Honda two wheelers India will add additional fuel to their ‘Make in India’ fire by manufacturing another high performance machine in India. Named after an entirely wild continent, the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin will be pitted against the Tigers and the BMWs of the world.
The 2016 CRF1000L Africa Twin is claimed to have been thoroughly equipped for true adventure, with a potent engine and dynamic chassis ready to cover continents on or off-road. The Africa Twin’s dual headlights maintain the original’s signature presence and the seat height adjusts 20mm to either 870mm or 850mm. A large18.8-litre fuel tank – coupled with the engine’s fuel efficiency – is said to provide a range of up to 400km.
The CRF1000L Africa Twin’s 1000cc parallel twin power plant draws heavily on Honda’s off-road race experience in the form of the CRF250R/450R competition machines, and uses the same four-valve Unicam head design for compact overall dimensions. The lightweight six-speed manual gearbox uses the same shift-cam design as found on the CRF250R/450R to ensure positive changes and is equipped with an assist slipper clutch. It isn’t sure if Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) will be available as an option on the CRF1000L Africa Twin to be made in India. It allows the rider to operate gear shifts through triggers on the left handlebar – and two automatic modes.
The long-travel Showa inverted forks are fully adjustable and feature dual radial-mount Nissin four-piston brake calipers and 310mm ‘wave’ style floating discs. The Showa rear shock has hydraulic spring preload adjustment. Like the CRF450R Rally, the CRF1000L Africa Twin uses 21/18-inch front rear spoked wheels, wearing 90/90-21 and 150/70-18 tyres.
To tailor the overall electronics package to capably tackle any conditions on or off-road, the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC)* system offers three levels of control, and it is possible for the rider to turn off the ABS* system for the rear wheel.
Here are some more images of the Honda Africa Twin from the 2016 Auto Expo:
