The Honda Built For Riders Planning To Keep Their Bike Forever
Most riders dream of owning a different motorcycle for every mood — a canyon carver for the weekend, a tourer for the long haul, a commuter for the daily grind. In reality, that kind of collection is out of reach for the vast majority of us. Bikes are expensive, they depreciate quickly, and garage space is finite. So the smarter play is finding one motorcycle that earns its keep every single day: a machine you can genuinely hold onto for the long term without second-guessing yourself every time a new model drops.
That sounds like a tall order, and for most motorcycles, it is. You can’t commute and tour on a track-focused supersport, nor can you take your cruiser bike off-roading. There are some motorcycles that get this balance right, though, including one that we’re focusing on today.
Not All Motorcycles Have A ‘Forever Potential’
You want to keep a motorcycle forever, but for that, the motorcycle must fulfill many criteria. The bike should be powerful enough so you never get bored with it, while being reliable in the long run. It should also be comfortable and versatile, so you can take it around everywhere, whether you’re heading to work, on an off-road trail, or the other side of the country.
ADVs make the best sense here as they are akin to Swiss Army knives on two wheels. They can do everything you ask of them, which is one reason why ADVs have exploded in popularity over the last decade. But not all ADVs are suitable for a one-bike garage. Sure, you can get an exotic Ducati or a trusty Kawasaki KLR650 — both terrific for certain tasks but unsuitable for many others. Luckily, there’s a Honda adventure bike that’s designed to keep you riding for years to come.
The Honda Africa Twin DCT Offers Top-Notch Versatility For $15,199
The Honda Africa Twin, as the manufacturer puts it, is bred for adventure touring, and it’s positioned as a true go-anywhere machine. That reputation has made the Africa Twin a benchmark in the dependable adventure motorcycle category. It comes with a reliable parallel-twin engine, a lightweight frame, and advanced suspension. Despite being a full-size ADV, the Africa Twin also manages to be quite versatile for everyday use as it focuses its performance on real-world riding, not spec-sheet battles.
Options For Varying Rider Preferences
The Africa Twin DCT starts at $15,199 for the standard variant, and even in this form, it’s a complete motorcycle. The higher variants are designed to meet different riding requirements. Honda also offers a more road-biased version, the Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES, for $17,799, which brings a bigger fuel tank and electronic suspension. Both models are complemented by DCT versions, which start at $15,999 for the standard and $18,599 for the Adventure Sports ES DCT version.
Liter-Class ADV Performance With A Focus On Real-World Use
The Africa Twin is powered by a narrow 1,084cc Unicam parallel-twin engine that produces 100.5 horsepower and 82.6 pound-feet of torque. Honda tuned this engine to deliver strong torque smoothly across the entire rev range. Thanks to the 10.5:1 compression ratio and mid-range-tuned valve timing, power builds linearly rather than arriving in a sudden rush.
This engine also packs some clever engineering. Its twin intake system uses dual vertical filtration for prolonged use in dusty environments, while a biaxial counterbalancer keeps vibration in check for a smoother ride. The 270-degree firing order not only sharpens power delivery but also gives the engine a satisfying V-twin-like rumble. And being a tried-and-tested Honda ADV, the engine is also fairly reliable and easy to maintain.
Engine Design Also Helps With The Bike’s Versatile Handling
Honda says the narrow engine design aids handling-related weight distribution. Additionally, the parallel-twin layout lets the front wheel tuck in closer to the engine, shortening the wheelbase, which makes the bike more agile on the road. The Africa Twin also uses a dry-sump engine design, which improves ground clearance and helps you tackle challenging terrain without the bike getting hung up on a rock or a log.
DCT Makes Life Easier
The standard Africa Twin models use a conventional six-speed transmission, but the DCT is the game-changer. This system uses a six-speed steel-gear DCT that handles gear changes automatically. Honda claims this transmission also delivers smoother control at low speeds, with more natural gear changes overall. A dedicated ‘G’ (Gravel) mode slips the clutch to make off-roading more manageable and more fun.
Rally-Inspired Design To Handle Everything On The Road
The Africa Twin uses a lightweight semi-double-cradle frame akin to those found on Honda’s HRC Rally bikes, with a history of Dakar wins. It’s paired with a lightweight swingarm featuring technology developed for the CRF450R. Add to that the bike’s low center of gravity, rally-style fairing, and athletic yet comfortable riding position, and you have a machine that feels manageable despite its size and weight.
The same ergonomics are also designed for long hours in the saddle and off-roading, depending on the variant you pick. The standard model features a narrow seat that makes maneuvering at low speeds and off-road easier. Meanwhile, the Adventure Sports model gets a slightly larger seat with enhanced foam for more support and comfort on the highway. Even the tall handlebars are designed to open up the cockpit for the rider.
Long-Travel Suspension To Soak Up All The Bumps
The standard Africa Twin comes with fully adjustable Showa suspension, including a 45 mm USD fork with 9.1 inches of travel and a Pro-Link monoshock with 8.7 inches of travel. Honda says this is the highest suspension travel in the 1,000cc ADV class — and it’s more than enough for everything the bike is designed to do. This suspension is paired with a 21/18-inch wheel setup with tubeless wire-spoke wheels to take on the worst roads and some challenging trails.
The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES hides the real party trick, though, thanks to its Showa EERA electronic suspension. This setup reduces travel to 8.3 inches at the front and 7.9 inches at the rear, and trims the front tire to a 19-inch unit. It compensates by constantly adapting the suspension to prevailing road conditions across five selectable modes. If ultimate road comfort is the priority, the Adventure Sports ES is the variant to go for.
Getting Other Basics Right, Too
In terms of tech, the Africa Twin offers just the right amount of essentials to keep you entertained, informed, and safe. It features a 6.5-inch TFT display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The bike also features six riding modes, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), wheelie control, cornering ABS, and an off-road ABS mode. Honda also offers optional luggage. On the Adventure Sports ES, the larger 6.6-gallon fuel tank extends the bike’s effective range to up to 300 miles between fill-ups.
Put it all together, and the Africa Twin emerges as a seriously competent package that can wear as many hats as you want it to. It has the power and comfort to sit at highway speeds, enough low-end grunt to handle commuting, and all the essentials to get gnarly on an off-road trail. If we had to choose one motorcycle for the money, the Africa Twin is the one to get. And given how reliable these machines are, it would easily outlast most motorcycles sharing the same garage.
Source: Honda
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