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The Buildout ProcessIt is important to plan your buildout right down to the last farkle. I will attempt to give you a jumpstart on starting this process in order to save you time and money.
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Electrical Accessories
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Bolt on Accessories
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As a small business, anytime I can support another small business who manufactures products here in the USA, I say grow with them! What I mean by that is support them while they are in the process of growing their business. Growing any small business involves multiple aspects such as R&D, manufacturing, customer service, marketing, vendor relationships, and many times by just one individual. SOLOBOX exceeds the quality standards of its foreign based competitors in every aspect.
Prices include FREE USA shipping. We also service Canada with a small surcharge. $499 per set panniers available in two sizes: 39L and 33L. Mix and match at no extra charge. $299 Top boxes 38L. Designed specifically to hold your helmet. Complete packages, including pannier, racks and quick release hardware $599. For direct personalized service, or if you’d like to place an order, please call: 360-840-7139 |
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Why I chose the Honda africa twinHonda Africa Twin
Most of today’s adventure bikes, despite their extra-large dimensions and scale-straining weights, are quite capable off-road. Many feature traction control, off-road-optimized ABS and electronically adjustable suspension that help compensate for their hulking bulk. But, most of the time, adventure tourers do their adventuring on pavement. With their powerful engines, street-friendly tires and cast wheels, high-tech electronics, comfortable ergonomics, big gas tanks and high load capacities, adventure bikes have become two-wheeled multi-tools—do-it-all “every thing bikes” that serve as commuters, sport tourers, luggage-laden luxury travelers and even boulevard cruisers (insert Starbucks joke here). The Honda Africa Twin’s standard skid plate provides decent coverage and the aluminum rims were made stronger for 2017. However they do require tube-type tires. I will be mounting Shinko Crossfly’s or Continental TKC80’s. The CRF1000L’s purpose-built; 998cc parallel twin is a real gem, with great sound and character as well as a flat, meaty torque curve. It is a descendant of Dakar Rally winners and Honda’s original XRV650 Africa Twin, introduced in 1988, was based on the prototype racer that won the Dakar from 1986-1989. It was produced for 15 years and became a dual-sport legend but was never sold in the U.S. When the Africa Twin was re-introduced for 2016 as the CRF1000L (and finally brought stateside), it took design cues from Honda’s CRF450R Rally, including a steel semi-double cradle frame, 21-inch front/18-inch rear spoked rims shod with tube-type tires, extra-long suspension travel and generous ground clearance. Honda abandoned the previous Africa Twin’s V-twin configuration in favor of a more space-efficient parallel twin. Tucking the battery and ABS unit behind the forward-canted cylinders freed up space under the seat, allowing it be at a reasonable height. The liquid-cooled, 998cc twin also has a compact, four-valve SOHC Unicam head, a 270-degree crank with irregular firing intervals and dual balance shafts to quell vibration. Conventional throttle cables mean there are no riding modes or electronic cruise control, but the CRF1000L has traction control that can be adjusted on the fly (three levels or off) using a trigger on the left handlebar. The 2017 Honda Africa Twin arrives bone stock, with a base price of $14,399 for the DCT Model in our area. Standing on the pegs, which moves the point where your weight is carried from high up on the seat to down low, makes big, heavy adventure bikes much easier to control when riding off-road. With their sculpted gas tanks and upright handlebars, the AT was designed to make stand-up riding feel natural and comfortable, though tall riders have to hunch forward slightly and may want to add bar risers. The bike has extra-long suspension travel, ample ground clearance and comfortable, upright seating positions. The Africa Twin feels narrow and more compact than anything else I sat on from the saddle, and its two-position seat offers (34.3 /33.5 inches) in the lowest setting. This was important to me because I am 5’7”, 54 years old, grove hard and put away dirty, and getting old. In fact I could die any time so it is best you just learn to fend for yourselves. Where were we? The Africa Twin looks like a fierce competitor. It’s tall and narrow, with rally styling, wide, upright handlebars equipped with hand guards and small windscreens. The bike looks compact, and it feels that way from the saddle. It has 21-inch front/18-inch spoked wheels that are compatible with a wide range of off-road tires, but requires tubes, which was important to me. They have nearly 10 inches of ground clearance and some of the longest suspension travel this side of a full-on dirt bike: 9.1/8.7 inches front/rear on the t AT. Such big-wheeled, long-legged bike means that its seat height may be tall, but there’s a significant difference between the Africa Twin and other bikes in it’s class that will make or break the decision for many people. The AT’s two-position seat can be set at 33.5 or 34.3 inches (and the accessory low seat drops the height to 32.3/33.1 inches), while bikes like the KTM 1090’s non-adjustable seat is 35 inches high—no ifs, ands or buts. Even if you are 6 feet tall with a 34-inch inseam, it will require you to stand on you tiptoes at a stop. If you’re me you have to brace yourself on the vehicle next to you or find the curb quick! Many people struggle with the KTM’s nosebleed seat height. Although its standard suspension settings are soft for street riding, the Honda handles confidently over any type of terrain. The only draw back I have experienced so far is the inherent fork dive that is common to some adventure bikes and their parent company. For motorcycles designed to spend as much time as possible off-road, you’d expect them to be light, but that isn’t the case. Fully fueled, The AT tips the scales in excess of 513 pounds. It feels much lighter from the saddle and while standing on the pegs; it feels well balanced and agile, especially when navigating tricky, uneven terrain. The twin-cylinder engine allows it to be narrow at the hips, and has generous legroom. I has a nice flat saddle and an upright seating position that makes it popular for touring. The bike feels very stable in tight curves. In terms of handling and braking performance, the Honda is fairly evenly matched with it’s competitors. It’s big, 21-inch front wheel resists initial turn-in at road speeds, but otherwise it has neutral, stable steering. Off-road, where line selection is more critical, it is easy to maneuver with precision by pressing the handlebars or weighting the pegs. It has large, dual front discs squeezed by 4-piston radial calipers that are powerful when needed but easy to modulate when sensitivity is required, but the rear brakes feel mushy at the pedal and provide little feedback. Brake and clutch levers are adjustable, and the DCT can out think you and out shift you with a buttery smoothness I would have never thought possible. Off-road-optimized ABS works very well, applying anti-lock braking to the front wheel to prevent gravity-testing skids on loose surfaces while allowing the rear wheel to be locked up as desired. Likewise, it has fully adjustable suspension that is calibrated to take a lot of abuse without complaint and excel in a wide range of conditions on- and off-road. The beefy forks and, at the rear, the Honda’s Pro-Link setup withstand big hits and g-outs without bottoming and keep the chassis under control, the remote rear preload adjusters are handy too. Moments like this were made for big dualies like the Honda Africa Twin - getting away from the office, traffic and other trappings of daily life and savoring the big outdoors. These bikes can comfortably pound the pavement on the way to your nearest farm road, forest road or off-road trail and then keep going. The Honda’s parallel twin, was purpose-built for the Africa Twin, and it delivers not only rich character and smooth power delivery but very strong midrange—power and torque right where you need it most. It really came down to this for me in making my choice to purchase the Africa Twin. My riding style and objective to tour though the backcountry while really enjoying the outdoors for extended periods of time made me realize the Africa Twin was for the most part stylized to meet all of my objectives with out being such a hybrid that I can’t work on it or have it be hard on my pocket book. |
Altrider Products for the IRR Africa Twin.
We believe AltRider products to be the strongest and most durable products on the market. We are committed to companies that allow us the ability to single-source everything we need from one place. AltRider has demonstrated that they are also about helping small businesses like IRR grow so, we want to do everything we can to promote, and use their products. AltRider is devoted to developing products that work and they are continually adding new products to their line. IRR offers parts discounts on all AltRider products when we do your build-out in the IRR Garage. Call today to schedule an appointment so we can order you're products and get your bike ready for adventure.
541-621-8814 See why we're so excited about Altrider products.
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