I just don't get it. Honda take a few professional race riders and puts them through their paces in non technical open tracks of desert to through up some dirt and make a media splash. Like the Yamaha's Tenere, Triumph's Explorer and even the Honda's XR650L aptly named the "big red pig" has no business in the dirt. As the saying goes a few very capable expert riders can make anything look good. Who needs another massively heavy adventure bike trying to act like a dirt bike, like the R1200 BMW GS Adventure or the new Mega expensive Multistrada.
The Africa Twin failed horribly every road test I read, lacks power, handling, performance, just like the other Kawasaki Versys 1000 "bike of the Year" I rode one, horrible snappy throttle, whiplash cruise control engagement that puts a knot in your lower spine, worse than the Honda Gl1800, owned 2, if Honda can't build a silky smooth cruse control at least copy BMW or Indian.
Like we say there is a butt for every bike, as for us, Honda Africa Twin is another marketing flop, that doesn't stand up to the name, hasn't made one single production goal, doesn't deliver to the consumer market as promised in form/function/production market delivery schedule. Like the much hyped and anticipated Kawasaki Versys 650, it wasn't remotely versatile, was a dismal failure of engineering and a total dog on the road.
I just crossed America twice this summer on a 250cc 2004 Honda Helix, true to it's heritage one of the best products Honda ever produced. It's time for motorcycle manufacturer to get a grip on more horsepower doesn't equal better motorcycling, better suspension should come in the bike, not out of the box from aftermarket suppliers, ergonomics, quality seats worth sitting on should come standard.
We have enough heavy as **** Adventure Bikes trying to play dirt bike, what we need is something along the lines of a Paris Dakar 450cc that can kick ass off road and take names on road, carry a load for solo bike Adventure Riders and keep up with the 650, decent crash protection right out of the box, real skid plates, crash bars upper and lower, durable luggage options.