As your San Francisco motorcycle dealer, bikes like the Honda Africa Twin generate a lot of excitement for us. Why? The Africa Twin is legendary in the bike realm for blending Honda’s rich heritage with race-inspired adventures and remarkable capability. It’s a bike that delivers, especially since its return to the Honda lineup in 2016.
But what exactly makes the Africa Twin so remarkable? Has it always been this impressive? Appreciating this road warrior requires tracing the Africa Twin’s origins and traveling back to a time when the motorcycle was defying industry standards. It’s an adventure touring bike with a penchant for off-road adventures, and that’s putting it mildly.
Born of a Legend: 1980s
In the early 1980s, Honda Racing Corporation set out to build a rally bike that would take the title at the Paris-Dakar Rally. The company spent several years studying the competition, determining they needed a bike that was fast, easy to handle, and stable at a top speed of 112 MPH. The bike also needed a large enough fuel tank for a 280-mile range, which would accommodate the race. These parameters set the stage for the NXR750.
The NXR750 ignited a craze in the industry for racer replica super sports models. However, Honda took a different approach in designing its next model. Instead of a replica, Honda did the unthinkable and built a touring bike with a rugged, off-road style called the Africa Twin. Moreover, the Africa Twin wasn’t powered by a standard midsize engine but relied on a large 647cc V-twin engine to deliver 57 horsepower.
Like its muse, the African Twin came with a large-volume fuel tank integrated into its design with a wide-coverage fairing that gave it the look of a rally racer. Its dual headlights accomplished the same, along with its wide seat and wide-coverage knuckle guards that introduced a new genre of bikes known as the rally replica within the dual sport segment. The motorcycle industry was forever changed.
The Evolution of the Africa Twin: 1990s to 2000s
As drivers asked for more power, Honda answered the need in the 1990s by increasing the Africa Twin’s displacement to 742cc. The additional capacity also brought a larger-capacity battery, adding to the Twin's capability. The bike also introduced a larger and taller windscreen for added rider protection and brighter headlights for enhanced visibility.
These updates carried the bike to 1993, when Honda reintroduced the Africa Twin as a full-sized Adventure Sports Bike. With the engine untouched, the Africa Twin heartbeat was the same. However, its design was entirely different, courtesy of an all-new frame and sleeker bodywork to improve aerodynamics and handling on and off the pavement. Honda also moved the fuel tank lower in the bike to enhance stability and lowered the seat height. These changes defined the Africa Twin until its discontinuation in 2003, marking the end of its 15-year tenure in the Honda fleet. Or, at least for the time being.
The Legend Returns: 2016 to Present
Legends never die, and Honda proved as much in 2016 with the reintroduction of the Africa Twin. Forced to compete with adventure bikes from Ducati, BMW, Triumph, and Yamaha, Honda pulled out all its tricks when it relaunched the Africa Twin. The 2016 Africa Twin continued to defy the standards of the segment, carving its own path as a more powerful adventurer laden with modern innovation.
Just as it burst onto the scene in the 1980s, the 2016 Africa Twin lived up to its “go anywhere” heritage. Rather than building a tame dual sport, Honda took the Africa Twin to the next level, making it heavier and more powerful than its predecessor. The new Africa Twin was ready to compete in the current market.
2016 Africa Twin
The 2016 Africa Twin became a favorite choice for many riders with its ability to blend the performance of an off-road bike and the comfort of a tourer. Using the original Africa Twin as its muse and benchmark, the 2016 Africa Twin reintroduced the legend with a 998cc parallel-twin engine and offers the option of Honda's Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission that features off-road functionality. Of course, those who prefered a manual transmission still have the option of a six-speed. The unique Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission also features a manual mode that allows drivers to shift through gears by using the triggers on the left handlebar. You can also hit the G button when you're heading off-road to modify the control of the clutch in order to have a more direct drive.
2018 Africa Twin
With riders responding kindly to the returned model, Honda updated the Africa Twin in 2018 by adding riding modes to the transmission, retuning the intake and exhaust, and extending the options on the Honda Selectable Torque Control. Along with these updates came the introduction of the Africa Twin Adventure Sports model. This motorcycle introduced a high-volume fuel tank, improved wind protection, and longer suspension travel to improve handling for a wider variety of terrain.
2020 Africa Twin
Honda’s two-year refresh for its bikes continued with the Africa Twin in 2020, marking a significant redesign of the iconic motorcycle. For 2020, Honda took the bike to the next level, offering more technology, capability, and power on and off the road. Honda also further distinguished the Africa Twin from the Africa Twin Adventure Sport, with the latter now designed for long-haul riders with a penchant for adventure.
2020 brought an 86cc displacement increase, boosting horsepower by almost 6% with the improved intake and exhaust systems. You also see new driver aids like wheelie control, rear-lift control, and cornering ABS. In addition, Honda outfitted the bike with a 6.5-inch touchscreen multi-information display and gave riders access to their smartphones via Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay. Ride-assist tools like cruise control added to these features, improving the ride and reducing fatigue on long stretches.
2022 Africa Twin
2022 marks the latest iteration of the Africa Twin and ushers in another round of updates for the legendary adventurer. The 2022 Africa Twin introduces several improvements, including smoother handling in the first two gears after Honda refined its Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission settings. Upgrades like the addition of the aluminum rear carrier as a standard feature extend the bike’s practicality, while the Africa Twin Adventure Sports’ adjustable screen improves visibility.
The 2022 Africa Twin blends its racing heritage and off-road performance with similar luxuries offered on the Gold Wing. This is apparent in the Africa Twin’s upright seating position that optimizes your comfort regardless of how far the ride is. As far as technology, there’s certainly no shortage as Honda added Android Auto integration to the Africa Twin, giving Android riders even more reason to say yes to this legendary adventurer.
Where Will the Africa Twin Take You?
Adventure bikes like the Africa Twin effortlessly blend the on-road performance and comfort of a touring bike with off-road capability and handling. The Africa Twin accomplished this feat in the late 1980s, returning to the stage in 2016 with a version fit for the modern age. Today, the Africa Twin has plenty to offer riders from coast to coast. It’s a motorcycle that defies the rules by proving you can have it all when you’re in the saddle.
