The Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin has been accessible since 2019, a journey enduro with a legendary identity and nice reputation. We have now had the Honda Africa Twin in numerous assessments since its launch and the numerous Africa Twin homeowners on the market have additionally explored the world with it. It is a nice benefit for all those that at the moment are within the CRF1100L and need to discover long-term expertise with the Africa Twin. In this report we now have summarized many impressions, solutions and issues from our assessments and from the group.
Reliability and dealing with: The strengths of the Africa Twin
If you happen to look, one can find. This additionally applies to the technical issues of the Africa Twin. However it’s best to take into account that individuals with issues are likely to publish in boards, whereas drivers without painful experiences at most learn alongside. Accordingly, it’s troublesome to estimate the precise proportion of faulty automobiles within the whole mass of Africa Twins on the market. Monday fashions are all the time potential and the brand new sequence of Africa Twins weren’t spared teething issues both. In our opinion and in addition in keeping with many voices in the neighborhood, the CRF1100L Africa Twin is usually thought-about strong and sturdy. Lengthy-term reviews present an excessive stage of sturdiness. Some customers report over 60,000 km with no issues. The machine continues to run completely. Our long-distance rider Varahannes has most likely taken this to the acute, having already clocked up a whopping 400,000 km on his Africa Twin in 2022. However this was the earlier mannequin, the CRF1000L Africa Twin.
Many drivers reward the prime quality of workmanship of the Africa Twin, in addition to the assured dealing with on the highway and off-road. The snugness dealing with lengthy excursions is especially appreciated. The engine delivers sufficient energy for a relaxed journey, whereas the non-obligatory twin clutch transmission (DCT) makes gear shifting simpler. One other distinctive promoting level of the Africa Twin is the combination of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Whereas the DCT is described by many customers as mature and excellent, the smartphone integration will not be but totally optimized. It ought to be talked about, nonetheless, that aside from Honda, not a single main bike producer provides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in a manufacturing car.
Frequent issues: fall injury and excessive restore prices
One of many largest weaknesses of the Africa Twin is the price of injury within the occasion of an accident. Without crash bars, hand protectors, mirrors and fairings can break shortly and alternative elements may be very costly. Even with crash bars, injury can happen, which results in excessive restore prices. Drivers report paying as much as €1,100 for alternative elements after minor accidents. Our editor-in-chief Poky additionally described the excessive costs of unique Honda alternative elements first hand when his colleague Horvath tipped over his Africa Twin while maneuvering . The injury was restricted, as solely the exhaust guard had to be replaced, however the worth of over €600 for this one banal part was sadly not.
Other than that, the CRF1100L has just a few breakdowns. Some earlier fashions had issues with the TFT show, or elevated idling as a result of a faulty idle valve and a defective proper change unit. Nonetheless, after changing these elements, the bikes ran easily and the frequency of those defects can be restricted.
DCT: Curse or blessing? Experiences with the automated transmission
The twin clutch transmission (DCT) is a subject of a lot of dialogue in the neighborhood, and new Honda prospects specifically are sometimes confronted with the troublesome choice between a basic transmission and a DCT. In spite of everything, it is without doubt one of the distinctive promoting factors of the Africa Twin. The DCT makes lengthy excursions simpler, will increase consolation and makes driving in stop-and-go visitors extra nice. Nonetheless, some drivers report issues off-road, notably when altering the throttle shortly. Error codes comparable to “DCT Error” can happen if the system doesn’t reply accurately. As well as, some drivers miss the direct driving feel of a guide transmission. We ourselves have not had any DCT defects in our assessments, even within the extra demanding assessments of the Africa Twin comparable to within the far north of Iceland .
Many drivers who’ve solely used guide transmissions for years have been stunned at how properly the DCT works after check drives. Some report that their very own driving type adapts routinely, making the DCT extra harmonious with growing use. As soon as you might be used to this particular expertise, the rise in consolation is simple.
Regardless of all the benefits, there are additionally drivers who consciously forgo the DCT. They respect the extra direct energy dosage, the power to play with the accelerator, the convenience of parking with the gear engaged without the handbrake, in addition to the ten kg decrease weight and the lower cost of the guide mannequin. In the end, the selection between DCT and guide stays a private choice.
Commuting and instability with suitcases: an unsolved drawback?
A number of customers report swaying and wobbling at excessive speeds on German motorways, particularly when aspect instances or high instances are fitted. This drawback happens more often on the CRF1100L than on earlier fashions such as the CRF1000L. Riders suggest adjusting the suspension accordingly and optimising aerodynamic equipment. For us Austrians, with a most permitted velocity of 130 km/h, this has by no means been an issue, even when we aren’t too strict about following the highway visitors rules.
Options to the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin
Anybody within the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin also needs to control the equally attention-grabbing competitors. Here’s a temporary overview of associated fashions and what options they share with the Africa Twin and the place they differ. Many riders evaluate the Africa Twin with different journey bikes, comparable to:
- BMW R 1250 GS: Extra consolation and touring functionality, however heavier and costlier.
- KTM 890 Journey: Extra agile and lighter, perfect for off-road riders, however considerably much less snug
- Triumph Tiger 900 GT Professional: Good highway traits and trendy expertise. By way of efficiency and weight, it’s on a par with the Africa Twin, however the character of the inline three-cylinder engine may be very totally different from the rumbling Africa Twin two-cylinder.
- Honda XL750 Transalp (new era): The cheaper and lighter Honda varies to the Africa Twin, which, nonetheless, has to do without necessary options comparable to DCT and cruise management.
Hottest equipment: optimizations for the Africa Twin
Many homeowners improve their Africa Twin with equipment to enhance dealing with and luxury. The preferred upgrades are:
- Chassis upgrades : Öhlins shock absorber: Higher response and elevated consolation. Wilbers suspension: Different for particular person changes.
- Exhaust programs : Akrapovič: Highly effective sound, not too loud. SC Mission: Cheaper various with flap management.
- Safety & off-road equipment : Crash bars (Honda, Touratech, Heed): Completely different opinions on protecting impact and high quality. Barkbusters hand protectors: Praised for his or her robustness.
- Tire upgrades : Continental TrailAttack 3: Finest highway efficiency for the Africa Twin. Metzeler Karoo: For off-road, however not perfect in low temperatures.
- Cupboard space & touring equipment : Greater windshield (Honda accent): Higher wind safety on lengthy journeys. Tank bag: Many customers are glad with the long-term sturdiness. Facet instances & high instances: Honda OEM instances are costly, alternate options from Touratech or Givi are widespread.
Technical Knowledge of Honda CRF1100L
| engine and drive | |
| engine kind | Row |
| diploma | 0 |
| variety of cylinders | 2 |
| timing | 4-stroke |
| valves per cylinder | 4 |
| valve management | OHC |
| cooling | fluid |
| displacement | 1084 cc |
| drilling | 92 mm |
| Hub | 81.5 mm |
| Efficiency | 102 hp |
| rpm at energy | 7500 rpm |
| torque | 112 Nm |
| rpm at torque | 5500 rpm |
| compression | 10.5 |
| combination preparation | injection |
| starter | electrical |
| coupling | a number of discs in an oil tub |
| ignition | transistor |
| drive | Chain |
| transmission | gearshift |
| variety of gears | 6 |
| chassis | |
| Body | Metal |
| body development | double loop |
| steering head angle | 62.5 levels |
| caster | 113 mm |
| entrance suspension | |
| suspension | Upside-Down telescopic fork |
| model | Showa |
| diameter | 45 mm |
| suspension journey | 230 mm |
| setting choice | compression, spring preload, rebound |
| rear suspension | |
| suspension | double-sided swing arm |
| materials | aluminum |
| shock absorber | monoshock |
| Recording | Professional-Hyperlink |
| model | Showa |
| suspension journey | 220 mm |
| setting choice | compression, spring preload, rebound |
| entrance brakes | |
| design | double pane |
| diameter | 310 mm |
| Pistons | four-piston |
| exercise | hydraulic |
| expertise | radial, Wave |
| rear brakes | |
| design | disc |
| diameter | 256 mm |
| Pistons | single-piston |
| driver help programs | |
| help programs | ABS, driving modes, cornering ABS, experience by wire, cruise management, traction management, wheelie management |
| knowledge and dimensions | |
| entrance tire width | 90 mm |
| entrance tire peak | 90% |
| entrance tire diameter | 21 inches |
| rear tire width | 150 mm |
| rear tire peak | 70% |
| rear tire diameter | 18 inches |
| size | 2330 mm |
| Width | 960 mm |
| Top | 1485 mm |
| wheelbase | 1575 mm |
| Seat peak of | 850 mm |
| seat peak as much as | 870 mm |
| Weight able to drive (with ABS) | 231 kg |
| tank capability | 18.8 l |
| driving license lessons | A |
| attain | 383 km |
| mixed CO² emissions | 112 g/km |
| mixed gasoline consumption | 4.9 l/100km |
| Idle noise over 95dB | no |
| gear | |
| gear | Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, Connectivity, LED daytime working lights, LED headlights, TFT show |
Conclusion: Is the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin the best selection?
The Africa Twin is an extremely sturdy journey enduro with many benefits, but in addition just a few rough edges. It provides consolation, trendy expertise and satisfactory off-road capabilities, however with costly spare elements it’s not precisely low-cost and its technical peculiarities imply it’s not appropriate for everybody. Anybody who decides on the Africa Twin ought to put money into high-quality equipment to get one of the best out of the bike.
