The off-road oriented Africa Twin has just landed in Australia in three models and already it looks like a fourth, even more adventurous model will be coming after Honda unveiled its Adventure Sports Concept.
The standard Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin starts at $15,499. Add another $1000 for ABS and another $100 for ABS and dual clutch semi-automatic transmission.
If you thought the Africa Twin was one of the more dirt-oriented of the big-bore all-roaders, the Adventure Sports Concept is even more so with a massive aluminium bash plate, highset Dakar-style Termignoni exhaust, motocross-style flat seat, rugged luggage rack with grab rails, aggressive knobby tyres and Honda’s Dakar race tricolour scheme.
You could make all those changes yourself with aftermarket accessories and a good spray painter, but it seems likely Honda will offer a limited edition model at some stage this year to give the model another kick along.
With the adventure market growing at a rapid rate and these models competitively priced and much lighter and more dirt oriented, the Africa Twin could finally topple the R 1200 GS and GSA from their big-bore adventure throne.
HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN TECH SPECS
| ENGINE | |
| Type | Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 4 valve-per-cylinder parallel twin with 270° crank and uni-cam |
| Displacement | 998cm3 |
| Bore & Stroke | 92.0 x 75.1mm |
| Max. Power Output | 70kW/7,500rpm (95/1/EC) |
| Max. Torque | 98Nm/6,000rpm (95/1/EC) |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 18.8 litres |
| Fuel consumption (WMTC mode) | MT: 61.3 mpg (WMTC) DCT: 61.6 mpg (WMTC) |
| DRIVETRAIN | |
| Clutch | MT: Wet, multiplate with coil springs, Aluminium Cam Assist and Slipper clutchDCT: 2 Wet multiple clutches with coil springs |
| Gearbox / Transmission Type | Constant mesh 6-speed MT / 6-speed DCT |
| Final Drive | O-ring sealed chain |
| Honda Selectable Torque Control System (HSTC) | * HSTC 3-levels + Switch Off (*ABS & DCT models only, not on STD model) |
| FRAME | |
| Type | Steel semi-double cradle type with steel rear subframe |
| CHASSIS | |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 2,335 x 875 x 1,475mm (STD), 2,335 x 930 x 1,475mm (ABS/DCT) |
| Wheelbase | 1,575mm |
| Seat Height (STD position / Low position) | 870/850mm |
| Ground Clearance | 250mm |
| Dry Weight | 208kg (STD), 212 kg (ABS), 222kg (DCT) |
| Kerb Weight | 228kg (STD), 232 kg (ABS), 242kg (DCT) |
| Turning Radius | 2.6m |
| SUSPENSION | |
| Suspension (front) | Show 45mm cartridge-type inverted telescopic fork with dial-style preload adjuster and DF adjustment, 230mm stroke. |
| Suspension (rear) | Monoblock cast aluminium swing arm with Pro-Link with gas-charged damper, hydraulic dial-style preload adjuster and rebound damping adjustment, 220 mm rear wheel travel. |
| WHEELS | |
| Wheels Front | Wire spoke with aluminium rim |
| Wheels Rear | Wire spoke with aluminium rim |
| Rim Size Front | 21 x 2.15 |
| Rim Size Rear | 18 x 4.00 |
| Tyres Front | 90/90-21 tube type |
| Tyres Rear | 150/70-18 tube type |
| BRAKES | |
| ABS system type | ABS* 2-Channel with rear ABS off switch (* ABS & DCT models only, not on STD model) |
| Type Front | 310mm dual wave floating disc with aluminium hub and radial fit 4-piston calipers and sintered metal pads |
| Type Rear | 256mm wave disc with 1-piston caliper and sintered metal pads. Also Lever-Lock Type Parking Brake System on DCT model with additional slide type 1-piston caliper |
| INSTRUMENTS & ELECTRICS | |
| Instruments | Rally style negative LCD instrument display including: Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel, Gear position, *ABS, *HSTC, Odometer, Trip and Clock*denotes ABS/DCT type |
| Headlight | Dual LED (1 High/1 Low) with LED |
| Taillight | LED |
| Indicators | STD: Bulb type ABS/DCT: LED type. Both with Amber Position Light function (APL) |
