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When the Africa Twin was reintroduced into the world in 2016, it filled a glaring hole in Honda’s American line of motorcycles. The adventure segment was one of the few growth areas in the U.S. motorcycle market and Honda simply wasn’t competing.
The reintroduction of the Africa Twin, along with the Adventure Sports version in 2018, changed all of that. Over the past four years, this model has become a favorite among adventure riders. Almost overnight, heavily modified Africa Twins started showing up in droves at adventure rides and events across America. In an effort to continue pushing the model forward, Honda is introducing sweeping changes to the Africa Twin for 2020.
Looking at the photos, it’s clear that the new bikes are getting a facelift, literally. The headlights appear somewhat higher on the body due to the fact that lean-angle-sensitive cornering lights are now integrated into the front fairing. The whole bike has a restyled and more aggressive look, helped in part by the new paint configurations. While I still like the red, white, and blue combo with the gold rims (what Honda calls Pearl Glare White/Blue), I’ve already heard quite a few people talking about how they prefer the new matte black with red accents (Matte Black Metallic).
Beneath the skin, the new CRF1100 Africa Twin’s liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine gets an 86 cc bump in displacement to a 1,084 cc. There is no word yet as to whether that increase came from bore or stroke, which could have an effect on the overall characteristics of the engine, but Honda is claiming a six percent increase in top-end horsepower. Part of that is due to a revised intake and exhaust system, as well.
Buyers will still have the opportunity to choose between a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which eliminates the need for a clutch, or a traditional six-speed manual gearbox. This option has been a key differentiator for Honda in this segment and it doesn’t surprise me in the least that Big Red is continuing with this option.
The frame has been updated and Honda claims “optimized handling characteristics,” although there wasn’t an exact explanation of what changed. They did say that the rear subframe is now constructed of aluminum and is detachable from the mainframe. This helps to cut weight but also allows off-road riders to repair damaged subframes without replacing the entire frame. (Are you reading this, Triumph?)
The CRF450R-derived aluminum swingarm has also been made lighter and more rigid. Honda is claiming a reduced wet weight for both the base model and the new Adventure Sports SE version despite the increase in displacement and updated electronics package. However, exact weight figures have yet to be released.
The electronics on both bikes will be upgraded to include a large 6.5-inch TFT dash much like the one found on the new Gold Wing. It will include Apple CarPlay and electronic cruise control is now standard. Both versions now have a new six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), allowing the new electronics suite to feature cornering ABS, wheelie and rear-lift control, and DCT cornering detection and cornering lights.
I’m not sure exactly what DCT cornering detection means in the Honda acronym game. On the original Africa Twin, Honda’s four-stage traction control was referred to as Honda Selectable Torque Control, or HSTC for short. I’m sure this will perform a bit differently with the inclusion of an IMU but at this time there are no specifics. Based on the photos, it also looks like there will be selectable rider modes.So how is Honda looking to differentiate the two Africa Twin models from one another?
The base Africa Twin will now be priced at $14,399 for the manual transmission and $15,199 for the DCT. This will be positioned towards riders looking to tackle more aggressive off-road scenarios with their adventure motorcycle. It will feature a shorter windscreen and a five-gallon fuel tank to help reduce weight.
The new Adventure Sports SE’s MSRP will jump nearly $2,000 to $17,199 for 2020 with a DCT version ringing in at $17,999. In addition to all of the upgrades already listed, the Adventure Sports SE package will offer riders a new Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment suspension (if you want to memorize another acronym, this one is EERA), tubeless wheels, heated grips, an accessory plug, larger skid plate, aluminum rear rack, and 6.5-gallon tank. Honda will position this bike as a long-haul adventure-tourer for folks looking to tackle real miles with their ADV bike.
The biggest miss that I can see is that there will only be one color available per model. If you want the base Africa Twin because you are a bit more off-road focused in your riding, you’ll be limited to the Matte Black Metallic colorway. If you want the Pearl Glare White/Blue, you’ll have to bump to the Adventure Sports ES version. I feel like Honda dropped the ball back in 2016 by not bringing the red, white, and blue color into the United States its first year, a mistake I didn’t expect to see them repeat. However, it looks like buyers will be limited to one color for each model, at least for the first year.
One thing that was unclear was what, if any, changes were made to the suspension. The spindly suspension on the base model has been a common complaint from folks who have really been pushing their Africa Twins off-road. While the SE version will include an electronic upgrade, I am interested to learn more about the specifics for both.
I’m betting the cost increase is going to be one of the main talking points for a lot of folks actively involved in the adventure segment. One of the reasons for the Africa Twin’s initial success was its relatively conservative price point in an increasingly expensive segment.
Considering the new top-of-the-line Africa Twin (without DCT) is priced higher than a comparable BMW F 850 GS and the DCT version is closing in on KTM 1290 Super Adventure R territory, I think the conversation around the new bike will shift as well.
Placing cost aside, I think Honda has given us all some food for thought as to how this new Africa Twin will measure up against its predecessor. My interest is definitely piqued. We expect Honda to issue some more detailed information this weekend at AIMExpo. Models are set to hit showroom floors some time in March of 2020, and hopefully we’ll be able to score some seat time before then to see how all of these changes translate to real on-road (and off) experience.
