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My africa twin gives me a lot of trouble... My africa twin gives me a lot of trouble...
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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 Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

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


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 23 Jun 2003
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My africa twin gives me a lot of trouble...
Hi there,

After West-AFrica I'm now in Southern-Africa with my africa twin. It's giving my a lot of trouble, especially the electrical part (feul pump).

Now after only 15.000 km's the clutchplates have to be changed, and I put in new ones just before I left home...

It's also giving me a hard time when I get to higher altitudes: running too rich, stuttering, etc...Carbs had to be synchronised...

finally to tires, sprockets and chains wear fast (only 13.000 kms) probably due to the weight.

So, the next time another bike, same power, but lighter and with less electronics...Any suggestions?
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  #2  
Old 23 Jun 2003
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Posts: 68
Sorry to hear that you have problems, but:

AT fuel pump promblem is well known problem, a quick search on the HUBB or the web could have told you that. This you could have fixed befor departure instead og dealing with it at the road.

Cluth broken after only 15 000km is due to faulty istalation and/or draging wire, or maybe misuse by the driver. This has nothing to do with the bike itself.

Lean mixture on high altitude affects all bikes with carburettors. Aftermarked exhaust and airfilter cant also affect on this.

And yes with more than one carb, you somtimes have to syncronise the carbs.

Big bikes eats chains and tires, sad but true. Gentel on the trottle helps alot.


Hope you can sort out your problems;-)

Frode


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  #3  
Old 23 Jun 2003
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Location: the netherlands
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Could i suggest a KTM LC4 640 adventure?

* great suspension
* big standard tank
* 18 inch rear wheel
* off the shelve box and racks available (and lots of other goodies)
* proven reliability

.....Think about it, it all makes sense!
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  #4  
Old 23 Jun 2003
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Quote:
Originally posted by simmo:
Thank XXX for that. I was getting to think only BMWs broke down.


[This message has been edited by simmo (edited 24 June 2003).]
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Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality
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  #5  
Old 25 Jun 2003
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I'm with you on that one Simmo!
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Sean
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  #6  
Old 16 Jul 2003
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It seems to me that there are too many variables involved to say that a particular model of bike is fundamentally flawed. One person can have terrible experiences with a bike, and yet another is well satisfied. If you look hard enough you'll find a bad report about every single make and model of bike.

Fuel pump aside, and only on earlier bikes, there aren't any known show-stoppers with the AT. Sure the standard seat is a pain, but an hour with a knife and a staple gun and you've got an 800 mile cumfy saddle.

I'm a happy Africa Twin owner, with 25k miles under my belt from the north of Norway to the south of Morocco. It's never 'broken down', it doesn't burn oil, I've very rarely adjusted the chain, and a set of tyres lasts about 10k miles. I'm looking forward to the next 25k miles...

Iain
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