Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

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Kwacky
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

***sigh***

After having a great week on the bike I'm now pissed off with it

When I first took the bike in about the wheels and the oil leak I told them about the soft paint above the heel guard. They thought it was caused by use.

I get home tonight and give the bike a quick check over. I noticed that the paint was worse and that the heel guard has rubbed it.

I take the guard off and see that the paint is soft and even peeling

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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

What happened to Honda ??????

Your not having much joy with that bike (n)
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

I'm not happy mate. I thought I would treat myself to a nice bike, one I could keep long term and do a range of stuff on it. It wasn't cheap but I thought getting a top of the range Honda would give me that quality and reliability I was after.

It's got about 2500 miles on the clock and I reckon 400 of these are going to and from the dealer to have it checked and fixed.

I bought this to do my Europe trips on. Now I'm questioning the reliability which is not what you want from a bike you're putting miles on.

The Versys is a cheap kwak that's got almost 30,000 miles on it, done Isle of Man and europe and been through 2 winters and it's been pretty much faultless.

Maybe I've just got a runt of the litter bike, but that's no consolation for me.

I know the dealer has fixed everything and I know they've not made the bike but someone is getting it in the neck tomorrow.

I've already sent a message to Honda's UK ambassador.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

Don't blame you mate as its not what you want or expect on any bike but especially not on a brand new Honda with the reputation they have for quality.

Sadly I think quality standards have dropped recently across all manufacturers. I'll be honest I don't think the daytona 675 is well made at all. Great bike to ride but can't say I'm impressed with Triumph build quality in the slightest.
Last edited by Blade on 17 May 2019, 19:19, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by duke63 »

That looks like a paint drip from the factory to me, that should not be there?
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

duke63 wrote:That looks like a paint drip from the factory to me, that should not be there?
It does I agree but you have to question why even use paint on a frame???? Should be powder coated as much more durable and harder wearing.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

duke63 wrote:That looks like a paint drip from the factory to me, that should not be there?
It wasn't there when I bought the bike and the paint is really soft.

Doing some online investigation it appears the the anniversary edition of ATAS sold much better than expected. I'm wondering if they rushed a load out to take advantage of the interest?
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

Blade wrote:
Sadly I think quality standards have dropped recently across all manufacturers. I'll be honest I don't think the daytona 675 is well made at all. Great bike to ride but can't say I'm impressed with Triumph build quality in the slightest.
Oddly the quality of triumphs has gone up recently. They've upped their game as their popularity increased.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

Kwacky wrote:
Blade wrote:
Sadly I think quality standards have dropped recently across all manufacturers. I'll be honest I don't think the daytona 675 is well made at all. Great bike to ride but can't say I'm impressed with Triumph build quality in the slightest.
Crickey what were they like before (shocked)

Oddly the quality of triumphs has gone up recently. They've upped their game as their popularity increased.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

I mean very recently.

About 4 years ago I was put off buying the Tiger because it looked like it has been in a salt bath for a year.

The MV is dripping in quality. MV stamps everywhere :)
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

Strange how the Italians now show the way.

The Ducati is very well built too (y)

How things have changed.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by D6Nutz »

That's what you get when you let the Germans run the show..

KTM also took the midrange fight to triumph so I think they had to pull their finger out to stay in the game.

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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Deegee »

This conversation bears out my own findings, I’ve had four Triumphs over the last 20 years, the first was a T595, well built and well finished, the next oldest is the Tiger, much the same quality of build and finish, the next was my first 675, which was not of the quality the other two were, the last is my second 675, which I feel was a further step back in quality. I’ve still got the Tiger and the second 675, but the Tiger holds it age a lot better than the 675.

I’ve since tested a Tiger 1200, the quality of finish I saw is heading back to the T595 level, sadly the 800 didn’t look as good to me in the showroom on the day.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

Nothing major wrong with my 675, but it lacks that final finish and quality of materials I have experienced with other brands.

An example is when you remove the fairings you notice the radiator paint behind the panel is starting to peel.

The tapped holes in the subframe for securing the riders seat are loose.

One of the mirrors is very loose but strangely doesn't move in use.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Deegee »

The example for me was the first time I went to remove the fairings - and found the cheapest and nastiest fasteners holding it together at the centre seam.

There are dozens of small economies on the bike, which for me was crazy, as I wasn’t that concerned with price when I bought it, but it does make it less than it should if you’ve owned one. That said, I’ve always maintained the 675 is the natural successor to the Aprilia 250, it’s got the same slim feel and look, but no one ever accused Aprilia of having high production quality.

P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack Kwacky! (blush)
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

No worries.

Back in track, I spoke with the service manger. He needs more photos and I was going to go over but tbh I can't be arsed. I've cleaned the area up and it doesn't look too bad, but there are two small patches of missing paint which really shouldn't be there.

I've ordered some helicopter tape so I'll tape it up in the hope that stops it getting any worse.

While I had the bike out I put the belly pan bank on. I took the exhaust heat shields off and cleaned those as they pick up a load of crap.

I'm going too use the bike next week again for commuting so I'm trying it with the baffle in to see if that affects the fuel consumption.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

Image

Scrubbed up and ready to go do for another week.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Blade »

Is that frame spar behind the front wheel painted ?

If so maybe worth putting some paint protection film on there to protect from stone chips after recent soft paint issues (y)
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by Kwacky »

Blade wrote:Is that frame spar behind the front wheel painted ?

If so maybe worth putting some paint protection film on there to protect from stone chips after recent soft paint issues (y)
Helicopter tape already on order.
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Re: Kwacky's ongoing Africa Twin Adventure Sport review

Post by R1ckster »

Unbelievable mate.. Kinda making me think twice about putting this one on the shortlist .

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