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Life after the Africa Twin Life after the Africa Twin
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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 Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 18 May 2012
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Hi all,

The AT was OK, but I think it was top heavy, or maybe i was expecting to chuck it around more than what I was able to.
Any way, the AT is back with my brother, who also has a Pan European.

I am really thinking about the BMW F650GS (800cc) and the Yamaha TDM 900cc.
The older pre 2002 TDM was a 850cc with a 5 speed g/box
the post 2002 is a 900cc with a 6 speed g/box

Strangely it seems the newer 900cc is a bit down on power as to the older 850cc, perhaps some emissions control thing ?
74 hp for the newer and 79 hp for the older.
However, as the newer has a 6 speed box, it gets more range out of a smaller ( 1 liter less) tank, ie, newer gets 170 miles, older 155 miles.

If any one can give me some more actual experience on riding the TND's then please chime in,.


vette
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  #2  
Old 18 May 2012
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I think it all comes down of what you are expecting from a bike.

I test ride the new F650GS and G650Gs, they feal really light and easy to drive, I didn't like the parallel twin for the same reason I hated it on the TDM, no character at all, no noise, nothing. The single cylinder is much more fun to ride.

If you go for a TDM, test ride it first.

If you can affort it, the 1200GS is the best in his class, I really like it, but it's too expensive for me.

At the moment I have a Cagiva Gran Canyon 900 (ducati 900 engine), and I must say, it's by far the best dual purpose bike I ever owned. I feels really light, the engine is incredible, the bike looks much nicer as many nowadays bikes, and the handling is fantastic.
Of course, the imagine of Cagiva is pretty bad, but on ebay on can find all parts, and the engine is very common ducati, so parts are available easily.

Good luck ;-)
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  #3  
Old 18 May 2012
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In 1999 I sold a 1990 R/W/B RD04 @ to help finance the bmw r100gs I thought I had to have for my RTW trip.

We all make mistakes.

In 2009 (long after my trip ended) there was a 1995 R/W/B (flames) RD07 @ for sale locally, so without thinking too long I bought it. I sleep much better now. My bike life has gone full circle.

So, Life after the @ = realise you made a mistake and buy another
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  #4  
Old 19 May 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uk_vette View Post
Hi all,

The AT was OK, but I think it was top heavy, or maybe i was expecting to chuck it around more than what I was able to.
Any way, the AT is back with my brother, who also has a Pan European.

I am really thinking about the BMW F650GS (800cc) and the Yamaha TDM 900cc.
The older pre 2002 TDM was a 850cc with a 5 speed g/box
the post 2002 is a 900cc with a 6 speed g/box

Strangely it seems the newer 900cc is a bit down on power as to the older 850cc, perhaps some emissions control thing ?
74 hp for the newer and 79 hp for the older.
However, as the newer has a 6 speed box, it gets more range out of a smaller ( 1 liter less) tank, ie, newer gets 170 miles, older 155 miles.

If any one can give me some more actual experience on riding the TND's then please chime in,.


vette
If you can get hold of a copy of the UK "Ride" mag for July 12 it is running an article about buying second hand TDMs - both engine sizes.
It seems like a useful read with a lot of basic information; there are not many downsides listed - those mentioned relate to the usual generic Yamaha thing of furring fastenings (they all do that sir, especially when you ride during the winter) and some issues with electrical connections.
Apparently, production ceased in 2010 but they are still available, new.
The 18 inch front wheel is a limitation but you can fit other Yam wheels.

It is quite a detailed report with too much to state here but you could look at their recommended webpages:-
www.carpe-tdm.net
http://jbx9.free.fr/tdm

The article also suggests a google of "master brewer tdm".
Hope this helps!

ps just done the search and masterbrewer is all one word:- http://masterbrewer-adventureriderep...rer-specs.html
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  #5  
Old 20 May 2012
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Hello all,

I was thinking,,,,,,,,,,,

As i will move up a "size" from a 750cc At, to the 850cc / 900cc TDM, would it be too much to throw another good bike into the ring?

I was thinking the Honda Varadero ?

I guess the Varadero is the replacement Africa Twin?
Africa Twin 750cc off set V twin (behaving like a big single) Varadero 1000cc, also a big V twin.

Any one any thing to say on the 900cc TDM versus the 1000cc Varadero?


vette
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  #6  
Old 21 May 2012
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The Varadero is comparable to the 1150GS Beemer. Fairly heavy, but very comfortable for travelling and absolutely reliable. IMHO highly recommendable.
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  #7  
Old 21 May 2012
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Suzuki DL650. Might not be the biggest, fastest or strongest dual sport on the market but I think it's a great bike. Very economical, fun and reliable.
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  #8  
Old 21 May 2012
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Originally Posted by barothi View Post
Suzuki DL650
Yep. AT is clearly better off-road (quite heavy though) but Suzi does more or less everything else better, especially the newest 2012 version. Goes the same distance with much less fuel, too, so much so that you see it on your wallet after a long trip. I've owned 5 Africa Twins, still love the bike very much, but these days theres no way around it, it's an old design. Honda should've developed it, not quit it!
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Old 22 May 2012
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Originally Posted by pecha72 View Post
Yep. AT is clearly better off-road (quite heavy though) but Suzi does more or less everything else better, especially the newest 2012 version. Goes the same distance with much less fuel, too, so much so that you see it on your wallet after a long trip. I've owned 5 Africa Twins, still love the bike very much, but these days there's no way around it, it's an old design. Honda should've developed it, not quit it!
.
.
Hi Pecha, The AT is frighteningly heavy in the soft sand.
The front really has a total mind of it's own.
So really, the AT is a tarmac or gravel track bike only.

This is where the TDM or teh Varadero will live, tarmac or gravel only.


Thanks for your comments,

Vette
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