OUR BIKES
sold . I wanted the base model because at that stage - the ones with no ABS or traction control - two things that really annoyed me on the KTMs . I was forever stuffing around on them , pressing buttons and scrolling through menus . I was wasting good riding time by sitting there , turning off ABS and finding the right modes ; which I hate ... I just want to be riding when I hit gravel or go off-road . Yes , I ’ m an impatient bastard .
COLOUR-CODED There was just one problem though ... I wanted a red one and the only base models imported in to NZ at that time were grey . This is where Grant Woolford of Cyclespot did me a huge favour ( thanks mate !). He had a customer with a red DCT model , but he was wanting a grey one ... I didn ’ t see that coming , so it was a bit of a result ! Cyclespot did a
complete colour swap for the two of us . Fuel tank , all the plastics , everything . I think I have the only red-coloured base model without ABS / TC in NZ . So , what else do I like about the Africa Twin ? Well , overall , it ’ s just such a nice ride . It does everything super well , although it ’ s not spectacular at any one thing . You know what they say , jack of all trades , master of none - it ’ s just really good everywhere without a stand out performance in any one category . I reckon if you ’ ve ridden other bikes in the class and then test ride an Africa Twin around the block , you ’ ll probably be thinking something along the lines of ... okay , it ’ s nice , but it certainly doesn ’ t have KTM 1290 or BMW 1250GS grunt . But then , you won ’ t be getting a full and accurate picture in such a short ride either .
54 KIWI RIDER