2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa TwinLast November, Honda teased its new Adventure bike at EICMA, the motorcycle covered in camouflage and mud, clearly showing the intentions of the machine. Anticipation continued to build, and Honda finally unveiled its new ADV bike in May – the CRF1000L Africa Twin.The details favored the off-road, the Africa Twin arriving with a new 998cc parallel-twin engine, and a 21”/18” wheel setup. Honda would offer the bike with a standard transmission or a DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), the former weighing 503 lbs. and the latter 534 lbs. – a weight on par with the KTM Adventure R and Ducati Multistrada.
But no price was released – until Tuesday. The 2016 Honda Africa Twin pricing is set at $12,999 for the six-speed transmission and $13,699 for the DCT version. Both arrive with ABS and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), which can both be switched off for off-road situations.“The CRF1000L Africa Twin is one of the most exciting new products of the 2016 model year, and we’re pleased to provide customers with additional information, including details on our competitive pricing,” said Lee Edmunds, Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications at American Honda.“No fewer than 32 patents have been applied for on this innovative model, and its specifications surpass the competition in several important areas. We know our customers have been hungry for a no-compromise, do-it-all adventure bike, and we’re confident that the Africa Twin fits the bill.”
2016 Honda Africa Twin Price – the Details
The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin’s engine was designed with a low center of gravity in mind, and features a Unicam head and dry-sump crankcase that enables a low engine height. To further enhance a low center of gravity, components like the oil tank, oil pump and water pump have all been incorporated into the engine, and a number of components, including the battery, are located as near as possible to the vehicle’s center.The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin also features a high ground clearance, and aluminum skid plate, a high-tensile steel, semi-double cradle frame, and an adjustable seat height that ranges between 34.3 and 32.3 inches.The Africa Twin features 9.1 inches of suspension travel from its inverted 45mm Showa fork, and 8.7 inches out back. Adjustable compression and rebound damping are standard at both ends, as is hydraulic adjustable spring preload (in order to more easily accommodate passengers or cargo).Other off-road savvy features include tube tires, wire-spoke wheels, hollow aluminum axles, wave-design brake rotors and a rubber-mounted aluminum handlebar with a tapered design. An innovative air-intake design makes it possible to access the viscous air filters without removing the fuel tank.As for accessories, a foot-pedal shifter is offered for DCT customers who want a traditional feel (in stock form, the DCT is shifted either automatically or, when in manual mode, by buttons on the left handlebar), pannier cases, a top box, heated grips, an electrical socket and more.The 2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin is available in two colors – Red/Black/White Dakar Rally, or Silver – and will be available in Spring 2016.For more, visit 2016 Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L Technical Preview.
2016 Honda Africa Twin Price – CRF1000L MSRP:
CRF1000L Africa Twin: $12,999
CRF1000L Africa Twin DCT: $13,699
2016 Honda Africa Twin Price – CRF1000L Photo Gallery
KTM RC 390 and Gordon McCall of Quail Motorcycle Gathering
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the new KTM RC 390. The entry-level KTM has always been an impressive motorcycle that has sold extremely well, however the factory has now taken the bike to another level, with top-spec features that are typically found on flagship machines. Clearly KTM has realized that even smaller engined machines should have high spec suspension, brakes and electronics packages. Nic tells us how well the new RC 390 is equipped, and what he thought of riding the smaller displacement rocket.
In the second segment I chat with automotive and motorcycle industry icon, Gordon McCall. Gordon is the Director of Motorsports at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California.
This weekend of Saturday May 14th sees the annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering re-start after its Covid-forced hiatus, and having attended every one of the previous Motorcycle Gatherings, personally I’m very happy that the event is back on the schedule. Gordon chats about the event and a little of what’s happening this year. It’s a great event and if you feel like a trip to the gorgeous Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, you’ll get to meet Gordon, Roland Sands, and of course a large number of stunning motorcycles too.
From all of us at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!