2018 HONDA AFRICA T WIN ADVENTURE SPORTS
FIRST TEST
P108
to do what I did and shift like a
video game racecar in Manual
mode. Pew-Pew!
Did I mention the bike auto-
blips on downshifts when using
the DCT system? It does. And it's
awesome.
One last DCT feature is the
G mode. Activated by a dash-
mounted button, G mode adjusts
oil pressure to the DCT clutch
system to give clutch engage-
ment more rapid engagement.
This is good for off-road perfor-
mance and is moderately notice-
able to the normal rider.
DCT, in the end, is pretty
great. I don't know if it will re-
place a clutch and foot shifter for
me in permanence, but I'd love
to give it a chance in a head-to-
head battle.
POWER ELECTRONICS
The power character of the
270-degree-firing 998cc paral-
lel twin is still super smooth and
favors a mid-to-high-range excite-
ment bias. It is plentiful in the
power play, but not intimidating
or rowdy. This is sort of a perfect
liter-bike for the masses of ADV
exploration. While the implemen-
tation of DCT seems to tame the
bike down a bit more, it's still a
capable and entertaining touring
and adventuring powerplant.
Plus, for 2018, Honda updated
the airbox and engine balancers
to liven up the power character
a bit.
That is where the power con-
versation ends and the electronic
manipulation of the riding experi-
ence begins.
We love the simplicity of 2016-
2017 Africa Twins. Adjusting
Honda's HSTC (Honda Select-
able Torque Control, "traction"
control for non-legal types) was
easy if you chose to hit dirt or
otherwise do burnouts. It had
three levels to choose from and
you could turn it off for four set-
ting options, total.
This is no longer true.
The Africa Twin of 2018 has
so many more electronics. This
starts with the addition of a slick
Throttle By Wire system. It's very
smooth and direct and we enjoy
it immensely.
Next, the new Africa Twin
system now has eight (!) levels of
HSTC. And it controls rear-wheel
slip below and above the previ-
ous three levels' range via seven
settings. You can still turn it off
for the eighth.
For a relatively
big bike, the
Adventure Sport
is comfortable,
easy to ride
and inspires
confidence.
