Photos by Jen Muecke
HONDA HOSTS AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE Exploring DCT Deep In The Heart Of Ohio
By Charlie Williams
H
onda had a van full of “Journalists” and “influencers” for the short drive to the AMA Hall of Fame Museum. We had been invited to the unveiling of the 2020 Africa Twin 1100cc Adventure bike. I quickly realized I was in over my head. Conversation batted back and forth establishing dominance among the pack of young scribes. I kept my mouth shut… better to let them figure out I’m an idiot than prove it by talking. Eventually 3rd or 4th in hierarchy turns on me and asks my background, “Who are you with?” “Dealernews!” I proclaimed proudly. I couldn’t help but notice Robin slump further in his seat and pull his hat over his eyes. These young techhungry, hit happy, cyber poets are about to rip me apart. I was under-qualified 35 years ago when I started and I’ve not become any more competent in my old age. “In 1980 when silver hit $117, I put my camera down and illustrated my articles with stick figure drawings I mailed in and a stamp cost 15 cents.” This statement left ‘em speechless, but only briefly. I could see it in their faces, what’s a stamp and why silver prices and camera. I threw up some more smoke screen, “Black&White” got some polite head nods but “Ektachrome, Kodachrome or Fujichrome” just drew blank stares. It was going to be a long, long weekend if the rest of our group discovered just how dysfunctional I am so Robin straightened up and tried to save me. “He’s with me, I met him 15 years ago, he was on an adventure ride around Mexico with AMA Hall of Famer and 500 MX National Champ Chuck Sun. They rode 50 days and 10,000 miles on donations made online. Charlie is also the only guy I’ve ever heard of who snuck into the Six Days and brought home a medal.”
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This met with approving smiling nods, welcome aboard! New category among the press corps, eccentric! Fortunately, we reached the AMA Hall of Fame Museum. It’s a beautiful campus, with a winding wooded drive leading to the museum and administrative offices of the American Motorcyclist Association. Honda’s new Africa Twin was on display downstairs and it is truly a work of art. The top model, the African Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT offers everything and more... DCT stands for Dual Clutch Transmission, no clutch lever, no shift lever. Just hit the start button and twist the throttle. The next morning our group met again where we all picked a bike to ride and I pulled the Africa Twin, win! It’s an absolute magic carpet ride. At one point, two Honda employees were explaining the buttons and paddles, modes and memories to me. I was getting nervous when the nice lady assured me I couldn’t do anything too wrong, the computer wouldn’t let me. Wanna bet? Our group on all sorts of Honda bikes headed away from the AIMExpo demo area in downtown Columbus and roughly followed the Scioto River north out of town. Our destination would be the Honda manufacturing factory in Marysville, Ohio, about 80 miles away. I’ve never dreamed of a ride this luxurious. Suspended above the earth on 9.1 inches of suspension travel, isolated from vibration by dual axis counter balancers, instructions on a 6.5 inch touch screen display, adjustable wind screen for protection and 60 years of Honda striving to make me comfortable. Honda has succeeded. It’s as if they crossed a dirtbike and a Gold Wing. Of course, 80 miles of highway does not make for a true test of an Adventure bike, so I can’t speak on the off-road aspects of the bike. I did hit every bump and manhole cover
