Introduction
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 stands as a legendary name in the adventure motorcycle world, known for its perfect balance between off-road capability and long-distance touring comfort. Designed to conquer any terrain, this bike blends power, technology, and reliability, making it a top choice for adventure riders worldwide.
Honda first introduced the Africa Twin series in the late 1980s, drawing inspiration from the Dakar Rally. Over the years, it has evolved into a powerful and refined adventure machine while maintaining its rugged DNA. The latest 2024 Honda Africa Twin 1100 comes with modern updates, improved electronics, and a more refined riding experience, catering to both off-road enthusiasts and long-distance travelers.
Powered by a 1,084cc parallel-twin engine, the Africa Twin delivers impressive torque and smooth performance, whether riding through city streets or tackling rough trails. Its advanced electronics, including multiple riding modes, traction control, and cruise control, make it one of the most versatile adventure bikes available. Additionally, its ergonomic design and comfortable seating position ensure riders can enjoy long journeys without fatigue.
With strong competition from models like the BMW R 1250 GS and KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, the Africa Twin continues to stand out due to its reliability, lightweight chassis, and superior off-road handling. Whether you’re an experienced adventure rider or looking for a capable touring bike, the Honda Africa Twin 1100 offers an exciting and dependable ride.
Now, let’s dive into its full specifications and key features to see what makes this adventure machine so special. 🚀
Honda Africa Twin 1100: Full Specifications and Performance Breakdown
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 delivers an impressive combination of power, agility, and advanced technology, making it a top choice for adventure riders. This bike features a 1,084cc parallel-twin engine, producing 101 horsepower and 105 Nm of torque, providing strong acceleration and smooth power delivery across different terrains. Honda designed the engine to balance high performance with fuel efficiency, ensuring riders can cover long distances without frequent refueling stops.
The six-speed manual transmission comes standard, but Honda also offers an optional Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) for seamless automatic shifting. This advanced system allows riders to switch between fully automatic and manual modes, enhancing comfort and control. Whether navigating city streets or rugged trails, the Africa Twin adapts to different riding conditions with ease.
suspension system
The suspension system plays a crucial role in delivering superior comfort and handling. The bike comes equipped with Showa inverted front forks with 230mm of travel and a Showa Pro-Link rear shock with 220mm of travel, offering excellent shock absorption and stability on uneven surfaces. Riders can also adjust the suspension settings to suit their riding style and terrain conditions.
Braking performance is equally impressive, featuring dual 310mm front disc brakes with four-piston calipers and a 256mm rear disc brake with a single-piston caliper. The advanced ABS system provides additional safety, preventing wheel lockup during sudden stops. Riders can deactivate the ABS on the rear wheel when riding off-road, giving them better control on dirt or gravel paths.
With a 24.8-liter fuel tank, the Africa Twin ensures extended travel without constant stops for refueling. Fuel consumption averages 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers, making it one of the most efficient adventure bikes in its category. The bike’s lightweight steel frame and semi-double cradle chassis contribute to its agility and stability, ensuring smooth handling even in challenging conditions.
electronics package
The electronics package enhances the overall riding experience with features like seven selectable riding modes, including Tour, Urban, Gravel, and Off-Road. The bike also offers a 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, allowing riders to access navigation, music, and calls seamlessly. Other notable features include cruise control, traction control, wheelie control, and cornering ABS, all designed to maximize safety and performance.
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 stands out in the adventure motorcycle segment by blending power, durability, and modern technology. Whether riding through highways, mountain trails, or remote landscapes, this bike ensures a comfortable and thrilling experience, making it a reliable companion for long-distance adventures.
Design and Comfort: Honda Africa Twin 1100
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 features a rugged yet stylish design, blending modern adventure aesthetics with practical ergonomics. Honda engineered this bike to handle both on-road and off-road conditions with ease, making it a top choice for riders seeking versatility and durability.
Aggressive and Functional Styling
The Africa Twin 1100 showcases a sharp and aggressive front end, featuring a twin LED headlight setup with integrated DRLs. These lights enhance visibility in low-light conditions while giving the bike a distinctive appearance. The tall windscreen provides excellent wind protection, reducing fatigue on long highway rides. Additionally, Honda offers an adjustable windscreen option, allowing riders to customize airflow based on their height and riding style.
The slim fuel tank design improves maneuverability, especially in off-road conditions. With a 24.8-liter fuel capacity, the bike can cover long distances without frequent stops. The fuel tank’s shape also allows better leg positioning, giving riders more control when standing on the footpegs during off-road rides.
Comfortable Ergonomics for Long Rides
Honda designed the Africa Twin 1100 with rider comfort in mind, ensuring that long-distance travel remains enjoyable. The wide, well-padded seat provides excellent support for both the rider and passenger. The seat height is adjustable between 850mm and 870mm, allowing riders of different heights to find a comfortable position.
The handlebar position is high and slightly pulled back, ensuring an upright and relaxed riding posture. This setup reduces strain on the wrists and shoulders, making it ideal for extended touring. The footpegs are positioned for both seated and standing riding, giving adventure riders flexibility when tackling rough terrains.
Suspension and Ride Quality
A key highlight of the Africa Twin’s design is its advanced suspension system. The bike comes equipped with long-travel Showa front forks and a Pro-Link rear shock, ensuring a smooth and controlled ride over bumpy roads or rocky trails. The electronically adjustable suspension (on the Adventure Sports ES model) allows riders to modify settings based on load and terrain, optimizing comfort and performance.
Adventure-Ready Build Quality
Honda built the Africa Twin 1100 to withstand tough riding conditions. The lightweight steel semi-double cradle frame enhances durability while maintaining agility. The skid plate protects the engine and underbody from rocks and debris, while the reinforced crash bars (available as accessories) add extra protection.
The spoked wheels (21-inch front and 18-inch rear) with tubeless tires enhance off-road capability while ensuring better impact absorption on uneven surfaces. The high ground clearance of 250mm allows riders to navigate obstacles like rocks, logs, or deep potholes without issues.
With its rugged design, comfortable ergonomics, and well-engineered suspension, the Honda Africa Twin 1100 offers a perfect balance of durability and comfort. Whether riding through city streets or exploring remote trails, this bike provides a confident and enjoyable adventure experience.
Performance and Engine: Power for Every Adventure
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 delivers a strong combination of power, smooth handling, and off-road capability, making it a top choice for adventure riders. Its refined engine, advanced electronics, and well-tuned chassis ensure a confident ride across diverse terrains, from highways to rugged trails.
Powerful 1084cc Parallel-Twin Engine
Honda equips the Africa Twin 1100 with a 1084cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine, offering 101 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 105 Nm of torque at 6,250 rpm. This engine provides a strong low-end torque, allowing riders to accelerate effortlessly, whether on highways or steep off-road inclines. The parallel-twin configuration balances power and efficiency, making it a reliable choice for long-distance touring.
Honda’s Unicam design, borrowed from its motocross lineup, reduces engine weight while maintaining performance. The 270-degree crankshaft delivers a punchy throttle response and a unique exhaust note, enhancing the bike’s character. This setup also mimics the feel of a V-twin engine, ensuring strong traction and control in off-road conditions.
Smooth Transmission Options
The Africa Twin 1100 offers two transmission choices to suit different riding styles:
- 6-Speed Manual Transmission: Provides precise gear shifts, making it ideal for riders who prefer full control over the power delivery.
- Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT): Honda’s advanced automatic gearbox eliminates the need for a clutch lever while offering manual override through paddle shifters. DCT enhances comfort on long rides by reducing fatigue and ensuring seamless gear changes.
The DCT system adapts to riding conditions with different modes, allowing smoother shifts on highways and more aggressive responses on trails. Riders can also select between fully automatic or manual shifting modes, making it a versatile option for adventure touring.
Advanced Electronics for Performance Control
Honda integrates advanced electronics to enhance the Africa Twin’s ride quality and adaptability. Key performance features include:
- Throttle-by-Wire System: Offers precise throttle response, improving control in both off-road and city environments.
- Selectable Riding Modes: The bike includes four preset modes (Tour, Urban, Gravel, and Off-Road) along with two customizable user modes, allowing riders to tailor power delivery, traction control, and engine braking based on conditions.
- Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC): This advanced traction control system adjusts power delivery in real time to prevent wheel spin on slippery surfaces. Riders can choose from seven levels of intervention or turn it off completely.
- Wheelie Control: Helps maintain stability by managing front-wheel lift during hard acceleration, especially useful in off-road riding.
- Cornering ABS and Off-Road ABS: The cornering ABS system optimizes braking based on lean angle, ensuring safer turns. The Off-Road ABS allows rear-wheel ABS deactivation for better control on dirt trails.
Suspension and Handling for Every Terrain
The Africa Twin’s chassis and suspension system ensure a smooth and controlled ride on all surfaces. Key features include:
- 45mm Showa Front Forks: Offer 230mm of travel, absorbing shocks from rough terrain while maintaining stability at high speeds.
- Pro-Link Rear Shock: Provides 220mm of travel, enhancing comfort over long rides. The adjustable preload feature lets riders fine-tune the suspension based on load and terrain.
- Lightweight Steel Frame: Designed for optimal balance, reducing rider fatigue while offering precise handling in tight corners.
- 21-inch Front and 18-inch Rear Spoked Wheels: These provide better impact absorption and traction, making the bike capable of tackling sand, gravel, and rocky surfaces.
Braking System for Confident Stopping Power
The Africa Twin 1100 comes equipped with a dual-disc front braking system (310mm) with radially mounted calipers and a 256mm rear disc, ensuring strong and consistent braking performance. The Cornering ABS system further enhances safety by preventing wheel lock-ups during hard braking, even when leaning into turns.
With its powerful engine, smooth transmission choices, advanced electronics, and well-engineered chassis, the Honda Africa Twin 1100 delivers a performance package built for any adventure. Whether riding across highways, winding mountain roads, or remote dirt trails, this motorcycle provides unmatched confidence and versatility for every journey.
Key Features of the Honda Africa Twin 1100
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 is designed to be a versatile adventure motorcycle, offering a blend of power, technology, and durability for both off-road and touring enthusiasts. Here are its standout features:
1. Powerful 1084cc Parallel-Twin Engine
- The liquid-cooled, 1084cc parallel-twin engine delivers 100 horsepower and 105 Nm of torque, providing strong acceleration and excellent torque delivery for both city riding and off-road adventures.
- Tuned for low-end and mid-range power, ensuring smooth performance across various terrains.
- Features Honda’s Unicam design, derived from motocross bikes, to keep the engine lightweight and compact.
2. Advanced Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) Option
- Riders can choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox or Honda’s DCT automatic transmission, which allows for clutch-free shifting.
- DCT offers seamless gear changes, reducing rider fatigue on long journeys and challenging trails.
- Multiple shift modes for different riding conditions, including automatic and manual override modes.
3. IMU-Controlled Rider Aids for Maximum Safety
- Equipped with a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which constantly monitors the bike’s movements and adjusts electronic aids accordingly.
- Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) offers 7 levels of traction control, allowing riders to tailor power delivery based on road conditions.
- Cornering ABS ensures maximum braking control, especially on steep descents and wet surfaces.
- Wheelie Control and Rear Lift Control enhance stability during aggressive riding.
4. Multiple Riding Modes for Different Conditions
- The Africa Twin 1100 offers four preset riding modes:
- Tour: Ideal for long-distance riding with balanced power and traction control.
- Urban: Optimized for city commuting and mixed road conditions.
- Gravel: Designed for loose surfaces and off-road adventures.
- Off-Road: Adjusts power and traction for better control on rugged terrains.
- Riders can also create two customizable User Modes for personalized settings.
5. Robust and Lightweight Frame for Off-Road Agility
- Features a steel semi-double cradle frame, which provides excellent rigidity while maintaining agility.
- The subframe is made from aluminum, reducing weight and enhancing maneuverability.
- Long-travel Showa suspension (230mm front, 220mm rear) absorbs bumps effortlessly, ensuring a smooth ride over rough terrain.
6. High Ground Clearance and Off-Road-Ready Design
- 250mm of ground clearance allows the Africa Twin to tackle obstacles like rocks, logs, and deep ruts with ease.
- 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoke wheels improve traction on dirt roads, sand, and mud.
- Dunlop Trailmax tires provide excellent grip for both on-road and off-road conditions.
7. Full-Color 6.5-Inch TFT Touchscreen with Smart Features
- The fully customizable digital display offers easy access to speed, fuel level, traction control, and riding mode settings.
- Supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing riders to access maps, music, and calls while on the move.
- Integrated Bluetooth connectivity enables hands-free phone calls and audio streaming.
8. Adjustable Windshield and Comfortable Ergonomics
- 5-way adjustable windscreen provides excellent wind protection, reducing rider fatigue on long highway rides.
- The spacious seat with two height options (850mm – 870mm) ensures comfort for riders of different heights.
- Wide handlebars and optimized peg position offer better control, whether sitting or standing during off-road riding.
9. Large 24.8L Fuel Tank for Long Rides (Adventure Sports Model Only)
- The Africa Twin Adventure Sports variant features a massive 24.8-liter fuel tank, offering a range of over 400 km per fill.
- The standard model has an 18.8-liter tank, making it more compact for off-road adventures.
10. Reliable and Durable Build for Adventure Riders
- Designed for extreme conditions, the Africa Twin features high-quality components, corrosion-resistant paint, and reinforced skid plates.
- Engineered to handle both daily commuting and hardcore adventure riding, ensuring longevity and dependability.
With these cutting-edge features, the Honda Africa Twin 1100 stands out as one of the most capable adventure motorcycles on the market, offering a balance of power, comfort, and technology for riders who seek thrilling experiences on any terrain.
Competitor Comparison Table – Honda Africa Twin 1100 vs. Rivals
Here’s how the Honda Africa Twin 1100 compares against its top competitors in the adventure motorcycle category:
| Feature | Honda Africa Twin 1100 | BMW R 1250 GS | KTM 1290 Super Adventure R | Yamaha Ténéré 700 | Ducati Multistrada V4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1084cc Parallel-Twin, Liquid-Cooled | 1254cc Boxer Twin, Liquid-Cooled | 1301cc V-Twin, Liquid-Cooled | 689cc Parallel-Twin, Liquid-Cooled | 1158cc V4, Liquid-Cooled |
| Horsepower | 100 hp @ 7,500 rpm | 136 hp @ 7,750 rpm | 160 hp @ 8,750 rpm | 72 hp @ 9,000 rpm | 170 hp @ 10,500 rpm |
| Torque | 105 Nm @ 6,250 rpm | 143 Nm @ 6,250 rpm | 138 Nm @ 6,750 rpm | 68 Nm @ 6,500 rpm | 125 Nm @ 8,750 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual / DCT | 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual |
| Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) | 230mm / 220mm | 190mm / 200mm | 220mm / 220mm | 210mm / 200mm | 170mm / 180mm |
| Ground Clearance | 250mm | 220mm | 242mm | 240mm | 220mm |
| Seat Height | 850-870mm (Adjustable) | 850-870mm (Adjustable) | 880mm | 875mm | 840mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 18.8L (24.8L Adventure Sports) | 20L | 23L | 16L | 22L |
| Weight (Wet) | 238 kg (DCT: 248 kg) | 249 kg | 240 kg | 204 kg | 240 kg |
| Electronics | IMU-Based ABS, HSTC, Multiple Ride Modes, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto | IMU-Based ABS, Dynamic ESA, Riding Modes, TFT Display | IMU-Based ABS, Ride Modes, Cornering ABS, Quickshifter | ABS, Simple Traction Control | IMU-Based ABS, Radar Cruise, Quickshifter, Cornering ABS |
| Top Speed | ~200 km/h | ~220 km/h | ~250 km/h | ~190 km/h | ~250 km/h |
| Price (Approx.) | $14,600 | $18,900 | $20,500 | $10,500 | $25,000 |
Competitor Breakdown
1. BMW R 1250 GS – Premium Touring Powerhouse
- Pros: More power and torque, superior touring comfort, excellent electronic features.
- Cons: Heavier and more expensive, less off-road focused than the Africa Twin.
2. KTM 1290 Super Adventure R – The High-Performance Off-Road Beast
- Pros: Most powerful in the segment, advanced electronics, excellent suspension.
- Cons: Expensive, aggressive power delivery may not suit all riders.
3. Yamaha Ténéré 700 – Lightweight and Affordable Adventure Choice
- Pros: Lightweight, simple mechanics, highly capable off-road, budget-friendly.
- Cons: Less power, lacks advanced electronics and rider aids.
4. Ducati Multistrada V4 – Adventure Meets Superbike Performance
- Pros: Most powerful in the segment, radar-based cruise control, premium build.
- Cons: Expensive, not as off-road focused as the Africa Twin or KTM.
Final Thoughts
The Honda Africa Twin 1100 strikes a perfect balance between off-road capability, touring comfort, and affordability. While it may not have the raw power of the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R or the high-tech luxury of the BMW R 1250 GS, it delivers a reliable, rugged, and adventure-ready experience at a competitive price.
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