HONDA AFRICA TWIN: BUILT FOR ADVENTURE
Meta Title: Honda Africa Twin: The Evolution of an Adventure Motorcycle
Meta Description: Discover the history of the Honda Africa Twin, from its Paris-Dakar roots and XRV650 to the modern CRF1100L Africa Twin.
Keywords: Honda Africa Twin, Honda XRV650, Honda XRV750, CRF1000L, CRF1100L, Honda adventure motorcycle, Africa Twin seat
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Honda Africa Twin: Built for Adventure
The Honda Africa Twin has one of the most distinctive histories in Honda's motorcycle lineup.
Its story is closely connected to Honda's success in the Paris-Dakar Rally, where the company's factory NXR750 won the motorcycle category four consecutive times from 1986 through 1989. Honda later transferred knowledge from that racing program into a production adventure motorcycle.
The result was the Africa Twin.
The Birth of the Africa Twin
The first Africa Twin appeared in 1988 as the XRV650.
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Image Alt: 1988 Honda XRV650 Africa Twin
Honda developed the motorcycle using technology and design ideas influenced by the NXR750 factory rally motorcycle. The production Africa Twin featured a liquid-cooled V-twin engine, large fairing, dual headlights and a large 24-liter fuel tank.
The result was a motorcycle designed to combine long-distance touring with off-road capability.
From Paris-Dakar to the Road
The Africa Twin's connection to rally racing was not simply a styling exercise.
Honda's NXR750 had won the Paris-Dakar Rally four consecutive times from 1986 through 1989. Honda used knowledge from that motorcycle when developing the production Africa Twin.
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Image Alt: Honda NXR750 Paris-Dakar rally motorcycle
The connection gave the Africa Twin its characteristic rally-inspired appearance.
Large fuel capacity, substantial suspension travel, protective bodywork and an upright riding position all suited the motorcycle's adventure-oriented purpose.
The XRV750 Arrives
In 1990, Honda increased the engine displacement from 647cc to 742cc, creating the XRV750 Africa Twin.
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Image Alt: Honda XRV750 Africa Twin
Honda also revised the chassis and improved the motorcycle's long-distance touring and off-road characteristics.
The fairing was redesigned for improved wind protection, while dual front disc brakes provided additional braking capability.
The XRV750 became one of the most recognizable versions of the original Africa Twin generation.
A Motorcycle Designed for Long Journeys
One of the defining characteristics of the Africa Twin is its ability to travel long distances.
The original model's 24-liter fuel tank was particularly important for adventure riding, where fuel stations could be far apart.
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Image Alt: Honda Africa Twin adventure touring motorcycle
The large fairing also provided wind protection, while the upright riding position was suited to extended periods in the saddle.
This combination helped make the Africa Twin suitable for both paved roads and less-traveled routes.
The Seat: An Important Part of Adventure Riding
Adventure motorcycles place different demands on their seats compared with lightweight city motorcycles.
A rider may spend an entire day traveling between destinations, moving between paved roads, gravel roads and trails.
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Image Alt: Honda Africa Twin motorcycle seat
The seat therefore needs to balance several requirements:
- Long-distance comfort
- Rider movement
- Support
- Appropriate seat height
- Durability
- Resistance to weather and dirt
For adventure riders, seat design can influence how naturally they can move between sitting and standing positions.
The Return of the Africa Twin
The original XRV750 remained in production into the early 2000s, with the final 750cc model introduced in 2000.
For many years, there was no new Africa Twin.
Then Honda brought the name back.
In 2015, Honda confirmed the return of the Africa Twin with the new CRF1000L Africa Twin, which arrived in European dealers later that year.
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Image Alt: Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
The new motorcycle retained the adventure-focused character of its predecessors while introducing modern engineering.
Honda offered both a six-speed manual transmission and its Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) on the CRF1000L.
CRF1100L Africa Twin
Honda subsequently developed the Africa Twin further.
In 2019, the company introduced the CRF1100L Africa Twin, increasing engine displacement from 998cc to 1,084cc.
