Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports Launched In India, Packs A Bigger Engine

Bigger, faster and slimmer than before!

• Packs a larger 1084cc engine, which complies with Euro 5/BS6 emission norms.
• Makes more power than before.
• It’s 6kg lighter than the BS4 model.
• It's available in two variants: Manual and DCT.

Honda has launched the CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports in India. It’s available in two variants: manual and DCT priced Rs 15.35 lakh and Rs 16.10 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively. The 2020 iteration of the ADV is bigger, faster and slimmer than before with better electronics to aid its off-road capabilities. Bookings for the bikes have commenced and deliveries will begin from May 2020.

To start things off, the CRF1100L Africa Twin features a couple of subtle updates over its predecessor. The front fascia has been redesigned to look more aggressive and gets a new set of LED DRLs. Aside from this, the exhaust gets a valve similar to that of the Fireblade which gives it a throatier exhaust note. For better protection, the exhaust also features a larger skid plate.

Also Read: Honda Rebel 500, CB500X Adventure Tourer, CBR500R And CB500F India-bound!

The powertrain is not only bigger at 1084cc (gone up from 998cc), but it has also been tinkered with to meet Euro 5/BS6 emission norms. Which also means featuring a larger catalytic converter. The motor, on the other hand, gets a new cylinder head, a revised ECU and new valve timing amongst others. Consequently, it produces 102PS of power and 105Nm of peak torque. That's 7PS and 7Nm more than the BS4 model. 

The 2020 model brings with it a host of electronic rider aids including HSTC (Honda Selectable Torque Control), cornering ABS, wheelie control, and rear lift control. All of this can be tweaked via the bike’s new 6.5-inch TFT display with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. If you’d like to know more about the CRF1100L Africa Twin, click here.

The DCT variant may weigh a whopping 236kg, but it's still 6kg lighter than the outgoing model. One of the biggest reasons for this weight advantage is the new bold-on rear subframe, which is 40mm slimmer than before and easier to replace in case of a crash. What may be a bit of a hurdle for shorter riders is the seat height, which has shot up from the current 820mm-840mm to 850mm-870mm. That said, a narrower 140mm seat should counter this issue.

Also Read: Honda Aims To 100 Per cent Localise Its Premium Portfolio

Moving onto the suspension setup. Though it's the same as before, Honda has tweaked the spring rate on the 45mm USD fully-adjustable fork and the monoshock which comes with preload-and rebound-adjustability. What also hasn't changed is the wheel size (21-inch front and 18-inch rear); however, Honda now offers a set of tubeless tyres as an option. 

In terms of competition, the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin goes up against the new Triumph Tiger 900, Ducati Multistrada 950 and the BMW F 850 GS.