And so, after 11 years and one month, the time came to welcome a new bike into my garage.
Unlike when I bought my second TransAlp no test rides and comparisons was needed before this buy. I have ridden everything from the KTM790R (in Lesotho no less) to the BMW 1250 GSA as and when they were launched onto the market. But ever since I was one of the first journalists in the world to ride the new Africa Twin in 2016 I knew, this was the bike for me! With the launch of the CRF1100 in 2020 I was once again in attendance and I was skeptical about the new bike. Yes, some extra power is always welcome but, I mean, how could you improve on the Africa Twin? It was already such a brilliant all-rounder.
The 1100 blew me away. More so than the original Twin. And with the DCT technology there is simply no other brand that can compete at the moment.
So without further ado, I introduce my new ride – The CRF1100 Africa Twin DCT!
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This is the normal Twin with the smaller tank and screen. I opted for this because I am more likely to do shorter rides rather than tours. My current job and lifestyle don’t really allow for long trips. The bigger and more expensive Adventure Sport is rigged for touring.
Also, unlike my previous bike, I don’t plan to fit every conceivable extra. Basic protection, yes, but not full crash bars. I’m thinking bashplate, lower crash bars, some Barkbusters and a tubeless conversion – in future. Also, I’ll need more aggressive tyres, but for now the stock set will have to do. First on the list will be luggage. A Top Box for my pillion to lean against and probably an aluminium box for security reasons. Also, a dashcam will be fitted.
Let the new adventures begin!
10 March 2021 – The Big Shock!
Looking at luggage options I realized that, unlike the Africa Twin Adventure Sports (that’s rigged for touring) my bike does not come with a luggage rack as standard. The CRF1000 did, but with the new generation 1100 bikes the frame was updated and the subframe is now a separate part, a very good thing should it get bent in a fall. Still, I’d have to get a luggage rack before fitting luggage would be possible.
So here’s the shock – the OEM luggage rack from Honda costs 10 000 ZAR! That is a HUGE chunk of money just for the rack, not the baseplate, Topbox or anything, JUST the piece of metal the baseplate gets mounted on. Furthermore, the bikes are so new, the dealer had no after-market options as alternative. Surely this can not be true. I was not going to spend that kind of money on a rack. Some days of research followed and in final desperation I phoned my friend Trevor in Cape Town. He is a bike accessory importer and he basically kitted out my TransAlp all those years ago. As it happens he saw this gap in the market and a whole container of after-market Africa Twin racks arrived in South Africa just the day before! I was back in business.
16 March 2021 – Bargain!
A quick trip to Cape Town to see my friend Trevor and his stash of bike goodies. Never walk into a place like this and expect to just browse. You always leave with a lighter wallet!
Trevor supplied me with a luggage rack for 1800 ZAR! Less than 20% of the OEM part price. I ended up getting a luggage rack, baseplate and a black aluminium Topbox for LESS than what the OEM Rack only would have cost! And with the money left I ended up buying an Enduristan tail pack. It’s watertight soft luggage that fits on top of your allu pannier. More about this product and my thinking behind it later.
If you buy the OEM racks apparently
you also get new side covers as the rack won't fit with the original
ones. The standard side covers work fine with the after-market rack
though, there is just a small piece of plastic in the back that comes
out for the rack to be fitted. And these are even removable, as if it
was made for this rack.
Fitting the new rack:
Fitting the luggage rack is easy with instructions and everything provided. The matt black finish even fits in perfectly with the black scheme of the bike.
Bike with Topbox attached:
I am very happy with the result! For more on Trevor’s accessories, visit http://advrider.co.za/
More about the Enduristan luggage
topper later.
This will be my luggage solution for the foreseeable future. No side luggage as I believe my camping and sleeping on the ground days are over. With the rise of the popularity of Adventure biking there is a myriad of affordable places catering for Adventure Bikers. Topbox it will be, with the luggage topper as and when and if needed. The new motto is Travel light!
15 March 2024 - My new bike arrived!
Like with my TransAlp all those years ago the time came to renew my Africa Twin. And I was there for the “birth” of my new bike! Oh man any day you get a new bike is a good day!!
This is how you buy a bike “out the box”.
New bike - 0km. Not 10km, not 5km, not 1.5km, 0KM! NEW bike!
My old bike and new bike next to each other.
I like black bikes. My first Twin was black, but with a red subframe. I never liked that. Black. Everything needs to be black. So I made sure on this bike that even the rims and shocks are black. No gold rims or me. Black!
So why replace a perfectly good newish bike with exactly the same bike you may ask? My TransAlps are a very good example. You buy a new bike and 2 to 3 years down the line you replace them with a new one. The difference you have to fork out is not that much. And I got lucky. Since the prices went up so much, I sold my (mint condition / 12 000km) Africa Twin for the same money I bought it for new. On top of that I got a very good deal on the new bike.
If you don’t renew, like my second TransAlp which I rode for 11 problem free years, and you want to buy a new bike then, the difference between what you get for an old high mileage bike and the cost of a new bike is HUGE. To such an extent that a lot of people would not be able to buy a new bike again. So there is method in the madness.
16 March 2024 - Start pimping!
Every new bike needs accessories and while my previous Africa Twin did not have much, I plan to kit this one out. First, tank protection from RubbaTech!
My first bike also had these and they work a treat. They are also model specific and blends in well with the bike.
I also had a tracker fitted. No one is stealing this bike!
20 March 2024
Next up I needed to something about the seat. The 1100 Twin’s seat is just not comfortable. We looked at several options and sort of decided to get a Corbin Seat, but then someone suggested getting these Airflow seat covers, which apparently makes a huge difference. It’s also a lot cheaper, so we decided to give it a try.
It is more comfortable, but we have not done a long ride yet, so the jury is still out. We’ll keep you updated on this one.
23 March 2024
I sold my old bike with the rack that holds the topbox, but kept my Allu-box, so I needed a new baseplate. Luckily the new bike comes with a luggage rack! The previous base plate I had was plastic (my 3rd one over the years) and they tend to wear out a little over time. So, this time round I opted for the aluminium baseplate. Black, of course.
Now, the Africa Twin carrier rack can only carry around 10kg. So, the Givi / Kappa baseplate set-up has some solutions and advantages. Firstly, it comes with added support and secondly, it extends the position of the baseplate backwards. The luggage rack has four holes for a baseplate to attach to, but the baseplate now attaches to only to the rear two holes and on the new support extensions. So, the topbox sits a few centimeters further back, opening up some welcome space for my wife and pillion who rides with me regularly.
8 April 2024
The next step was acquiring some protection. After some research I settled on Rockfox who make quality, strong crash bars and bashplates. I personally spoke to Rockfox owners who have crashed their twins, and the crashbars did a sterling job.
So, I ordered both a set of lower and upper crash bars, a bashplate (black) and a set of Rockfox spotlights. These were quite pricey, definitely one of the most expensive spotlight sets on the market, but apparently also one of the best. After about two weeks the crashbars were made, the bashplate powder-coated and all was delivered.
I can report that after using the spotlights at night I am very, very impressed! Once you switch those puppies on, you’d think the sun has just come up. Turning them off makes it seem that the Africa Twin has no light at all. Yes, the difference is that big. I’ve also noticed a difference in everyday riding. Cars are aware of me and even make space if I ride behind them. These spots are very, very bright!
I love the look of the new bashplate, too. Off with the silver, on with the black.
Next up – hand guards with some real protection. Here the go-to is Barkbusters and I also got a set, but with the lettering black on black. Everybody has the guards with the bold white lettering BARKBUSTERS. I prefer the more subtle look. Unfortunately, I could not get the metal behind the guards in black also. I might have those powder-coated black some time in future.
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