Frame construction?

15385 Views 24 Replies 14 Participants Last post by robson, Jan 1, 2019

BiKenG

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2016

The more pictures I see of the new AT, the more convinced I am that the frame/chassis is all steel. Can anyone confirm this? If I'm wrong, which bits are not steel?

Further disappointment is that the subframe looks to be welded as part of the main frame. Always a bad practice as slight damage to the rear end in an accident will require a new frame instead of just the rear subframe. But again, I could be wrong as I'm only looking at pictures.

Could someone confirm these points, either way?

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

FullThrottle

· #2 · Jan 21, 2016

Confirmed by cycleworld, the double-cradle frame made of high-tensile steel.

As for the welding, I'm not 100% sure so I can't help you with that.

BiKenG

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 21, 2016

Thanks for that. Disappointing though. Not a deal breaker, but I do prefer the fact that aluminium doesn't rust. Maybe they consider the steel better at withstanding long term abuse off-road.

Still, that's the way it is.

Juha

· #4 · Jan 21, 2016

During the evenings around campfires and dinner tables I made a point of chatting to Maurizio Carbonara, the lead designer of the new Africa Twin.

Maurizio told me that he initially wanted a beautiful and lightweight aluminium frame, but that Honda’s project leaders insisted on a practical steel frame.

The Italian relented but asked that a detachable sub-frame be made of steel, but allow him to cast the cradle frame in aluminium.
The answer was still "no" from the Honda bosses.
They explained that despite their intention to build a tough motorcycle, they acknowledge that all metals can break when you travel around the world on a loaded bike – they wanted adventurers to be able to pull into a backwater workshop anywhere between Kinshasa and Krasnoyarsk and have a cracked frame welded up by a local with a oxy/acetylene torch.

Source: http://theworldaccordingtoluckystriker.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/2015-honda-crf-1000l-africa-twin.html

Reactions: 4

BiKenG

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 21, 2016

Interesting and completely understandable about using steel. But not having the subframe bolt on (and off) is mystifying as it is irrelevant to those points raised above.

I'd still prefer aluminium anyway, so I'm with Maurizio Carbonara on that.

marsbeetle

· #6 · Jan 22, 2016

If they used aluminium the costs would have increased, besides making it weaker. It will have to take some serious beating to damage it and then I'd rather have the whole thing replaced by insurance anyway(or just welded until you can get it replaced).

Davy F

· #7 · Jan 22, 2016

My 750 Super Ten had an all steel frame, so does the original Africa Twin, can't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over the new AT frame.

Nessy

· #8 · Jan 22, 2016

So was my Tiger 800XC - at least you can un-bolt the pillion pegs from the AT frame

Reactions: 2

BiKenG

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 23, 2016

Davy F said:
... can't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist over the new AT frame.

Who's got twisted knickers? I have my preferences which I've stated and for me it's a disappointing aspect of the AT, but it won't prevent me from buying one. These are just observations and opinions, but everyone is entitled to make and have their own.

Reactions: 1

robson

· #10 · May 4, 2017

made from steel yet still broke under the top box while off-road:

pathetic

Snowbubble

· #11 · May 4, 2017

robson said:
made from steel yet still broke under the top box while off-road:

pathetic

Wow,

Might be different in the USA but in the UK your recourse is with the place that you purchased the bike from as opposed to Honda themselves. Can you not get an engineers report and take up the issue with the dealer you purchased from?

Camel ADV

· #12 · May 4, 2017

robson said:
made from steel yet still broke under the top box while off-road:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHWJFrly24

pathetic

The steel subframe broke or just all the plastic bolted to it?

robson

· #13 · May 4, 2017 (Edited)

Camel ADV said:
The steel subframe broke or just all the plastic bolted to it?

looks like steel subframe because honda agreed finally to weld it for the guy.
At first honda took no responsibility for it.

Best part is on honda promo videos they used top boxes off-road, they even jump with it...

Denburger

· #14 · May 4, 2017

That true everyone has their opinion and preferences, and there is always compromise.
If you're worried, INSURANCE is what I recommend as a must have.
Here in OZ I have heard of 2 cases where ADV Bikes were written-off by the Insurance Company's.
1 AT crash caused the Rider Foot Peg mount to twist the frame > written-off.
1 Tiger 800 crash caused the Pillion Peg mount to bend and as it's part of the Sub Frame which is part of the Main Frame > written-off.
In both cases the bikes were less than 2 years old, and were fully replaced by Insurance.
My Insurance Policy covers full replacement of the bike if written-off, if under 2 years old.
Money well invested in my opinion

No I don't work in the Insurance industry, just covering all base's.

Massive Lee

· #15 · May 4, 2017 (Edited)

robson said:
made from steel yet still broke under the top box while off-road:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHWJFrly24

pathetic

Fake New ;-)

What broke is the plastic craddle. Not the rear frame. What wasn't mentioned by the rider is that he did an enduro in the desert a week prior, and had his loaded top box fitted. ;-)

Barstow to Vegas

Camel ADV

· #16 · May 4, 2017

Massive Lee said:
Fake New ;-)

What broke is the plastic craddle. Not the rear frame. What wasn't mentioned by the rider is that he did an enduro in the desert a week prior, and had his loaded top box fitted. ;-)

Barstow to Vegas

I figured it was the plastic and not the subframe. I've done the LA-Barstow-2-Las Vegas event on an ADV bike and I'm not surprised it broke with the weight of the top box, especially mounted that far back.

robson

· #17 · May 4, 2017

If it was plastic craddle how come honda offered him to weld it? just curious since I am interested in getting that bike sooner or later and I hope it was not subframe that broke.

Going off-road with top box is silly of course but that's the other story. One way or another stock honda panniers and mounts are crap.

Desert rider

· #18 · May 5, 2017

All KTM's are made of steel

G20

· #19 · May 6, 2017

Massive Lee said:
Fake New ;-)

What broke is the plastic craddle. Not the rear frame. What wasn't mentioned by the rider is that he did an enduro in the desert a week prior, and had his loaded top box fitted. ;-)

Barstow to Vegas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fUKlvkI-o

That's terrible. It's amazing someone could make a video like the original one knowing they had a direct part in breaking it. I used to work at a bike shop and have heard so many "JRA stories" (I was just riding along and ...) Adults take responsibility for their actions, kids blame.

Massive Lee

· #20 · May 6, 2017

robson said:
If it was plastic craddle how come honda offered him to weld it?

Well. Go to a Honda dealer and bring a magnet. Try to make your magnet stick to the rear rack. You'll see if it is plastic or steel. ;-)

The only Africa Twin that had a steel rack was the 1988-1989 RD03. It was tubular. Then it was plastic on the RD04, RD07, RD07a as well as the CRF 1000.

Also, who said that Honda offered to weld something? That bike owner is pretty fishy. He could say anything not to lose face... ;-)

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