The new 2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin motorcycle was launched in India with a starting price of Rs. 15.35 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The new CRF1100L model now packs a bigger, parallel-twin engine along with new technology and upgraded features. The motorcycle has also received an overhaul wherein it gets a revised fairing, lighter frame and a 25-litre fuel tank. Notably, the main difference between the regular Honda Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports version is that the latter gets protective bodywork, height-adjustable windscreen, and a standard engine bash plate.
The 2020 Honda Africa Twin range now offers 12 per cent more power and 11 per cent more torque. The company has also worked on the power to weight ratio, which has been increased by 10 per cent. The basic architecture of the engine has been retained, but the parallel-twin mill now gets a longer stroke. The powertrain now belts out 101 bhp of maximum power at 7,500 rpm against the peak torque of 105 Nm at 6,250 rpm. With lighter aluminium cylinder sleeves and redesigned engine casings, the manual version of the 2020 Africa Twin is lighter by 2.5 kg whereas the automatic DCT engine is 2.2 kg lighter.
The 2020 Honda Africa Twin gets completely updated electronics including Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), Honda's version of the traction control system, which is now powered by an inertial measurement unit (IMU). It also features four power levels and three levels of electronic engine braking. The Wheelie Control system can be turned off completely. Apart from this, the motorcycle gets a new touchscreen instrument cluster with Bluetooth audio as well as Apple Carplay compatibility.
The company offers the new Africa Twin with four default riding mode options - Tour, Urban, Gravel and Off-Road, along with two additional modes that can be customised by the user. The standard model of the new Africa Twin weighs 226 kg whereas the DCT version has a kerb weight of 236 kg. The suspension duties are handled by an inverted telescopic fork with 230 mm suspension travel and it gets monoblock aluminium with Pro-Link and a Showa gas-charged damper at the rear.
The wheels on the motorcycle remain unchanged with 21-inch up front and 18-inch rear combination wire-spoked wheels shod with tubed tyres. For deceleration, the bike uses 310 mm dual wave floating hydraulic discs at the front and a 256 mm single hydraulic disc gripped by a single-piston caliper at the rear. The dual-channel ABS system offers on-road and off-road settings, which can be switched off completely. The new Africa Twin motorcycle is claimed to offer a mileage of 20.4 kmpl and 20.8 kmpl for the manual and automatic versions respectively.