I’ve put the Honda Africa Twin DCT to the ultimate test, I’ll provide valuable insights and firsthand experiences from my 2200 km expedition across Iceland and share a with you a detailed review.
After clocking over 2200km on this beast, I’ve put the Africa Twin DCT to the ultimate test, I’ll provide valuable insights and firsthand experiences from my 2200 km expedition. Discover the pros and cons of this powerful beast in my detailed review, exploring its impressive user interface and breaking down the technical aspects of its controls.
Watch the full Honda Africa Twin review here
Prepare to be amazed as I delve into the height adjustable seat, sharing how it enhances both comfort and control. Experience the weight of the Honda Africa Twin DCT firsthand, feeling its perfect balance and maneuverability in challenging conditions. You’ll learn how the cleverly positioned fuel tank height boosts your confidence on every ride.
Keep an eye out for a fascinating revelation about turning on the indicators three times at an average junction. Plus, I express my sincere appreciation for the heated grips, a game-changer in cold weather riding. Discover the drop-resistant frame and high-quality materials that ensure durability and reliability, even in the face of rough terrain.
Dive deep into the heart of this beast with an inside look of the Honda Africa Twin and its powerful 1100cc engine, unleashing an exhilarating ride like no other. And don’t miss my insights on the smooth and responsive Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) system, elevating your riding experience to new heights.
As a bonus treat, I’ll also share four essential techniques to confidently pick up any bike, ensuring you’re always ready for any adventure that comes your way.
This is part 5 of my Honda experience across Iceland so please do check out the rest of the series:
Part 1: The Africa Twin Takes on Iceland
Part 2: Iceland’s Toughest Challenges Yet – Africa Twin Takes on Iceland’s Unforgiving Terrain
Part 3: Four ways to pick up a heavy motorcycle. Guaranteed Success
Part 4: Conquering Iceland’s Extreme Terrain – Africa Twin’s Epic Finale
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Introducing the Land Rover Bowler Defender rally car.
In the rally world, the Bowler Wildcat has been a car to reckon with for years. But there is a new car on the block and in this video, I’ll talk you through what a Land Rover Bowler Defender rally car is and how it varies from the base model Land Rover Defender 90. The Defender rally car is a 300hp monster!
See what the Bowler Defender Rally Car is all about
Key Bowler Defender rally car conversion specifications:
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Discover the joys of group motorcycle adventures and how to make new friends! Learn the benefits of pre-organized rides and tours here.
Wondering how to make new motorcycle friends? Thinking about going on a group ride? After having been on group adventure motorcycle rides in over 15 countries I thought I would share my thoughts on why I highly recommend looking into pre-organized group rides, and how you can make new motorcycle friends.
In this video, I will also discuss some of the pros and cons such as:
Time
Admin
Experience
Legalities
Meeting new people
Riding different motorcycles
Watch why I love group motorcycle tours and making new friends
If you are not sure where to start but you want to meet new motorcycle friends or try a group adventure tour check out some of the videos from the group tour adventures I have been on and can highly recommend:
Tour1 – The wonders of New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94WFpjBJ9A&t=0s
Tour Enduro Sardegna, Sardinia
Big Little Rides [womens only] – 9 women take on Belize
Toro Trail, Spain – I flipped it
Altitude with Attitude – European Harley Davidson Road Trip
Ride with Locals, Iceland – Offroad experience
Superior Motorcycle Experiences, UK
Novo Adventures, Bolivia – Riding death road
Enduro Dreamland, Ukraine – Snow riding
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Is the KTM 450 RFR Rally Replica the ultimate rally bike? With a huge price tag of over £32,000 it’s a lot of money but is it worth it? In this video, which is part of my 6 part Morocco Desert Challenge series, I will run through all my thoughts on this bike and why I think it’s quite possibly the best bike I’ve ever ridden!
Watch the full video – Is KTM Rally Replica worth the price?
Key modifications that I have done on the KTM 450 rally bike:
K-Tech Suspension set for my weight Michelin Motorcycle desert bib mousse and tyres to ensure zero punctures
Caulfield Leather custom seat for a happy Vanessa bottom
Talon Engineering Ltd custom wheels
And my own personalised graphics designed by me
Custom tool kit hidden under the seat Teng Tools with my emergency flare
Weighing in at 175kg he is a beast in the dunes but he’s like a glove for the desert.
Don’t forget to watch the rest of my Morocco Desert series:
For reference this is a comparison based on my experience racing other events on a range of bikes including, KTM 450 enduro cup, Beta 480 with rally nav tower kit, KTM 450 with rally nav tower, Honda CRF 450 RX enduro cup, big adventures bikes such as Tiger 900, Tenere 700, Husqvarna 701, Africa Twin, Husky 500.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Join me for an in-depth review of the Honda XRE, the 291CC miniature Africa Twin that accompanied me on my 10-day adventure in Colombia
In this video, I share my thoughts and experiences riding this confident bike through various terrains. Discover what makes the Honda XRE a standout choice, and why I think it could be the baby Africa Twin, as I delve into its features and specifications.
The Girl on a bike Honda XRE review
From its height and riding posture to the practicality of luggage bags for off-roading, we cover it all. Learn about the power, protection, ground clearance, suspension, and wheel size that contribute to the XRE’s performance.
Watch the Honda XRE Review here
I also provide insights into the usefulness of luggage racks and demonstrate how to lift the Honda XRE. And if you’ve ever wondered why Honda launched the XRE exclusively in Latin America, I’ll address that too. Whether you’re considering this bike or simply curious about its capabilities, this review will provide valuable insights.
Watch the full video to get all the details and make an informed decision.
Don’t forget to watch the rest of my Colombia adventure series:
Part 1: Group of girls brave Colombia on motorcycles
Part 2: There’s more to Colombia than drug cartels… here’s why you should go
Part 3: Colombian back roads and mental river crossing – girls adventure motorcycle riding
Big thanks to Big Little Rides for getting 9 ladies from 6 countries together for a Colombian adventure! https://www.biglittlerides.com/
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
How to protect your bum on a motorcycle – anti monkey butt
Here are my top tips on how to protect your bum to avoid monkey butt on a motorcycle based on my experience from extreme long distance endure desert rally’s
Watch the full video – Why does no one talk about this, how to avoid monkey butt
How to protect your bum and prevent monkey butt on a motorcycle is a big topic but one that no one seems to talk about. In this video I am going to share my top tips built from my experience of doing extreme long distance endurance desert rally’s and how to keep your bum and genitals happy on a motorcycle. These tips vary in their cost, but for the ultimate effect I recommend all 5.
Top tips for bum comfort and monkey butt prevention on a motorcycle:
Custom motorcycle seat for improved comfort – my seat is by Caulfield Leather https://www.caulfieldleather.co.uk/ it is worth noting they will do any motorcycle seat from street bike cruiser, adv, you send them your seat and they will re foam, gel and upholster it
Anti chaff cream. Designed to reduce friction, monkey butt and also help control bacteria that is apparent with high levels of sweat you would anticipate when doing extreme sports – https://amzn.to/3EN6rjJ this is the same cream used by professional cycling athletes
If you get sore both on your bum and your lips, use Germolene. My top rally hack tip is Germolene on your lips instead of any kind of lip solve. It is an antiseptic and antibiotic cream that helps cracked skin, so it is amazing for your lips or sore bum – https://amzn.to/3PwowaK
Sweat wicking seamless cycling impact shorts. The key is to make sure they are a seamless technical layer, you do not want to wear cotton on a motorcycle ever, due to its ability to hold and store moisture which will ultimately lead to chafe. Also, the added padding of cycling shorts supports with the fatigue on your saddle
Technical base layers. Depending on the temperature of the riding conditions you are in you want to make sure you are wearing the correct base layers on your skin. These should be sweat wicking and temperature appropriate to your environment. It may seem slightly counter intuitive but having full length base layers even when in a 52-degree desert race will still keep you cooler than having other materials on your skin due to the moisture wicking technology. I do wear my impact shorts underneath my base layers to prevent chafe from the material pattern of the technical layers being on your skin. I am a big fan of the Alpinestars base layers to help with monkey butt
Hopefully this gives you a few tips to help keep your bottom from becoming a monkey butt and keep you comfortable on longer motorcycle rides, whilst I am talking about this in an intense enduro race environment these tips will still work for your usual everyday touring conditions.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
I think it’s safe to say the Road Glide has become my favourite Harley-Davidson.
With the world to explore finding the right touring bike can be a challenge, so in this review video I’ll share my experience riding the Harley-Davidson Road Glide around New Zealand with Tour1. The organised tour took us on several thousand kilometres of road through the wonders of the South Island in both the pouring rain and glorious sunshine.
I’ve ridden many other Harley’s before and have a Street Bob 2015 in my own garage… but I think it’s safe to say the Road Glide, especially in this light popping red paint, has become my favourite Harley-Davidson.
From its poised stance with the shark fairing, to it’s amble power, insanely comfortable seating position, pillion comfort and great touring features, the Road Glide has won me over.
Check out the video below for more details, including hearing the sound of the Milwaukee engine.
This video is part of a multi episode series of my Tour1 New Zealand Harley Road Glide adventure so make sure you check out the other videos in the series:
Part 1: When your breath gets taken away but …
https://youtu.be/J94WFpjBJ9A
Part 2: Girls on tour… New Zealand and why ..
Part 3: Burt Munro, lake dips, Lindis pass and so much more – th
Why I like group tours: How to make new motorcycle friends
Tips for riding in a group:
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
It saved me! Is a motorcycle airbag worth the price tag? Alpinestars TechAir 5 off-road Dakar explained
Safety is a huge factor with extreme desert racing and so I’m a huge believer in the use of airbags. This video I talk through the specifications and my experience with the Alpinestars TechAir 5 off road Dakar approved airbag protection.
It appears like a normal full body armour with elbow, back, shoulder and chest protection but it also has a seamlessly integrated airbag system. It’s a little bulkier than a normal protector but it’s incredibly comfortable – and body saving.
It feels like a normal body armour but with a bit more bulk and is designed for the airbag system to deploy in a crash. The airbag system has intelligent accelerometers and gyroscopes which tell exactly when the rider needs it, which allows it to deploy before you even hit the ground! Thankfully, you’re not going to have an embarrassing curbside inflate as the technology is far more attuned, knowing what’s an actual crash versus a little stumble. The airbag technology is incredible.
This is a compulsory kit for most of the major rallies and it’s already saved many breaks and most probably deaths.
The Dakar approved version will be available on the wider mark in early 2024…so stay tuned! But for now they do have street and off road versions of a slightly lower spec available. Check out Alpinestars airvest on their website.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
The Bike Shed show in London is a weekend long event with hundreds of custom bikes, live music, food, shed talks with guest speakers and of course my KTM 450 Rally Replica on display.
The Bike Shed show at Tobacco docks London is a weekend long event with hundreds of bikes to look at, including my KTM 450 Rally Replica “Big Buddy”, live music, lots of food, a VIP night, Shed Talks and a huge array of custom bikes from both professional builds to home shed builds. The range and amount of motorcycles is incredible, and a great place for inspiration.
Join me in my video below for a walk around the Bike Shed Show and see first hand why this is an event worth adding to your calendar.
During the show I was honored to join Gareth on the Shed Talks stage to talk about Dakar and Beyond, alongside Chris Evens, the UK Dakar customer liaison. It was an interesting talk you can check it out here
DAKAR & BEYOND – SHED TALK – LIVE AT BIKE SHED MOTO SHOW LONDON 2023
With the main Bike Shed Show sponsor being Michelin I also show you their take on Past, Present Future with the augmented reality custom bike.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
Nearly 100% redesign with the Husqvarna 2024 enduro range
Here’s my experience on the Husqvarna 2024 enduro: Your eyes are sharp on the terrain ahead, the rocks, roots, loose stones and sand all grappling to throw you and the bike off path. But I was feeling confident armed with the best weapon for the job. Below me was the nearly 100% newly redesigned Husqvarna TE 300i. Certainly one of the most high-performance dirt bikes on the market. As a personal owner of the 2020 TE that I finished Red Bull Romaniacs on and having seen countless pro rider podium wins from the likes of Billy Bolt and Graham Jarvis, I was keen to feel if the 2024 range was as good as all the hype…let’s just say I had high expectations.
With a full redesign it really is a new breed of dirt bike. New bikes are often a small splash, sometimes even a disappointment with a couple of tweaks, but having spent the day in Norway riding 2024 enduro range I can hand on heart tell you that this next generation fleet is worth a look at! The 2 and 4 stroke models are nearly a total head-to-toe redesign. The say change is what drives progression and these bikes are monsters in all the right way and will certainly be ruffling the feathers of rival brands.
With the new throttle body injected engine, closed cartridge front and fully adjustable toolless suspension, redesigned ergonomics for a solid rider triangle and increased grip seat, the bikes fill you with confidence. The throttle response felt lively, instant, and despite previous Husky models bringing impressive performance, they have seriously upped their game.
Pausing for a moment to absorb the wilderness around me, I was in a Norwegian forest, not a sole nearby, a mirror calm lake glistening in the distance, and me on a Husqvarna dirt bike, it was the ideal testing environment. We had a 6.5km dedicated enduro loop this was a match made in heaven for the new enduro range. Gravitating to the TE 300i I went round and round, building pace and really getting a feel for the new set up.
The throttle body fuel injection for better response with two injectors, combined with electronically monitored exhausted values meant for a fiery ride. The engine is programmed to adjust and adapt to the riding conditions, always bringing you the optimum performance. As I climbed the peaks the engine was seamlessly and effortlessly adjusting as the air, conditions and my riding changed.
The electronics have been overhauled with a new centralised smart control unit for easy troubleshooting, torque values etched on for simplified serviceability and an increased durability in the subframe design to reduce the risk of breaks. Even small touches like narrower foot pegs to reduce the risk of catching them in ruts have been taken a step further with a peg redesign. The new pegs give 27% more surface area for the foot, reducing riding fatigue.
The 30% brighter headlight will remove night-time riding worries with 900 lumens to illuminate the track. And as a rider holding on, the flatter and straighter, bars, improved seat grip and symmetrical tank fairing all aid rider ergonomics. For four stroke models have been given a new quick shift sensor to momentarily cut the ignition as the gear lever is engaged allowing you to smash up through the gears at full throttle without the use of the clutch.
Making a list of what has not changed on the Husqvarna 2024 enduro range would be a far shorter process. That list would contain the premium Michelin Medium rubber and the D.I.D DirtStar rims.
Having swung my leg over all 5 models [TE 150, 250, 300 and FE 250, 350, 450 and 501] it’s safe to say that these bikes are going to bring high performance to the pros on the racetrack but also a whole heap of fun to the everyday riders wanting to play in the dirt.
Key changes on the Husqvarna 2024 enduro include:
Throttle body fuel injection for better response with two injectors
Electronically monitored exhausted values for a two stroke feel
Subframe with increased durability and integrated grab handle
Fully adjustable suspension without need for tools
Improved grip seat and symmetrical tank fairing for knee grip
27% larger peg surface with lower narrow stance for more stable position and reduced risk of catching in ruts
LED headlight giving 900 lumens
Smart Control unit for centralised electronic troubleshooting
Premium Michelin Medium rubber for ultimate traction
Smaller 22mm rear swing arm for more flex over rocks
Flush faced chain guard to prevent damage
Torque values etched in for serviceability
Improved feel and difference in two engine maps
Quick shifter for smoother great shifts [four stoke FE models]
Check out The Girl On A Bike’s YouTube channel for a full review of the 2024 Husqvarna enduro bikes.
YouTube – Husqvarna 2024 enduro bikes tested and reviewed – TE and FE models
Husqvarna 2024 two stroke enduro bikes ridden, reviewed and tested – TE 150 250 300
Who is the Girl on a Bike?
Vanessa Ruck is a dirt bike maniac, extreme desert rally racer, traveller, and social media goddess on a mission to inspire other riders following a life changing road accident that’s left her with chronic pain. She’s determined to prove that nothing is impossible.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.
