Good bike,

1) I got one last new piece of production Africa Twin and it got stolen 2 months before our big trip. It was parked beside a Hayabusa.

2) Got another 9 years old AT for the trip. Mileage? unknown but i know the front disc is worn out.

3) 2nd month of our trip, charging system broke down. battery dead. we are in Pakistan mountain.

4) Burning of engine oil. not much, just 100ml per 100km.

5) Engine fully broke down on our 18th month of travel. Easy to rectify this issue because no repair is needed. Friends found another used engine and we just swap. no repair.

6) Back home with the 2nd engine, it is still burning engine oil. 100ml per 100km. It does not travel more than 110km/hr.

7) will i invest my $ in a good AT? YES!!!!!!

8) just my luck from the beginning when the best AT got stolen and got me a bad machine for the trip.

Fabulous bikes.. I've owned three. I'll probably get another at some point too.

Engine is bullet proof IF YOU LOOK AFTER IT.. Many don't. It's forgiving but it still needs love. 70-80,000 miles and you really should be rebuilding the top end if you want it to last.

Biggest problem is that good ones are very thin on the ground and the ones with relatively low mileage go for SILLY money.

They are good, but no way worth 3-4K, which is what they can fetch. Crazy for a 10-20 year old bike. You could buy an almost new Tenere for that etc.

They have their failings too. Suspension is basic and too small for the size of the bike. Brakes are pretty poor too for the size as well. Fuel pump needs swapping and the seat is a bit of a pain too. Choke plungers can stick open too although I've never had that problem.

They are BIG bikes so unless you're a skilled rider or a big strong chap, then going off road becomes an issue. You should really consider that. That's always stopped me taking mine on 3rd world trips.. Light bikes are ALWAYS better for a million reasons.

You say "of course aluminium cases".. DON'T !! This bike is heavy enough. Don't turn it into a tank. You will curse it if you ever drop it (and on that trip YOU WILL).

Additional gas tank isn't required. You should easily get 200-250 miles out of the tank if you don't ride like a demon.

Have fun

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Theres a gentleman from Yorkshire, hes been using an AT for his trip.

Update on Ian Coates - Riding Around the World

Ian

Hi,

I faced similar decision in 2009 when planning my Lisbon-Guinea Bissau trip. I bought a 97 RD07A model with 25'000km on the clocks and couldn't be happier

Pros
Very rugged and reliable
Still lots of accessories and knowledge available
Versatile, so that on the same trip you can ride off-road and then take the motorway when in a hurry
Holds its value (this is a pro when you own one )

Cons
It's tall and heavy (I'm 60kg, 1,85m tall). Riding off-road and in the sand requires some judgement
The engine is not as fast as the new crop on the market but that was not high on my specification list

Issues
The aforementioned rectifier (I've changed once) and fuel pump (still pumping after 40'000km but I have a spare Facet). Some people complain of wheel bearing failures, I changed mine before the big trip and have a set of spares.

Reports of my trips
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-bissau-55991
Morocco - piste Merzouga Mahmid and back - Africa Twin point of view
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Merzouga Mahmid
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Mahmid Merzouga

Have a look at XRV.ork.uk, really helpful and knowledgeable members
Africa Twin

BR,
Luís Cabrita

__________________
Luis Cabrita, Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin '97
Flickr & PolarSteps

Sorry, but to me this means the engine is worn out.

Our bikes (AT's) are at 1 liter/2500km's now and if we start another big trip (which gets more realistic by the day...) I'll do two engine rebuilds.

The engines are bullet proof, indeed, IF YOU LOOK AFTER THEM.
I know hundreds of AT's because I've sold parts for their famous fuel pump, and I know only one on which the engine failed.
It started to use oil, and they didn't top it up in Africa. ANY engine will fail without oil in it.

My problem with 100ml/100km (so 1 liter / 1000km) would be the oil logistics. Where to get all your Jaso-MA oil if you want to cross africa or russia? You'll need to carry 15 liters!
I know plenty of AT's with a lot of km's on (till 300.000km) and they use up to 1 liter every 500 kms and run just fine. Just a lot of work topping them up every time you fill em up with fuel :-S.

Hey Often if an AT that is "burning Oil" it is not that the engine is warn but the oil rings can from a glaze and let oil past.. I had about 1/2500 lt/k loss (no blue smoke) This i could not take (read anal-retentive) stripped the engine the pistons were still showing honing marks!!! (oh this is at 150000K). changed the rings and presto ... no burning. I change my oil at 3-5000k and have not lost a drop since the new rings...

__________________
2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com