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Bigger, more powerful, and more touring-friendly than ever, the 2024 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports is a force to be reckoned with for long-distance travel.
American Honda says that over 40% of their Africa Twin sales over the last few years have been equipped with an automatic transmission. Yamaha, KTM, and BMW have all recently climbed aboard the auto-shift bandwagon as well, so it's safe to assume that self-shifting motorcycles aren't just a passing craze.
Honda has been developing and refining this technology longer than anyone, so by all estimates their newest generation DCT-equipped Africa Twin should be the best example of automatic motorcycling on the planet. We spent two months with the new 2024 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT to find out for ourselves.
A Little Background on the Honda Africa Twin
Most folks know that the Africa Twin takes both its name and inspiration from the legendary Paris-Dakar race scene of the 1980s. While it's true that the original Africa Twin was heavily influenced by a factory race bike, there have actually been several iterations of the Africa Twin that got us to this point.
Let's take a climb up the Africa Twin family tree to get a clearer view of where we came from.
First Gen: 1988 XRV650 Africa Twin
The original XRV650 Africa Twin was inspired by the Honda NXR 750, HRC's factory rally racer which won four Paris-Dakar championships (including three back-to-back titles) from 1986-1988. The XRV650 takes the lion's share of its design cues from the NXR, but it's important to understand that the two machines are wildly different.
The XRV650's engine, for example, was a 52° V-Twin with single overhead cams and three valves per cylinder. The NXR, on the other hand, got a properly unobtanium powerplant in the form of a 45° DOHC V-twin with four valves per cylinder.
"The original Africa Twin was the only one to date to sport true HRC badging." Photo: Honda
Chassis, suspension, brakes: you name it, there are fewer similarities between the two bikes than differences, but the original Africa Twin still proved to be an outstanding touring bike with strong off-road chops.
A massive 6.3-gallon fuel tank and 8.6 inches of suspension travel would make the first-generation Africa Twin a solid adventure machine even by today's standards, just one of the many reasons they retain their cult status today.
One important note to make here: While the original XRV650 Africa Twin may not be a street-legal homologation of an actual race bike, it is the only Africa Twin built by Honda's racing arm (HRC), rather than Honda themselves.
This explains the bike's unique (for the time) saddle-style fuel tank, the quick-release fasteners on the bodywork, and the relatively bulletproof skidplate specced as standard equipment.
Second Gen: 1990 XRV750
Honda's second iteration of the Africa Twin saw a bump in displacement from 647cc to 742cc thanks to both a larger bore and longer stroke over the outgoing powerplant. Honda also fitted a factory oil cooler in addition to the liquid cooling of the original for added reliability.
"Honda's first update cut weight while improving power." Photo Credit: Honda
The second generation Twin also got a significantly revised chassis, which Honda reworked for improved off-road performance and on-road comfort. A reshaped front fairing was fitted for better wind protection on the highway, and a taller windscreen came standard as well.
The "HRC" designation may be gone, but considering the 750 is both lighter and more powerful than the original, there's a fair argument to be made that the second-generation 'Twin was a better all-around machine for all applications.
Third Gen: 1993 XRV750
The third generation Africa Twin marks what we'd consider the first "full redesign" of the model since its introduction. The single largest upgrade was a completely reworked semi-double-cradle frame, which was both significantly lighter and lower-slung than the original to help lower and centralize the bike's mass.
"The third generation 'Twin was a full redesign, and the livery you see here inspired the latest Adventure Sports color scheme." Photo Credit: Honda
Other notable changes included a redesigned fairing and fuel tank as well as a lower seat than the outgoing model. The third-generation bikes also benefitted from a revised air intake layout which moved the filter itself up on top of the fuel tank for quick cleaning and replacement.
The XRV750 was produced up until 2000 when Honda called it quits on the Africa Twin project for the foreseeable future.
Fourth Gen: 2016 CRF1000L Africa Twin
Honda dusted the Africa Twin name off after a decade and a half in response to the rapidly growing interest in the adventure touring segment of the 2010s. The all-new Africa Twin's 2016 launch marked the beginning of the modern layout we all know today.
"Honda's fourth iteration of the Africa Twin marked the move to a parallel twin engine and the first of the DCT-equipped models." Photo Credit: Honda
Parallel twin engine, a full slew of riding modes, traction control, and various electronic rider aids were all introduced with the CRF1000L, as was the industry's first automatic (DCT) transmission specifically tuned for offroad use.
You can read our full long-term field test and review of the original Africa Twin complete with all the nitty-gritty details here.
Fifth Gen: 2019 CRF1100L Africa Twin
Finally, we arrive at the current generation of the Africa Twin. From 2019 until the present day, the Africa Twin has sported a more powerful 1083cc parallel twin engine, as well as a lighter and more rigid frame with an adjustable height seat.
"The fifth (and current) generation of Africa Twin is the most powerful and sophisticated to date." photo: Honda
This generation also heralds the introduction of premium features like electronically adjustable suspension and cruise control for the Africa Twin, as well as the latest and greatest iteration of Honda's DCT automatic transmission.
The fifth 'gen Twins are largely unchanged year to year, with the exception of the latest 2024 Africa Twin CRF1100L. For 2024 Honda increased performance with a bump in compression and revised fueling, which adds about 5 lb-ft of torque and improves low to mid-range power overall.
Additional refinements have been made to the shifting of the DCT-equipped models to take advantage of the stronger motor. Honda says the DCT is now much smoother when taking off from a stop, and has revised shift points that better align with the bike's new power curve.
This is the bike we've been riding for the past few months, so let's dive into some details on the updated 'Twin.
2024 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports Specs
The 2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports marks both the latest and highest-spec Africa Twin on the market to date.
Here's a look at the new bike by the numbers before we get into our personal riding impressions.
MSRP: $18,399
2024 Africa Twin Engine:
"Honda's latest 1,083cc parallel twin paired with their most refined DCT yet."
- Engine Displacement: 1083cc
- Type: Unicam four-stroke 22.5º parallel-twin
- Cooling: Liquid-cooled
- Bore x Stroke: 92.0mm x 81.5mm
- Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
- Valve Train: Unicam SOHC; four valves per cylinder
- Fueling: PGM-FI electronic fuel injection (Throttle By Wire)
- Max Power: 101 hp @ 7,500rpm
- Max Torque: 83 lb-ft @ 5,500rpm
- Transmission: 6-Speed dual-clutch automatic
- Final Drive: Sealed O-ring chain
Chassis, Suspension, And Brakes:
- Front Suspension/Travel: 5mm inverted telescopic fork with electronic adjustment; 8.3 inches of travel
- Rear Suspension/Travel: Pro-Link® single shock with electronic adjustment; 7.9 inches of travel
- Front Brake: Dual 310mm discs with four-piston calipers; ABS
- Rear Brake: Single 256mm disc with single-piston caliper; ABS
- Front Wheel: 19-inch, spoked, tubeless
- Rear Wheel: 18-inch, spoked, tubeless
- Front Tire: 110/80-19
- Rear Tire: 150/70R-18
Dimensions:
- Rake (Caster Angle): 27 degrees
- Trail: 4.2 in
- Ground Clearance: 9.8 in
- Seat Height: 32.9 in
- Fuel Capacity: 6.6 gal
- Wet Weight: 559 lbs
Instruments and Electronics:
"Selections for manual and sport mode are found on the right bar, as is the all-important cruise control."
- Instruments: 6.5-inch full-color touch-panel display and LCD quick info display
- Rider Aids: Six riding modes, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), wheelie control, electronic damping and preload adjustment
2024 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT: The Good and Bad
With a few months and a few thousand miles under our belt aboard the latest DCT Africa Twin, we've got a pretty good picture of what Honda's heavyweight ADV brings to the table. Here are our notes from the field.
"Out enjoying the Africa Twin Adventure Sports on some of our favorite backroads."
2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT: The Good
- Smoothest & most impressive DCT transmission yet
- Outstanding long-range touring prowess
- More midrange power and torque
- Excellent chassis, handles great through corners
- Electronic suspension is outstanding
The year 2024 marks an important change for Honda's premium "Adventure Sports" trim on the Africa Twin. Whereas the outgoing version was always marketed as a premium "touring" model, it still came with a 21" front wheel and was considered as well suited for the dirt (if not better) than the standard Africa Twin offerings.
"A 19-inch front and road-biased rubber make a huge difference in the big 'Twin's street manners."
This year Honda is unabashedly leaning into the Adventure Sports as a premium street-oriented option, which makes perfect sense considering that's how most owners use them anyway. That may sound like bad news to some, but we all know the Africa Twin was never the bell of the ball when it comes to "hardcore offroading," so we see it as a welcome change.
You've probably heard the term "tall-rounder" used a time or two to describe many of today's ADV bikes. No motorcycle we've ridden earns the term quite as handily as the new Africa Twin: it's tall, and it does damn near everything well.
"The command center: wide bar, tall windshield, great dash."
That goes double for long-distance touring duty. With a wide bar, an all-day comfortable seat, and a commandingly upright riding position, we would happily sit on this thing from dawn to dusk with no complaints.
The extra-large fairing and adjustable windscreen create a nice pocket around the rider, leaving us free to sit back and enjoy a buttery smooth engine and equally decadent creature comforts like Apple Carplay and cruise control.
Of course the outgoing Africa Twin was great on the highway too, but one place we really noticed a difference was on a twisty road. Honda clearly put major time and effort into making the most out of the Adventure Sports' 19" front wheel and road-biased tires, and the new bike leans into a curve and holds a line better than any that came before it.
"The preeminent tall-rounder, the Africa Twin is our weapon of choice for road-focused adventure touring."
Speaking of which, we'll also note that Honda's latest iteration of their DCT transmission is just mind-blowingly good on a curvy road. Now that the system is linked to an onboard 6-axis IMU, the bike knows when you're leaned over into a corner, so it'll hold a shift through the apex to provide maximum drive and control on the exit.
We were pretty blown away by just how smooth and seamless the dual-clutch transmission works. We could go on at length here, but suffice it to say we believe anyone who's even remotely curious needs to go experience it for themselves.
"The large touchscreen dash alternates between the info center seen here and Apple Carplay with the touch of a button, while 'at a glance' info is always available from the smaller LCD display underneath."
Last but not least, our particular test model was the "ES" version, which means it's equipped with electronically adjustable Showa suspension on both ends.
While the standard Showa units specced on the Africa Twin have always been plush and well-damped, controlling it through a touchscreen display adds premium flair and ease of use to the Adventure Sports model.
2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT: The Bad
- Not ideal for off-roading
- Runs hot
- Expect a few extra features for the asking price
If you couldn't tell by now, we're big fans of the latest Africa Twin, especially in the Adventure Sports/DCT trim we tested. With that being said, there are a few tradeoffs that come with the bike, as well as a few areas of improvement we'll touch on here.
"The Africa Twin's 19" front and sticky Bridgestone tires aren't our favorite combo in the dirt."
The first is that the Adventure Sports isn't particularly well suited for off-road work. That should be a given considering the 19" front and heavily street-biased Bridgestone tires (we'd consider them about a 95/5, if that's a thing), but confidence in the dirt is the main thing you're giving up for the Adventure Sport's improved road manners.
We found the bike performed admirably on maintained gravel roads thanks to its quality suspension and two dirt-focused riding modes (there's a low-powered "off-road" mode as well as a full-power "gravel" option), but between the knobless tires and the added weight of the Twin's massive 6.6-gallon fuel tank, it's far from a favorite for dirt duty.
"The extra large fairing hides the massive gas tank and helps block wind, but it doesn't do much to keep the engine's heat off your legs."
As for actual performance complaints, the only real issue with the new Africa Twin is that it runs hot in traffic, especially during the mid-summer months we tested it in.
We're sure that has more to do with Euro 5 requirements than anything else (we'd be keen to throw an aftermarket exhaust on it for this reason), but we did consistently notice just how much hot air made its way between our legs at speeds below 60 mph.
Last but not least, while the Africa Twin has an impressive list of creature comforts (cruise control, Apple CarPlay, electronic suspension, Bluetooth connectivity, etc.), we feel a few extras could have been included for the money.
A heated seat and grips, engine guards, auxiliary lights, and other similar bells and whistles aren't unheard of at this price point (the top-spec DCT models retails for just over $18,000), and would really help to cement the Africa Twin as a strong competitor in the tall-rounder class.
"It takes some time to find all the Africa Twin's bells and whistles, but if you're looking for heated grips, you'll be looking for awhile."
FAQ's For the 2024 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports
You asked, we answered. Here's our take on all the internet's most pressing questions concerning Honda's flagship adventure bike.
What's the difference between the Africa Twin and Adventure Sports?
As of this year, the primary difference between the two models is that the Adventure Sports comes with a 19" front wheel as opposed to the 21" front on the standard model. The Adventure Sports trim is also the only version available with electronic suspension, and comes kitted out with other bells and whistles like a 12V adaptor in the fairing, lean angle sensitive lighting, and premium paint.
How much weight does DCT add to an Africa Twin?
The difference between the DCT and non-DCT models is 24 pounds for the Adventure Sports and 25 pounds for the standard (no idea why there's a difference) according to Honda.
What's the range for the Adventure Sports on a full tank?
We averaged about 280 miles to a tank with a mix of urban, highway, and sporty mountain roads. You can easily break the 300-mile mark if you're primarily covering highway miles, especially if you let cruise control handle the throttle.
Is the Africa Twin a good motorcycle for a passenger?
"This is one of the best factory seats we've sat on in recent years, and it got high marks as a passenger pillion as well."
This is a great bike for riding two up thanks to a comfortable and roomy split-level seat. Honda even includes pre-set suspension modes for one passenger or two passengers with or without luggage, so dialing in the right settings only requires the push of a button on the touchscreen dash.
Final Thoughts on the new Africa Twin...
After a few months aboard the 2024 Africa Twin, we believe Honda may have a problem on their hands. They've built one of the most enjoyable and user-friendly touring bikes on the market, so much so that they may be putting their own Goldwing sales at risk if enough people give this bike a chance.
Truth be told it's best to think of the 2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT as the Goldwing's lighter, more athletic cousin rather than a direct competitor for the latest KTM Adventure R or Ducati Desert X. Sure, it'll tackle a gravel or dirt road with balance and composure, but where it really thrives is on pavement, whether that's 1,000 miles of wide open interstate or a twisty mountain backroad.
"A true class act, and an outstanding touring machine."
We also think it's important to note if you've never given a DCT transmission a chance, there's never been a better time. This is the smoothest and most responsive DCT-equipped Honda we've ever ridden, and we'd challenge anyone to try it out and not be thoroughly impressed with just how well it works.
With that being said, if you're a true 50/50 all-terrain rider (or anything over an 80/20 mix for that matter), the Africa Twin Adventure Sports probably won't be your bag, and that's ok.
The Multistradas and Superadventures of the world have a strong competitor out there in the "premium tall-touring bike" space, and this one happens to retail for under $20,000 in its finest trim.
→Read More: Best Adventure Motorcycles on The Market in 2024 and 8 Adventure Motorcycle Tires That Will Get You Through Anything.
