What we’ve learned
Simon Hargreaves has put the miles in on Honda’s Africa Twin Adventure Sports and has come away impressed
7000 miles on Honda ATAS
IT WAS ALWAYS going to be a light year for for RIDE’S Africa Twin Adventure Sports, as it was for most of us. Regular commuting didn’t happen for obvious reasons but we still got some big trips in; before the pandemic took hold, the ATAS had done a sub-zero two-day tour of the Peaks and a run up through Lancashire to the West Coast of Scotland, over to Skye, and back. A lockdown lull followed but summer saw a gradual return to action with rides over the Pennines and to Dumfries and Galloway, plus a couple of trips across Suffolk as a photo bike and domestic duties, as well as a fair few shopping trips. Here’s what I learned.
1 It’s outstandingly flexible
As the years tick by, what I want from a bike has changed as, I guess, it has for most of us. One of the most important things these days is flexibility; I want a bike that can turn its bars to anything.
And the Africa Twin Adventure Sports does. The trick is to be substantial and imposing enough to be an event when the Honda is wheeled out — it has to feel special — and, at the same time, it mustn’t feel too ostentatious to be slung out of the garage and run a few miles down the road to the supermarket. Taking a GS to Tesco feels like overkill (done it) but an F800GS for a big ride feels underwhelming (I’ve done that, too). The ATAS is in a perfect sweet spot of utility vs bling.
2 Build quality is great
I know owners of the previous model Africa Twin had issues with the Honda’s build quality and, in particular, corrosion on its wheel spokes. The spokes on RIDE’S ATAS are stainless — non-magnetic — and are spotless. Overall, build quality is excellent — it only takes the skimpiest of washes to bring a winter’s crud back to shining white paint. The alloy bash plate is a bit tarnished and some paint chipping has occurred around a few bolt holes (I think this might be the result of a crash, see right) but, in general, the Honda looks and rides exactly as it did 12 months ago.
At the launch of this Africa Twin in November 2019, it was announced the new bike came with a detachable subframe; lots of dual-purpose bikes already did but the old CRF1000 didn’t. As it turns out, this new subframe can help save a write-off after a minor off-road spill as well as a major prang on the road, too. After loaning the ATAS to a colleague, he parked it in a ditch. The Honda was nearly a goner — the repair bill crept perilously close to seeing it broken for spares. Had the panniers and engine bars not saved the motor and exhaust, and had the subframe not been swappable and the frame ended up being scrapped, so would the whole bike.
4 It’s hard on your bum
The two things that worried me most about its long-distance credentials were its tall screen and relatively narrow seat. I hated the old AT’S touring screen, and that’s what the ATAS has – you can’t even fit the short screen from the base model. And, sure enough, the first ride around the Peaks in January 2020 showed it was a buffeting pain. And with the seat height on its low setting, the top of the screen was breaking my eyeline. Switching to the higher seat helped, and then the buffeting was improved by fitting Honda’s wind deflectors on the fairing.
The seat proved harder — literally — and my bum caught fire after a few hundred miles every time. I fitted a gel pad to help, and it did, a bit — but the problem is width; there’s not enough cheek support.
5 The ATAS is quick!
For some reason it’s easy to overlook just how strong the ATAS’S parallel-twin motor is — so I’ll redress the balance; it’s potent and feisty. The ATAS happily wheelies, is pretty dramatic in lower gears, has a bundle of overtaking poke, and winds itself up to its usual top speed of an indicated 135mph in short order. For a big, gangly old thing, it can boogie. On twisting back roads, it’s a gas to belt along with unlikely pace. The suspension isn’t as accomplished; it’s very, very soft, even with every setting on max. I only rode the semi-active ATAS on its launch and that was sensational. The ATAS’S other great strength is its tank range — well into the 240-mile bracket is great for long trips and it feels as if every time I go to ride it, it always has fuel in it.