Yes , it ’ s all very well paraphrasing Shakespeare , but it ’ s actually a serious question . Hamlet may have had a tough choice whether to kill or live with his murderous uncle , however that ’ s a play , and not my reality , and I want to know whether Honda ’ s DCT will let me play , in reality . I like to play . I like to play in the dirt and gravel , and I like to play in forests and mud and quarries and hills , among tree roots and splashy streams . In riding these obstacles , as well as I can , the most important tools have always been a right fist full of throttle , a left fist full of clutch , right foot and fingers for brakes and a brain utilising developed synapses for the synchronised pairing of these actions . Ensuring accurate riding , keeping and holding balance , with the ability to stop - poised – at any point of a marked section . I learnt these skills over nearly two decades on purpose-built bikes . Trials bikes with no seat and weighing less than I do by a good 25 percent . However , those control skills translate into useful ability and experience for riding any motorcycle . But Honda went and changed the game .
THE AFRICA TWIN Thanks to Blue Wing Honda , over the last couple of years I ’ ve had the pleasure of piloting the Africa Twin 1100 all over the North Island for thousands of kilometres . To put it simply , it ’ s the best all-round motorcycle I ’ ve ever had the ownership experience with . I ’ d go so far as to say it is in the running to be the best all round motorcycle ever built - but thousands of howling cries would ensue … So … I ’ ll elaborate ; I also like to play on motorways , B roads , back roads , farm roads and the occasional goat track . The AT ’ s power is smooth , linear and forceful , and with six engine maps , any terrain and ABS can be configured . ‘ Tour ’ setting is my usual go to , but ‘ Gravel ’ turns off ABS and
30 KIWI RIDER