Honda True Adventure Toscana 2018, the perfect weekend for motorcyclists and their families?

This is the opportunity to tell you about an absolute first for us, as well as a little "behind the scenes". Many often envy us for the life of journalists in the motoring sector, perceiving the most pleasant part of this world, made up of powerful and also expensive cars and motorbikes, magnificent places and landscapes, but which behind the scenes is also made up of a commitment important for producing content, be it texts, photos, videos or posts on social media or anything else, which makes everything less pleasant than you might think. There are so many commitments that it is difficult to enjoy the places you visit and, not least, you end up staying away from your family, perhaps even on weekends.

It then happens that you receive an invitation for a different weekend, in which: (we quote) "The boys play with motorbikes during the day and the chaperones/families take a bath... there are spas, swimming pools... A fairy tale!" This time, therefore, no trip alone, no stress to produce content, but we identified ourselves with the figure of a motorcycle enthusiast, specifically with a wife and a 3-year-old daughter. In particular, this is someone who perhaps has a CRF1000L Africa Twin in his garage and doesn't disdain the idea of ​​enjoying it in a context full of interesting dirt roads. In changing roles, among the things that remain common to our real life, the fact that, whether we become a journalist, an employee or an entrepreneur, the passion for two wheels and family are two concepts that have little connection. How many sold their motorbike and hung up their helmet when their first child was born? There are many commitments and having to divide time between motorbike and family can lead to making this choice. What makes the Honda True Adventure Toscana 2018 proposal successful, from this point of view, is precisely the fact that it manages to make everyone happy: the father (but it could also be the case of a female motorcyclist), the mother and the children. The first one can enjoy routes of around 200 km for two days, and then meet up with the family in the afternoon, relaxing with them in a truly pleasant place.

Fonteverde Resort in San Casciano dei Bagni (Siena)

The base for the weekend is in fact the luxurious Fonteverde Resort in San Casciano dei Bagni (Siena), where the family is pampered by a location with swimming pools, thermal baths and spas. It is in fact a Renaissance palace located on a thermal spring, a short distance from the town, which is located on the hills of Siena, about 600 meters above sea level. Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici wanted to build it in the enchanting Val d'Orcia among rolling hills, cypress groves and small churches. The thermal water, which flows at 42°, fills the swimming pools, treatment and relaxation tubs, which enjoy a magnificent panorama, with natural heat.

The arrival takes place on Friday afternoon, at 19.30 pm the presentation of the two days on motorbike is scheduled, with the useful, if not indispensable, indications to be able to enjoy everything in safety. Mixed routes between asphalt and off road, which we will discover to be satisfying and fun, but never extreme. All seasoned with the presence of guides and instructors from the True Adventure Offroad Academy, both to monitor the participants, but also to give some lessons, giving some wise advice to anyone who would like it.

Since safety is a must, in the two days on the motorbike there is not even a doctor missing, hoping that he will be useful, as in our case, to provide you with a remedy for the allergy to grasses, rather than anything else. After this briefing we move on to conviviality, with aperitif and dinner, where you can chat with the rest of the group, which is quite large between members and organizers.

In the saddle we return to our "work" as testers, even if from a tourist perspective

Saturday morning, after a nice breakfast and putting on your technical clothing, you get on your bike and start the itinerary. The bikes are mainly the CRF1000L Africa Twin from the True Adventure Offroad Academy, both DCT and with manual transmission and equipped with Metzeler Karoo 3 knobbys. Both the MY2018 and the Adventure Sports have recently debuted, which we had the opportunity to preview a few months ago (here is our article and video), but participants can also choose some alternatives, such as the 2-wheel SUV, the X-ADV, also in 2018 version and with traction control and G mode for the DCT gearbox, or the lightweight CRF 250. Who participates can then use their own motorbike, extending to further models, including crossovers with V4 engines, Crosstourer and Crossrunner, the NC750X and the CB500X. You venture towards fascinating landscapes and roads, for example along the Val d'Orcia and the Crete Senesi, but also crossing the border towards Umbria. The first break, thanks to the welcome and availability of the mayor of Chiusi, allows us for example to park our motorbikes right in front of the Town Hall.

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT (and not)

The opportunity for us is also to get on the Africa Twin 2018 for the first time, previously tested by Gianluca Cuttitta, moreover in a perfect context to appreciate it at 360°. On asphalt, but especially off road. Without going into too much detail by repeating what we have already had the opportunity to delve into at the press presentation in Spain, what convinces and surprises about this bike is the electronics. This year's evolutionary step, with by-wire control for the accelerator, resulting in the possibility of having various driving modes, which influence engine braking, power delivery and traction control. The latter, in particular, offers 7 levels, as well as the possibility of excluding it. For the DCT we then have the "G" button, which manages the gearbox in the best way for off-road driving. With the Adventure Sports you can then discover the magic of its suspensions, which in addition to the category record for travel, achieve a truly commendable ability to flatten bumps.

The roads we travel on are accessible to practically everyone, with few challenging passages, but also with the possibility of getting a little carried away and having fun discovering that traction control, contrary to the imagination of the most geeks, can be a nice playmate. Starting to descend towards levels 2 and 1, but without deactivating it, it allows you to carry out some great and satisfying drifts, but always remaining safe, even without being experienced drivers. When entering a curve, however, the DCT can be exploited to the fullest with the buttons on the left-hand block and by downshifting a gear and facilitating insertion, to then have all the power available for a choreographic exit with the throttle completely wide open. We keep the right distance from those in front to avoid the dangers of dust, which otherwise can hide the potholes, making us increasingly happy. A couple of changes to the asphalt - off road gearbox and vice versa, to always have everything set in the best way, and the Africa Twin seems to be the perfect companion for this type of use.

The day passes like this, interrupted by a very pleasant lunch, until we return to the Fonteverde Resort, where after a handful of minutes we are already enjoying the pool and the family, who in the meantime have let themselves be lulled into total relaxation. While we "played" with the motorbikes, the little ones splashed around in the water, waiting to now do it with their dads too. The right relaxation for them too, after the day on the motorbike and before dinner.

On Sunday it actually repeats the same programme, with the difference that this time we choose a manual Africa Twin Adventure Sports, discovering it to be very different from the DCT. On the latter everything is more filtered, in the positive and negative exception of the term. In fact, at the beginning, the CRF1000L with the classic manual transmission inspires more fear off road, making the rider more demanding. Even the suspensions, with their lighter weight (about 10 kg less), seem to be less rounded and more reactive, while there are more things to keep an eye on. For example, having deactivated the ABS at the rear as is almost mandatory for off-road driving, it is necessary to use the clutch to avoid switching off the engine in some passages, while gear changes can take attention away from other aspects.

In the first few minutes riding the manual we end up thinking that the DCT is the best choice, but then, when you get to grips with it, it gives you stronger emotions. The less filtered gradually begins to take on that more romantic meaning, especially for riders with a bit of experience and years spent learning all the tricks related to the use of the clutch, perhaps in the most demanding passages. For them, it is undeniable, giving up that leverage is a greater annoyance. At the end of the day we may have made our personal choice and you can imagine it, but if you ask us whether the DCT or the manual is better, our response as testers is that it depends on you and the context in which you are going to use them. The type of transmission actually makes them two different bikes, which we had already tried in the past, but not at the same time and in the old configuration with cable throttle. Now we have had the opportunity to discover and appreciate the characteristics of one and the other and, not even we, would be able to choose without fear of regret. Too different, one is easier and with which you can allow yourself to be more daring by focusing on fewer aspects, the other is more reactive and "romantically" satisfying.

The restart will be on Sunday evening or Monday morning

Returning to the True Adventure Tuscany, at the end of the second day in the saddle the participants can choose whether to stay until the next day, or leave again in the evening. For everyone, one last "piece" of the weekend is missing, the photo sharing system (RideYourPassion.it), which takes place almost live and thanks to which everyone will be able to download and take home a beautiful memory of a truly very interesting adventure , for yourself and for the entire family.

The next appointment is set for October (from 5th to 8th), all the information and prices can be found on the Honda Italia website, obviously in the motorcycle section, under "Honda Life", under "events", or by contacting directly the legendary Marcello Romano (3423851585 – info@trueadventureoffroadacademy.com). We anticipate that these are not exactly popular prices, but the proposal certainly also focuses on a good dose of luxury and exclusivity, for a gift that deserves, if you can afford it.

Clothing used:
Mtech Geographic jacket,
Mtech Storm Pants,
Alpinestars Masai gloves,
Stylmartin Impact RS Boots,
Suomy MX Tourer helmet