DOWN SOUTH AND DIRTY

In one form or another, the Africa Twin has been around for over 30 years, but could this new one, the CRF1100L, be the best one yet? We went to the Honda Adventure Centre to find out…

- MIKE BOOTH

If there’s an excuse to get dirty, I’m all over it, any day of the week; especially if it involves twins. Unfortunately, getting dirty with my favourite type of twins wasn’t on the cards this time (it never actually is), but blasting round a forest on an all-new adventure motorbike definitely comes in at a close second. So when the chance to have a go on the new Africa Twin, down at the Honda Adventure Centre in Somerset came along, I grabbed it with both hands!

And when I say the ‘new’ Africa Twin, I really do mean new. Pretty much everything about the CRF1100L is either brand new or heavily updated. The new ‘1100’ engine is actually only 1,084cc, but that’s still 86cc more than the 998cc CRF1000L that it replaces, and not only that, it has 7 per cent more power and 6 per cent more torque (101bhp and 105Nm respectively) claims Honda, which is not to be sniffed at.

The new models (of which there are actually six variants) come with an absolute ton of rider aids and electronics, including a new 6.5-inch touchscreen dash, which you can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and/or Apple CarPlay, with the option of Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The Adventure Sport version, which is the more touring, rather than off-road, focused option, also comes with the option of having cutting-edge Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (EERA) – electronic suspension, in English.

In an attempt to make the most of my Africa Twin weekend, I managed to blag an Adventure Sports to ride down to the Adventure Centre (and back) on; and a 1000km round trip, plus a day chasing three-time World MX Champ Dave Thorpe round the woods proved to be the perfect way to get to grips with Honda’s new, and improved, CRF1100L Africa Twin.