HONDA AFRICA TWIN X CASTROL POWER1 ULTIMATE

We tested Bulu Biker’s Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE powered Africa Twin at the Throttle Shrottle Moto Ranch and came back mighty impressed.

- SUNDEEP GAJJAR

RALLYING has been around for a while and so have motorcycles meant to do that. Initially, these motorcycles were restricted to competition but someone realized that these machines can serve a purpose on the road as well. This is what led to the plethora of adventure touring motorcycles that we see in the market today. And one of those adventure tourers is the Honda Africa Twin.

We recently got to swing a leg over it and while we have ridden one before as well, it was still just as refreshing to put Honda’s rally prowess to test. Before that, we want to get something out of the way. The Honda Africa Twin is a simple motorcycle. No frills, not a lot of bells and whistles and in terms of numbers too, it is pretty ordinary.

But there’s a catch here. Honda, with its very first Africa Twin, focussed on making it a very usable and very approachable motorcycle. You see, when Honda wants something to work a certain way, it does that. In cars, the NSX did that. In road bikes, who can forget the CB750. In WSBK, it is the CBR1000RR-R now. And in MotoGP, we all know what the RC123V is capable of when a certain Stoner or Marquez tames it.

So, if they want something to work, it does. The Honda Africa Twin did that too. Those who are acquainted with rallies and offroading know all about Honda’s Africa Twin that first debuted in 1988. It was a hit and continues to be a great adventure tourer. But it has been a long time since then and one tends to think that it is showing its age now. But one ride and it blows those ideas away.