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  #1  
Old 31 Dec 2003
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Africa Twin fuel economy
I'm very close to buying a 2 year-old Africa Twin to replace my aging Transalp, but I am (and have always been) put off by the poor economy that the Twin gives compared with the 'alp. On tarmac I regularly get low to mid fifties (miles per gallon, that is) providing I don't nail it, yet the Twin seems to average low forties. Weight, aerodynamics and engine design all might well be to blame, but does anyone know of a way to improve matters without compromising performance too much? The new 'alp seems to suffer a bit this way too. Economy is always paramount when fuel stops are few and far between and funds are low, eh?

Stig
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Old 31 Dec 2003
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I have a standard 2003 model Africa Twin fitted with a race can. I get around 50mpg. Tank range is about 190 before going on reserve and I usually bottle it and fill up at around 220-230 miles, but there's usually a litre or two left even then. Worst fuel economy I've had has been on motorways. Blasting down to a friends place in France, at 90-100mph (true speed indicated by GPS) last year I went onto reserve at about 150 miles.

This is my second AT and fuel economy is identicle to the first bike.

I had one of the new 650 Transalps in between the two AT's and whilst the fuel economy was better on the TA, around 60mpg, the extra tank range on the AT more than makes up for the difference. I don't tend to thrash my own bikes particularly, as I have access to bikes at work and thrash those!

Worst fuel economy has been on my 100GS which on occassion drunk fuel in the low 30's. Conversly the most fuel efficient was a 650GS which was very frugal and returned 65+ mpg. Shame the bike was crap though!

[This message has been edited by mcdarbyfeast (edited 01 January 2004).]
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Old 2 Jan 2004
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My Africa averages 50mpg also. I too have an after market can (Arrow) and K&N air filter.

This is a common set up Ive seen. I wonder if I neet to re-jet the bike? Anyone?


My priority is smooth running and economy in preference to performance.

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  #4  
Old 2 Jan 2004
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Richard,

Your right, a K&N and after market can is the most common mod, especially in Europe.

This set up free's up more power and the engine revs more freely. There's no need to re-jet. I am also more concerned with fuel economy and smoother running and this mod has improved both. I used this set up on my old bike in the Alps and Pyrenese and it ran perfectly with no re-jetting.

The bonus is that the 'Remus' as with most after market cans, is half the weight of the standard can. This has off-set the weight of the mainstand I've fitted.
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Old 3 Jan 2004
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My 2000 model Africa Twin still gets 50plus mpg even after 93,000 miles. This includes 80mph motorway and 60-70mph A roads and a bit of city commuting every day. When I was running it in I was getting 58mpg but I've not equalled that since.
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Old 5 Jan 2004
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Thanks! That's certainly put my mind at rest and made my decision. Now to buy the bike!

Stig
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Old 20 Jan 2004
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Went to Norway last summer, where the speed limit is 50mph. We were regularly getting 300 miles to a tank (somewhere in the 60s-mpg).

The problem with the Africa Twin is that you go to reserve at about 18 litres, on a 25 litre tank. Generally in the UK reserve comes up at about 180 miles (45mpg), which is pretty poor economy really. But if you were to continue until the tank ran dry you'd have got 250 miles from it.

However the comparison shows how much speed affects economy on these bikes.

BTW I'm running a high screen and Zega cases, so the frontal area has increased from 'barn door' to 'barn'. And it's the standard air filter and exhaust system.

Iain

'02 Honda Africa Twin
'00 Honda XR400
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Old 6 Feb 2004
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Riding more conservatively than Iain in Norway, I managed to scrape 310 miles on a tank. Guess we were down to the vapours on filling up. Regualarly get 200 miles before reserve under routine conditions. Worst ever was 120 into the mother of all headwinds!
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Old 9 Feb 2004
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Well, I've had the new Twin for over a week now, and everything you all have said seems to be true. Even in heavy head winds the AT is using the same amount of fuel as my Transalps did. A very good bike; what a shame Honda no longer import them!

Stig
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Old 22 May 2004
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Hi Guys
Im in central Australia at present after travelling overland with my wife 2up on our 2000 AT.We carry around 80kg of luggage which includes 2x10ltr jerrycans mounted to either side of the crash bars in specially built racks.With all this weight and different terrain and climatic conditions we great fuel consumption.We get over 200miles to reserve reguarly even getting 240miles once.We have calculated that we could easily get over 300miles to a full tank,and all this without touching the jerries!
We do sit at 60mph most of the time but then do you really to go any faster when you are going RTW.


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Old 18 Apr 2006
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At
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcdarbyfeast
I have a standard 2003 model Africa Twin fitted with a race can. I get around 50mpg. Tank range is about 190 before going on reserve and I usually bottle it and fill up at around 220-230 miles, but there's usually a litre or two left even then. Worst fuel economy I've had has been on motorways. Blasting down to a friends place in France, at 90-100mph (true speed indicated by GPS) last year I went onto reserve at about 150 miles.

This is my second AT and fuel economy is identicle to the first bike.

I had one of the new 650 Transalps in between the two AT's and whilst the fuel economy was better on the TA, around 60mpg, the extra tank range on the AT more than makes up for the difference. I don't tend to thrash my own bikes particularly, as I have access to bikes at work and thrash those!

Worst fuel economy has been on my 100GS which on occassion drunk fuel in the low 30's. Conversly the most fuel efficient was a 650GS which was very frugal and returned 65+ mpg. Shame the bike was crap though!

[This message has been edited by mcdarbyfeast (edited 01 January 2004).]
I agree with MacFeast. Go and buy that lovely bike My Lord.

Good roads

Denis
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  #12  
Old 18 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LordStig
Well, I've had the new Twin for over a week now, and everything you all have said seems to be true. Even in heavy head winds the AT is using the same amount of fuel as my Transalps did. A very good bike; what a shame Honda no longer import them!

Stig
Glad you got the bike my Lord. Best thing you ever did. Get ready for reliable dependable travel and fun.

Denis
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Old 18 May 2006
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Sorry to trash the party but Honda doesn't even build them anymore, in fact rumours says that all 2000+ Honda is built in 2000-2001 and the put to storage to sell until 2003 which is the last year it was sold in Europe.

I agree it's a shame sinc AT would have been my choice when it was time to sell my TA but now I don't know what todo...

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