What the feck have you done today?

Exige said:
I was thinking of a Guzzi TT85 or Stelvio, but them went on to a new 750 Transalp due to the new e-clutch (old injury in my left wrist from broken bones gives me jip with the clutch - especially in traffic and after an hours riding). The transalp has a 21" front wheel and tubed too which wasn't good, this led me to the DCT adventure sport with 19" front wheel and more road biased choice of rubber available.

I was concerned about all the tech and gadgets - more to go wrong, but it seems the Honda reliability on these is impeccable.

My ideal all round bike doesn't exist but this bike, with 17" wheels and 130 - 150 bhp would have been nice - I saw this as the nearest compromise and as the engine is very torquey I think it will be OK while being extremely comfy and kind to my wankey (not in a Wayne way) left wrist.
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Did you test ride one before taking the plunge?
 
Exige said:
I was thinking of a Guzzi TT85 or Stelvio, but them went on to a new 750 Transalp due to the new e-clutch (old injury in my left wrist from broken bones gives me jip with the clutch - especially in traffic and after an hours riding). The transalp has a 21" front wheel and tubed too which wasn't good, this led me to the DCT adventure sport with 19" front wheel and more road biased choice of rubber available.

I was concerned about all the tech and gadgets - more to go wrong, but it seems the Honda reliability on these is impeccable.

My ideal all round bike doesn't exist but this bike, with 17" wheels and 130 - 150 bhp would have been nice - I saw this as the nearest compromise and as the engine is very torquey I think it will be OK while being extremely comfy and kind to my wankey (not in a Wayne way) left wrist.
Click to expand...
That's pretty much what my KTM 1190 is. It does have a 19" front wheel and lots of people have converted them to 17" to make use of sports tyres. I've thought about it but TBH it handles so well I can't see the point. It's an absolute weapon that can be flung on its ear and sticks to the tarmac like glue. I've run Continental Road Attacks on it for years and can't fault them. If the Africa Twin is anything like the 1190 in handling I think you'll quickly forget about the 19" wheel.
But at 60,000 miles my 1190 is getting long in the tooth. It's also very heavy on chain maintenance. Partly because it's a big torquey V twin and they do eat chains and sprockets, and partly because it has a very long chain run. The standout feature of my Harley and Rocket 3 adventures was the blissful absence of chain maintenance.

I'll be interested to know how you get on with the AT. The V1000 Stelvio does seem to grab me for some reason. Not so much the TT85 as that engine is a bit breathless. The new V1000 mill is in a different league. I'd like to ride one. My only doubt is that I've heard they're not that roomy for taller riders. The KTM is a winner in that department. It's stupid tall, especially the way I've got it set up. At 6' tall I'm on absolute tip-toe but there masses of leg room on the move which means I can ride it for hours in comfort.

Now you mention wrist ache, that's something that's also starting to affect me. Well, more hands and fingers than wrist, as I think I'm becoming arthritic in my hands. The Streetfighter has a very heavy clutch. I reckon that will be a struggle when I finally get it back on the road. Even the 1190 causes some strain as it has a long lever stroke, even when adjusted to the minimum. Not sure I could get my head around the idea of auto transmission though. Be interesting to hear how the Honda system works out.
 
Hugo Magnus said:
Sounds like you're describing the 1260s Multi.

The engine is a testastretta DVT at 1262.0 cc. It delivers 129.5 Nm of torque.

Or his that 0.5 of a Nm underpowered for you?
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In Church of England that's 95.5 ft/lb. That will be at the crank. My Diavel with the Termi pipe and a remap makes 94 ft/lb at the wheel, so presumably the 1260 MTS would be the same if uncorked as it's the same engine. I can see the appeal of the DVT 1260 engine in adventure bike format (or streetfighter - they should have built one) as IMO it's the best Desmo engine Ducati ever made. I wish it was still in production.

The only thing I've never quite liked about the 1200 and later Multis is that you sit in them rather than on them. On the KTM you feel very much perched on top which I much prefer.
 
Just back from a classic bike and American car show in a local village - I didn’t enter the Tesi to give others a chance 😇

IMG_0308.webp
 
Gimlet said:
That's pretty much what my KTM 1190 is. It does have a 19" front wheel and lots of people have converted them to 17" to make use of sports tyres. I've thought about it but TBH it handles so well I can't see the point. It's an absolute weapon that can be flung on its ear and sticks to the tarmac like glue. I've run Continental Road Attacks on it for years and can't fault them. If the Africa Twin is anything like the 1190 in handling I think you'll quickly forget about the 19" wheel.
But at 60,000 miles my 1190 is getting long in the tooth. It's also very heavy on chain maintenance. Partly because it's a big torquey V twin and they do eat chains and sprockets, and partly because it has a very long chain run. The standout feature of my Harley and Rocket 3 adventures was the blissful absence of chain maintenance.

I'll be interested to know how you get on with the AT. The V1000 Stelvio does seem to grab me for some reason. Not so much the TT85 as that engine is a bit breathless. The new V1000 mill is in a different league. I'd like to ride one. My only doubt is that I've heard they're not that roomy for taller riders. The KTM is a winner in that department. It's stupid tall, especially the way I've got it set up. At 6' tall I'm on absolute tip-toe but there masses of leg room on the move which means I can ride it for hours in comfort.

Now you mention wrist ache, that's something that's also starting to affect me. Well, more hands and fingers than wrist, as I think I'm becoming arthritic in my hands. The Streetfighter has a very heavy clutch. I reckon that will be a struggle when I finally get it back on the road. Even the 1190 causes some strain as it has a long lever stroke, even when adjusted to the minimum. Not sure I could get my head around the idea of auto transmission though. Be interesting to hear how the Honda system works out.
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Having had the first generation DCT on the then new AT it rides very well, the gear changes are super smooth, ( and boring) so I expect that it’s only got better since then👍
 
Exige said:
I was thinking of a Guzzi TT85 or Stelvio, but them went on to a new 750 Transalp due to the new e-clutch (old injury in my left wrist from broken bones gives me jip with the clutch - especially in traffic and after an hours riding). The transalp has a 21" front wheel and tubed too which wasn't good, this led me to the DCT adventure sport with 19" front wheel and more road biased choice of rubber available.

I was concerned about all the tech and gadgets - more to go wrong, but it seems the Honda reliability on these is impeccable.

My ideal all round bike doesn't exist but this bike, with 17" wheels and 130 - 150 bhp would have been nice - I saw this as the nearest compromise and as the engine is very torquey I think it will be OK while being extremely comfy and kind to my wankey (not in a Wayne way) left wrist.
Click to expand...
I had Hepco & Becker explorers panniers and top box on my AT DCT,
Have a look at them, they are very good quality and look fab on the bike.
 
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