Hey all, decided to post this here since the Honda Fanboys cannot get off their AT train soon enough. I have a couple questions that I want to pose to this community to help iron out my philosophy of use (or at least intended use). I am coming from riding street bikes in Southern California, but I want to transition to adventure bike riding, that is a smidge capable off road. In that aspect I was looking at bikes with a 21" front. Of the bikes that I've looked into, the F800GSA and Honda AT seem to stand out. The Honda AT seems to hold its own on some pretty decent looking trails as well. I would love to get a smaller displacement bike, but I don't fancy the KTM Enduro R, and the XR650R is a dinosaur. If anyone came out with a 450-500cc parallel twin with a 21" front, I believe that would be ideal. However, I think the BMW and Honda I have picked out are solid choices. I know this is the Gspot, but hopefully I can get some insightful comments on both bikes. My intended uses are: - Long trips (1000-2000 miles seems pretty common in SoCal) - Would also love to go to Moab and other amazing places (expect a cross country trip out of this bike as well) - Also for short commutes (work, friend's home, etc.) of course these bikes will do that, and weigh about the same, but I want to be able to have fun on shorter rides - Able to stand up to a lot of abuse, I know I'll drop it plenty - Reliability and parts availability are huge for me, I want this thing to last me 100k + miles Looking forward to hearing from you guys, Mark
I'm gonner sound like a broken record http://advrider.com/index.php?threa...-kill-the-800gs.1124166/page-12#post-29851449
I've owned two F800GSes, both with ABS; I've never owned a Honda. A week ago I rode an Africa Twin (with auto gearbox) on trails in the Pennsylvania mountains. I can tell you that the Africa Twin's ABS is more advanced such that you needn't turn it off, unlike the current iteration of the F800GS. The Honda's brakes, traction and suspension are just ready to go offroad, and I had no problem in rough surface, dips, soft stuff, deep gravel. It's cutting edge, and the BMW needs to catch up. The height of the Honda was better for my short inseam, with its two-position seat. As for the auto tranny, it adds 30lbs over the standard, but it's amazing the way it frees you up to concentrate on the rest of the work when riding trails. There has to be a disadvantage (fuel consumption?), but I discovered none. Fred
Going to focus on a few points: "smidge capable off road" and "Long trips" If you're not going to be bouncing around the baby head rocks, not tearing up and down 30-45 degree inclines where tires matter, and sticking to fire roads + gravel mostly ... I'm not seeing the great benefit of a 21" tire (yes there are some, but they won't make or break a decision for me). For me, a larger tire allows the ability to roll over larger obstacles. On a lighter bike (250-500cc), you'd add more throttle and lighten the front wheel but that's not going to happen with these "adventure" behemoths when loaded to the gills with gear especially for "long trips." Plus you get into the tube v tubeless debate, which means learning how to change a tube (perhaps with rock hard rubber like the K60's) in the wild and not puncturing your tube while putting it back in. If you're going for "long trips" then you're going to want to increase your wind protection, make your seat more comfortable and be able to pack accordingly. When you start adding in 30-100lbs of gear (20 lbs each pannier and top rack, and better +5# bash plate and +10# crash bars, more fuel, larger wind screen, etc.) then picking the bike up is the last thing you want to do. Yes, you can unload it ... in your riding kit ... in the sun ... after you calm down. But it still sucks. Adventure to me these days are long distance bikes that won't break crap when you have a low speed (<40mph) incident, and if anything does break, you can keep on going because AAA isn't going to get you and walking out isn't an option. Any of the pro's can take one of these bikes and make the most complex trail look easy. Us mortals have to pay for our mistakes, in blood or sweat or $$$. Plan accordingly!
I think this is a great option and a great price compared to the bigger ADV bikes . Check out some of this guys videos .
I waited to see the AT before making my latest purchase . So I saw the AT, and then went a bought the BMW 800 GSA. In my opinion the AT is a very nice, very capable, but very ugly motorcycle with a ridiculous name. And it is still a japanese motorcycle. I wanted to like it, I really did. I own Hondas. Love them all. But they're like white bread in the US, rice in asia and sand in the desert. And, a BMW can get you laid. A Honda, never.
I will stick with my bmw, honestly I cannot consider a new bike when you can always find a used one for half the price with low miles....
That motorcycle online test sure points out the porkiness of the Triumph . I don't know how the A.T. handles the low speed stuff but the GS 800 is actually pretty nimble . I 'm going to keep mine and spend the money on suspension . Halfway between the standard and low version ( 30 inch inseam ) . Traxxion AK 120 cart kit. and ??? shock . Thanks for pointing out that 800 GSA vs A.T. vs XCa 800 test.
If only the Honda looked like the GS. The weight and the look of the AT are the only downsides, otherwise I'd consider it a better bike. Hard to really know without riding one though.
I look at it this way, if I was buying a new mid/large size ADV tomorrow it would be another F8, that's based on the fact I have all my accessories and suspension to swap over. If my F8 got stolen and I lost all my extras I'd almost certainly choose the AT as a new starting point, but the exta weight would bug be me.
I don't know why you insist on an ADV 800. To me it brings you nothing important and the extra mass is going to be a disadvantage in Moab. My 800 has done Moab and some of the tougher stuff in CO. It really passes that kind of test. In the 70k miles it has gone, all I have needed to replace was a sidestand switch and front rim plus regular maintenance items, chain, battery etc. Another advantage of the 800 is it costs a lot less to insure than bikes with more displacement. It is half of the cost of my 1200 GS. I don't feel qualified to comment on the Africa Twin. I have never been on one. But the problem with Japanese manufacturers is they make a model for a few years and drop it. If that happens with the AT it will kill resale value and parts availability. That latter consideration would prevent me from buying an AT. Dave
All of today designers played with too many Transformers ( and learned to copy from each other) when they were kids - most of the Hot Wheels kids are retired.
Yeah. Like Goldwing, KLR, Versys.... Not like BMW's G450X, R1200C, R1150ST.... Don't get me wrong, I've had more fun on my two F800GSes than any other bikes, but I don't pose by spreading BS or by believing I get laid more than colleagues who ride other marques. Fred
There is a bit of a difference when it comes to parts availability between German and Japanese bikes. The Germans are very good about supporting old models of motorcycles, heavy equipment , cars and even machine tools. You can buy almost any part you want for an old airhead or a 40 year old Mercedes diesel. Try and order parts for twenty year old Japanese bikes. Not so easy. Nothing to do with getting laid, everything to do with getting parts. Not sure if this is a cultural responsibility thing or a German law. I have Japanese and German bikes in my garage, like them both. I find the At interesting, but not going to get rid of my 800GS for one, waiting for the mid weight 400 pound 500cc twin AT