2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin review: just the excess ?
Chase the natural, he returns to motorcycles: Honda is in turn moving towards the maxi-trail with high technological content with its new Africa Twin 2020, four years after having praised simplicity and the right measure on its old CRF1000L. Test.
Africa Twin 1100 test page 2: details in captioned photos
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| Pep. The Africa Twin goes from 998 to 1084 cc (+86 cc) thanks to its high stroke from 75.1 to 81.5 mm, with the bore remaining at 92 mm. Its parallel twin – stalled at 270 ° – comes out of 101.97 hp (Vs 95.1 in 2019) and would be lightened by "2.5 kg" in the manual gearbox version and "2.2 kg" with the automatic transmission at DCT double clutch, still available as an option alongside the double-acting shifter. |
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| Couple life. The torque increases from 99 Nm to 105 Nm and significantly improves acceleration between 2,500 and 6,000 rpm. Enough to ensure more lively revivals in a loaded duo, especially as the weight is also down by 4 kg on the standard Africa Twin (226 kg) and 5 kg on the Adventure Sports (238 kg). |
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| It’s aluminum, this frame ?! The simple steel cradle frame now ends in an aluminum buckle, as does the swingarm. This modification serves to reduce weight, but complicates a possible repair: resoldering the previous steel buckle was simpler. MNC plague especially against the disappearance of the luggage racks integrated on the standard Africa ! |
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| Bright and connected. The front part receives a new double LED optic placed higher than in 2019, with diode daytime running lights. The cockpit also reveals a new instrumentation in the era of time: 6.5 inches, tactile feedback, left-hand controls, bluetooth connection, USB port and AppleCarPlay. An LCD screen is placed below to display essential information when the main display is used for navigation. Well seen. |
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| More is better ? This aesthetic and readable instrumentation is not easy to tame, the fault of a multitude of sub-menus and the absence of shortcut keys to the essential functions. Getting the brushes tangled on the many buttons on the left satellite above is frequent, when you don’t accidentally activate the indicators instead of changing driving modes (experienced by all testers) ! |
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| Safety nets. The Africa Twin 2020 renews its relevant system of indicators which are triggered at high speed in the event of strong braking. Its electronic equipment is also enriched by a series regulator and the essential six-axis inertial unit, which refines the action of the traction control on the angle – adjustable on 7 levels and deactivatable – ABS and engine brake control. |
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| Off-road under control. It also inherits a new anti-squat, little useful in action because of the importance of the weight and the wheelbase (1575 mm). A "rear wheel load-shedding control" appears on the DCT gearbox version to improve the timing of gear changes. Finally, an "Off-Road" mode is added to the "Urban", "Tour" and "Gravel" modes already known, alongside the two "User" modes to configure the functions at hand.. |
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| It’s in the option department ! The standard Africa Twin retains spoked rims that are not compatible with tubeless tires. Honda did not respond to this request and installs standard Bridgestone A41 or Metzeler Karoo Street in 90/90/21 and 150/70/18 with tubes. The Adventure Sports, it receives as standard rims with tangential spokes allowing the use of tubeless. |
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| The road adventure. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports receives an adjustable screen without tools in 5 positions (an impractical operation because it requires two hands), tubeless rims and a 24.8 l (+ 6 l) tank. An additional electrical outlet (12V), adaptive headlights and heated grips are also installed. On the other hand, this high-end version loses its tubular protections, which are now optional. |
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| Electronic spring. The Adventure Sports can be fitted as an option with Showa suspensions controlled by electronics, similar to those of the CBR1000RR (+ € 1,500). After having chosen its preload – solo, duo, loaded solo, loaded duo – this device operates on the hydraulics according to the mode chosen (firmer in Tour, flexible in off-road). MNC preferred the mechanical suspensions, well calibrated as standard and which offer better hydraulic support at the front. |
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