Revealed: Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
Revealed: Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
In 2014, the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin prototype caused quite a stir at EICMA, in Milan. It was Japan’s answer to the BMW R1200GS – a motorcycle that has pretty much dominated the adventure-tourer segment across the globe. Why did this come as big news to enthusiasts, you may ask. Well, that’s because the production of Honda’s last twin-cylinder adventure bike, the XRV750 (or the old Africa Twin), was halted well over a decade ago. But, since displaying the concept, it appears the lads back in Japan have been at it night and day to see this 1,000cc, parallel-twin beaut through to production. And boy, hasn't this gone well.
Honda has revealed that there will be multiple versions of the CRF1000L on offer, differentiated by the number of features. Nestled in the new steel semi-double cradle frame is a compact 998cc, parallel-twin motor that pumps out 74bhp and 98Nm of torque. Another talking point with this motorcycle is the choice of gearboxes: you can have a six-speed manual transmission, or a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with on- and off-road riding modes. The Africa Twin's wet weight is rated at 228kg, 232kg for the ABS model, and 242kg with the DCT. While the base model comes with minimal electronic aids, the top-end versions will come strapped with tech like the three-level Honda Selectable Torque Control System (HSTC), an ABS system that allows the rider to switch off ABS for the rear wheel. Also, the DCT boasts of incline detection technology, where the gear shift pattern adapts to the degree of an incline to provide optimum control.
Just like the old Africa Twin, the new CRF1000L is designed to balance high-speed stability with genuine off-road tractability. Inspired by the likes of the Honda CRF450R Rally bike, the Africa Twin uses 21/18-inch front and rear wire-spoke wheels, wearing 90/90-21 and 150/70-18 rubber. Dual headlights maintain the original’s signature presence and the seat can be raised or dropped by 20mm to 870mm or 850mm. A large 18.8-litre fuel tank – coupled with the fuel efficient engine – provides the 1000L with a range of up to 400km.
The Africa Twin will be available in four colour options: CRF Rally, Tricolour, silver and black, but the best part about this bike is that its asking price of €12,100 (around Rs 9.24 lakh) is significantly lesser than its main rival (abroad) from the Bavarian stable, the BMW R1200GS.
Courtesy : BBC Top Gear