The first full day with a new motorcycle always feels slightly surreal. You find any excuse to head out to the garage to take another look. Yesterday was collection day for my Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports 1100 DCT ES, and the timing could not have been more typically British.

Collection Day in Proper British Weather

The ride home from the dealership in West Yorkshire took place in relentless rain, cold air and dark skies. It was the sort of weather that makes most people stay indoors, but in a strange way it felt like the perfect introduction. If a bike is going to earn your trust, it may as well start in difficult conditions.

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Even in the wet, the Africa Twin immediately felt stable and reassuring. The upright riding position gives a commanding view of the road, and despite its size the bike never felt intimidating. By the time I reached home, it was covered in winter road grime and clearly deserved a proper clean before any celebratory ride.

The First Wash and First Real Look

This morning began with buckets, shampoo and a lot of careful attention. There is something calming about washing a brand-new bike for the first time. You start to notice the details properly, the lines of the bodywork and the finishes that convinced you to buy it in the first place.

When the clouds finally broke and the sun appeared, the transformation was dramatic. The metallic grey paintwork suddenly looked vibrant and purposeful. After weeks of dull skies, seeing the bike in the sunlight felt like a reward for braving the weather the day before.

A Proper Afternoon Ride

With the bike clean and the roads finally dry, the afternoon naturally turned into riding time. No real destination, no schedule, just the simple aim of spending time getting to know the machine.

The Africa Twin feels built for distance. The riding position is relaxed, the bars are wide and comfortable, and the suspension smooths out rough surfaces with ease. It is the sort of bike that encourages you to keep going just a little bit further than planned.

As the afternoon faded, the light softened and the roads became quieter. The golden hour arrived and the countryside took on that warm glow that makes every ride feel special. I could not resist pulling over to take a few photographs.

Standing there beside a brand-new motorcycle as the engine quietly cooled in the evening light felt like the true beginning of ownership.

First trip to the Kilns on the Africa Twin for the obligatory photos, followed by a very pleasant golden hour.

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Getting Used to the DCT Gearbox

The biggest change for me with this bike is the Dual Clutch Transmission. No clutch lever. No gear pedal. Just twist the throttle and ride.

Before collecting the bike, I was curious and slightly sceptical. Changing gears has always felt like part of the motorcycling experience, so I wondered whether an automatic gearbox might feel disconnected.

Within the first few miles, those doubts started to fade. The gear changes are smooth and almost seamless. In town, the difference is immediately noticeable. Slow traffic becomes far less tiring because there is no clutch work and no constant shifting. Instead, you can focus entirely on balance, positioning and awareness of what is happening around you.

Once the road opens up, the character changes again. Opting for the Sports II setting – The gearbox holds onto gears longer when you want to ride more enthusiastically, and manual paddle shifting is always there if you fancy taking control. By the end of the ride, I had stopped thinking about the gearbox entirely, which is probably the best compliment I can give it.

The Confidence of a Lower Seat Height

One of the main reasons I chose this model was confidence at a standstill.

Large adventure bikes look incredible, but seat height can sometimes be a concern. This setup feels like a sweet spot. That slightly lower stance makes a real difference when stopping or manoeuvring at low speed.

Being able to place a foot down comfortably removes a small but constant worry, especially on uneven ground or when turning the bike around in tight spaces. Instead of thinking about balance, I can simply focus on riding. That extra confidence changes the overall experience far more than I expected and todays ride was considerably easier that I’ve experienced on my old Tiger 1200 Rally Pro.

First Impressions After Day One

After one wet ride, one careful clean and one sunny afternoon exploring local roads, the early impressions are very positive.

The DCT gearbox is far more natural than expected and genuinely makes everyday riding easier. The lower seat height has delivered the confidence I was hoping for.
Most importantly, the bike already feels like it wants to be ridden everywhere.

It has only been 24 hours, but the adventure has definitely begun.