MORE INFO: 2016 HONDA CRF1000L
Honda’s new Africa Twin arrives early next year as a 2016 model.
June 16, 2015 By John L. Stein 24 Comments
Photographer : S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
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Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin SPY PHOTO
They say a supertanker takes miles to turn and even longer to stop. Well, that’s just about how quickly Honda has steered toward the liter-adventure bike ranks. Thirteen years after the V-Strom 1000 debuted and 28 years after BMW launched the R100GS, Big Red has finally joined the party with the new 2016 CRF1000L Africa Twin, set to arrive here next year. And talk about late to your own party—the Africa Twin comes 13 years after Honda’s last twin-cylinder ADV bike, the XRV750, departed. One wonders why it took so long, since the segment has grown spectacularly and the R1200GS has long been BMW’s best-selling model worldwide.
Honda revealed little about a True Adventure prototype in Milan last year. And like an annoyingly PC politician, it continued to say nearly nothing about the machine in its most recent press release announcing its 2016 stateside launch. The few teaser photos they’ve sent us are studio images carefully faded to dark right where the naughty bits are hiding. But based on those images, plus the spy photos featured here, here’s what we can share about this new liter-class adventurer:
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin SPY PHOTO #2
The new Africa Twin is a 1000cc (or close) liquid-cooled parallel twin, likely carrying balance shafts to quell vibration. The crank is staggered at 270 degrees in a cross-plane format that should benefit grip, and the DOHC cylinder head has four valves per cylinder. Naturally, there’s fuel injection and a catalytic converter, and the rumored output is 110 horsepower. Available transmissions include a manual and a dual-clutch transmission, a first for the segment and tuned for off-road use.
An aluminum perimeter frame has a steel rear section and carries street-oriented 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels. A blue anodized knob atop the inverted fork suggests adjustable damping. Generous clearance between front fender and tire suggests Honda has actually run this thing through Shrek’s swamp and has provided adequate clearance for knobbies and mud. Triple petal-style discs likely include ABS.
The saddle is a two-piece unit, with the front section apparently height-adjustable, as is the Dakar-style upright windshield. Our eyes spied that the front footpegs are rubber-covered rather than metal cleats; along with chunky mass dampers on the bar ends, this suggests Honda is concerned about mitigating vibration from the big twin. We will see in time. Nothing special is noted about the twin headlights, but the tapered handlebar is clamped atop tall risers for a roomy cockpit.
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin SPY PHOTO #3
The fairing, which blends into a nacelle containing dual radiators, is tallish and narrow, meaning that the Africa Twin has a fighting chance of whacking through the pucker bushes on the LA to Barstow to Vegas, while still providing essential protection on the highway. Bark busters fronted by plastic handguards are standard. Passenger accommodations are modest, with aluminum footpegs and a fixed seat, although grab rails are nicely integrated into a rack.
Honda has worked hard at attracting new customers with value-oriented bikes, so we might presume that the new CRF1000L Africa Twin will be priced competitively with other big ADV entries. As a framework, Suzuki’s 1037cc V-Strom 1000 is $12,699, the 1199cc Yamaha Super Ténéré is $15,090, Triumph’s 1215cc Tiger Explorer is $15,899, the 1170cc BMW R1200GS is $16,175, and KTM’s 1195cc 1190 Adventure is $16,699. If online rumors stick, the Africa Twin could land in the $12,000 to $15,000 range, making it competitive with the cheapest V-Strom on the bottom, while still ducking under the larger “premium brands” on top.
We look forward to Honda’s first ADV literbike, and conducting a big, bad, and dirty Western shootout when it arrives.
http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/06/16/2016-honda-crf1000l-africa-twin-adventure-touring-motorcycle-spy-photos/
Honda’s new Africa Twin arrives early next year as a 2016 model.
June 16, 2015 By John L. Stein 24 Comments
Photographer : S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printShare on gmailShare on pinterest_shareShare on favoritesMore Sharing Services
29
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin SPY PHOTO
They say a supertanker takes miles to turn and even longer to stop. Well, that’s just about how quickly Honda has steered toward the liter-adventure bike ranks. Thirteen years after the V-Strom 1000 debuted and 28 years after BMW launched the R100GS, Big Red has finally joined the party with the new 2016 CRF1000L Africa Twin, set to arrive here next year. And talk about late to your own party—the Africa Twin comes 13 years after Honda’s last twin-cylinder ADV bike, the XRV750, departed. One wonders why it took so long, since the segment has grown spectacularly and the R1200GS has long been BMW’s best-selling model worldwide.
Honda revealed little about a True Adventure prototype in Milan last year. And like an annoyingly PC politician, it continued to say nearly nothing about the machine in its most recent press release announcing its 2016 stateside launch. The few teaser photos they’ve sent us are studio images carefully faded to dark right where the naughty bits are hiding. But based on those images, plus the spy photos featured here, here’s what we can share about this new liter-class adventurer:
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin SPY PHOTO #2
The new Africa Twin is a 1000cc (or close) liquid-cooled parallel twin, likely carrying balance shafts to quell vibration. The crank is staggered at 270 degrees in a cross-plane format that should benefit grip, and the DOHC cylinder head has four valves per cylinder. Naturally, there’s fuel injection and a catalytic converter, and the rumored output is 110 horsepower. Available transmissions include a manual and a dual-clutch transmission, a first for the segment and tuned for off-road use.
An aluminum perimeter frame has a steel rear section and carries street-oriented 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels. A blue anodized knob atop the inverted fork suggests adjustable damping. Generous clearance between front fender and tire suggests Honda has actually run this thing through Shrek’s swamp and has provided adequate clearance for knobbies and mud. Triple petal-style discs likely include ABS.The saddle is a two-piece unit, with the front section apparently height-adjustable, as is the Dakar-style upright windshield. Our eyes spied that the front footpegs are rubber-covered rather than metal cleats; along with chunky mass dampers on the bar ends, this suggests Honda is concerned about mitigating vibration from the big twin. We will see in time. Nothing special is noted about the twin headlights, but the tapered handlebar is clamped atop tall risers for a roomy cockpit.
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin SPY PHOTO #3
The fairing, which blends into a nacelle containing dual radiators, is tallish and narrow, meaning that the Africa Twin has a fighting chance of whacking through the pucker bushes on the LA to Barstow to Vegas, while still providing essential protection on the highway. Bark busters fronted by plastic handguards are standard. Passenger accommodations are modest, with aluminum footpegs and a fixed seat, although grab rails are nicely integrated into a rack.
Honda has worked hard at attracting new customers with value-oriented bikes, so we might presume that the new CRF1000L Africa Twin will be priced competitively with other big ADV entries. As a framework, Suzuki’s 1037cc V-Strom 1000 is $12,699, the 1199cc Yamaha Super Ténéré is $15,090, Triumph’s 1215cc Tiger Explorer is $15,899, the 1170cc BMW R1200GS is $16,175, and KTM’s 1195cc 1190 Adventure is $16,699. If online rumors stick, the Africa Twin could land in the $12,000 to $15,000 range, making it competitive with the cheapest V-Strom on the bottom, while still ducking under the larger “premium brands” on top.
We look forward to Honda’s first ADV literbike, and conducting a big, bad, and dirty Western shootout when it arrives.
http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/06/16/2016-honda-crf1000l-africa-twin-adventure-touring-motorcycle-spy-photos/
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