Honda Africa Twin
Cruising for a bruising is what Bertie reckons will happen if he's not shrewd with the Twinkie's auto-pilot...
Cruise control proves controversial on the Africa Twin.
Ifl'm 100% honest I've never been massively into cruise control on motorcycles, but - as I've gotten older - I've found myself more often on such machines that have it fitted. I guess it's my age and the fact that I've shunned sportsbikes for a few years!
Strangely, I can probably count the number of times I used it on the superb Versys last year on one hand - that same hand being the reason for using it. Sometimes, with my right hand curled around the twist-grip, after a few hours it gets terrible cramp. So, with cruise control you can press a few buttons and you can stretch the hand to your heart's (well, hand's) content. Otherwise I'd have to pull over.
FALSE ECONOMY?
So far in 2020 I've used the Africa Twin's cruise control quite a lot in comparison to the Kwak'slast year. And it's only sometimes due to hand cramps. Instead, with my main trips on the bike taking in a bit of A-road work, I've found that I'm actually enjoying getting good results from the miles per gallon. Yes,I've aged. Remember when we were young and on two-strokes? Did we care?
Nah ... So, I've moved the average mpg up to 47.5 this month, thanks to using it on any A-road or motorways I come across ... but ....
SMOOTH OPERATOR?
With so many controls on the left-hand bar, the Africa Twin has the cruise controls on the right. Maybe it's this that makes the smooth operation of cruise not so smooth for me! I also find that the button to put cruise on just a little bit far from the twist-grip, so I have to let go a bit to press the button. I've also yet to memorise which one is 'resume' and which is 'set'. I always used to gently brush the brake lever when de-activating cruise, but find that the Twin's lever/sensor set up is so sensitive that it will feel like you've hit reverse thrust and you can bruise 'your boys' on the upwardly angled tank - best to rock the throttle forward then, which also disconnects it.
SHE PRESSES MY BUTTONS!
If you think my criticisms are minor - you'd be right. For me the Africa Twin really does press my buttons when it comes to just 'getting out there and riding; which we are finally allowed to do. But I do have to admit that - even after almost 1700 miles - when it comes to pressing her buttons, I'm still not that au fait with where everything is, so I have to cast a downward glance at the controls. Never a good thing to do, but I will learn all her secrets in time. I find there's also nothing better than a 60-mile bike ride on the Africa Twin to help me check to see if my eyesight is up for a longer ride the next day. (Ooh, bit of politics there ... ) Sorry, but being serious again for a moment, this really is a fantastic long-distance machine. Let's hope we can start doing some proper trips out on her soon and visit places.