2017 Africa Twin

piper87c

piper87c

Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
64
Location
Robinson,IL
The local Honda dealer has two 2017 Africa Twins, new. My dream is to ride to Alaska when I retire. Do any of the folks here have any thoughts or experiences with that model of Honda?
Thanks
Jeff
 
Hi Jeff
I own a 2019 Africa Twin DCT that I purchased in November. There are some great deals on Africa Twins right now being that the new model with a larger engine is out for 2020. There were some updates in 2018 that included throttle by wire vs. throttle cables, some intake changes, the engine balancer shafts were lightened, stainless steel spokes, a new instrument screen, additional settings for the traction control (3 vs.7) and an improved front fork tube coating. Also a Lithium battery vs. a conventional battery. 2016 and some 2017 models had issues with spokes rusting and premature wear of the fork tubes - all were warranted by Honda. I bought my new 2019 in November and paid less than $11k for it and have seen some new 2017 models selling for around $9K. I love my AT and have no regrets buying it except for some issues with the dealer I bought it from. All the AT models from 2016 to present have been reliable with no engine issues. In 2018 Honda also added the Africa Twin Adventure sport models in addition to the std. models that has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity and longer travels front and rear suspension (less than 1"more travel) and a slightly different seat.

Dan
 
bdalameda said:
Hi Jeff
I own a 2019 Africa Twin DCT that I purchased in November. There are some great deals on Africa Twins right now being that the new model with a larger engine is out for 2020. There were some updates in 2018 that included throttle by wire vs. throttle cables, some intake changes, the engine balancer shafts were lightened, stainless steel spokes, a new instrument screen, additional settings for the traction control (3 vs.7) and an improved front fork tube coating. Also a Lithium battery vs. a conventional battery. 2016 and some 2017 models had issues with spokes rusting and premature wear of the fork tubes - all were warranted by Honda. I bought my new 2019 in November and paid less than $11k for it and have seen some new 2017 models selling for around $9K. I love my AT and have no regrets buying it except for some issues with the dealer I bought it from. All the AT models from 2016 to present have been reliable with no engine issues. In 2018 Honda also added the Africa Twin Adventure sport models in addition to the std. models that has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity and longer travels front and rear suspension (less than 1"more travel) and a slightly different seat.

Dan
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Dan, what kinda of range do you get on the std tank?
 
Mellow said:
Dan, what kinda of range do you get on the std tank?
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I get about 41-42mpg avg. on freeway 70+ MPH and mid to high 45-50 mpg when on two lane lower speed roads. This last summer I road from Mono Lake area over the Sierras to Sacramento, CA and achieved 56 MPG. The Std. Africa Twin tank is almost exactly 5 gallons. I have not found that the range of the std. tank has been an issue. There are some huge problems with the Adventure Sport Africa twin with the larger 6.5 gallon tank. There is a welding issue causing the welds to loosen a layer of oxides that are plugging up the fuel pump filter. Honda is doing a lot of warranty work with cleaning the tanks and replacing the fuel pumps and injectors. Some people have had this issue come back multiple times. It is effecting the 2018 thorough 2020 Africa Twins Adventure Sport Models only. The std. tank models are not affected. Supposedly Honda has resolved the problem on Models built after March of 2020.

Dan
 
Thanks was surprised to see only 5 gallons, the Super Ten is 6 but looks like you can get better overall mileage as it seems to be topped out around the mid 40s.

I wish Yamaha would use a linear gas guage... the 1st half is like 3/4 of a tank and the last half is the last 1/4... make for some interesting calculations... lol.. and it's a 4.8 gallon tank including a .7 reserve.
 
Mellow said:
the 1st half is like 3/4 of a tank
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At least you get some indication in the top half. The "germanic" brands seem to think that you do not need to know the top half and do not start indicating until the last half. For the life of me, I cannot fathom the logic.
 
My ST110 is not very linear either... ~180 miles for the first half tank and ~80 120 miles for the last half. I think it's done that way to get better resolution where it matters... near the end of the tank. I like it that way, or have at least gotten used to it. I pretty much gauge my fuel by miles to certain marks on the gauge, plus I know I've got at least 50 miles after the light comes on.
 
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drrod said:
At least you get some indication in the top half. The "germanic" brands seem to think that you do not need to know the top half and do not start indicating until the last half. For the life of me, I cannot fathom the logic.
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What do you mean germainic brands? The fuel gauge is fairly linear on the RT I used to have and the current one.
 
Mellow said:
I wish Yamaha would use a linear gas guage... the 1st half is like 3/4 of a tank and the last half is the last 1/4... make for some interesting calculations... lol.. and it's a 4.8 gallon tank including a .7 reserve.
Click to expand...
My '97 Honda Blackbird was like that, too. I would be at 130 miles with "half a tank" left that never seemed to last 70 miles.
 
piper87c said:
My dream is to ride to Alaska when I retire. Do any of the folks here have any thoughts or experiences with that model of Honda?
Click to expand...
I've read many ride reports from those who have made the trip with a LOT less "capable" bike than the AT, ...like HD Road Glides, and our own Honda ST's. You could do a lot worse in bike choice than the AT. Now, whether you *want* to do it on a nice, new bike, is another question altogether.
You may wish to read the post, Protecting bike from the haul road (Dalton Hwy) - Suggestions.
Which proves the mantra, in large part -- it's seldom the bike. Usually it's the rider.
 
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dduelin said:
What do you mean germainic brands? The fuel gauge is fairly linear on the RT I used to have and the current one.
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I have ridden:
- 2009 1200 GS
- 2012 1200 RT
- 2012 1200GS
- 2013 F700GS
- 2013 1200GS
- 2015 F700GS
- 2016 F800GS
- 20018 F800GS
- 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R

All the above bikes had fuel gauges that only registered the bottom half of the tank. ie. showed full until half the tank was half empty and then started to count down. Maybe different gauges for different markets?:shrug2:
 
drrod said:
I have ridden:
- 2009 1200 GS
- 2012 1200 RT
- 2012 1200GS
- 2013 F700GS
- 2013 1200GS
- 2015 F700GS
- 2016 F800GS
- 20018 F800GS
- 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R

All the above bikes had fuel gauges that only registered the bottom half of the tank. ie. showed full until half the tank was half empty and then started to count down. Maybe different gauges for different markets?:shrug2:
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Maybe so but unlikely.
 
dduelin said:
Maybe so but unlikely.
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Agree.
I am not ruling out my misremembering some of them but for sure the 1200 & 800 GS's and the KTM had the gauges that only registered the bottom half. Show full until half depleted.
 
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Looks like the current f 850 gs guage is a bit better.
FB357717-5904-49F5-9725-D9B6A3100B0E.jpeg.jpg
 
I remember years ago there being an aftermarket set of gauges for cars - one of which was a fuel consumption gauge. Unlike the factory float level arrangement this used a flow gauge and gave GPM (for whatever that was worth/gal consumed/gal till empty. IIRC it had to be reset on fill-up like a trip odo. For bikes I always thought that this would be a great adjunct to a factory fuel gauge and give another data point and a more accurate one to "bingo fuel".

Not being the adventurous type and having to push the ST a block (because of a broken key in the gas cap and foolishly not having a spare at the time) I have no desire to explore the limits of the STock tank. So I look to refuel at 3 bars on the gauge. And always carry a spare key.
 
ST Gui said:
.....Not being the adventurous type and having to push the ST a block (because of a broken key in the gas cap and foolishly not having a spare at the time) I have no desire to explore the limits of the STock tank. So I look to refuel at 3 bars on the gauge. And always carry a spare key.
Click to expand...
My first car was an MG with an inoperative gas gauge and the odometer would regularly quit working. I kept track of fuel use with a pocket spiral notebook and the number of days since adding gas to the tank. You have to do what you have to do.
 
dduelin said:
You have to do what you have to do.
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ME: Where's that pencil? That's ok. I'll remember and add it later.
OR: Where's my notebook? That's ok I think I got gas a couple of days ago so I should be OK.
ME: Geeze Louise this is a heavy thing to push.

I do admire ingenuity and dedication. If such a thing were to happen to my ST it'd be time for a new bike. :rofl1:
 
ST Gui said:
ME: Where's that pencil? That's ok. I'll remember and add it later.
OR: Where's my notebook? That's ok I think I got gas a couple of days ago so I should be OK.
ME: Geeze Louise this is a heavy thing to push.

I do admire ingenuity and dedication. If such a thing were to happen to my ST it'd be time for a new bike. :rofl1:
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I consider motorcycle gas gauges as items of interest but the trip odometer is really what I go by. I tend to keep bikes a while and always track fuel use for a good while to get a good idea of the real mpg to use for calculations When I know what my bikes burn, when to buy gas is a math problem.
 
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