For 2024, Honda’s flagship adventure bikes – the CRF1100L Africa Twin and CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports – benefit from a substantial improvement in performance, new technologies and upgrades that further enhance their core capabilities and appeal.
The popular 1084 cm³ parallel twin engine remains the heart of the Africa Twin family and, for 2024, it benefits from a significant increase in performance, both in terms of power and torque, in the low and medium rev ranges. Maximum power remains at 75 kW, but the 7% increase in maximum torque, now 112 N-m, arrives earlier, at 5500 rpm instead of 6250 rpm. The compression ratio is increased from 10.1 : 1 to 10.5 : 1, which, together with changes to the valve train, intake ports and ECU programming, gives the engine more performance.
Additional changes to the exhaust system also contribute to increased performance, with a new exhaust that has a pleasant pulsating sound at low rpm and a stronger bass tone as the rpm rises.
Both models will be available with a manual gearbox or a dual-clutch automatic (DCT). Honda has sold more than 200,000 DCT-equipped motorcycles across Europe since the system first appeared as an option on the VFR1200F in 2009. For 2024, the Africa Twin’s DCT system has been refined to take better advantage of the engine’s increased performance by downshifting earlier. The system also benefits from improved corner detection and now has a more natural and smooth feel on initial start-up and between first and second gears, for greater feel and feedback to the rider.
Last year, the two Africa Twins were Honda’s best-selling motorcycles. 49% of CRF1100L Africa Twin owners selected Honda’s exclusive DCT gearbox, while on ATAS that percentage rose to 71%.
CRF1100L Africa Twin
Retaining its 21-inch front wheel suitable for off-road riding, the CRF1100L Africa Twin now includes tubeless Metzler Karoo Street tires as standard, which allow for quick puncture repairs during riding without the need to remove the wheel. If the rider wants to do all the off-road riding, they can also fit Michelin Anakee Wild studded tires.
To make road riding even more comfortable, and mounted on an updated and aggressively designed front fairing, the new larger windshield, now with 5-way adjustment, offers maximum forward visibility or greater wind protection, depending on the rider’s choice.
The CRF1100L Africa Twin will be available in Grand Prix Red and Ballistic Black Metallic Matte.
CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports (ATAS)
The continent-crossing CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports (ATAS) – which in 2022 accounted for 56% of Africa Twin sales in Europe – also benefits from a series of practical and performance updates for 2024 that further strengthen its appeal for long-distance travel.
The most obvious change from the previous model is a substantial update to the front end. With the addition of a new 19-inch front wheel, the travel of Showa’s EERA™ suspension has been reduced by 20 mm. Together with the installation of a wider front tire, these combine to give the rider more grip and feedback at the front, especially when fully loaded or two-up, without drastically compromising off-road performance. This change to the front end also lowers the CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports’ center of gravity, helping to improve low-speed maneuverability and ground clearance.
Designed for long distance riding, the CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports has had its front fairing aggressively redesigned to improve wind deflection and upper body aerodynamics. Like its sister, the ATAS has a screen with 5 levels of height adjustment. The seat is new and uses 15 mm thick urethane foam, with optimized density to reduce fatigue from long-distance riding.
The CRF1100L Africa Twin will be available in the colors Black Metallic Matte Ballistic and White Tricolor Pearl Glare.
To ensure that the Africa Twin rider always has their bike exactly as they want it, there are some dedicated accessory packs, available individually or in four dedicated packs – Rally, Adventure, Urban and Travel – the accessories include up to 128 L of luggage, additional chassis protection and lower seat options.
Since increasing its displacement to 1100 cm³ in 2020, approximately 20,000 AT and 25,000 ATAS units have been sold across Europe and, since its return in 2016, more than 85,000 registrations have been made under the legendary Africa Twin name.