Let me introduce a dear friend, tourer and legend in long distance touring.

 His last 2 bikes were 1200 GSA for 70k kms and a 1250 GSA for over 80k kms.

He was going for a 2024 ATAS with 19" but I adviced him to go for a 2023 ATAS DCT ES with 21" since African roads are unpredictable and his "faulty GPS" that always leads him to off grid destinations demanded a 21".

Review of the Honda Africa Twin 1100* Adventure

I was lucky to have the opportunity to ride the AT Adventure 1100 for slightly over a week, and through 2,000 kilometers, mostly asphalt.

I was lucky to have the opportunity to rid

*Pros:*

• Lightweight, compared to the GS.

• Looks. It’s easy on the eye, by comparison.

• Engine and exhaust notes. For the safety-minded rider, it is a sound choice (pun fully intended). The throaty exhaust helps with making your presence heard by all and sundry.

• Seat height is another advantage. The beast looks imposing but once you get on it you’re reassured by the reasonable seat height.

• Reasonably powerful through the highway speeds, and it has plenty of torque. Therefore, you won’t feel lacking in horsepower. Note of caution: this AT clearly lacks the outright blistering on-road performance you get from the GS's ShiftCam boxer!

• Riding spirit and fun factor – absent in the staid plain Jane GS.

• Excellent off-road. The new swingarm highlights the Africa Twin’s off-road focus enhanced, but at the sacrifice of road comfort levels.

• The Africa Twin’s beautiful 6.5-inch touch screen TFT dash has way better resolution than the one on the GS, and incorporates Apple CarPlay, is Bluetooth ready, can display navigation apps, has a USB charging point and can be accessed with a gloved hand! BMW has been excoriated here.

*Cons:*

• The seat is a block of wood. After sitting for an hour your fair bum is inflamed already!

• The front 21 inch is sketchy on serpentine switchbacks and doesn’t have the same confidence-inspiring capabilities of the mighty GS.

• Front brakes and their predilection for diving at stops.

• Small windshield, which really doesn’t play as much role deflecting wind as it should.

• Suspension: no telelever suspension! Therefore, you don’t have the level of comfort for long distance touring that you get from the indefatigable GS.

• Brakes: simply put, they’re not good. The brakes on the GS are simply made in another galaxy!

Caveat: this simply is my opinion. More experienced mates can provide more nuanced thoughts (if they can take the trouble to ever put pen to paper, that is)