Alright folks, buckle up. Today’s all about that 2017 Honda Africa Twin I got my mitts on last month. Wanted to see if this thing’s still a steal today, or just plain old. Spoiler: it ain’t simple.
Why I Even Looked
Honestly? The prices tanked after COVID kinda settled. Saw a few online listed way cheaper than anything newer, and yeah, Honda’s name for reliability stuck in my head. Figured, “What the heck, let’s see if this old warhorse still cuts it.” Found a private seller a few towns over with one.
First Impressions (No Filter)
Rolled up to his place, and damn, that big Africa Twin stood out. Tall sucker. Kinda intimidating just looking at it parked. Paint looked alright from 10 feet away – that typical Honda red.
Got closer. Kicked the tires (gently!), felt the plastics. Scratches? Oh yeah, plenty. Especially down low near the bash plate. This thing wasn’t a garage queen, that’s for sure. Gave it a good shake – handlebars, levers, footpegs. Felt solid, nothing rattling loose. That was point one for Honda.
The Butt Test & Controls
Swinging a leg over it… yep, tall rider territory. Flat-footed? Not a chance for me, and I’m not exactly short. Seat felt surprisingly decent, kinda wide. Not a plank. Peered at the dash. Huh. Basic. Like, really basic. LCD screen showing speed, gear, fuel… that’s about it. No fancy TFT here, folks. Buttons felt clicky, kinda dated. Old school vibes for sure.
Firing Her Up
Twisted the key. Dash lit up. Hit the starter button. That parallel twin… wow. Roared to life with this deep, grunty bark. Settled into a lumpy idle. Vibrations? Oh yeah, you feel it in the pegs and bars straight away. Not crazy buzzsaw stuff, but it’s alive. Definitely makes you grin.
The Shakedown Cruise
Got outta the driveway. Clutch pull? Predictable Honda – light and smooth. First gear engaged with a satisfying clunk. Eased out the clutch. Power down low? This is where the Africa Twin shines. It pulls like a train from almost nothing. Didn’t need to scream it. Town riding was fine, wind blast manageable behind the screen.
Took it to some rougher tarmac. Suspension? Soaked up the bumps easily. Felt planted. Honda got this right. Brakes? Adequate. Not “Oh wow!” stopping power, just… did the job.
Found a muddy farm track. Switched to the dirt mode (buttons felt plasticky). Knocked the TC down. Gave it some beans. Rear stepped out predictably. Suspension just ate it up. That low-down grunt? Perfect. Didn’t stall once. Even dropped a gear hard climbing a slick hill. Engine didn’t complain. Felt damn capable off the beaten path. Solid.
Living With It (The Nitty Gritty)
Drove it home that day. Biggest things that hit me after a week:
- Thirsty? Not Really: That tank is massive. Went forever between pumps. Huge bonus for adventure riding.
- Old School Tech: That dash… man, it’s boring. No connectivity, nada. Just the basics.
- Buzz Buzz: You feel it, especially after a long highway stint. Helps wake you up, I guess?
- Basic Wind Protection: Buffeting was noticeable at speed. Better than nothing, but not great.
- Maintenance: Talked to my mechanic buddy. Said it’s generally bulletproof Honda stuff. Valve checks… yeah, those still exist, but intervals are decent.
So… Would I Buy It Now? (Honest Take)
Look, it ain’t the shiny new thing. It’s got quirks. The dash sucks. It vibrates. Wind protection could be better.
But…
That engine is a gem. Pure torque fun. Suspension eats anything. Build quality feels like it’ll last forever. And crucially, the price is right. Used ones are trading for way, way less than a new mid-range adventure bike.
If you want all the latest gadgets, heated this, electronic that? Look elsewhere. This is back-to-basics adventure riding.
If you want a dead-reliable, crazy fun, off-road capable machine that won’t cripple your bank account? Heck yeah, this thing is absolutely worth considering in 2023. It does the core adventure thing brilliantly. Just be ready to live with some “character.”
