The New Honda Africa Twin Wants To Adventure The Crap Out Of Your Life

Having brought about a glorious revival of the Africa Twin name in 2015, it’s time for Honda’s dual-sport adventure bike to have a bit of an overhaul.

The 998cc parallel-twin (unlike the original there’s no V-twin here, we’re afraid) has grown by 86cc thanks to an increase in stroke, now displacing 1084cc. It’s also been given new intake and exhaust systems, all working together to bring the power up from 94 to 100bhp. Torque is now rated at 77.4lb ft, and the overall weight figure has dropped.

The CRF1100L Africa Twin, to give it the full name, also has a new detachable aluminium rear subframe, plus an aluminium swingarm modelled on the one found on Honda’s CRF450R motocross bike.

Along with the mechanical alterations, the heavily revised Africa Twin also gets a whole new suite of clever electronics. There’s a six-axis inertial measurement unit which includes wheelie control, cornering ABS, rear-lift control and cornering detection for the optional dual-clutch gearbox.

Plenty of stuff to help keep you upright, in other words, but there are some practical touches too, like a new 6.5-inch touchscreen that’s Apple CarPlay compatible.

It’ll come in two distinct guises. The standard Africa Twin has a shorter windscreen and a “sharply renewed focus on off-road use,” while the Adventure Sports ES adds all sorts of bits an pieces to make it better suited to longer jaunts. It’s fitted as standard with tubeless wheels, adjustable suspension, heated grips, a bigger skid plate, a rear rack and a 29.5-litre fuel tank. On the standard version, you have to make do with a 22.5-litre tank.

Want one? UK pricing hasn’t been released yet, but we do know the range starts at $14,399 for a manual Africa Twin, rising to $17,999 for an Adventure Sports SE with the DCT ‘box in the US. Standard models are finished in Matte Black, while the Adventure Sports editions come in the classic white, blue and red colour scheme. Both will be available from March 2020.