Honda confirms CRF1000L Africa Twin’s end-2015 Europe launch

After months of speculation on the launch of its litre-class off-roader — the CRF1000L Africa Twin, Japanese automaker Honda has officially confirmed that the ‘True Adventure’ motorcycle would first be launched in the European market at the end of 2015.

Announcing this in its 2015 Annual Report today, Honda’s new president Takahiro Hachigo said: “In the area of motorcycle operations, we will introduce the CRF1000L, a dual purpose model, to European markets at the end of 2015 and then in Japan and North America.”

There will be several versions of the CRF1000L Africa Twin, with prices starting from €12,100 (Rs 9.24 lakh).

Built completely ground-up, the CRF1000L is powered by a new 998cc parallel-twin engine, and would come with a twin-spar cast aluminium chassis, an optional Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), switchable ABS, and multiple mode traction control that also has an off-road setting.

Its parallel twin power plant draws heavily on Honda’s off-road race experience in the form of the CRF250R/450R competition machines, and uses the same four-valve Unicam head design for compact overall dimensions.

A lightweight cast camshaft – using the same materials as the CBR1000RR Fireblade – operates the valve train, and twin spark plugs fire the fuel/air mixture in each combustion chamber. The engine’s short height contributes to the CRF1000L Africa Twin’s ground clearance – another prerequisite for a true adventure machine.

It also uses clever packaging of componentry to both dynamic and aesthetic effect. The water pump is housed within the clutch casing, and the water and oil pumps are driven by a shared balancer shaft.

Further reducing engine size is the lower crankcase design, which stores the oil and houses the pressure-fed pump. The lightweight six-speed manual gearbox uses the same shift-cam design as found on the CRF250R/450R to ensure positive changes and is equipped with an assist slipper clutch.

The CRF1000L takes the Africa Twin badging from the original XRV750 model developed in 1989, but the new bike shares nothing with it except for the name.

Based on the NXR750, the motorcycle which won the Paris-Dakar rally from 1986 to ’89, the Africa Twin was a bike of true pedigree. It was sold in the famous red, white and blue HRC colours and was one of the few Honda road bikes allowed to be sold with HRC logos.

Now with the CRF1000L Honda aims to revive the Africa Twin brand and it is the Japanese answer to the heavier on road focused adventure touring motorcycles such as the BMW R1200GS, Ducati Multistrada, and Triumph Tiger Explorer with a lighter more off road focused machine.

Honda already has a number of adventure bikes in the range including the VFR1200 Crosstourer, VFR800X Crossrunner, the CRF250L along with the NC750X and the NC500X but none of them have managed to grab a slice of the lucrative market sewn up by the BMW R1200GS.

Full Technical Specifications

Engine 998cc, Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve Parallel Twin with 270° crank and uni-cam
Peak Power 93.87bhp
Peak Torque 98 Nm
Bore x Stroke 92 x 75.1mm
Electronic Assists HSTC 3-levels +  Switch Off (ABS 2-Channel with rear ABS off switch & DCT models only, not on STD model)  
Chassis Aluminium semi-double cradle type with high-tensile strength steel rear subframe
Kerb Weight 228kg (STD), 232 kg (ABS), 242kg (DCT)
Fuel capacity 18.8 litres
Wheelbase 1575mm
Seat Height 850-870mm
Front brakes 310mm dual wave floating discs, radial 4-piston calipers
Rear Brakes 256mm wave disc with 2-piston caliper, Lever-Lock Type Parking Brake System on DCT model
Front wheel 90/90 R21 tubed tyre on wire spoke with diecast aluminium rim
Rear wheel 150/70 R18 tubed tyre on wire spoke with diecast aluminium rim