When we reviewed the new Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin motorcycle last month, we were rather impressed with how it performed. It can handle rougher off-road terrain than other adventure bikes would dare, making it a potent all-around bike.
The Africa Twin’s abilities are made possible by a lot of technical skill and top-tier parts. So, have you ever wondered how the Africa Twin is created?
We are taken inside one of Honda’s Japanese manufacturing plants in the video above by the YouTube channel Automotive Garage to see how the Africa Twin is created.
A technician installs or assembles each component as it moves along a conveyor, just like on other assembly lines, until the bike is finally finished. After that, it undergoes a quick test before being transported from the production floor onto delivery trucks and showrooms.
It truly is wonderful to watch how just 13 minutes can transform a little, isolated component into a fully functional adventure bike.
In This Article...
Does India manufacture Africa Twin?
The Africa Twin, a large motorcycle built in India, is now being delivered by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India. A few months ago, the Honda Africa Twin, now in its second generation, was introduced to the Indian market. Prices for the Honda Africa Twin, ex-showroom, begin at Rs. 15.35 lakh for the manual version and Rs. 16.10 lakh for the automatic. The keys to the first HMSI Africa Twin were given to a customer from Gurugram, Haryana, at the Honda Big Wing store. Since 2017, Honda has sold more than 200 Africa Twin motorcycles in India (when the first model was introduced). In the Indian market, the Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports model is the brand’s first BS6 large bike. Ricky Brabec, a member of the Monster Energy Honda Team and the current 2020 Dakar Rally World Champion, introduced the second-generation vehicle in India.
The Africa Twin is produced by who?
Honda produced four different models of the dual-sport motorcycle known as the Africa Twin: the 650 cc (40 cu in) V-twin XRV650 from 1988 to 1989, the 750 cc (46 cu in) V-twin XRV750T from 1990 to 2003, the 1,000 cc (61 cu in) parallel-twin CRF1000L from 2016 to 2019, and the CRF1100L from 2020 to the present.
Is the Honda Africa Twin trustworthy?
Many seasoned riders agree that the Africa Twin is one of the market’s most dependable dual-sport motorcycles. However, its dependability depends on proper ownership practices. The majority of owners have few troubles, and the majority of problems can be fixed quickly with a simple repair or warranty.
What is the lifespan of an Africa Twin?
A Honda Africa Twin can endure more than 15 years if it is properly cared for, stored, and used. The Africa Twin often lasts for well over 75,000 miles if the owner takes good care of it, whereas the average adventure motorbike is ridden 5,000 miles each year.
The Africa Twin was manufactured by Honda to withstand years of tough riding and is more off-road-rugged than any dual sport before it.
The Africa Twin’s engine, which is a powerhouse of dependability in and of itself, is protected by a steel double-cradle frame. This is a sturdy, stiff device made to roll over rocks over an extended period of time.
Aluminum makes up the subframe. It is still tough, but it is also removable for simple maintenance, extending the life of the bike.
Which adventure bike should you purchase?
The Top Adventure Motorcycles for Lightweight Riders
- V-Strom 650XT by Suzuki.
- KTM Adventure 890.
- BMW F850GS Expedition.
- R1250GS Adventure from BMW.
- KTM Super Adventure R 1290.
- CRF1100L Africa Twin from Honda.
- V-Strom 1050XT by Suzuki.
- Tiger 1200 Rally Pro from Triumph.
VIN Number Breakdown
The World Manufacturer Identifier, Vehicle Descriptor Section, and Vehicle Identifier Section are the three groupings of the 17 numbers and letters (17 places) that make up a VIN. To enable you to decode any VIN number, we will go over each of the 17 locations here. You’ll master VIN decoding in no time!
Position 1
You can find out where in the globe your car was built by looking at the first letter or number of the VIN. To determine where in the globe your VIN was created, compare the letter or number below to the initial number or letter of your VIN.
Africa is where items A through H are manufactured. Asia is where J, K, L, M, N, P, and R are produced. Europe is where S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z are produced. The first five are produced in North America. Oceania produced numbers 6 and 7. 8 and 9 were produced in South America.
Position 2
The second letter or number in the VIN, when combined with the first letter or number, identifies the nation where the car or truck was built. You might be astonished to learn that not all GM automobiles are built in America, and not all Japanese cars are made in Japan, etc. Anyway, there are over 600 VIN nation codes, and over 80 countries produce automobiles and trucks. Visit to examine all the codes and discover the factory that built your automobile or truck. What country built my car or truck?
Position 3
The car manufacturer specifies the type of vehicle by using the third number or letter. Any vehicle could be used—a car, truck, bus, etc. To learn what the third place in the VIN for your specific vehicle represents, visit the website of the automobile manufacturer for your model. Each vehicle manufacturer uses a distinct set of codes for this.
Do Honda bicycles come from China?
More than 200,000 Honda motorcycles are exported from China to the Middle East, Africa, and Japan. 2005 will see the addition of neighboring Asian nations to the destination. These motorcycles are constructed with components from many nations.
Which Honda model is produced in Japan?
Hybrid vehicles for the American market, including the Civic Hybrid, Insight, and FCX Clarity, are made in Japan. Except for the FCX Clarity, which is made only in Takanezawa, Japan, all of these vehicles and the Honda Fit series are made at the Honda production site in Suzuka, Mie.
Is the Africa Twin cozy?
Absolutely. The Africa Twin is a terrific, useful, cozy, and reasonably priced adventure bike. The Africa Twin is a do-anything, go-anywhere, tough mode of transportation that provides plenty of pleasure for both short and extremely long excursions.
Africa Twins: Are they nice bikes?
When off-road, the CRF1000L Africa Twin is a really remarkable adventure bike right out of the gate, unlike some large adventure bikes that seem a touch ungainly and like they’re leading you up the gravel path. And that’s in manual, traditional, foot-on-a-gear-lever mode or in the newest DCT twin clutch transmission.
Which adventure bike is the fastest?
Available in India are the fastest bikes and adventure bikes.
- Honda Ninja H2. 29,10,000 Indian Rupees. Maximum Speed: 3314 km/h.
- S1000 RR BMW. 27,55,446 INR is the cost. 336 kmph is the top speed.
- NINJA KAWASAKI ZX-10RR. Cost: 22,000 INR. 300 kmph is the top speed.
- PANIGALE, DUCATI. MSRP: 46,11,000 INR.
- the Yamaha YZF-R1M. 29,43,100 INR is the cost.
cc TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE
One of the best engines ever found in an adventure bike is found in the CRF1100L Africa Twin. Narrow in design, the parallel-twin engine produces torque from idle to redline. You’ll drive easily on the open road and have greater low-end grunt.
CRUISE CONTROL
One of the worst-kept secrets in the motorcycle industry is revealed here. Long-distance touring bikes like the Honda Africa Twins are excellent. For that reason, just as our Gold Wings, our Africa Twin models come with cruise control. Really, your next adventure begins a few hundred miles away? No issue!
LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION
The Africa Twin is more than just an adventure motorcycle. It is authentic. Look at its front suspension’s extensive travel for Exhibit A. The inverted Showa fork has enormous 45mm tubes and 9.1 inches of travel, and it is completely adjustable. the most front-end travel among off-road motorcycles under 1000cc.
Apple CarPlayTM AND ANDROID AUTOTM
Both Apple CarPlayTM and Android AutoTM allow you to smoothly connect your compatible iPhone* into your new Africa Twin. This means that you can simply access maps, music, and other services using your devices. While aboard, you’ll have access to the weather, songs, and phone numbers. You may communicate more conveniently than ever with one of the available Bluetooth**-enabled wireless headphones. The best part is that your bike’s technology and convenience remain cutting edge as more apps become available every day.
**Connection to a Bluetooth headset that is readily accessible in stores is required in order to use Apple CarPlay. The requirements for a Bluetooth headset are in the owner’s manual.
What distinguishes the various Africa Twin models?
The primary chassis and swingarm of the two bikes are identical, and the suspension is the only significant difference between them. The subframe and swingarm of the new Africa Twin were patterned after the CRF450R motocrosser. The swingarm is stiffer and a pound lighter than before, and the new, lighter subframe is now independent from the main frame and 40mm smaller at the seat rails.
The cross pipe at the top of the shock is eliminated from the main chassis and is now located in the center of the frame/swingarm. The steering head has also been strengthened for increased rigidity and front-end feel through the ‘bars. The main frame’s straighter main spars also contribute to this.
The base model’s suspension comprises of 45mm Showa inverted forks that are conventionally controlled and have a 9.1-inch travel range, coupled with an 8.7-inch Showa shock.
The Adventure Sports differs in that it has a 45mm Showa fork, which also has 9.1 inches of travel, and a Showa monoshock with 8.7 inches of travel, but it also has an electronic preload adjustment system that has settings for Rider, Rider/Luggage, Passenger, and Rider/Passenger/Luggage. This system is part of the Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment Suspension (EERA) system. The Showa system is dynamic and monitors suspension behavior in real time while adjusting the damping, much like the hlins system installed on the Ducati Multistrada, for instance. The Showa’s do not, however, have a manual mode like the Hlins system does.
The brakes on both variants are identical, with a single piston caliper at the back and dual front four-piston Nissin radially mounted calipers biting 310mm discs. Naturally, cornering ABS is required, but it also has an off-road mode.
The base model now weighs 524 pounds for the DCT and 501 pounds for the manual, a reported six pounds less overall. The Adventure Sports now weighs 530 pounds for the manual and 553, respectively, after losing three pounds.
What tires are included with the Africa Twin?
The Africa Twin CRF1000’s front wheels and rear tires were both 90/90 R21 when it first debuted in 2016. Being an adventure bike, the Africa Twin has tubed spoked wheels rather than cast ones. These wheels were mounted with Dunlop D610 tires, which performed admirably on tarmac in the dry but were universally despised on any other surface. The spoked wheels on the CRF1000L Adventure Sports edition are the same, but they have a fancy gold anodized finish.
The difference between the CRF1000 and CRF1100 wheels and tyres
Both models of the CRF1000 have spoked tube-style wheels. Wheels with spokes are typical on the most recent CRF1100 (standard model). Wheels with spokes and tubeless fitting are included with the CRF1100 Adventure Sports variant (a similar design to BMW tubeless GS wheel). Both the and come with either the Battlax Adventurecross Tourer AX41T by Bridgestone or the Karoo Street by Metzeler.