, so be selective’