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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 18 Jan 2008
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Smile AT or TA
Hi, I am planning trip from UK to Capetown and was wondering about the differences between the Africa Twin and the Transalp 650. As i can buy a newer Transalp for the same price as an older AT.

Which has a better reliability history and which is more rugged? your opinions please.

Cheers
Paul.
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  #2  
Old 18 Jan 2008
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Both are rugged bikes - both have a bomb proof engine.

The AT suffers from a suspect OEM fuel pump and common to Honda Reg rectifier problem - all easily sorted. Wheel rot can be a problem on both - but trying to source second hand wheels for an AT is more of a problem than getting one for a TA (in the UK that is).

Both bikes capable on and off road although the AT has the more obvious pedigree (but the TA shares much in common) The AT is taller and the 750 lump has more grunt.

The ATs are getting to be fewer and owners keep them I'd suggest the AT's have a higher value as they push more of the right buttons than the TA for people but I know plenty of TA owners who love their bikes as much as people love their ATs

Have you tried any yet?
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  #3  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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I probably saw more transalps overlanding than ATs, but only just. Both work fine. I spent a lot of time modifying my TA. I realise now that I was trying to turn it into an AT.




That said, wouldn't a smaller bike be in order for that route?

Simon
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  #4  
Old 23 Jan 2008
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Simon[/QUOTE]

Hi Simon, whats behind the number plate ? or am I seeing things ? thanks Matt
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  #5  
Old 23 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Kennedy View Post


That said, wouldn't a smaller bike be in order for that route?

Simon
An interesting comment Simon; it has often been said that once the bike is loaded up then the "offroading" capability etc etc is pretty limited.

Would you use your TA again in future long trips?
Do you have a price in mind for it??

Ozzy,
I fully agree that you will get a newer, lower mileage TA for the same price as a particular AT.
People do seem to be hanging on to their ATs and racking up the miles, now that they are no longer available new.
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Last edited by Walkabout; 23 Jan 2008 at 13:15. Reason: Do you want to sell the TA?
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Old 23 Jan 2008
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mod's
Simon,

Those side bars look like the job, they'd stop a bus! What tank is that? not std?
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Old 23 Jan 2008
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Unhappy
The tank is off an early 1990s AT. Standard. The thing behind the plate is the touring size scot-oiler. There are a whole lot of other gizmos on there too. That machine was my life for four years.

Now the sad bit. Someone took it from outside my house a few weeks ago, wheeled it around the corner and set fire to it. Utterly destroyed.

Not good.

On the bright side... I get to dream about the next bike.

Back to the thread topic now.

If the choice is old AT or new TA, I would get an old AT as they are a bit tougher and - being no longer new and shiny - you won't cry each time you drop it.
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  #8  
Old 24 Jan 2008
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AT all the way
Africa Twin is the only choice, yes I ride one but I have just covered 60 000 k's accross Africa and this thing is bullet proof, check out my site below for photos of places I have put it, especially Angola and DRC. The fuel pump and retifier have gone but I carried spares as its a known problem but no other real problems beside that.

Good luck mate

Cheers

Robbo
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Old 24 Jan 2008
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Thats a great trip there Robbo! I'll be book marking your blog!
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Old 24 Jan 2008
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Hey realy interested in this as i am considering moddin a transalp 600 that is for sal going cheap.

sorry to hear about the bike getting burnt out that must be a right pain in the you know what.


but any chance of geting a few points on what exactly you did to your bike?
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  #11  
Old 24 Jan 2008
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The AT is the perfect bike for you trip in my opinion, just a note on the regulator, when it goes the electrical system can either undercharge or overcharge. Undercharging is nothing, you're battery will just run flat , but if it overcharges, which happened to me, it can kill your battery , CDI unit and melt the wiring. This would be disastrous if it happened in the middle of Africa. The solution for this is to fit a inexpensive warning light for high voltage in the dash.
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Old 24 Jan 2008
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'Now the sad bit. Someone took it from outside my house a few weeks ago, wheeled it around the corner and set fire to it'

Hanging - too good for them.
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  #13  
Old 24 Jan 2008
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Originally Posted by Simon Kennedy View Post
Now the sad bit. Someone took it from outside my house a few weeks ago, wheeled it around the corner and set fire to it. Utterly destroyed.

Not good.

On the bright side... I get to dream about the next bike.

Back to the thread topic now.

If the choice is old AT or new TA, I would get an old AT as they are a bit tougher and - being no longer new and shiny - you won't cry each time you drop it.
Simon,
Very sorry to hear that; the mentality behind such acts is .

I can almost understand the "ride it like you stole it" thief i.e. the stolen bike gets used, momentarily anyway, but vandalism of that nature!

You mentioned earlier about "a lighter bike for Africa" and I wondered what you have in mind; "the dream bike"?

On your point about old AT Vs newer TA - this will not get any easier of course, with the former out of production and the latter carrying on.
Even now, there is a wide choice of second hand TAs in the UK but not many ATs (which tend to be higher mileage - that says lots about them!).

Cheers,
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  #14  
Old 24 Jan 2008
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I think that this is perfect for Africa.

Lois on the Loose - The TTR250 - ready to rock

But I have never ridden on that continent so what do I know?
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  #15  
Old 27 Jan 2008
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If you can get a low milage AT get one!It does everything a TA can do plus that bit more.
Down side would be the weight factor....spare fuel pump needed and rectifier.
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