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2024 · Adventure · A variant of the CRF1100L Africa Twin
Differences between the standard CRF1100L Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports DCT
The Dependable Long-Haul Workhorse
The Adventure Sports DCT is the fully kitted end of the Africa Twin family, aimed at riders whose trips are measured in days, not hours. The 1084 cc parallel twin makes 102 hp and 83 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm, enough to move a loaded bike and a passenger without needing revs. On top of the standard model's rider aids it brings electronically controlled suspension, the dual-clutch transmission and heated grips. Add the 6.6 gal tank, a 19 in front wheel, 8.3 in of front travel and 8.7 in of ground clearance, and the brief is obvious: a road bike that treats dirt as part of the route.
Ownership is where it earns its keep. This is a bike built to start every morning and keep doing it long after the odometer stops being interesting, and the aftermarket support is deep enough that you can spec it around your own route. It fits the rider who covers real distance, often two-up or loaded, and who wants graded dirt and fire roads without swapping bikes. The caveats are honest ones. 558 lb wet is real weight when the ground turns loose, the 32.9 in seat asks for some inseam even with the height adjustment, and the TFT screen is the part of the package I would watch.
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 tire | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-18 |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 558 lb (253 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.6 gal (24.8 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
The first impression is scale. At the pump it stands tall and there is a lot of motorcycle behind you, so the 32.9 in seat asks for a deliberate swing over the back. Once you are on it, the width between your knees feels narrower than the numbers suggest. There is no clutch lever and nothing for your left foot, so your hands stay quiet on the bars and your attention goes to the road instead of the drill. The twin sends a low, even beat up through the pegs at cruising revs, present enough for company, never enough to numb your fingers. Bars come back toward you, the screen sits where you set it, the grips warm quickly on a cold start. At 70 mph the whole machine feels planted and unhurried, and the LED headlight throws a wide, clean pattern once the sun drops.
The CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT (SD 08 Mk 2-AdventureSportsDCT) 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 DCT adds vs the standard CRF1100L Africa Twin
| Spec | Standard CRF1100L Africa Twin | Adventure Sports DCT | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 505 lb | 558 lb | +53 lb |
| Seat height | 34.3 in | 32.9 in | -1.4 in |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal | 6.6 gal | +1.6 gal |
Over the years I have heard a lot about the Africa Twin from the people who actually live with one. It comes up in paddock conversations and at club nights, and riders write to me after a season or two to say how it has treated them. For this generation with the dual-clutch box and electronic suspension, what they say is consistent. Owners talk about comfort and distance first. When they complain, it is almost always about the electronics and the weight.
Range gets the most praise. Riders keep coming back to the big tank and how seldom it breaks up a long touring day. Comfort comes a close second: an upright seat, decent wind protection and a suspension that owners call plush on the highway but still composed once the road starts to bend. Riders give the semi-active setup and its selectable modes much of the credit for that. The dual-clutch gearbox gets similar comments. Owners describe the shifts as smooth and predictable and say it takes some of the fatigue out of a big day. On the engine, riders describe a stronger mid-range that is easy to use, so the bike feels responsive in everyday riding without asking much of the person holding the bars.
The electronics draw the most complaints. Owners say the touchscreen can lag, and that it takes real time to learn all the ride modes, settings and sub-menus. Some new owners find it intimidating and point out how much of the manual covers the display alone. A related worry comes up when riders talk about the long term: with this much tech on board, some wonder how it will hold up, and they point to display problems and software recalls. Weight is the other theme that keeps coming up. Riders feel it most at walking pace and when the bike is packed for a trip. A smaller group feels the engine is short on punch for its size, falling behind bigger rivals and even some livelier middleweights on outright acceleration. A few think the fully equipped version costs a lot for what it delivers.
Wheelie Control software recall (NHTSA 24V-882)
Due to improper FI-ECU programming, the traction control can miscalculate when Wheelie Control is enabled, causing engine hesitation or stalling. Risk of crash or injury. Honda will reprogram the ECU free of charge.
Left handlebar switch harness fretting corrosion (recall KS8/25V583)
Fretting wear at the terminal joints can cause corrosion, leading to intermittent loss of horn and headlight high beam function, posing a safety risk.
TFT display responsiveness and reliability concerns
Owners report sluggish touchscreen response and occasional faults; Honda extended the TFT warranty to 2033, indicating awareness of potential issues.
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. A 6.6 gal tank, cruise control and heated grips as standard, and stability that stays honest loaded and two-up through a full day of interstate and pass roads.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Slickrock and sand at a measured pace, yes: 8.3 in of front travel and 8.7 in of clearance are real. But 558 lb is a lot to wrestle in tight technical sections, and a lighter bike flatters your skills more.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
Plenty of machine for 200 to 400 mile days on good roads, with generous lean clearance and suspension you can set to the pace. It is taller and heavier than a pure road tourer, and you feel that parking it.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2020–2023
Heavy Tech That Actually Works
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.
