2024 · Adventure · A variant of the CRF1100L Africa Twin
Differences between the standard CRF1100L Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports
High Miles, Zero Drama
The Adventure Sports version of the CRF1100L sits at the road-biased end of Honda's big adventure line. The 1084 cc parallel twin makes 102 hp at 7,500 rpm and 83 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm, tuned so the useful part of that torque shows up where you actually ride. Building on the standard bike's cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes, wheelie control and cruise control, this trim adds electronic suspension, heated grips and an up-quickshifter. A 6.6-gallon tank, a 19-inch front wheel and 8.7 inches of ground clearance make the mission obvious: distance, weather, and whatever road surface the route hands you.
It rides like a machine built to be lived with rather than admired. Comfort holds up over long days, the chassis stays composed loaded and two-up, and the reliability record is about as solid as this class gets. Understand what it is: a long-distance tourer that handles gravel and fire roads with confidence, not a dirt bike wearing luggage mounts. The honest caveats are weight and height. At 553 lb wet with a 34.3-inch seat, even set low on the adjustable mount, it demands a deliberate hand at walking pace. And the 2024 to 2025 bikes carry recall work worth verifying before money changes hands.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 102 hp (75 kW) @ 7,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) @ 5,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 1084 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-18 |
| Wheelbase | 62.0 in (1575 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Seat height | 34.3 in (870 mm) |
| Wet weight | 553 lb (251 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 gal (25 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Connectivity
Swinging a leg over asks for a stretch, but the bike settles the moment it starts rolling. The bars come back wide and close, your knees fold into a tank that holds 6.6 gallons without forcing your legs apart, and the screen is the kind you set once and stop thinking about. At a real highway pace the twin sits in a low, even thrum you feel through the footpegs more than the grips, and cruise control takes the right wrist out of the equation entirely. Heated grips are on the bike rather than on an invoice, which matters more at 6 a.m. on a mountain pass than any line on a spec sheet. Two hours in, nothing has gone numb and nothing has started buzzing. That is the part you notice, and it is the whole point of this motorcycle.
The CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports (SD 08 Mk 2-AdventureSports) builds on the standard CRF1100L Africa Twin: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
Equipment the Adventure Sports adds vs the standard CRF1100L Africa Twin
| Spec | Standard CRF1100L Africa Twin | Adventure Sports | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 505 lb | 553 lb | +49 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal | 6.6 gal | +1.6 gal |
Two decades of listening adds up. What follows is what riders tell Nils at rallies and gas stops, at club nights and in parking lots, plus the messages and emails that come in directly from owners. On this bike the chatter runs unusually consistent: people talk about the engine and the rider aids with real warmth, and about the screen menus with real frustration.
The most repeated line concerns the middle of the rev range. Riders describe a twin that pulls where they actually use it, strong enough that an overtake becomes a matter of rolling the throttle instead of planning ahead, and calm enough to sit at a steady cruise without fuss. Owners on the newer engine say the torque arrives sooner and stays within easy reach, which is what makes the bike feel manageable in traffic and undemanding over a long day. Those who ordered the dual-clutch option are close to unanimous about it: smooth, intuitive, well matched to this kind of riding, and no aching left hand at the end of it.
Riders consistently credit the electronics package for how settled the bike feels when the surface or the weather turns. Most describe it as a safety net they can tailor to their own riding rather than a spec-sheet flourish, and plenty say they set it up once and simply ride. The frustration sits one layer above that. A recurring complaint is the interface: too many buttons, menu structures that run too deep, and a system that takes its time coming to life. Newer owners in particular describe a learning curve steeper than they signed up for.
Two gripes come back regularly. Riders who have spent time on bigger-bore rivals say the Africa Twin gives up peak power to them, and that the gap shows most with the bike fully loaded. In genuinely tricky footing, the mass also makes itself known while picking a line. Underneath both sits a quieter unease: the deeper the electronics run, the more some owners wonder how it all holds up years down the road.
Wheelie control software recall (NHTSA 24V-882)
Due to improper software, the wheelie control feature may miscalculate traction settings, causing engine hesitation or unexpected acceleration. Affects 2024-2025 models.
Crankcase sealing bolt oil leak (RECALL KS2)
A faulty sealing bolt can allow engine oil to leak onto the rear tire, increasing crash risk. Affected VINs from 2024-2025 production require bolt replacement.
TFT display glitches and failures
Several owners report recurring issues with the TFT display, including freezing, blanking, or unresponsive touchscreen. Honda has extended the warranty on TFT units until 2033.
Left switch cluster recall (unconfirmed)
Some owners report issues with the left-hand switch cluster causing intermittent horn or high beam activation. Honda is working on a remedy.
Where this Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the CRF1100L Africa Twin is actually built for.
This is your bike. Beartooth, Going-to-the-Sun, Trail Ridge, loaded or two-up, in whatever weather shows up. The tank, the seat and the reliability all point the same direction.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Be honest with yourself: 553 lb is a lot of motorcycle for a full technical day on slickrock. It runs the gravel and the fire roads happily, but a real Moab specialist wants something lighter.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
For 200 to 400 mile days on the Blue Ridge or Highway 1 it works well. You get plenty of lean clearance and a relaxed seating position, with the upright view that a low sport-tourer never gives you.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
