The European version of the 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin enjoys many updates this year, with Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (Showa EERA) semi-active suspension leading the way as a new option. We have plenty more to share with you, along with a hint that you might see this in America sooner rather than later. So, let’s get started.
- There are four flavors of 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin. The standard version (MT) has a fully manual six-speed transmission and traditional fully adjustable suspension. Next up is the DCT model, which adds the dual-clutch automatic transmission. The MT and DCT are available with Showa EERA, creating the ES MT and ES DCT Africa Twins.
- The optional Showa EERA suspension is informed by the ECU, IMU, and a fork stroke sensor. Combining all that information and applying it to the damping takes just 15 milliseconds.
- There are four preset suspension modes, plus a manually set User mode:
- Hard. This has the firmest damping, and is designed for riding two-up and with packed luggage. When you select the Tour power mode, this mode is automatically engaged.
- Mid. This mode is associated with the Urban power mode. It is considered a good setting for all-around riding.
- Soft. If you pick the Gravel riding mode, Soft is also set. It is designed for roads that are in poor condition.
- Off-road. This setting is firmer than Soft and ready for more aggressive off-road riding. When the Off-road power mode is used, this suspension setting is used.
- User. In this mode, you manually set the damping action, and you can also fine-tune the spring preload, with 24 electronically actuated positions available.
- The Unicam parallel twin gets several changes to create more low-rpm and midrange power. Starting at the beginning of the power production process, there are new airbox intake ducts and longer internal ducts. The valve timing has been updated, and there are new intake and exhaust valves. Compression has been raised to 10:5.1. Finally, the exhaust has been changed to accommodate the change in airflow and give the exhaust tone more bass at high rpm. These changes are matched by new ECU settings to create increased performance. As before, there are four preset riding modes—Tour, Urban, Gravel, and Off-road—and two user-configurable modes.
- With a new power delivery comes some adjustments to the DCT. The latest iteration of DCT has a “smoother, more natural feel when first moving away and at low speed,” according to a Honda insider. The DCT retains Sport and Drive modes, with three levels of Sport on offer. Also, with more torque available, the DCT will shift down earlier for improved performance. The DCT can still be operated in manual-shift or fully automatic modes.
- The 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin has a new fairing and five-position windscreen. The seat is also adjustable between two heights—34.3 or 33.5 inches. Two accessory seats are available—taller Comfort and shorter Low—in three color combinations. The rear seat unit is also new.
- The Africa Twin now has tubeless tires. The tubes are gone for the Michelin Karoo Street rubber. However, the wheels are still wire-spoke in an off-road-oriented 21-/18-inch combination.
- Honda offers four accessory packages for the 2024 Africa Twin:
Adventure Pack
- Stainless steel bodywork protectors
- Fog lights (higher mounting than previously)
- 4.5-liter tank bag
- Side tank pads
Rally Pack
- Rally footpegs
- Engine guards
- Radiator grille
- Quickshifter (MT models only)
- Foot shift lever (DCT models only)
- Hand guard extenders
- Wheel stripes
Travel Pack
- Panniers w/ inner bags (plastic 40-liter left and 30-liter right, or aluminum 37-liter left, 33-liter right)
- Upper and lower fairing deflectors
- Comfort pillion footpegs
Urban Pack
- 58-liter top box w/ carrier bracket, pillion backrest, and inner bag
- Heated grips
- AC charging socket
- Centerstand
- Returning is the 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen dash, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay (via Bluetooth) and Android Auto (wired). A security system is also standard, as is cruise control.
- In November, Europeans will see the 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin on showroom floors. The Africa Twin was not available as a 2023 model in the United States, so we wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see this Euro model make it to the US as a 2024 model. How about it, American Honda? We certainly liked the previous Africa Twin when we tested it.
2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Specs
ENGINE
Type: Parallel-twin w/ 270-degree crankshaft
Displacement: 1084cc
Bore x stroke: 92.0 x 81.5mm
Maximum power: 101 horsepower @ 7500 rpm
Maximum torque: 83 ft-lbs @ 5500 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Valvetrain: SOHC, 4vpc
Fueling: Two 46mm throttle bodies
Transmission: 6-speed
Clutch: Web multiplate w/ slipper function (DCT optional)
Final drive: 525 O-ring chain
CHASSIS
Frame: Steel, semi-double-cradle
Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable Showa 45mm inverted fork: 9.1 inches (Showa EERA semi-active suspension optional)
Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted fully adjustable Showa remote-reservoir shock; 8.7 inches ((Showa EERA semi-active suspension optional)
Wheels: Wire-spoke tubeless
Tires: Metzeler Karoo Street
Front tire: 90/90 x 21
Rear tire: 150/70 x 18
Front brakes: 310mm floating discs w/ radially mounted 4-piston calipers
Rear brake: 256mm disc w/ single-piston caliper
Parking brake (DCT only): Cable-actuated single-piston caliper on rear disc
ABS: Standard
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
Wheelbase: 62.0 inches
Rake: 27.5 degrees
Trail: 4.4 inches
Seat heights: 34.3 or 33.5 inches (Low and Comfort seats optional)
Ground clearance: 9.8 inches
Fuel capacity: 5.0 gallons
Fuel consumption: 48 mpg
Curb weight: 509 pounds (MT); 534 pounds (DCT); 514 pounds (ES MT); 538 pounds (ES DCT)
COLORS
Grand Prix Red
Matt Ballistic Black Metallic
Pearl Glare White and Glint Wave Blue Metallic Tricolour (ES only)
2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Prices: €TBA MSRP
