Honda’s Africa Twin Adds Spark to ADV Riding

The 2016 Honda Africa Twin has propelled the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer to the forefront of the adventure riding scene.

Adventure riding, characterized by exploring off-roads for the sake of, well, adventure and the love of the unknown, has surged in popularity lately.  Until now, this niche segment of motorcycling has been dominated by European bikes made by BMW, KTM, and Ducati. Honda’s latest contribution to this motorcycling segment gives riders a quality option for a lower price (the Africa Twin starts at $12,999).

The Africa Twin (also known as the CRF1000L), clocks in at 511 pounds with a full tank (4.9 gallons) of gas. This weight makes it considerably lighter than its BMW counterparts, which weigh about 565 pounds with a full tank.

AT uses a dual clutch transmission. Although its automatic transmission may take some getting used to, the DCT enables increased maneuverability on on varied terrain. The transmission along with other features, including a windscreen parallel twin engine, make the bike work well on and off the road, making it great for a diverse array of exploring and traveling.

The bike’s capabilities earned it the designation of best adventure bike of 2016 by Cycle World, who called it “torquey and soulful” in their write-up.

Check out these videos below to see Honda’s Africa Twin in action.