Well, this might get me banned here.....but here goes......

So......what do you guys think of the new 2016 Africa Twin? Is it expectations met or another Honda disappointment or just what the doctor ordered? Will it influence any other manufacture besides BMW or KTM?

For me, I think it's really cool! I see it very much something other then a BMW or KTM. It seems to be a bike built for practical use and not something to fire shots across the big boys bows. I don't really see it as a direct competitor to the KLR either although let's face it, it will be compared to the lot of them.

What do you guys think? Honda missed the boat or took its time and made something special?

Remember.......I'm the new guy......

I'd ride one. Let's wait and see how much they sell for.......

I want one.

Tom

I'd buy one if it was a 750cc p-twin and weighted 400 pounds.

As a 500lb liter bike I think it's a bit much.

Lighter than a Ténéré, though.

Tom

I think it's a cool looking bike! Though for me, a liter dual sport is kind of on the overkill side... The extra juice would come in handy on the highway though!

Being a cheap bugger, I'd never be able to buy anything like that until it was old and well depreciated! Lol

If I were to test ride one, I would ask them to lay it on its side and give me a box of sand to stand in. If couldn't pick it up by my self, it wouldn't work for me.

Might be a great bike!

Then, again, what about the 650 Versys? REALLY affordable prices on these bikes; don't know how close they come to Africa Twin performance. The Versys has road manners the KLR650 can only dream of, with some dirt-and-gravel road capability.

Then, the Versys 1000 now appears in the US. Probably heavier than the Africa Twin, but might offer more power.

DISCLAIMER: I'm NOT Kawasaki-centric. Just wondering what the Africa Twin brings to the table, beyond existing machines' offerings. I wish Honda success with Africa Twin marketing in the US; riders profit from motorcycle diversity, IMHO.

Wow. I just logged on to see if there was a place to post about the AT.

I've been watching news of this for a while. The recent price announcement ($13,000 or so) makes me think even harder about it.

But 511 pounds still causes me pause. Add some camping gear, a little food and water and it starts to get a bit hefty. I can probably lift it -- once. I've never had to lift any bike with camping gear more than once a trip anyway, so it might work OK. It's lighter than some of the competition, but the weight says "road bike". (Of course the KLR is sold with the Kawasaki street bikes, not as part of their dirt bike line.)

In the end, I'd trade much of the zoom zoom for weight reduction. Maybe something like a KLR. That's the thought I ended with yesterday and why I wanted to mention the AT on this forum.

My local dealership has often suggested that I test-ride this or that. I can easily see testing the AT. For gravel roads the AT weight shouldn't be a problem. Until it is.

ive got a buddy who is selling his '08 goldwing and crf250 to buy one. he is pretty psyched about it and i hope to bum a test ride

if i succeed, i will post up under "rider reviews"