Honda has just announced that it will launch the 2020 Africa Twin in India on March 5, 2020. The updated Africa Twin made its international debut back in September 2019, and it brought with it a number of updates.
For starters, the new CRF1100 Africa Twin, just like the older model, is available in two variants – the standard model and the Adventure Sports. However, its parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine gets an 86cc bump in displacement, taking it up to 1,084cc. Specifications on the Honda UK website have peak output figures as 102hp at 7,500rpm and 105Nm at 6,250rpm, a slight bump from the 95hp at 7,500rpm and 98Nm at 6,000rpm. However, the previous-gen Africa Twin that’s sold in India gets a slightly detuned engine that makes 89hp at 7,500rpm and 93.1Nm at 6,000rpm, and it’s very likely the numbers on the 2020 Africa Twin will see a slight drop when it’s launched here.
For 2020, the frame has also been updated for “optimised handling characteristics”, with the rear subframe now being detachable and using an aluminium construction. The swingarm, too, is new and Honda claims it is lighter and more rigid. This has resulted in a lower kerb weight throughout the range – for instance, the base Africa Twin that is also the lightest has gone from weighing 230kg in 2019 to 227kg for 2020.
Electronic tech includes a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), wheelie control, cornering ABS, rear-lift control, DCT cornering detection and cornering lights, while the new 6.5-inch TFT display is compatible with Apple CarPlay. The Africa Twin will also finally get cruise control as standard. The Adventure Sports ES model offers some additional features like Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (EERA) suspension, tubeless wheels, heated grips, charging socket, a larger skid plate, an aluminium rear rack and a larger fuel tank. Interestingly, unlike the current-generation Africa Twin Adventure Sports that gets additional suspension travel when compared to the base model, the 2020 bikes will feature the same suspension travel in all variants. For 2020, the front suspension travel has also reduced from 25cm to 23cm.
Like before, the bike is available in a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) version and a manual transmission version. In India, the current generation of the Africa Twin on sale is available only in the DCT variant, and it remains to be seen if Honda will do the same even with the updated bike. In the US, the bikes have been priced at $14,399 (Rs 10.33 lakh) and $17,199 (Rs 12.34 lakh) for the base manual gearbox and Adventure Sports SE variants, respectively, while the DCT-equipped bikes carry a price tag of $15,199 (Rs 10.90 lakh) and $17,999 (Rs 12.91 lakh). For reference, the Africa Twin DCT on sale here is priced at Rs 13.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
Dinshaw Magol
Vishal Venugopal
