Honda Africa Twin [2017-2018]

Name: Honda Africa Twin [2017-2018]
Brand: Honda
SKU: 1117
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.0 (4 reviews)

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Key specs

999.11 cc
6 Speed DCT Automatic
245 kg

Last known Avg. Ex-showroom price

₹ 13,29,843

Honda Africa Twin [2017-2018] is now discontinued in India.

Discontinued

Honda Africa Twin [2017-2018] Summary

Africa Twin [2017-2018] key highlights
Engine Capacity	999.11 cc
Transmission	6 Speed DCT Automatic
Kerb Weight	245 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.8 litres
Seat Height	840 mm
Max Power	86.04 bhp

About Africa Twin [2017-2018]

The 2018 Honda CRF1000L is truly an evolution of the Africa Twin launched in 2017, and the additions are mostly under the skin.

There is a redesigned instrument cluster that is better to read while standing and riding. The engine gets a longer airbox and a lighter balancer shaft, which helps with the 87bhp and 93Nm output. There is also a Li-ion battery that is 2.3 kg lighter than before. The traction control is now a seven-step one, and there are now four riding modes. It will be available only with the automatic gearbox in the Indian market. The rest of the setup remains the same: a 21-inch front wheel coupled with a 18-inch rear one, both steel spoke rims. Suspension is 45mm Showa front inverted forks and a Pro-link rear monoshock. Dual 310mm petal discs and a 256mm single petal disc do braking duty. ABS is present, as is an offroad mode that switches it off only for the rear wheel. Only one colour scheme is available so far.

The Honda CRF1000L2 Africa Twin competes with other off-road capable off-road tourers across segments like the Triumph Tiger 800 and 1200 XC series, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro, and the BMW R1200 GS Adventure.

Honda Africa Twin [2017-2018] Review

Honda has made improvements to the Africa Twin that you didn’t know it needed.

Introduction

It’s been a year since the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin was launched, and Honda has updated it for the 2018 model year. It gets a few mechanical and electronic updates, and we went on a ride to see how much of a difference it makes.

What’s new?

The engine has a lighter balancer shaft and a longer airbox. Power and torque figures are marginally higher at 87bhp and 93Nm. A sub-3kg lithium-ion battery cuts weight as well. The final mechanical change is a switch to Bridgestone tyres from the earlier model’s Dunlops. The electronics package now includes four rider modes – Urban, Tour, Gravel and User – and the traction control has seven levels, up from the previous three. The switch to engage the gearbox from neutral has changed. Neutral and Drive/Sport are now an up/down toggle, rather than the unwieldy right/left on the old bike. However, changing to manual mode is more difficult now, as it is a smaller button on the inside of the previous switch.

Finally, the new display is a single rectangle that houses a circular tachometer within it. Other things like the fuel and temperature gauges have had their positions changed as a necessity, because the 2018’s display now crams in a lot more information. The power (three levels), engine braking (three levels, again) and traction control (seven levels) are on display at all times, and each can be individually tailored even in the preset modes. However, they reset once the bike is switched off. There is a full trip computer as well, with everything from twin trip meters, to instant fuel consumption, to average consumption, average speed, and distance to empty all accessible via buttons on the left handlebar.

Incremental improvement

You can’t feel the changes on the 2018 Africa Twin immediately, and this is a testament to how good the original product is. But there is always room for improvement, and Honda has found the places it needed to improve. The 2018 year model has much better throttle response, especially from rest and at walking speeds. The DCT gearbox also has better refinement, with noticeable improvement in the shift from the first to second speed. The seven-step traction control helps fine-tune slides off-road, but what is really useful to the average Joe is the power and engine braking settings. Set it to three, and riding in traffic becomes so much easier. Increase the engine braking setting, and riding up and down mountain roads with pace becomes so much easier. There is nothing wrong with the 2017 model; it is simply that the 2018 model is better.

Is there anything we don’t like?

The display packs in a lot more information and as a consequence, it is a little difficult to understand immediately, despite the company claiming that it is easier to read while standing. The old bar-style tacho was definitely easier to see, and it was simpler, so there were less things to adjust and display. The button that toggles from automatic to manual mode is also more difficult to reach, but with so many options for the gearbox, power and engine braking to choose from, we don’t expect many riders to actually select manual mode often.

Is the price right?

What you see is a heavily accessorised example of the 2018 Africa Twin, but the price tag for a stock one has gone up by ₹ 33,000 ex-showroom over the old model, and that makes it of better value than the 2017 bike, at ₹ 13.2 lakhs, ex-showroom, Delhi.

Images: Kaustubh Gandhi

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Africa Twin [2017-2018] Specifications & Features

Specifications

Power & Performance

Fuel Type Petrol

Max Power 86.04 bhp @ 7,500 rpm

Max Torque 93.1 Nm @ 6,000 rpm

Cooling System Liquid Cooled

Transmission 6 Speed DCT Automatic

Transmission Type Chain Drive

Emission Standard Emission standards indicate the output from the exhaust that is permissible in a country. --

Displacement 999.11 cc

Cylinders 2

Bore 92 mm

Stroke 75 mm

Valves Per Cylinder 8

Compression Ratio --

Ignition --

Spark Plugs --

Gear Shifting Pattern Gear Shifting Pattern --

Clutch Wet Multiplate

Fuel Delivery System --

Fuel Tank Capacity 18.8 litres

Reserve Fuel Capacity These are estimated figures --

Riding Range Maximum distance a petrol bike can travel on a full fuel tank and an electric bike can travel on a full charge --

Mileage - ARAI --

Mileage - Owner Reported BikeWale collects mileage information from bike owners to provide you with the actual mileage that you might get. --

Top Speed These are estimated figures 196 Kmph

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Brakes, Wheels & Suspension

Braking System CBS, IBS, SBT, UBS, HBS - Combined braking of both front and rear wheel | ABS - Anti-lock braking system which can be just for front wheel (single channel) or both wheels (dual channel) or can be switched off (switchable) | E-ABS - Electronic assisted braking system | Standard - Cable operated --

Front Brake Type Disc

Front Brake Size 310 mm

Rear Tyre Size 150/70-R18 tube type

Tyre Type Tubed

Radial Tyres No

Rear Brake Type Disc

Rear Brake Size 256 mm

Calliper Type Front-4-Piston , Rear-2 Piston Calliper

Wheel Type Spoke

Front Wheel Size 21 inch

Rear Wheel Size 18 inch

Front Tyre Size 90/90-R21 tube type

Front Tyre Pressure (Rider) --

Rear Tyre Pressure (Rider) --

Front Tyre Pressure (Rider & Pillion) --

Rear Tyre Pressure (Rider & Pillion) --

Front Suspension Telescopic

Rear Suspension Pro-Link

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Dimensions & Chassis

Kerb Weight 245 kg

Overall Length 2,334 mm

Overall Width 932 mm

Wheelbase 1,574 mm

Ground Clearance 250 mm

Seat Height 840 mm

Overall Height 1,478 mm

Chassis Type Semi Double Cradle

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Manufacturer Warranty

Standard Warranty (Year) --

Standard Warranty (Kilometers) --

Features

Odometer Digital

DRLs (Daytime running lights) --

Mobile App Connectivity --

Low Battery IndicatorYes

Pillion BackrestNo

Pillion GrabrailYes

GPS & Navigation --

USB charging port --

Front storage box --

Under seat storage --

AHO (Automatic Headlight On) --

Speedometer Digital

Fuel Guage Yes

Tachometer Digital

Stand Alarm --

Stepped Seat Yes

No. of Tripmeters 2

Tripmeter Type Digital

Low Fuel Indicator Yes

Low Oil Indicator Yes

Pillion SeatYes

Pillion FootrestYes

Digital Fuel GuageYes

Start TypeElectric Start

Shift LightYes

KillswitchYes

ClockYes

Battery12V 11.2A-h

Headlight TypeDual LED Head Lamp

Brake/Tail LightLED Tail Lamp

Turn SignalYes

Pass LightYes

Additional features--

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Honda Africa Twin [2017-2018] News

Honda’s future motorcycles could be able to sense our emotions?
14 September 2019
Anuj Mishra
Now, what if the motorcycles in the future are smart enough to sence your mental state and alter its characteristics accordingly?
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Honda unveils CR Electric dirt bike concept
27 March 2019
Anuj Mishra
The electric motorcycle shares its design and most of the underpinnings with the Honda CRF250R motocross offering. Although the company didn’t divulge details about its motor and power figures, it utilises high-end components which should make it a capable dirt bike.
Read more
Triumph Tiger 800 XCa vs BMW F850 GS vs Honda Africa Twin – Competition Check
12 March 2019
Anuj Mishra
Now, considering the styling and purpose of the Tiger 800 XCa, there are two other motorcycles which come up as its closest rivals – the BMW F850 GS and the Honda Africa Twin.
Read more