EICMA 2017: Bigger, badder Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport revealed

Team OD Published: November 07, 2017, 11:53 AM IST

Honda has taken the wraps off its 2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sport in Milan Italy, ahead of EICMA 2017, and we are very pleased. The new Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport is a more serious long distance off-road travel motorcycle over the standard Honda Africa Twin which we rode to Ladakh this year. Honda has given the 2018 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport a taller windscreen, and a larger fuel tank, up from 18.8 litres to 24.2 litres for a 500km range. The Africa Twin Adventure Sport also receives 20mm more ground clearance at 270mm, and the Showa cartridge-type forks are fully adjustable. The Africa Twin Adventure Sport will be available with manual gearbox as well as Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). Honda has also given the 2018 Africa Twin Adventure Sport a three-tone paint job to pay homage to the four-time Paris Dakar Rally winning Honda XRV650 Africa Twin which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

The Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport saves 2.3kg weight due to a lithium ion battery, leading to a kerb weight of 243kg for the manual and 253kg for the DCT variant. Honda has also updated the standard version of the Honda Africa Twin. It now weighs 2kg less, has a modified airbox for improved mid-range response and a lighter balancer shaft weight. The exhaust has also been modified for a more 'evocative howl', claims Honda.

The Honda Africa Twin's spoked wheels in 21 and 18-inch (front, rear) size are now made from stainless steel and the company has also approved block tyres to be fitted on the 2018 models. Honda will also offer an optional quick shifter on the manual version. The seat height has also increased from 850 mm to 899 mm. The Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport still comes powered by the same 998cc parallel twin engine producing 95PS / 99Nm.