The 2020 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin may not be too far away now. It could debut much before the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show (24 October – 4 November). The first teaser video of the future model is officially out now.
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While the bike isn’t visible in the video, the backdrop is the playground of the Africa Twin. The video ends with the words, “True Adventure”. The font used for the text matches the Africa Twin branding of the CRF1000L. A recent report claimed to have revealed the technical specifications of the 2020 Honda Africa Twin.
As per the leaked specifications, the 2020 Honda Africa Twin will pack a bigger engine. Christened as the CRF1100L, the 2020 iteration of Honda’s adventure tourer will pack 1,084 cc parallel twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes 102.4 PS of maximum power 7,500 rpm, as against 95.3 PS of the old motor. The performance number may not match the BMW R 1250 GS (135.8 PS) or the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro (160 PS), but it is better than middleweight bikes like the KTM 790 Adventure and the BMW F 850 GS.
The leaked specifications did not reveal the peak torque, but the CRF1100L's engine could make 107.1 Nm. In comparison, current motorcycle's engine churns out 98.9 Nm. Like the old model, the new model will be available in manual and DCT or Dual Clutch Transmission variants. The Indian market may miss the manual gearbox version. The leaked specs also revealed that the CRF1100L will pack a bigger fuel tank, be wider and come with a height-adjustable windscreen.
The 2020 Honda Africa Twin should feature an aggressive front fascia. Like the old model, it should use full LED lighting. The headlight may have an even sharper look. The new instrument console may offer Bluetooth connectivity to access functions such as navigation, incoming calls and music on the go.
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Honda should add tubeless tyre compatible wire-spoke wheels on the 2020 CRF1100L Africa Twin – a feature that is already available on premium adventure tourers like BMW R 1250 GS, Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro and the Triumph Tiger 1200. Suzuki offers a similar feature on the V-Strom 650XT.
