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We have all chosen the Honda
Africa Twin XRV 750. Why Honda?
Honda enjoys a worldwide
reputation for reliability and durability which no other
manufacturer can match. Spares are easily accessible because Hondas
are ridden all over the world. The Africa Twin is a touring bike,
designed for prolonged periods of riding and is very comfortable for
both rider and pillion. It has a robust aluminum frame capable to
withstand the rigors of carrying luggage. In a trip of this
magnitude, the rider must be prepared to carry out repairs and
Honda's are constructed in such a way that easily allows repairs out
on the road.
Due to the distance and
extremely demanding environments we will encounter on this trip, we
have made the following modifications, to make life easier on the
road.
Bike Modifications
Hel Steel Braided Brake Hoses
Hel
Performance Products
have
kindly supplied us with their steel braided brakes hoses, both front
and rear. The Hel brake hoses are protected with a plastic outer
sheath which is available in a wide range of colours to suit the
colour of your bike. The original rubber brake hoses have been replaced
with more hardy steel braided brake lines, thus reducing the chance of damage
or leak.
Ohlins Rear Shock
Due
to the extra luggage and equipment we will be carrying, the bikes
will be loaded to full capacity. In conjunction with rough terrain,
it is a wise choice to fit rear shocks which have the reputation
of being the best in their field. The rear shock, an Ohlins
unit, will be absorbing the bulk of the hammering. Therefore, to
eliminate the problem of having to replace a tired or worn out shock
on the road, we decided to upgrade from the factory standard shock.
This particular shock has the added advantage of allowing one to
adjust the dampening settings and ride height in relation to the
amount of weight being carried. With careful riding in areas of
rough terrain, it will greatly increase the reliability of both
the front and rear shocks.
Upgrade the Front
Shocks
The
front shock springs will be upgraded to WIRTH springs, available
from Bracken
, which are harder and stiffer than the factory fitted springs. The
oil in the front shocks will be changed to a higher viscosity grade
of Ohlins fork oil. To get hold of Ohlins shock oil is difficult,
your best chance of getting this particular oil is through
Hel Performance. Upgrading
to Wirth springs and Ohlins folk oil will greatly improve the handling,
reliability and strength of the front shock absorber, especially
when the bike is being ridden, fully loaded in rough terrain.
Larger Fuel Tank
43-litre
fuel tanks from Touratech
have been fitted, removing the need to carry and strap extra jerry
cans to our bikes. This not only streamlines the bikes but improves
security. The larger tank has 2 fuel taps, one each side and we have fitted quick
release splitters, which seal when opened. This allows for easy removal
of the tank along with quick and trouble free access to fuel.
Three fuel filters have been fitted, in anticipation of the dirty
fuel we will inevitably encounter in the poorer countries. This
will hopefully eliminate the chance of fuel blockage caused by dirt
in fuel.
Scottoiler
An automatic
chain-oiler has been fitted with an extra long-range oil reservoir.
A Scottoiler
is well worth fitting as it automatically lubricates the chain and
sprockets, reducing wear and increasing the mileage before replacement
is necessary. The use
of a Scottoiler will hopefully allow us to travel without any
spare chains and sprockets thus reducing our weight.
Centre Stand
A centre
stand from Honda has been fitted to allow the removal of wheels
and to make life easier when working on the underside.
12v Cigarette
Lighter/Electric Accessories
A standard
12v cigarette lighter unit has been connected into the bikes' electrics
and mounted to the handle bar. This is very useful for
recharging electronic accessories like digital cameras, batteries
and our laptop.
Headlight Covers
These
have been fitted to prevent any damage to the headlights.
Cut Out Switch
When
executing a tight right hand turn, the tank bag pushes against the
starter button causing it to activate the starter motor. Therefore,
a cut-out switch has been added to the starter button wiring in order to deactivate the starter button switch should it be accidentally
pushed after starting the bike. Basically, once the bike is
started, the cut out switch disables the starter button. An added
benefit is it acts as an immobiliser, providing extra security against
theft.
Handlebar Rises
Dominic
and Gary, being slightly taller, have chosen these to raise the
height of the handle bars for extra comfort.
Acerbis Hand Guards
Acerbis
make hand guards that not only provide protection for our hands
but for the brake and clutch levers in the event of an accident.
They also act as windshield in cold conditions.
Taller Fairing
Powerbronze
make a great flip screen that provides superior protection from
the wind for both short and tall riders.
Panniers
Touratech
make the best set of panniers for the Africa Twin. The left pannier
(exhaust side) is a 37-litre and the right, a 41-litre. They are
sturdy stainless steel boxes, with strong latches and locking mechanisms.
The panniers are robust and can be bent back into shape if dented
or damaged. They provide an ideal environment for important, water
sensitive belongings.
Zega Carry Bag
Ortlieb
make a strong, 90-litre, thick nylon bag with self-caring straps
supplied by Touratech. These will be used as additional carrying
space and strapped on top of the panniers at the back of the bike.
The bag seals well, is waterproof and can easily be compressed.
Touratech
Tank Bag
The tank bag (25-litres)
which zips on top of the fuel tank has two shoulder straps, which can be used to carry the tank bag
as a rucksack or normal bag. The Touratech setup allows the
attachment of 2, 10-litre
side bags. These are ideal for carrying non breakable items, like
clothing, and, in the event of a fall, they offer
extra protection to both rider and fuel tank. A Velcro-attached, transparent plastic
sleeve allows you to hold and read maps while on the move.
The fuel tank cover, which zips the centre bag in position, is
strapped to the top surface of the fuel tank. It's advisable to cut a hole in the cover
to allow easy access to the fuel tank cap.
Bike-to-Bike
Intercoms
All
three of us will be able to communicate with each other using Autocoms
bike-to-bike portable radios. These are very useful when travelling
in groups of 2 or more bikes. Each unit is mounted onto the motorcycle
and runs off the bikes electrical system. Each helmet is fitted
with headphones and a microphone, allowing all the
riders to communicate with each other while on the move.
Fuel Pump and Tripmaster
modifications
I advise travellers to take a
close look at this website
where Nicola
has provided some detailed information and options on how to tackle
the Africa Twins known fuel pump problems.
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