·
2024 · Adventure · A variant of the CRF1100L Africa Twin
Differences between the standard CRF1100L Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports
The Long-Range Trust Machine
The Adventure Sports is the long-haul build of Honda's Africa Twin. At its heart sits a 1084 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin making 102 hp at 7,500 rpm and 83 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm. It hangs in a steel double-cradle frame and rolls on a 19-inch front wheel. This trim takes the standard bike's equipment and adds electronic suspension and heated grips. Everything else is shared, and it's a long list: cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, ride modes, cruise control, a slipper clutch, and a TFT with smartphone connectivity and navigation. Honda's DCT sits on the option list. A complete toolkit.
Read the spec sheet and the brief is clear: distance. Honda claims class-leading fuel range from the 6.6 gal (25 L) tank, and the rest of the hardware points the same way, with an adjustable windscreen, adjustable seat height and cornering lights. You get 8.3 in (210 mm) of travel up front, 7.9 in (200 mm) at the rear and 8.7 in (220 mm) of ground clearance, so gravel and forest roads are part of the job. At 553 lb (251 kg) wet with a 34.3 in (870 mm) seat, it's built for an experienced rider who strings big days together. That's its home turf.
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 | 61.0 in (1550 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.9 in (200 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
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 |
Over the years I've collected what Africa Twin owners tell me in the paddock, over coffee at club nights, and in the messages riders send me once they have a few thousand miles of their own. For this Adventure Sports generation, the picture is consistent. Owners praise how far it goes in comfort and how the engine pulls. Their complaints cluster around the technology interface, the weight, and a peak output that trails the most aggressive rivals.
The midrange is usually the first thing riders bring up. Owners consistently describe a punchy, torquey twin that makes passing easy and lets the bike cruise without strain. Several say the 2024 update gave it a stronger, more accessible torque curve, so it feels responsive and easy to manage in everyday riding. Riders who chose the optional DCT speak well of it. They call it smooth and intuitive, a good match for touring, and the end of a tired clutch hand on long days.
Comfort is the most repeated praise, and riders tie it to distance and company. Owners credit the tall screen, plush suspension and roomy riding position for long days in the saddle, and several stress that this holds with a passenger aboard. The electronics earn similar trust. Riders point to the six-axis IMU, cornering ABS, the choice of ride modes and adjustable wheelie and traction control as a safety net they can tailor to themselves, and many say it gives them confidence.
The most common gripe is the interface. Riders consistently say the many buttons and deep TFT menus can overwhelm a new owner, and that the system is slow to boot. Some go further and worry about how all that electronics will hold up over the long term, pointing to display trouble and software recalls. Weight comes up too, mostly in tricky off-road spots where owners find the mass hard work. Another recurring complaint is that peak output feels modest for a liter-class adventure bike. Riders say it feels less potent than stronger rivals once it's loaded, and a few note that some quicker middleweights sit ahead of it.
Left handlebar switch cluster failure
Fretting wear and terminal corrosion within the left handlebar switch harness can disrupt electrical continuity, leading to intermittent or complete loss of horn function and headlight high beam operation.
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.
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 best fit here. A 6.6 gal tank, cruise control, heated grips and electronic suspension are exactly the kit for long days linking Beartooth and Going-to-the-Sun.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
It'll get you to the trailhead and handle the dirt roads in between. For technical slickrock and sand, though, 553 lb (251 kg) wet is a lot of motorcycle to manage.
Made for Moab · Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes
A strong match for 200 to 400 mi days on the Blue Ridge or Highway 1. Cornering ABS, cruise control and an adjustable screen and seat cover both the scenery and the curves.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2016–2019
Built to Be Trusted
Compare to the previous model →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.
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.
