[anotherbiker]

With modern bikes, if they're looked after, what do you think is a reasonable mileage to expect before it finally dies?

I've decided to sell both my bikes (including the Honda CRF250L that I use for commuting) in order to get the Africa Twin, so it will now be doing everything... including daily commuting. My plan is to run the Africa Twin for years and years until it finally gives up... so just wondering what sort of mileage is realistic for a bike that is used every day? 50,000? 75,000? 100,000? More?

 

[austourer]

Hondas in general can get very long mileages. I have heard of some doing over 100,000 miles and still going. So I don't see the AT being much different.

 

[erey]

More than 100K but it depend of you and how you take care of the AT

 

[superfunkomatic]

I currently have a 2005 Honda VFR with 90,000 kilometres that runs like new with zero mechanical issues. I have read plenty of posts online of the Honda Varadero with 300,000 kilometres and many other VFR owners with 100,000+ miles.

I've also driven and owned many Honda cars and had a Civic ('82) that went for 350,000 kilometres.

I think they'll be around for a good long time.

 

[Rory]

Easily over 100 k MILES , just need good quality oil and filters .and at very least ... the specified service intervals ....or earlier if used in lots of dirt / technical riding . Its not a highly stressed motor . Im sure it will last longer than you care to keep it ?

 

[anotherbiker]

Well this is all good to hear! Maybe I'll do an extra oil/filter change myself between services then.

I actually think the AT will make an excellent commuter with that DCT gearbox and reasonable fuel economy. My CRF250L was working hard at 60mph so I didn't get anywhere near the claimed fuel economy from it in reality

 

[Rory]

haha , obviously ringing its neck, no matter ! Will also last for ever with fresh oil and service stuff . I still have my fist bike, a Z50 A (mini trail ) now 42 years old . 4000 miles , to the gate and back in 2 years . I was 8 years old , and only got an oil change when I was old enough to know that it needs care . Still starts 1st kick and ridden about once a year .

 

[paulwb99]

Had a z50 a growing up. There indestructible.

 

[mirificus]

It`s Honda don`t worry, if first year goes without any major problems or recalls it will last


for ever.

 

[2Sun]

+1 to that!

Here's my 2 cents...

1) Do oil changes at required intervals, and change the oil filter every time (even if they say you can skip every-other... they are cheap in the grand scheme of things, and why pollute your new oil w/old gunk form the old filter? Not worth the few bucks savings IMHO)
2) Don't skip the first couple of valve adjustments, the very first one being the most important
3) Use synthetic oil if you ride hard, or in high heat, regularly. Change more often if you do a lot of dusty riding
4) If you are cursed with ethanol contaminated gas as many in the US are, make certain you run stabilizer if it sits for even more than a week or two, and then....

It should last until you have grown tired of it, or 100K+ miles. These new motors are just that good. Do the things mentioned above, and it'll treat you right.

 

[anotherbiker]

Good advice, thanks everyone!

 

[Fster]

I ride a ST 1300 and frequent the ST Owners forum and there is a guy on there that just hit 350,000 miles on his ST with only a few problems like clutch, alternator and a universal joint. Most guys on that site are pissed as I am myself that we wasted all that money on an extended warranty and never used it. Wish I could have said that about my GM car.:frown2:

 

[anotherbiker]

I just noticed that the AT has the lowest compression ratio of all the competition...

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2016-adventure-bikes-spec-for-spec

I guess this bodes well for engine longevity too? Also, I'm not expert, but I'm guessing it means it'll cope better with low quality fuel that's the only thing available in some parts of the world?

 

[Drago]

Just sold my St1300 for the AT, and in 100k and twelve years all I had to do was change a headlight bulb! hope the AT is has good!

 

[bart de mare]

A friend of mine did 300.000 km without big issues on his Honda Transalp 1989... And the Africa Twins 750 were known as undestructable too.... Hope the new one is as strong...

 

[Juha]

1) Do oil changes at required intervals, and change the oil filter every time (even if they say you can skip every-other... they are cheap in the grand scheme of things, and why pollute your new oil w/old gunk form the old filter? Not worth the few bucks savings IMHO)

And if you have DCT-model, don't forget to change gearbox filter also.

 

[2Sun]

Juha - Yes, excellent point you have there about the gearbox oil. With all that nice new add'l high-tech in there for the DCT models, it needs love, too!

All the more reason (IMHO) to use really high quality oil, and keep up with the change intervals as specified. That oil is doing double duty as both a an engine lubricant as well as transmission oil. Let that go to heck, and you not only could you get a seize up/burnt top end, but it'll could trash that nifty transmission, too.

 

[2Sun]

Anotherbiker - Yes, that low compression is one of the things that really caught my attention when first considering this bike. With the mad rush in recent years to have higher and higher performance engines shoehorned into what are supposed to be off-road bikes, the higher compression engines have a bunch of drawbacks that few like to speak of...
1) Higher revving & higher compression = shorter engine life
2) Higher compression engines usually require more maintenance and/or have shorter maintenance intervals
2) Higher compression requires higher octane. It is just not available in much of the rural world, or even in many really rural areas here in the US
3) Once you run low octane in these newer high compression motors, the knock sensors detect it and retard the timing to adjust to it, and wa-la... you just paid $22K for a 100 hp machine, because it won't try pumping out those 150 ponies anymore in order to save itself from pre-detonation issues. It's a waste of both money and all that high-spec technology

Low compression and low revs = Long engine life, less maintenance issues, and can run on just about anything you put into it. And, since nobody can really effectively use 150 hp in the dirt, what's the point?

To guys like me, those other bikes are really just high performance, higher cost superbikes dressed up to go off-road. Sure, some (KTM and BMW, for instance) are great machines off road too, but you're buying a world of other issues when you start getting 12:1 to 12.5:1 compression ratios in an ADV type machine.

 

[anotherbiker]

Really interesting stuff 2Sun!

The more I learn about this bike, the more I think Honda really have nailed it. Everyone in the motorcycle world was so obsessed at first with it being too heavy to go off road, but that missed the point I think. Off road riding is only one part of long-distance adventure travel... simplicity and reliability is important too. Producing a bike that is very unstressed by what you ask of it and will just keep going and going could be what makes this a real ride around the world, then around the world again bike!

 

[acarrilho]

Honda manual says to use fuel higher than 91 octanes. Last week when I asked my dealer which grade to put on he said 98. I think the AT runs well with 95 for sure...

Any feedback from who already is using the bike?