Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin for Thailand
Honda is reviving its rally-inspired adventure bike, along with the Africa Twin badge. This was hardly unexpected, given that Honda showed off its virtually production ready 'True Adventure' concept motorcycle at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan last year. Honda has conformed that its CRF1000L Africa Twin will be on sale late this year, or early next year, as a 2016 model, competing with motorcycles like the BMW R1200GS.In some countries there will be a dual clutch transmission (DCT) available, optimized for off-road riding, so it's a big guess which model we get for Thailand, the conventional six-geared manual transmission or the DCT hooked up to the 1000cc parallel twin engine. The Africa Twin recalls the glory days of Honda's NXR750V which won the Paris-Dakar race four times in a row in the late '80s. The company then released the XRV750 in late 1989 and it was virtually responsible for kick-starting the adventure bike movement.
The styling draws on the Honda CRF450 Rally, while the standard kit suggests its readiness for adventure, with high wide handlebars, standard hand guards, off-road footpegs and spoked wheels fitted with off-road rubber. Why a parallel twin? Because it is cheaper to produce and therefore keeps the price down, and with electronics and control systems in behind it helps with mass centralization. It's also easier to work on should anything go wrong. A leaked video suggest ABS brakes and traction control are standard fit.
If the new motorcycle replicates the old's go-anywhere ability, agile handling, all-day comfort and rugged durability, then Honda could be onto a winner, especially if the price is right. Tag: Honda CRF1000L Adventure-Bike Dual-Sport Parallel-Twin 1000cc NXR750 Paris-Dakar
