Honda Africa Twin: a timeless motorcycle

Even today, the Honda Africa Twin makes the hearts of enthusiasts beat faster, its colors, together with its legendary line are a reference point for every motorcycle traveler even after 30 years from its birth.

Have you ever owned this legendary motorcycle? Or is it the one you've always dreamed of? Today we talk about its evolution over time.

Let's start with the name ... Why Africa Twin? Twin because the engine was a twin-cylinder and Africa because this bike represented the challenge launched to BMW, which in the 80s was at the top of the African off-road marathon rankings, first of all the historic Paris-Dakar.

In 1986, Honda showed up at the Paris-Dakar with the NXR 750, a 780 cm³ 8-valve twin cylinder capable of developing over 75 horsepower, with a dry weight of around 160 kg, a motorcycle built with a purpose ... Paris-Dakar, and this goal conquered him with Cyril Neveu and Gilles Lalay, respectively first and second place. The following year the Hondas are again at the top: Neveu wins again in front of the Italian Edi Orioli.

These victories paved the way for the general public when the XRV650 Africa Twin debuted at the Paris motor show.
 

The glorious Rd03 was born from this racing prototype, progenitor of the first era of Africa twin, which from the initial 650 cc increased the displacement to 750 cubic centimeters in 1990 with the Rd04, when Yamaha also came out with its Super Ténéré, showing a greater road attitude. The change was in the carburetors, an increase in power to 64HP, but also the chassis and the braking system.

Despite the success of the Rd04, from 1993 to 2002 the Honda Africa Twin Rd07 first and then Rd07a established themselves on the market, following in the footsteps of that bike that made history on the African racing fields. A new lightweight frame with a lower center of gravity, new suspension and improved off-road attitude.

Since 2016, more than a decade after the discontinuation of the iconic Japanese maxienduro, Honda returns to the segment with the lighter, more powerful, more technological CRF1000L. Presented in the basic version but later also in the famous historical HRC colors with the name “Adventure Sport”, with a larger tank and some travel accessories