Honda Africa Twin

The Honda Africa Twin is a dual-sport motorcycle made by Honda in two versions, first from 1996 to 2003 as the 750 cc (46 cu in) V-twin XRV750T, then from 2016 as the 1,000 cc (61 cu in) parallel-twin CRF1000L.

XRV750

Honda XRV750T
Manufacturer Honda
Also called Africa Twin
Production 1989–2003
Predecessor Honda XRV650
Successor Honda CRF1000
Class Dual-sport
Engine 742 cc (45.3 cu in) V-twin
Bore / stroke 81.0 mm × 72.0 mm (3.19 in × 2.83 in)
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Ignition type CDI with electronic advance
Transmission 5-speed, chain drive
Frame type Single downtube with double-loop cradle, rectangular section, steel
Suspension Front: 43mm air-assisted telescopic fork, 220mm wheel travel
Rear: Pro-Link 214mm wheel travel with preload and compression damping adjustment
Brakes Front: two 276mm discs 2 piston calipers
Rear: Single 256mm disc 1 piston caliper
Tires Front: 90/90 D21
Rear: 140/80 R17
Dimensions L: 2,315 mm (91.1 in) to 2,380 mm (94 in)
W: 905 mm (35.6 in)
H: 1,243 mm (48.9 in)
Seat height 860 mm (34 in)
Fuel capacity 23 L (5.1 imp gal; 6.1 US gal)

The XRV750 Africa Twin was a 742 cc (45.3 cu in) dual-sport based on the Honda NXR-750, which won the Paris-Dakar rally four times in the late 1980s.

It was preceded by XRV650 Africa Twin, which was a lighter, higher specification version made in 1988 and 1989 by Honda Racing Corporation with a 650 cc engine producing 42 kW (56 hp). The much earlier Honda XLV750R was a shaft driven motorcycle.

Built in homage to the giant desert racers of the Paris-Dakar Rally, the Africa Twin is a large, dual sport bike, powered by a softly tuned V-twin engine. It has twin headlights, a windscreen, and a long dual seat which stretches back from the tank to an aluminium grabrail and plastic coated luggage rack. An aluminium bashplate protects the bottom of the engine from flying rocks and impacts.

In December 1989 the original Honda XRV750 Africa Twin was launched, which became known as the 1990 model. In 1992 the Tripmaster computer was added. In 1993 the motorcycle had a major redesign including new frame, body work plastics, fuel tank, engine modifications and a lower seat. Nevertheless, it gained weight slightly. In 1996 the XRV gained an improved seat and clutch, larger silencer, modified upper fairing and luggage rack. However, the rear shock absorber lost some of its adjustability. In 2003 the Honda XRV750 Africa Twin ceased production. Nowadays good second hand examples are very much sought after among aficionados. Several aftermarket products exist with which to equip the bike such as crash bars to protect the vehicle's plastics and tank from damage in a low speed fall.

The engine is a 742 cc, 6-valve, four spark plug, liquid-cooled V-twin. The long-travel suspension insulates the rider from uneven surfaces. The brakes are twin discs at the front and single disc at the rear.

The later XRV's instruments feature a large trip computer LCD display mounted above the conventional speedometer and tachometer, styled like Dakar racers' navigational displays, and incorporates a range of extra electronic timers and trip meters.

Specifications

XRV750 Africa Twin
  L to N models
(1990 to 1992)
P to S models
(1993 to 1995)
T models onwards
(1996 on)
Overall length 2315 to 2380 mm
Overall width 895 mm 905 mm
Overall height 1,420 mm 1430 mm
Wheelbase 1,565 mm
Seat height 880 mm 860 mm 870 mm
Weight (dry) 209 kg 205 kg
Fuel tank capacity (including reserve) 24 litres 23 litres
Wheels Front 21-inch spoke, aluminium rim 1.85x21"
Rear 17-inch spoke, aluminium rim 2.75x17" and 3.00x17"
Tyres Front 90/90-21 54S
Rear 130/90-17 65S
Front 90/90-21 54S
Rear 140/80-R17 69H

CRF1000L

Honda CRF1000L

2016 Africa Twin with ABS
Manufacturer Honda
Also called Africa Twin
Production 2015-
Predecessor Honda XRV750
Class Dual-sport
Engine 998 cc (60.9 cu in) parallel-twin
Bore / stroke 92.0 mm × 75.1 mm (3.62 in × 2.96 in)
Power 70 kW (94 hp)@ 7,500 rpm(claimed) [1]
Torque 98 N·m (72 lbf·ft)@ 6,000 rpm(claimed)[2]
Transmission Chain final drive. 6 speed manual or 6 speed Dual-clutch transmission[3]
Frame type Steel semi-double cradle
Suspension Front: 45mm inverted Showa fork 9.0 in travel
Rear: single prolink shock 8.7 in travel
Brakes Front: Dual 310 mm disc
Rear: single 256 mm disc
Tires Front: 90/90-R21 tube type
Rear: 150/70-R18 tube type
Wheelbase 1,600 mm (62 in)
Seat height 880–850 mm (34.5–33.5 in)
Weight 228–242 kg (503–534 lb)(claimed)[1] ABS,DCT/ABS (wet)
Fuel capacity 18.9 L (4.2 imp gal; 5.0 US gal)

The CRF1000L is a 998 cc (60.9 cu in) parallel-twin dual-sport that revived the Africa Twin name for the 2016 model year. It became available in the UK in late 2015 and early 2016 in the US. It was developed as a modern interpretation of its predecessors, the XRV 750 and XRV 650, based on the NXR-750 which won the Paris-Dakar rally four times in the late 1980s. The original V-twin Africa Twin was first sold in Europe from 1988 to the final production year of 2003 but was never brought to the United States.[2] The CRF1000L has also been seen as a response by Honda to the heavier on road focused adventure touring motorcycles such as the BMW R1200GS, Ducati Multistrada, and Triumph Tiger Explorer with a lighter more off road focused machine.[4]

Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission

At the Osaka Motor Show in 2015

In a first for the category, the Africa Twin has the option of an evolution of Honda's Automatic Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) technology, which remains unique to Honda in motorcycling. This latest evolution of DCT has been specifically developed and programmed to provide off-road ability. [5]

Prototype

Also at Osaka

The first confirmations of a new off-road focused touring motorcycle came in June 2014 when Honda filed a patent for an externally mounted airbox configuration which would allow for a more slender and lower mounted fuel tank in future dual sport motorcycles.[6] This increases off road handling by allowing riders to slide further forward into turns without being inhibited by a wide fuel tank with a higher center of gravity.[7]

The first full prototype of the CRF1000 was revealed at the 2014 EICMA international motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. The prototype was heavily disguised with camouflage and covered in mud so that it did not reveal any specific details about the new motorcycle other than visual details such as a parallel twin engine, dual front disk brakes with ABS, 21 inch front and 18 inch rear tires on spoked wire rims, and the absence of a shift lever, indicating the dual-clutch transmission from other Honda motorcycles such as the Honda VFR1200X and NC700X/NC750X could be an available option.[3][8]

After the EICMA reveal, Honda began releasing a series of videos titled "True Adventure" documenting the history of the Paris-Dakar rally-winning Africa Twins in the 1980s in anticipation of the release of the new true adventure.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Suesse, Ned (December 18, 2015). "2016 Honda Africa Twin – FIRST RIDE REVIEW". Cycle World. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Henning, Ari (December 15, 2015). "First Ride: 2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin". Motorcyclist. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Beeler, Jensen (November 2014), "Up-Close with the Honda "True Adventure" Prototype", Asphalt and Rubber, retrieved 2014-11-12
  4. Connor, William (November 2014), "The new Africa Twin? Honda True Adventure", Ride Apart, retrieved 2014-11-12
  5. MacDonald, Sean (December 2015), "Ride Review: The 2016 Honda Africa Twin Is Exactly What We've Been Waiting For", Lanesplitter, retrieved 2016-02-13
  6. Chung, Dennis (June 2014), "Retro-Styled Dual Sport Revealed In Honda Patent Application", Motorcycle.com, retrieved 2014-11-12
  7. Siler, Wes (June 2014), "How Honda's New Airbox Will Give The Africa Twin Dirt Bike Ergonomics", Gizmodo InfinitelyWild, retrieved 2014-11-12
  8. Dabney, Rob (November 2014), "New Honda Africa Twin Finally Revealed at EICMA", ADV Pulse, retrieved 2014-11-12
  9. "Honda True Adventure Episode 1 The Dream", I'd Rather be Riding, November 2014, retrieved 2014-11-12
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