Hello everyone. I'm going into detail about the planning and the measures I'm taking to prepare for the trip I mentioned. I mentioned that the bike is a brand-new gray Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports 1100 with Showa-EERA electronic suspension and definitely (maybe it's my age) with a manual transmission. I've named it Cavallona (Big Horse in Italian). Just as Panterona (Big Panther in Italian) mirrored the feline nature of my old Kawasaki Z1000SX, I'd say Cavallona perfectly embodies that of the Africa Twin. And I've been working on it, using what little common sense I have and what I've read here and there from reports from other motorcycle travelers who ride the Honda ATAS.
Before I start talking about the modifications, let me preface this. After contacting many dealers throughout the wide region where I'm currently located, I finally bought it in my hometown. I managed to get a decent discount on the list price and get the set of Honda cases (plastic), headlights, engine and tank guards, a center stand (essential), and off-road tires to mount before leaving. I'd say it was a good deal, as long as I didn't trade in a used bike, of course. Speaking of dealerships, I have to say that times have really changed. For all the motorcycles I've purchased over the years, I've always had enthusiastic relationships with both the salespeople and the mechanics. At Kawasaki, for example, before heading to the North Cape, they showered me with advice and performed many more checks than usual. When the bike arrived at the dealership, they sent me a video of them opening the wooden box... basically, there was enthusiasm. Now, the bike arrived here and they didn't even call; I showed up at the dealership in person to find out it had arrived a few days early. And besides, I had to go in person because talking to them on the phone was practically impossible. At the shop, I explained the trip I was planning. They were completely indifferent. I asked them to pull a locked 12-volt cable from the fairing to connect the TomTom (I'm afraid I'd break the fairing's plastic fasteners, a bête noire of any job that involves removing snap-fit plastic parts). They told me that doing so would void the electrical system warranty. I let it go.
Aside from that, I'm still trying to sell the Kawasaki. Apparently, it's much more difficult than expected, even though I've always treated the bike with kid gloves and it's in perfect condition. Let's hope so.
Sorry for the digression, but let's move on to the modifications I made to the Cavallona. So I started by replacing the footpegs and installing Akrapovic ones, which, unlike the originals, are wider and, more importantly, allow you to attach and remove the rubber pads in two seconds without using tools (SW-Motech) or even having to remove them (original Honda ones).
Then I replaced the mirrors because the original ones are rigid and break easily in the event of a fall (and I will certainly fall). Instead of installing the classic Doubletakes, which are too expensive and not approved, I installed Dopemirrors, a Romanian alternative very similar (I'd say identical) to the Doubletakes but approved. Solid and meticulously constructed, they cost a little less than the Doubletakes (about €140 vs. €190) and, as I said, are approved. Tested at any speed, they're fine (obviously, above 120 km/h, they vibrate, like all mirrors of this type, but the image is still legible).
I then replaced the original plastic handguards, which, once again, not only break immediately in the event of a fall, but also offer no protection whatsoever to the hand, much less the brake or clutch levers. Again, instead of installing the popular Barkbusters or Acerbis, I opted for SW-Motech: I didn't like the large Acerbis and Barkbusters logos. The SW-Motechs are much more discreet and just as sturdy, with a German-style, solid aluminum bar. I didn't skimp on anything compared to the competition (quite the opposite), and I struggled a bit with installing them, what with threadlock, torque settings, and especially the order in which the parts were assembled (the SW-Motech instructions are cryptic), but in the end, I'm completely satisfied.
Then I mounted the GIVI rear frames (PLOS1178CAM) combined with the quick release kit (02RKIT), the matching locks in a set of two (SLR102), and the 25-liter (muffler side) and 30-liter (GRT725 and GRT727) Canyon soft bags. Assembly was also a bit of a hassle, especially the part that goes behind the license plate holder and attaches, which needs to be drilled. The real pain was replacing the dealer rivets with self-locking screws: the clamping gaps are extremely tight, and I had to use a hacksaw and file to resize the screws. Another annoyance is the GIVI instructions, which don't include separate instructions for installing the quick release kit while assembling the entire frame. However, GIVI had the fantastic idea of providing all the assembly instructions for the standard kit (albeit cryptic) and then putting instructions at the bottom for where to install the quick release parts. So I had to recompose the instructions in sequential order to avoid having to reassemble and reassemble from scratch to insert the quick release. You may not have understood anything, but I'm sure anyone who has the parts I'm talking about will understand me perfectly. Luckily, I'm in the city where the GIVI factory is located, so I saved a bit at the factory store. Above all, thanks to their professionalism, I received some valuable advice both for choosing the kits and for their assembly. So when I leave, I'll have the original Honda plastic top case in the back and the GIVI soft cases on the side. Once again, the reason I won't use the hard cases Honda gave me is the risk of falls while off-roading on the poor roads of Georgia and Armenia (e.g., Zagari Pass). But I installed the quick-release kit because it allows me to remove the frame and attach the original cases in 30 seconds when I'm doing normal touring on asphalt only.
In addition to these cases, I also have two 8-liter GIVI Canyon engine guard bags and a 45-liter Amphibious waterproof bag, where I'll store all my camping gear and attach to the passenger seat with two Rok Straps.
I then tried to see if I could reuse the GIVI tank bag I had on the Kawasaki. I bought the BF25 tank flange specifically for the Africa Twin for a few euros and discovered that the bag had to be mounted sideways (i.e., rotated 90 degrees from normal: incredible), and in any case, the shape wasn't right. I sold everything on eBay (two GIVI tank bags, one small and one large, and the GIVI top case I used for the North Cape) and bought the SW-Motech flange, which is much more discreet aesthetically and very sturdy and well-designed with its magnetic closure. On this one, like on the Kawasaki, I paired a small SW-Motech Pro Micro 3-5 liter bag with a large (but not too large) SW-Motech Pro City 11-14 liter bag.
Finally, I ran my own 12V cable from the battery to connect the TomTom I mounted on the handlebars with its own RAM Mount. Never mind if it's not connected to the ignition key. I would have preferred it, because on the Kawasaki, I discovered that even if you undock the GPS, the TomTom mount, which has integrated voltage transformation and stabilization circuitry, still draws a constant minimum amount of power. So, when I'm not using the GPS for several days, I simply disconnect the cables at the twist-lock connector just under the mounting plate and cover them with silicone caps.
On the other side of the handlebar (the right one), I mounted a RAM Mount X-Grip phone holder that I already had on my Kawasaki.
Finally, I got from Amazon a large, universal, anti-tip plastic mount for the side stand. I prefer it to the fixed-mount ones because, with their weight, I think they'll loosen the return spring over time, due to vibrations and jolts off-road. It's light, and even though it's plastic, it seems sturdy.
Now comes the question of which tires to get before leaving. The original Bridgestones are absolutely no good off-road for the roads that await me after I pass Turkey. So, I'm looking for a set of tires that can last 12,000 km and still provide decent grip off-road (of course, I don't expect ideal grip in mud). Obviously, I haven't received any recommendations from the dealer. Reading around, I think I've narrowed my choices down to two: Dunlop Trailmax Mission or Michelin Anakee Adventure. Dunlops might be preferable, but I'm still a bit confused on the subject.
I've practically overturned the roadbook I'd started preparing two years ago by studying two books I've since acquired: Georgia and Armenia for Overlanders by Valeria Pixner and Lukas Unterholzner, and Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan by Lonely Planet. From the first book in particular, I immediately realized that the idea of leaving in early May was simply stupid, as it opened my eyes to stunning routes I'd never heard of, which would be closed to traffic for the entire month of May due to ice and snow walls. They'll be open in June, but the surface will be terrible due to debris, water, and mud (hopefully avoidable) brought by the melting snow. On this point, I plan to attend one of Honda's True Adventure Offroad Academy courses around April. I hope it helps and is sufficient. My only off-road experiences date back to the days of the Aprilia Tuareg 350, Yamaha Ténéré 600, and Suzuki DR800 Big, all single-cylinder bikes I rode in the fields as a kid. All of them were much lighter than this one, and I was young and strong :-) although I've been following a training program for months that I'll stick with until the end.
Well. After this long and boring post, I'd say that's all for now.
I accept and hope for advice from all of you on what I may have forgotten or, worse, gotten wrong.
I'll continue to update you, and for now, I send you a warm hug and goodbye!
