So it has throttle by wire but STILL does not have cruise control. That happens to be my favorite feature of my 2017 Tiger 800XCA!!

With address to Honda Motors Co. And the responsive for Africa Twin/Adventure Sports:

Disappointing, really disappointing. If I am to believe what i read you, apparently, have no or little interest in listening to thousands upon thousands of worldwide customers. Nor trying to attract BMW customers in the adventure segment.

How on Earth is it possible to launch 2019 models, with drive-by-wire ver.2, but not with cruise control? I just have to ask, Why? Who caren about the colors? Well some might, not me. I wanted features, colors were alright.

Here I was, seriously considering to abandon BMW GS Adventure and go the Africa Twin Adventure Sports way. But reading this its much less likely.

For those of us who older folks, who travel 20+k kilometers a year, on all kinds of roads but a lot of longer journeys, a cruise control simple is a must have. I tested ATAS, really liked it. But with lack of cruise control it is just no for me. Pretty sure I am not alone thinking this.

Had you provided it, even as an extra option, it would be an easy choice. I am, perhaps many others too, ready to try something new. Now, think I will stay with a Bavarian MutterSchiff. It might not look the par for every taste but touring you can, and relax while at it.

No Honda, I suppose you know better. But that means exlcuding bayer groups who otherwise might have chosen to become ATAS/AT owners. I Agree with the previous poster, BMW R1250GS/GS Adventure is a better choice for me. Sad, but true.

Over & Out.

Nice bike. Can’t wait to buy one. Please call when you have tubeless tires, TFT dash and cruise control. Just finished riding from Austin to New Mexico on my Tenere, did 90% of NMBDR and then rode straight home from Grants, New Mexico in one day. A guy in our group got a flat on his GS on I-40 which we plugged in 10 minutes and were back on the road. Would have been a 2 hour delay if we had to pull rear wheel, change tube and reinstall (with trucks flying by at 80mph!)

I’m getting old so being able to see a legible dash is important! 14 hours straight on a bike is no Bueno without cruise (yes, I’ve used a throttle stop before; not the same as real cruise!)

Honda, you’re getting so close to being BACK! Just finish the bike. Oh, and I want a new CRF 450L and a monkey bike! I used to be a Honda guy but have had nothing but Yamahas for 10 years. Seriously, just finish the bike!

No cruise control? Not nice but not a complete turn off since a cheap throttle lock will kind’a solve that but no tubeless tires? Even V-Stroms have tubeless tires! THAT to me is a deal breaker.

Still missing, the Enduro concept.

Again no tubless. Stubborn morons..

.I believe that Honda received thousands of requests (including mine) to have tubless rims at least as an option. I really want a new Africa Twin (I have an old one as well) but I rode long enough during my 35 plus years on a bike and on any kind of terrains/countries to know better,

No tubless no deal.

What a shame really.

I rode one for about half hour at a rally near Julian California …mostly sand ….it was okay, better than my old Vstrom 650 but like the Suzuki it is still a heavy pig I am not much interested in buying. What boggles my mind is how the manufacturers are not really paying close attention to the genre …to the criticisms re weight mainly. There has to be an ultimate sweet spot compromise that truly would be on average the best choice for one up riding in both dirt and street ….something able to go thousands of miles reliably, something with fully acceptable off-road prowess borderline approaching competent street legal dual sport…something with fuel range to ride all day…a smooth multi cylinder powerplant ….At least a 6 speed gear box (truth is 7 or 8 would be better! and you’ll see why) NO ONE is building this bike yet …literally NO ONE …No one has even seriously tried as near as I can tell …not lately anyway if ever.

Here are the requirements as I see them …Below 400llbs all fueled up ready to ride, coming stock with some level of crash protection and skid plate/ brush guards 21″ front wheel. Around 60hp will be fine as long as it has some decent torque in middle …absolutely a multi cylinder which I feel is required to extract reliability/power and long distance smooth comfort. I feel like a rally style fairing and good adjustable windscreen are a must too….Now 400llbs might seem a lot to you guys who keep wanting to look at your single cylinder dual sports coming in in the low 300’s ….but this is NOT dual sport we are considering here! NOT a plated dirt bike ! NOT a big heavy street bike with good suspension and knobbiest either…NO rather a REAL compromise checking all the main boxes and leaving NONE of them unchecked.

The way I see it? To keep the weight down we are going to have to lose some displacement…I am thinking 500cc MAX with an powerplant made to be that size from the start …not an overbored 250/300 that is going to be somewhat fragile but an honest to goodness engineered to BE that size….A parallel twin I imagine. Fuel tank(s) alarm KTMs latest 790 prototype to keep the weight low…slanted forward cylinders? Using the normal gas tank position for throttle bodies and air cleaner etc.

For the chassis? Components ripped right off a 450cc single and tuned for a bit extra weight …Wheels/swingarm/forks etc …I am thinking to get away with one large single rotor brake in front ….after all it is lighter than all the behemoth adv bikes that REQUIRE dual rotors in front …Which is also why I believe 60hp will also be fine … which is also why I actually would love to see more than 6 gears even! What would be AWESOME would be a dual range 5 speed even! Something that with a touch of a switch change the entire drive gearing equal to say 2 teeth on countershaft sprocket….Could you imagine? The moment you hit the trails you select low and the moment back on the street? High gear….in fact that same switch could also change preselected suspension and traction control and brake settings ?…maybe even fuel mapping? Whatever you preselected it to do. Yes? 5 speed would serve to keep weight down since there would be extra mechanicals for the dual range …..It would keep shifting to a minimum too …really though in effect it would be a kind of 10 speed,,,Of course this is not new, it has been on various dirt bikes that I know of although I don’t recall if you could change from low to high on the fly….been so long I forgot

Picture this bike now ? Something a person truly honestly COULD ride around the world and yet still work decently for everything else ….not great at any one thing but decent! Would not be the bike for two up adventure riding but for everything needed ….Something with ample power you could still overtake slower traffic or loft the front wheel if needed ….even if those did require some help out of the clutch….Something that could get fantastic fuel milage! Smooth as a sewing machine comfortable for hours on end on the road….yes riding with your buddies on their behemoth would have you briefly lagging at times but the moment things began to get dicey and rough they would ALL want to trade with you ….when they drop their pig in the sand they will sheepishly wait for the crew to come back and get it vertical again but not you! For one one thing compared to the 530 to 600 LLB beasts? This size bike will be nimble and rarely dropped in comparison and reasonable to get her back up when it does occur.

Heck MAYBE a manufacturer could even get this down closer to 350 wet ….I don’t think so if it is a twin with 60hp…but who knows? Supposedly there is a new 10 x cheaper than titanium steel/aluminum alloy….Or maybe it could come in two versions …one costing an extra 5 grand that has a titanium crankshaft and connecting rods and some magnesium and carbon fiber bits….350llbs has a much nicer ring to it! I’m in for THAT if under $20k. If you hate what I am saying re the weight? Just consider what a 450cc single cylinder street legal dualsport weighs (low 300s) and then start adding the weights of an additional cylinder/head/valves?piston/camshaft/cran half/throttle body/exhaust piping/air boot/extra fasteners….extra frame material to house larger more powerful heavier engine….extra braking weight also not to mention slightly beefier clutch etc ….I seriously doubt there is any way in the world short of ultra expensive materials to bring that in for under 50llbs extra! I mean HOW could it be?

I just think IF they build the above bike? It will dominate groups of riders who truly are mixing it up on long adventure treks …It won’t on the phony rides that are 95% road touring ….and of course it won’t for the groups that only use pavement to reach their single track routes …those guys will disappear on you unless you are a steller off-road Rider and/or they are not….but those guys on their WR250s? THEY are NOT ADV riders ….What I am talking about is true compromise on EVERYTHING to arrive at the OVERALL most capable bike in the world….

And what would be icing on the cake? IF the same manufacturer RACED this platform in the Dakar type rallies! Especially in the class where no engine changes are permitted! Because the 450 singles? My understanding is those motors can’t even do an entire Dakar ….they have to change motors multiple times even?? That does not make me want to buy a bike based on those high maintenance MX engines….I don’t think I’m alone there either. And hell a factory 450 twin I think could win over the entire field anyway with the the right rider! Talk about a bike seller! “You mean I can buy a bike ACTUALLY based on the production model? One that finishes and wins the enitirely rally on ONE engine?? “

for such price and still no tubeless wheels, no center stand standard, heated grips, not fully switchable ABS and each year more and more idiotic colors…7 levels of engine braking? LOL honda, you are lost