Africa Twin Adventure Sports (DCT), Testing the Metzeler Karoo 4 in deep mud and water pits.
SUBSCRIBE ➤ / @mahieujf
Happy owner of a CRF300 Rally (23’) and an Africa Twin Adventure Sport ES (22’), it's time to compare them in muddy conditions on the same 100km track, particularly flooded in this late winter season.
In this video, Africa Twin: 250kg - Karoo 4 Tyres (Rear 1.8 bar - Front 1.5 bar) - Tyres half used (4,000km)
CRF300 Rally: 150kg - Dunlop D606 Tyres (Rear 1.5 bar) - Pirelli MT21 (Front 1.3 bar), in the following video • Test tires D606 - MT21...
The CRF300 is an easy, balanced, and very forgiven bike. With it, I venture onto new paths in all conditions. I never fear getting into complicated situations because it's so light and easy, and I never feel like I'm lacking power. It’s 100% easy Fun in these conditions.
The Africa Twin is an extremely well-balanced bike with an ultra-smooth and available engine, and the DCT is a real asset in challenging conditions (I can focus completely on balancing on the footpegs to control the bike). Riding these conditions with a big trail bike provides a very unique pleasure: between the weight, the power, and the inertia, it’s a very powerful feeling. However, the bike is really top-heavy (24L tank full during the footage). Despite the Karoo 4 tires being very effective off-road, the 250kg top-heaviness on these « small » treads in the mud means the bike will smash you on the ground at the slightest pilot error, and with the weight, falls can become easily dangerous. Beginners in off-road should abstain. With Big Trail, it’s 100% Challenge in these conditions. Moreover, picking up these 250kg in the mud can sometimes be challenging (and I do speak by experience). That's why I never ride the Africa Twin off-road without the soft rear panniers from SW Motech. Not only do they protect the bike, but they also make it easier to get it back on its feet.
In conclusion in the muddy conditions: The CRF300 gives me 100% fun and freedom and allows me to discover plenty of new tracks all year round (including during the winter) and in all conditions (I love mud); While the Africa Twin offers me the opportunity to challenge my riding skills and provides a very unique pleasure. However, in these muddy conditions, I only ride on paths I've recently covered with the CRF300 to make sure the conditions are quite OK to handle this big bike there.