AT versus TA

[miggy]

As well as my ‘96 @ I have an ‘87 TA which I bought for £500 about seven months ago. It was bought for a mate as a cheapo bike on which to do a little tour of Europe. It showed obvious signs of wear and tear and neglect; the seller was quite honest in saying it hadn’t been serviced at all while he’d had it, but engine wise it seemed solid.

I spent a few weekends stripping the thing down and sorting the basics which were well overdue after which my mate who’d only just passed his test started using the bike daily, the bike giving no trouble. As it happened my mate eventually hired an almost new TA to do the Euro’ tour as the ‘87 TA failed the MOT due to excessive rear brake travel due to an very work rear brake drum and obtaining a quick replacement wasn’t possible.

But this is the thing………………………

As battered and manky as it is it’s just as fast (and smoother) as my @, doing 100mph no problem. My @ can just do about 110mph and the other night on the motorway only other traffic prevented the TA possibly beating the @! My @ has a 43 rear sprocket and so is v’ slightly ‘up’ geared, the TA has standard gearing with slightly shagged chain and sprockets; the front sprocket having been ‘welded’ on giving a slight grating sound all the time! I’m impressed.

Handling wise the TA with odd, and well worn, though legal tyres p****s all over the @ with new front tyre and only half worn rear. I’m even more impressed! The TA is as light as a feather compared to the @ and is so easy to manoeuvre by hand.

I’m starting to think I’ve got the wrong bike?

[faantjie]

Don't know if you should be riding that bike at 100mph Did you know there are no bikes in heaven

If you think the TA is the better bike, sell both and get a V2 Ta ('oo on). They are very under rated and you will enjoy it. It's not built for your 1 tonne excursions but keep it in 3rd on B roads and you'll have a blast.

Stay safe

[miggy]

Don't know if you should be riding that bike at 100mph Did you know there are no bikes in heaven

If you think the TA is the better bike, sell both and get a V2 Ta ('oo on). They are very under rated and you will enjoy it. It's not built for your 1 tone excursions but keep it in 3rd on B roads and you'll have a blast.

Stay safe

100mph? Old grannies on scooters do that these days. As stated my mate hired the V2 version to do the actual euro' trip and we both rode it of course. Verdict? nice enough, blah, blah, blah, but a bit like a nuetered cat.

It's several months ago now but I recall absolutely nowt exiting about the V2 version, had it been anywhere as good as my @ I'd have remembered. It stuggled to top 95-100mph; with my limited experience of the two versions, the earlier version seems to have loads more balls.

1 tone excursions! cheeky git.

[faantjie]

100mph? Old grannies on scooters do that these days. As stated my mate hired the V2 version to do the actual euro' trip and we both rode it of course. Verdict? nice enough, blah, blah, blah, but a bit like a nuetered cat.

It's several months ago now but I recall absolutely nowt exiting about the V2 version, had it been anywhere as good as my @ I'd have remembered. It stuggled to top 95-100mph; with my limited experience of the two versions, the earlier version seems to have loads more balls.

1 tonne excursions! cheeky git.

I meant "tonne" not "tone", not that it will make a difference on your view of my comment. It's not the speed but the bike.

What about the Varadero? It's a much more capable bike at speed and you can also get them with ABS. A few guys on here have recently changed from @'s to Varadero's. Unless you are planning a bit of off roading it'll do it all.

[miggy]

Tried a Vara' and it was impressive. It was also bloody thirsty. I know the new FI ones are more economical but the Vara seems a bit overkill for most riding especially town stuff.

Brill' for eating motorways but my @ is just about comfy enough and fast enough that what I'd gain on the roundabouts (m'ways) I'd lose on the swings (town).

The main point of my post was that there was much less difference between an @ and a TA than I'd have thought until I actually tried the TA (an old battered one at that) and the handling is way better, far more chuckable. Chuckable= enjoyment.

[CC Baxter]

I've owned an Africa Twin and I know it is, or should be, a fine bike (mine turned out to be a dog). So one used A/T & two used Alps later I'm covinced an Alp is a better used buy. The AT was always the cool bike and tended to get the cool modifications, Alps onthe other hand have been (mostly) left alone. I have a 650V6 now and it's a good bike, sadly it is not built to the standard of the earlier (Japanese built) Alps & A/Ts.

[faantjie]

A chap we recently met leaves this month to ride from London to Cape Town. He's taking his other half as pillion on a TA (600) that has done the journey once already. Looking at the bike you would never have guessed it has been around the block a couple of times.

[sproggy]

Looking at the bike you would never have guessed it has been around the block a couple of times.

They probably don't salt the roads too much in South Africa.....

That's what kills the bikes - not the age or the mileage but the corrosive cr*p they put on our roads.

[Lord Stig]

The TAs (at least the earlier ones) seemed to deal better with the corrosion than the AT I have now. All in all I suspect the TA is as good or even better than the AT. It's the no nonsense option. Pity about all that brittle plastic. I would buy one again (though preferably a pre-1996 600).

[miggy]

The TAs (at least the earlier ones) seemed to deal better with the corrosion than the AT I have now. All in all I suspect the TA is as good or even better than the AT. It's the no nonsense option. Pity about all that brittle plastic. I would buy one again (though preferably a pre-1996 600).

A set of crash bars or even some professionally made bungs would solve the brittle plastic problem more or less.