Honda has taken the wraps off a new 2020 Honda Africa Twin and confirmed it has grown into an 1100 model for the new model year thanks to an increase in the stroke from 75.1 mm out to 81.5 mm, to produce the new capacity of 1084 cc.
Torque is up from 98 Nm at 6000 rpm to 105 Nm at 6250 rpm, a six per cent improvement, while power bumps from 94 hp (70 kW) to 101 hp (75 kW) at the same 7500 rpm, a seven per cent improvement.
The cylinder sleeves are now aluminium while the cylinder head has been completely revised and is fed by a larger 46 mm throttle body. The Unicam valve-train now lifts the valves higher than before while exhaust control valve similar to that used on the current model Fireblade is now employed.
A 5 kg weight reduction drops the ready to ride with a full tank of fuel figure down to 226 for the manual, or 236 kg for the DCT equipped machine.
Honda also claim the new bike is smaller and slimmer with higher set handle-bars. The seat itself is 40 mm narrower to make it easier for riders to reach the ground while a low-seat option positions the rider between 825 from terra-firma. For those with extra long in-seams an 895 mm tall seat option is also available. The standard seat height can be set between 850 and 870 mm.
The steel semi-double cradle frame has been extensively revised for better off-road ability and now features a bolt-on aluminium sub-frame while the new swingarm is based off that used on the CRF450R and is 500 grams lighter.
Rigidity around the steering head has been changed to offer improved front-end grip while the frame now weighs 1.8 kg less than before.
Ground clearance remains 250 mm, and the 2020 Africa Twin rides on a 1575 mm wheelbase. Rake and trail is 27-degrees-30s and 113 mm respectively.
With a stroke length of 230 mm the Showa cartridge forks features revised internals with rebound and compression damping both full-adjustable.
The Showa shock gives the Africa Twin 220 mm of rear axle travel and features a large 46 mm cylinder and remote reservoir to reduce fade.
Technology improvements are massive with a new Bosch MM7.10 six-axis IMU that controls the seven-level HSTC traction control system via real-time yaw/roll angle and rate data.
A new three-level wheelie control, cornering ABS with off-road settings, rear lift control and DCT cornering detection facilities are also employed. A dedicated ‘Off-Road’ setting joins the previous ‘Urban’, ‘Tour’ and ‘Gravel’ riding modes. I am very interested in seeing the changes in the DCT shift program now it has cornering sensor input added to its smarts.
Apple Car Play also comes to the Africa Twin for 2020 via a 6.5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity. I have used Honda’s Apple Car Play system on the current model Gold Wing and it is simply fantastic. A USB charging port is located on the RHS of the display. Cruise control is standard.
The Africa Twin Adventure Sports model also gains the option for Showa EERA that has five riding modes. ‘Soft’, ‘Mid’, ‘Hard’, ‘Off-Road’ and a ‘User’ setting that is fully customisable. Rear spring pre-load can also be set electronically through a range of 24 settings while the motorcycle is stationary through 24 settings.
Adventure Sports also scores a larger front fairing and a five-position adjustable screen. At 24.8 litres in capacity the Adventure Sports boasts six-litres extra fuel capacity over the base model. Due to the extra fuel capacity the Adventure Sports tips the scales slightly heavier at 238 kg, 248 kg for DCT, while Showa EERA adds a further 2 kg if optioned on to the bike.
The 21/18-inch spoked rims on the Adventure Sports model are now tubeless ready.
2020 Honda Africa Twin Technical Specifications
| Engine | |
| Type | SOHC liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve parallel twin with 270° crank and Uni-cam |
| Displacement | 1084 cc |
| Bore & Stroke | 92 mm x 81.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.1:1 |
| Max. Power Output | 75 kW at 7500 rpm |
| Max. Torque | 105 Nm at 6250 rpm |
| Noise Level | 73 dB |
| Oil Capacity | 4.8/4.3 (5.2/4.7 DCT) |
| Fuel System | |
| Carburation | PGM-FI |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 24.8 L |
| CO2 Emissions | 112g/km MT 110g/km DCT |
| Fuel Consumption | 4.9L/100 km (20.4km/L) MT 4.8L/100 km (20.8 km/L) DCT |
| Electrical System | |
| Starter | Electric |
| Battery Capacity | 12V-6Ah Li-ion battery (20hr) |
| ACG Output | 0.49kW/5000 rpm |
| Drivetrain | |
| Clutch Type | Wet, multiplate with coil springs, aluminium cam assist and slipper clutch DCT – 2 wet multiplate clutches with coil springs |
| Transmission Type | 6 speed manual (6 speed DCT) |
| Frame | |
| Type | Semi double cradle |
| Chassis | |
| Dimensions (L´W´H) | 2330mm x 960mm x 1560mm (1620mm with screen in uppermost position) |
| Wheelbase | 1575mm |
| Caster Angle | 27.5° |
| Trail | 113mm |
| Seat Height | 850/870 mm (low seat option 825 mm, high seat option 895 mm) |
| Ground Clearance | 250 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 238 kg (DCT 248 kg) With Showa EERA 240 kg MT (DCT 250kg) |
| Suspension | |
| Type Front | Showa 45mm cartridge-type inverted telescopic fork with dial-style preload adjuster and damping adjustment, 230 mm stroke EERA – Showa Telescopic inverted fork with an inner tube diameter of 45 mm, and Showa EERA with compression and rebound damping adjustments, 230 mm stroke |
| Type Rear | Monoblock aluminium swing arm with Pro-Link with Showa gas-charged damper, hydraulic dial-style preload adjuster and rebound damping adjustments, 220 mm rear wheel travel. EERA – Monoblock aluminium swing arm with Pro-Link with Showa gas-charged damper, hydraulic remote control preload adjuster and electric control unit with compression and rebound damping adjustments, 220 mm rear wheel travel |
| Wheels | |
| Type Front | 21M/C x MT2.15 wire spoke with aluminium rim |
| Type Rear | 18M/C x MT4.00 wire spoke with aluminium rim |
| Rim Size Front | 21″ |
| Rim Size Rear | 18″ |
| Tyres Front | 90/90-21M/C 54H (tubeless type) Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross Tourer AX41T Metzler Karoo Street |
| Tyres Rear | 150/70R18M/C 70H (tubeless type) Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross Tourer AX41T Metzler Karoo Street |
| Brakes | |
| ABS System Type | 2 channel with IMU Selectable ABS MODE with on-road and off-road setting |
| Type Front | 310mm dual wave floating hydraulic disc with aluminium hub and radial fit 4-piston calipers and sintered metal pads |
| Type Rear | 256mm wave hydraulic disc with single piston caliper and sintered metal pads. 2-Channel with rear ABS off mode. |
| Instruments & Electronics | |
| Instruments | LCD Meter, TFT 6.5inch touch panel multi information display |
| Security System | Immobiliser, security alarm (optional) |
| Headlight | LED |
| Taillight | LED |
| Electrics | Daytime running lights, Bluetooth audio and Apple® CarPlay, USB socket, auto turn signal cancel, cruise control, emergency stop signal, IMU, HSTC, cornering lights, wheelie control |
Source: MCNews.com.au