Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin (2016-2019) - Review & Buying Guide

When Honda reinvented the Africa Twin name in 2016 they needed to ensure it lived up to the rich heritage that made the XRV750 Africa Twin such an important model in their history. That’s why, we now know, the bike was initially shown as a prototype before a full production version was released a year later – Honda didn’t feel early test mules were good enough and so they delayed launching it and went back to the drawing board. And that’s also why unlike some rivals, the Africa Twin was always designed to be a true ‘go-anywhere’ explorer that while still catering for road riders, was intended not to disappoint those who wanted to take one on a proper adventure away from the beaten track. Powered by an all-new parallel-twin and using a 21in front wheel, the Africa Twin has led a bit of a roller coaster life as sales have often stagnated, leading to some cut-price deals that harmed residual values, and Honda seem hell-bent on continually updating it, another factor that hits its used value. If you like your adventure bikes with a bit of spirit, the Africa Twin is a good option but the early models aren’t the best examples and it wasn’t until the CRF1100L generation arrived in 2020 that Honda really got to grips with what this machine should be. There again, you can pick up 2016-2019 bikes for fairly reasonable money, making them seem more appealing.

Pros & Cons

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Prices

The Africa Twin was never targeted at the top end of the adventure price bracket, mainly as early bikes lacked features such as semi-active suspension and angle-responsive electronics that their higher-priced rivals boasted and allowed them to command the big bucks. Priced at just over £10,000 new with DCT adding £800 to the bill, you can pick up a good early model for around £5500 - £6000 with less than 20,000 miles on its clocks. The updated (more on this later...) 2018-2019 model’s prices start at £6500. With both generations, DCT doesn’t really add a lot to the used price tag. A fair few bikes were offered with luggage fitted as standard to help sales, which is always nice to have on an adventure bike and worth paying a couple of quid more for.

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Engine & Performance

Honda unveiled a brand new parallel-twin for their adventure bike. Somewhat unique in its design when compared to rivals, the Africa Twin’s engine runs a single overhead cam, which draws heavily from Honda’s off-road models which also use a ‘Unicam’ head design. According to Honda, junking one of the cams allows them to make the head more compact. Alongside this, the motor features lightweight cast camshafts (made of the same material used in the Fireblade’s cams), a slip and assist clutch to reduce lever effort and twin sparkplugs per head for combustion efficiency and enhanced economy.

Thanks to its 270-degree crankshaft phasing, the Africa Twin’s motor has a pleasing grumble and a bit of character about it that gives this adventure bike an unexpected amount of spirit. With reasonable low and mid-range performance (this mid-range is improved on the 2018-2019 model), it is an engine that does seem to get better if you allow it to rev a bit. That’s not to say you need to hammer the Honda everywhere, it is more than happy to bimble along at a gentle pace, but if you decided to allow it some freedom, you will both thoroughly enjoy the experience. Although this experience is better if you opt for a bike with a conventional gearbox...

A lot of Africa Twins are sold with Honda’s Ducal Clutch Transmission, which is a bit of a Marmite point. The DCT on early the models isn’t linked to an IMU as the Africa Twin lacked this until 2020, which means it isn’t as ‘clever’ and doesn’t take angle into account when making its decision on when to change gear. Although good for relaxed riding, there are situations when the DCT can become annoying as it tends to hold a gear (or two) too high for too long. Obviously you can override it using the bar-mounted shift levers (or the foot lever, which is an optional extra) but it’s not as intuitive as later generations of DCT. It has four levels – D, S1, S2 and S3. If you really want DCT, we’d recommend buying the updated 2018 model as its DCT is upgraded and noticeably better than the original version.

Reliability wise, the parallel-twin has no major issues. A few owners have experienced intermittent starting faults, which are generally attributed to sticking starter switches with owners suggesting you pull the unit apart and treat it to anti-corrosion electrical spray – some have also experienced headlight and even DCT faults due to switchgear problems. The DCT system itself is robust and doesn’t really add anything to the service bill, in fact some say it reduces it as clutch wear is less – although this is a debatable point! The valve-clearances need checking at 16,000-mile intervals (the DCT’s clutch filter also gets changed at this point), which is still costly despite its Unicam design and is likely to set you back in the region of £850. Technically the brake fluid needs changing every two years and the coolant every four, so it is worth checking the clarity of both. While you may hear about ‘gearbox issues’ when you go on forums, these are very, very rare.

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

Ok, we need to get one thing out in the open to start with – the Africa Twin’s spoked wheels. The original generation of Africa Twin (2016-2017) has developed an unwanted reputation for rusty spokes, which is well deserved as they are crap quality and corrode/discolour very quickly even when treated with anti-rust spray. Honda replaced a lot of wheels under warranty but by now there is nothing you can do about it, so check the wheels carefully, keep on top of anti-corrosion spray (which is a bit of a losing battle) and when you wash the bike, ensure the wheels are dry before putting it away. And by dry we mean not only the spokes but also in the area where the spoke meets the rim as this is where water collects. Now some good news, the updated model (2018-219) has stainless steel spokes and they don’t rust, proving Honda do actually listen to their owners – or probably more accurately, their own warranty department... Aside from rusty spokes, there is also a lot of grumbling from owners about the quality of the Africa Twin’s fasteners with corrosion another issue. It isn’t as prevent as the spoke issue so might be more of a case of keeping an eye on and applying anti-corrosion spray liberally. Now onto the bike itself.

With a fairly light weight of 228kg, the Africa Twin feels pleasingly light and nimble and is certainly a sporty adventure bike. As it is off-road targeted the suspension is a touch soft for road use but thanks to the fact it is fully-adjustable, you can dial out a lot of the pitching. Do this and you can certainly hustle the Honda along at a merry pace despite its skinny 21in front wheel. It is worth noting the wheels are a tube design, so if you get a puncture you can’t easily plug it, and also the fact that with an 850mm seat height on its lowest setting (870mm on its highest), the Africa Twin is quite a tall bike and that means it does get dropped quite often, especially by shorter riders so look for any dings or bent bars. While we are on the subject, always check the central frame spar that runs down behind the front wheel as it gets hammered by stones and if the paint chips, the frame itself can start to rust. Fitting a longer mudguard to help protect it isn’t a bad idea. Other than this, check the wheel bearings (especially the rear) as the OE units seem a bit weak and the bike’s general condition for any obvious signs of off-road use.

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Comfort & Economy

The Africa Twin isn’t as luxurious as some rivals to ride, which is a consequence of its more off-road focus and is why Honda released the Adventure Sports with its bigger tank and more relaxed ergonomics in 2018. That said, you can certainly still cover distances on one, just maybe with a seat cushion fitted as the original seat is a touch unforgiving and a taller screen to help deflect some wind blast...

When it comes to economy, Honda claimed the Africa Twin could average 63mpg with a conventional gearbox and a slightly worse 61.5mpg with DCT. Naturally these are pretty optimistic figures and if you hit mid-50mpg numbers you are doing well with 45mpg area more common. As the Africa Twin only has an 18.8L tank, you are looking at a range of around 180-190 miles until dry. If you want to cover bigger mileages, maybe you need to look at the Adventure Sports with its 24.8L tank.

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Equipment

Initially the Africa Twin was a bit devoid of equipment. Technically ABS was an option but nearly every bike in the UK has this fitted and you also get three-level HSTC (Honda’s traction control). The 2018 model adds a ride-by-wire throttle, giving this generation four riding modes (one customisable) , as well as smoother DCT, variable power and engine braking (both three-level) and extended HSTC options (now up to seven levels). A quickshifter is also an optional extra on this generation and the battery is a lighter lithium-ion design, saving 2,3kg in weight.

Naturally, Honda sold a stack of extras with full luggage options, crash protection, a DCT foot shifter, centre stand, seat options, heated grips and more. A lot of Africa Twins come with luggage fitted, which is great news, and tall screens and heated grips are also very common. Despite its off-road heritage and billing, few Africa Twins venture off-road so be wary of items such as chunky brush guards or a strong sump guard (it has a fairly flimsy unit as standard) that hint at off-road use. While the occasional bike has an aftermarket exhaust fitted, these tend to be the exception rather than the normal. Ideally, aim for a tidy bike that is fairly standard aside from luggage and useful items such as a centre stand or heated grips. And remember, Honda’s official parts are often quite pricey so don’t buy a standard bike and expect to fit items cheaply...

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Rivals

The adventure bike market is stacked-full of options but here are our pick of the Africa Twin’s main rivals...

BMW R 1200 GS (2013-2016) | Price: £5500-£8999

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Power/Torque

125bhp / 88lb-ft

Weight

238kg

Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer (2012-2015) | Price: £5000-£7999

Read more

Power/Torque

135bhp / 89lb-ft

Weight

259kg

Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré (2010-2021) | Price: £4000-£9999

Read more

Power/Torque

109bhp / 84lb-ft

Weight

261kg

2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Verdict

The early Africa Twin models are good, if a little flawed, bikes and while they ride well and owners do like them, if we are being honest the later models are a better buy. That said, if your budget is tight then picking one up for around the £6000 mark isn’t bad value for money, especially when compared to a similar-age GS. While the engine is generally sound, the main disappointment on the Africa Twin is the level of finish (especially on first generation bikes) and the relative lack of tech. There again, this more analogue nature does mean that there is less to go wrong, which is always a blessing on an older bike! If you like your adventure bikes to have a genuine bit of off-road spirit (even if you aren’t planning on exploiting it...), the Honda Africa Twin feels pleasingly this way swayed.

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2016-2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin - Technical Specification

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