It's a long-distance tour that doesn't have a problem with off-roading..Honda Africa Twin
Jul 02, 2025
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There's nothing better to know how a motorcycle works than an eight-hour ride in person a day. Not only can you learn about motorcycles, but you can also find out what features you can use more effectively for long-distance travel.
The African Twin isn't a full-fledged Tourer, but it was recently chosen as the perfect motorcycle for a round-trip journey from Southern California to Colorado thanks to a few accessories on it.
In addition to the latest double-take adventure mirror and Dunlop Trail Max tires, the rear tail rack to mount the top case is bolted. Driving the off-road-focused Colorado BDR course and taking part in rallies.
In line with this goal, several more protective equipment are needed, such as hand guard and crash bar installation. A more aggressive tire should be installed instead of the current Dunlop tire.
I was impressed by the Dunlop Trail Max tires I ran for about 5000km.Not only did it survive about 4000 kilometers to California, but the rear pattern hardly bent on the highway.
So far, these tires show predictable performance on dirt roads, providing excellent braking and lateral grip on hard roads, gravel roads, and trails scattered with stones.
But the most impressive thing about this tire is its amazing performance on asphalt.Compared to pure Michelin Anaki Adventure, the on-road grip is markedly improved.This tire provides a predictable turn-in while providing excellent grip when tilted.
The tire pressure must be constantly adjusted off-road.When driving long distances on-road, Dunlop adhered to the front 39 psi and back 36 psi settings recommended by Dunlop.It was lowered to 25 psi when driving on unpaved roads. This is the optimal compromise between grip force and no damage to the wheels in blind spots.
What is interesting is that the tire performance was very good even when driving on the asphalt road again after lowering the air pressure when driving on the unpaved road.So far, these tires have provided 90% of the desired grip on off-road driving without any compromise.
Having used the SW-Motech carrier on a trip for months, it was really satisfying.It was really easy to attach and detach with the campin attachment system.The fact that you can take out your carrier in seconds with just a button when you arrive at the hotel in heavy rain is a big advantage.
For my trip to Southern California, I carried clothes, extra riding gear, and necessities like plug kits, tools, and tire air fillers.The waterproof roll top design makes it easy to insert and remove.
It can be easily tightened when the luggage is full thanks to the adjustable strap.The contents remained perfectly dry even in several showers and a little snow.
The fact that you can pack very easily is thanks to the Velcro separator. It is an adjustable detachable bag that also provides a buffer for its contents.The performance of the African Twin confirmed that there was a large difference in output between the Colorado Sea 2280m home base and Southern California.
The biggest difference is that if you have to overtake a car on a short straight course in the Rocky Mountains, you'd better do a downshift or two. Passing can be done in six gears.
In standard transmission models, the first gear is too short and the second gear is slightly too high.This is especially true when running on rocks and twisted roads on alpine roads.Because of this, when you want to focus only on the line, you have to change the gear, so the operation is cumbersome.
The rider interface is divided into two things: good and incomprehensible.Once you get used to the buttons on the left control pod, you can get very easy access to basic functions such as changing the mode immediately.
It is also intuitive to scroll through information such as trip meters, fuel ranges, etc.Access to more hidden features, such as display view options, has been difficult.But as I dug into the instructions a little more, I understood everything.
Personally, I prefer the gold display mode over the other two options, silver and bronze.The gold option gives you the most information and also shows you the option to change the trip meter and TC and Willy control immediately.
So I changed the default to gold in all modes instead of the simpler default used for offload and grabble. The most inconvenient thing about the system is probably the use of the Apple CarPlay feature.I have some requirements that make this process cumbersome.
Most obviously, you needed a helmet communication device to use CarPlay or Android Auto.If I forget to charge my helmet, the carplay won't connect. You should consider this before traveling. There is a menu navigation logic that is not yet completely intuitive, but the inconvenience has been reduced through practice.
When everything is working properly, it is an advantage to be able to use navigation, music, and cell phones at your fingertips, especially when traveling long distances.Overall, there is nothing much to complain about about the user interface of the African Twin.
This motorcycle has a variety of features that most motorcycles do not offer at this price point.If you operate the latest equipment like the CB1000 Hornet SP, you can see that the interface of the African Twin is outdated.
I have a few things to mention as I ride every day.It is not easy to adjust the windscreen on the spot.A pair of pinch clamps that must be adjusted by both hands are designed.After stopping, you have to adjust it yourself.
Cruise control is a very easy part of the rider interface.When the system is activated, the process of setting the speed, changing it, and returning to the original setting is simple.Turning the throttle to turn off the cruise function is much more convenient than applying the brake (other method).
Another complaint is that USB ports only support older USB-A connections.So if you're using Android or the latest iPhone, you'll need a dedicated code for charging and connecting. In addition, when driving off-road, the USB cord rattled and loosened, causing CarPlay to fail.
A seat that can be adjusted in two positions according to the riding style is convenient. When driving on a long-distance highway, raising the seat gives you a little more space to stretch your legs.However, when driving off-road or in the city, lowering the seat makes it easier to use where you are stepping.It can be operated within seconds after removing the sheet.
You can adjust the sheet by sliding it into the upper and lower slots. The next schedule is to install a new handlebar, handguard, and Enduro footpeg.The engine oil replacement period is about 12,000 kilometers.
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Editor Song Moon-chul mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
