VIDEO: Marc Marquez flies on Honda's new Africa Twin

VIDEO: Marc Marquez rides new Honda Africa Twin

News of Honda’s brand new CRF1000L ‘Africa Twin’ was officially released by the Japanese Factory back in July reacting to the multitude of spy shots floating around the internet.

Prior to its official launch, two of Honda’s motorcycle sporting superstars have been putting the new machine through its off-road paces. Unsurprisingly, Team HRC Dakar rider Joan ‘Bang Bang’ Barreda rides one of the two bikes in the following video but perhaps more interesting is his companion, double MotoGP World Champion, Marc Marquez.

VIDEO

Filmed in northern Spain, the video shows the two world class racers riding the Africa Twin in both its manual and Dual Clutch Transmission versions.

The completely new model features a brand new parallel twin engine with 93.8bhp power and 70.3 ft-lbs torque. Other new functionality includes Switchable ABS and multi-mode Traction Control as well as a revised version of Honda’s DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) gearbox with handlebar mounted gear shift, as an option.

Several versions of the CRF1000L Africa Twin will be available and Honda has only thus far confirmed a price in Euros, starting from €12,100 plus local taxes (which according to today’s conversion rates equates to £8,876).

Honda has made no secret of their intention for the reborn Africa Twin name made famous in the late eighties and early nineties to be off-road biased, following in the footsteps of the 750. It's a massive class for Honda to enter into and they're keen to make sure the new 1000 fits its role as ‘True Adventure’, in the same vein as BMW’s R1200GS and KTM’s Adventure range.

Barreda and Marquez also gave their first impressions:

Are you looking forward to riding the new Africa Twin?  or !