MrKiwi has made his decision

[MrKiwi]

MrKiwi has decided to take the plunge.

I'm selling my VFR1200X and will be getting the new AT, with the DCT gearbox.  Am ordering it with OEM crash bars, LED's, centre stand and heated grips. Going to use my givi trekker outback panniers so will just need to purchase racks and fitting plate.  Either tri-colour or red.

Have started the ball rolling on the new bike, will have it hopefully in time for Christmas...

[Bruvex]

 

[Two Plugs]

I told you, I told you, I told you, I told you... 

[MrKiwi]

ha ha ha

[JosepM]

Congratulations for this (expected  ) decision.
“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it” as O. Wilde wrote 

Sure you'll enjoy it very much. This AT seems to be the kind of bike that many expected back in 1999.

Regards,

Josep

[SB]

Just out of interest what concessions did Mrs Kiwi demand before allowing this ?

[zebulon]

Just out of interest what concessions did Mrs Kiwi demand before allowing this ?

          

Sure you will be happy with it, as I 'm happy with !!! 
Very addictive bike, sure we'll do a last trip these months before hibernation .

Waiting for your future pictures and reports with it riding your beautiful (and exotic for us) country 

[Two Plugs]

Just out of interest what concessions did Mrs Kiwi demand before allowing this ?

Pool. 

[MrKiwi]

Just out of interest what concessions did Mrs Kiwi demand before allowing this ?

Pool. 

No pool, no no no. 


However, this time last year she started the ball rolling on house renovations. By my reckoning that's worth about three bikes 


 

[MrKiwi]

Step one completed, I have a confirmed buyer for my VFR1200X.


Now for step two, complete the sale transaction then talk turkey with the distributor on timimg and price to get my hands on the AT...

[Tarwdu]

Are you really sure about your rash decision ?
There are lots of things to consider.

Could you sit on the AT for a 800km day?
The AT is a new model, so the niggly faults of a new bike may not be apparent yet. (there is some evidence of rusting spokes on the wheels)
Some people say that the AT seems unfinished with dubious build quality.
Has it got the road presence of the CT?

And most important -- a chain drive is so yesterday !!!!

[zebulon]

Not sure you are right Gareth on most of points .
I can only say about my own experience (15 000 Kms these last 6 month )
Think it is most globally comfortable then CT, do not know if I can do 800kms /day, but I Do not want on any bike ... Every CT owner I know can say it is not a comfortable bike on long rides.
Absolutly no fault on the bike , nor rust, have ride under rain, snow and mud .
It is not so "roady" as a CT, but it's advantage , it is much much all road bike as we ask for a trail bike .
Chain is no more a problem as I mount my cameleon oiler on my second Varadero; more then 60000 Kms with each chain when I sell then .... So .
 

[MrKiwi]

Are you really sure about your rash decision ?
There are lots of things to consider.

Could you sit on the AT for a 800km day?
The AT is a new model, so the niggly faults of a new bike may not be apparent yet. (there is some evidence of rusting spokes on the wheels)
Some people say that the AT seems unfinished with dubious build quality.
Has it got the road presence of the CT?

And most important -- a chain drive is so yesterday !!!!

I don't make rash decisions. I've been following this bike since it was first mooted by Honda, the original speculation thread fest on Advrider.com, the second speculation thread fest, the owners thread, the AT in action thread and a host of others, including the AT problem thread. I also had this bike for a weekend earlier in the year and if I had been rash I would have bought it then. It is a stunning bike.  Only people who have not bothered to ride it say otherwise

I have ridden 800km plus days on the CT, but not two up, not enough room on the seat. The AT is 6cm longer, that's a significant improvement.

I've ridden the AT on a 500km day and it was more comfortable than the the CT. Some don't like its seat, but I found it really good. The riding position is fabulous for me. Slightly slower to turn into sharp corners compared to a sports bike, but not noticeably so compared to the CT.  Sure the bike doesn't have the same top end, but our top speed limit is 100km per hour and this bike gets there very quickly. Same HP as the Varadero, but lighter, better balanced and better tech.

We also have quite a few gravel roads in NZ which I seek out and the big fat pig (as I call my CT) is pretty awful on these. And I've ridden quite a few gravel roads.

The CT has a wonderful motor and I like the shaft drive. However it does not have DCT and getting a CT in NZ with DCT is not easy.  I don't like the weight of the CT anyway, too heavy. And as mentioned above, not that comfortable two up on a long trip.

In my view the AT is a far superior adventure bike compared to the CT. It is also a very good two up tarmac touring bike. Having ridden the Varadero, CT and the AT, my personal opinion is the AT is the best of the three by some margin, the CT is in second spot.

Your comments about build quality are off the mark in my. The only issue is on some bikes the spokes have pitted way to quickly. NO other real problems. Overall build quality is pretty good, even by Honda's standards.

[zebulon]

However it does not have DCT and getting a CT in NZ with DCT is not easy.

Strange, in France since more then 1 year, we only have DCT gear box ... 

Sure you've made a good choice David 

[MrKiwi]

However it does not have DCT and getting a CT in NZ with DCT is not easy.

Strange, in France since more then 1 year, we only have DCT gear box ... 

Sure you've made a good choice David 

The NZ market has not had DCT on Honda bikes, the local distributor thought riders wouldn't like it and by and large that would have been true until the AT came along. Not so surprising is that the DCT version of the AT is selling very well i this market. But no DCT CT unless you especially order it.