Honda CRF 1000 L AFRICA TWIN Adventure Sports 2018 — Specifications

What was the Honda CRF 1000 L Africa Twin missing to go challenge the big adventure bikes on their own turf? The answer comes down to two words: Adventure Sports. With this 2018 variant, Honda steps up a gear and rolls its spoked wheels into the courtyard of the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, KTM 1290 Adventure R and Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro. The message is clear. The Africa Twin is no longer content with easy trails.

Visually, the machine states its intentions without beating around the bush. The crash bars reinforce the front end, the skid plate generously wraps around the parallel twin, the windscreen gains 80 mm in height and the fairing widens. Everything is designed to absorb the punishment of rough tracks. On the ergonomics front, Honda has thoroughly reworked the package: seat raised by 3 cm to reach 900 mm, wider footpegs on reinforced mounts, raised handlebar and repositioned instrumentation. Standing riding becomes natural, almost instinctive. And to go the distance, the tank grows to 24.2 litres, claiming over 500 km of range. Enough to venture far from fuel stations without a second thought.

The suspension represents the real upgrade of this version. The 45 mm inverted fork now offers 252 mm of travel, 22 mm more than the standard version. The rear shock follows the same logic with 240 mm of travel. The result: 270 mm of ground clearance, a figure that speaks to true off-road enthusiasts. The spoked rims retain their original dimensions, 21 inches at the front and 18 at the rear, a mark of credibility when the tarmac disappears. Braking remains solid with twin 310 mm radially-mounted discs and four-piston calipers up front.

Beneath the seat, the 998 cc inline twin retains its 95 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 98 Nm at 6,000 rpm. Honda didn't chase a power war but focused on refinement. Revised intake, reworked exhaust system, lighter balancer shafts: the engine gains responsiveness in the mid-range, right where it matters most on dirt. The real electronic novelty comes in the form of four riding modes. Tour, Urban, Gravel and a customisable mode allow the rider to adjust throttle response, engine braking and HSTC traction control, now adjustable across 7 levels compared to 3 previously. A technological arsenal that brings the Africa Twin closer to premium segment standards. The transmission is available as a conventional 6-speed manual gearbox or in DCT version, with its automatic D and S programmes and the renowned G mode dedicated to loose terrain.

Weight climbs to 242 kg wet, 10 kg more than the base Africa Twin. Honda has limited the damage thanks in part to a lithium-ion battery that saves over 2 kg. In practice, those extra kilos are quickly forgotten once in the saddle. It's the full load — panniers, tent and camping gear — that will dictate how the machine behaves. Heated grips as standard and a 12V socket round out the touring equipment. At €15,999, this Adventure Sports positions itself as a credible alternative to the German and Austrian competition, with Honda reliability as a bonus. It's not aimed at beginners given its generous seat height, but long-distance tourers and committed adventurers will find in it a solid, tireless companion capable of going wherever the road ends.