This RD07 Honda Africa Twin holds a very special place in my collection. It all started when I borrowed it for two weeks while visiting my good friend Larry from New York City Motorcycles, taking it on a tour around the country. Riding two-up was an absolute blast, and I fell completely in love with the bike. Shortly after, Larry was kind enough to sell it to me and arrange shipping.

The journey over wasn't easy on the bike—the rough transit and salty ocean air left behind a lot of rust and damage. But it turned out to be the perfect excuse for a full restoration and overhaul.

The Restoration & Upgrades:

• Chassis & Refinishing: Stripped away all the surface rust, sandblasted the affected components, and gave them a fresh powder coat.

• Bodywork & Paint: Repaired the damage sustained when the bike fell during transit, followed by a complete repaint. The seat was reupholstered in heavy-duty, rough-side-out marine leather.

• Cooling System: Upgraded the original radiators to high-performance aluminum units paired with silicone hoses.

• Drivetrain & Wheels: Fitted new sprockets and a fresh chain. Replaced the stock 17-inch rear wheel with an 18-inch setup—relacing the original hubs to new Excel rims with fresh sealed bearings—opening up a much wider selection of dual-sport and off-road tires.

• Cockpit & Electronics: Designed and 3D-printed a custom dash mount for the instrument panel to neatly house a 12V power outlet and the controller for heated grips.

• Protection & Trim: Installed rugged crash bars and wrapped the wheels in aggressive off-road tires.

What started as a borrowed bike for a road trip is now a fully restored, trail-ready adventure machine built to handle anything.