honda africa twin tft display manufacturer

In an effort to help existing and potential customers better understand the extensive capabilities of the 2020 CRF1100L Africa Twin’s advanced Multi-Information Display (MID), Honda has released a new interactive simulator on its consumer website.

All four CRF1100L Africa Twin versions—the manual and DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) iterations of the standard Africa Twin and Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES—are equipped with a 6.5 inch touch-panel TFT LCD Multi-Information Display (MID) and handlebar controls that offer features including Apple CarPlay integration; activation/cancelation of ABS and G-mode; and adjustment of settings for Honda Selective Torque Control (HSTC), wheelie control, riding modes, user mode and—on applicable versions—suspension and DCT; as well as other data like time, speed, etc.

“The electronic technology of the 2020 Africa Twin is amazingly capable, and Honda’s new Multi-Information Display simulator enables customers to more easily get the most out of their machines,” said Chris Cox, Manager of Experiential Marketing & P.R. at American Honda. “We encourage customers—whether they already own an Africa Twin or are in the market for a new adventure bike—to give the tool a try.”

The tool is best experienced on desktop and can be accessed by scrolling down within the website’s Africa Twin section, clicking “Check it out,” selecting the appropriate language and distance units, and clicking “Start.” Users are encouraged to first explore the “Information” and “Navigation” sections, accessed via buttons in the top-righthand corner of the screen, in order to familiarize themselves with the simulator.

Honda has posted an online simulator that lets you play with the Africa Twin’s TFT display.   The online simulator offers current or potential future riders the means to introduce themselves to the display’s functions without having to be on or own one of the machines.

Perhaps the online resource is a hidden nod to the complexity that these types of displays bring.  But kudos to Honda.  They are taking the initiative to allow riders to use and understand the system before making an Africa Twin purchase.

The website provides a simulation of the Africa Twin’s TFT display and left and right-hand control switches.  The simulator allows a rider to adjust the multiple settings available on the bike.

Once at the website, you will see a simulated TFT LCD instrument cluster with technical information on the display.  The visitor can customize the readouts with a click of a button on the left-hand control switch.  It’s found on the lower right portion of your monitor.

Unfortunately, there are no detailed instructions on how to use the simulator.  So you’ll have to fiddle a bit with the controls to understand what they do and how to change its settings.  Still, it’s a decent way to get a feel for the display and what it can do for you.

The new 2020 Honda Africa Twin, no matter what type of Africa Twin you get, has the 6.5-inch touch-panel TFT LCD Multi-information Display with handlebar controls and features like Apple CarPlay and settings for the ABS, Torque Control, wheelie control and more. To help folks understand what’s what before they get out there knot the real-world,

“The electronic technology of the 2020 Africa Twin is amazingly capable, and Honda’s new Multi-Information Display simulator enables customers to more easily get the most out of their machines,” said Chris Cox, Manager of Experiential Marketing & P.R. at American Honda. “We encourage customers—whether they already own an Africa Twin or are in the market for a new adventure bike—to give the tool a try.”

In an effort to help existing and potential customers better understand the extensive capabilities of the 2020 CRF1100L Africa Twin’s advanced Multi-Information Display, American Honda has released a new interactive simulator on its consumer website.

All four CRF1100L Africa Twin versions—the manual and Dual Clutch Transmission iterations of the standard Africa Twin and Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES—are equipped with a 6.5 inch touch-panel TFT LCD Multi-Information Display (MID) and handlebar controls that offer features including Apple CarPlay™ integration; activation/cancelation of ABS and G-mode; and adjustment of settings for Honda Selective Torque Control (HSTC), wheelie control, riding modes, user mode and—on applicable versions—suspension and DCT; as well as other data like time, speed, etc.

“The electronic technology of the 2020 Africa Twin is amazingly capable, and Honda’s new Multi-Information Display simulator enables customers to more easily get the most out of their machines,” said Chris Cox, Manager of Experiential Marketing & P.R. at American Honda. “We encourage customers—whether they already own an Africa Twin or are in the market for a new adventure bike—to give the tool a try.”

The tool can be accessed by scrolling down within the website’s Africa Twin section, clicking “Check it out,” selecting the appropriate language and distance units, and clicking “Start.” Users are encouraged to first explore the “Information” and “Navigation” sections, accessed via buttons in the top-righthand corner of the screen, in order to familiarize themselves with the simulator.

ABOUT AMERICAN HONDAAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and Side-by-Sides in the United States. American Honda’s Powersports Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through independent authorized Honda retail dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.

Anti-Glare: Provides the same scratch resistance and protection as our Ultra-Clear protectors, but also helps to remove the glare/reflections associated with LCD/TFT dashboards. Anti-glare protectors have a matte appearance once fitted.

We take great care to ensure that our screen protectors fit accurately and that we have listed the correct protector for your model. We never release a product for sale until we are certain that the fitment is as accurate as it can be. Generally manufacturers retain the same dashboard shape for their entire model range, even if the dashboard displays themselves change.

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES and Adventure Sports ES DCT are equipped with SHOWA EERA® (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) electronically controlled suspension. You can choose between five suspension damper settings: hard, medium, soft, and off-road, as well as a customizable “user” setting. It’s easy to switch between them, too, so you can choose one for the highway and another when the going gets rougher.

NEW STEEL FRAME: The 2020 Africa Twin’s frame is almost four pounds lighter than our previous model’s. Plus, we’ve fine-tuned it by making the steering head more resistant to twist.

SEMI-DOUBLE-CRADLE-FRAME: The Africa Twin’s semi-double-cradle frame layout has been proven in countless Honda dirtbikes. In principle it’s similar to the design we use on our CRF450R Rally bike—a machine that’s designed to perform in the challenging Dakar rally and similar events.

LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin doesn’t just look like an adventure bike—it’s the real deal. Exhibit A: Check out its long-travel front suspension. The inverted Showa® fork is fully adjustable with huge 45mm tubes and 9.1 inches of travel—the most front-end travel in the 1000cc off-road class.

FOUR-PISTON CALIPERS: Up front, the Africa Twin features twin four-piston brake calipers for powerful braking performance. The radial-mount design also helps make them stiffer, increasing brake feel and control.

43-DEGREE STEERING LOCK: With 43 degrees of steering lock both left and right, the Africa Twin provides excellent maneuverability on tight trails. This is one of the reasons the Africa Twin feels so much more nimble than many of the other bigger adventure bikes out there.

NEW SWINGARM: We shaved 500 grams from the 2020 Africa Twin’s swingarm—that’s more than a pound. This new piece uses technology developed on our CRF450R motocrosser. Any time you can take weight out of the suspension it’s a good thing, and helps handling and response.

HOLLOW AXLE SHAFTS: The Africa Twin uses large-diameter hollow steel axles front and rear. They’re super strong, durable, but also light: a combination which describes just about everything associated with this bike.

SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL: The Africa Twin’s throttle-by-wire system lets us offer Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). You can dial in exactly the kind of power delivery you want for the conditions at hand. Honda Selectable Torque Control features seven settings for a wide range of conditions, from pavement to fast, loose fire roads to challenging singletrack. You can also turn it off.

WHEELIE CONTROL: Front and rear wheel-speed sensors working with the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) let you dial in three levels of wheelie control. There"s also an "off" position—you"re the wheelie control here.

REAR SUSPENSION: Not only is the Africa Twin’s rising-rate Pro-Link® rear suspension fully adjustable, it offers a 220mm stroke for 8.7 inches of rear-wheel travel. Even better, there’s a special remote preload adjuster—you just turn a convenient knob, and you can compensate for varying loads like a passenger or full panniers.

TIRES AND WHEELS: Real adventure bikes use spoked wheels because they better survive the dings and hits of off-road riding. All Africa Twin models feature a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear for superior performance, especially when it comes to off-road riding.

LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin doesn’t just look like an adventure bike—it’s the real deal. Exhibit A: Check out its long-travel front suspension. The inverted Showa fork is fully adjustable with huge 45mm tubes and 9.1 inches of travel—the most front-end travel in the 1000cc off-road class.

STEEL FRAME: This second generation of Africa Twin features a frame that is almost four pounds lighter than our earlier bikes. And while it may be lighter, we fine-tuned it by making the steering head more resistant to twist.

SEMI-DOUBLE-CRADLE-FRAME: The Africa Twin’s semi-double-cradle frame layout has been proven in countless Honda dirtbikes. In principle it’s similar to the design we use on our CRF450R Rally factory Dakar racebike—a machine that’s designed to perform in the challenging Dakar rally and similar events.

FOUR-PISTON CALIPERS: Up front, the Africa Twin features twin four-piston brake calipers for powerful braking performance. The radial-mount design also helps make them stiffer, increasing brake feel and control.

43-DEGREE STEERING LOCK: With 43 degrees of steering lock both left and right, the Africa Twin provides excellent maneuverability on tight trails. This is one of the reasons the Africa Twin feels so much more nimble than many of the other bigger adventure bikes out there.

HOLLOW AXLE SHAFTS: The Africa Twin uses large-diameter hollow steel axles front and rear. They’re super strong, durable, but also light: a combination which describes just about everything associated with this bike.

Honda SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL: The Africa Twin’s throttle-by-wire system lets us offer Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). You can dial in exactly the kind of power delivery you want for the conditions at hand. Honda Selectable Torque Control features seven settings for a wide range of conditions, from pavement to fast, loose fire roads to challenging singletrack. You can also turn it off. New engine settings for 2022 make a great feature even better.

WHEELIE CONTROL: Front and rear wheel-speed sensors working with the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) let you dial in three levels of wheelie control. There"s also an "off" position—you"re the wheelie control here.

REAR SUSPENSION: Not only is the Africa Twin’s rising-rate Pro-Link® rear suspension fully adjustable, it offers a 220mm stroke for 8.7 inches of rear-wheel travel. Even better, there’s a special remote preload adjuster—you just turn a convenient knob, and you can compensate for varying loads like a passenger or full panniers.

TIRES AND WHEELS: Real adventure bikes use spoked wheels because they better survive the dings and hits of off-road riding. All Africa Twin models feature a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear for superior performance, especially when it comes to off-road riding.

Has there ever been a better time to be an adventure-bike rider? And has taking your next vacation on an adventure bike ever looked better either? Honda’s Africa Twin lineup is so good it’s an embarrassment of riches. Technology. Comfort. Reliability you can count on, come rain or shine, continent-crossing journeys or weekend getaways. Features like cruise control and touch-screen technology make it a great tourer, while its rugged construction and off-road refinements let you wander from horizon to horizon on the path less travelled.

The CRF1100L Africa Twin sports one of the best engines ever in an adventure bike. The parallel-twin design is narrow, and delivers torque everywhere from idle to redline. You’ll have more grunt down low, and cruise easy on the open road.

Available on the Africa Twin DCT and Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT, this is the transmission of the future. Inside, it’s as tough as a conventional manual, with steel gears throughout. You can let it shift for you, or paddle shifters in the manual mode give you full control. Four settings (Drive, Sport 1, 2, and 3) let you pick what’s right for your riding conditions.

Apple CarPlay™ seamlessly integrates your compatible iPhone®* into your new Africa Twin. That means you can use your iPhone® to access Apple Maps, Apple Music, and other services easily. You’ll have access to

The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES and Adventure Sports ES DCT are equipped with SHOWA EERA® (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) electronically controlled suspension. You can choose between five suspension damper settings: hard, medium, soft, and off-road, as well as a customizable “user” setting. It’s easy to switch between them, too, so you can choose one for the highway and another when the going gets rougher.

LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin doesn’t just look like an adventure bike—it’s the real deal. Exhibit A: Check out its long-travel front suspension. The inverted Showa fork is fully adjustable with huge 45mm tubes and 9.1 inches of travel—the most front-end travel in the 1000cc off-road class.

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES and Adventure Sports ES DCT are equipped with SHOWA EERA® (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) electronically controlled suspension. You can choose between five suspension damper settings: hard, medium, soft, and off-road, as well as a customizable “user” setting. It’s easy to switch between them, too, so you can choose one for the highway and another when the going gets rougher.

STEEL FRAME: This second generation of Africa Twin features a frame that is almost four pounds lighter than our earlier bikes. And while it may be lighter, we fine-tuned it by making the steering head more resistant to twist.

SEMI-DOUBLE-CRADLE-FRAME: The Africa Twin’s semi-double-cradle frame layout has been proven in countless Honda dirtbikes. In principle it’s similar to the design we use on our CRF450R Rally factory Dakar racebike—a machine that’s designed to perform in the challenging Dakar rally and similar events.

FOUR-PISTON CALIPERS: Up front, the Africa Twin features twin four-piston brake calipers for powerful braking performance. The radial-mount design also helps make them stiffer, increasing brake feel and control.

43-DEGREE STEERING LOCK: With 43 degrees of steering lock both left and right, the Africa Twin provides excellent maneuverability on tight trails. This is one of the reasons the Africa Twin feels so much more nimble than many of the other bigger adventure bikes out there.

HOLLOW AXLE SHAFTS: The Africa Twin uses large-diameter hollow steel axles front and rear. They’re super strong, durable, but also light: a combination which describes just about everything associated with this bike.

Honda SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL: The Africa Twin’s throttle-by-wire system lets us offer Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). You can dial in exactly the kind of power delivery you want for the conditions at hand. Honda Selectable Torque Control features seven settings for a wide range of conditions, from pavement to fast, loose fire roads to challenging singletrack. You can also turn it off. New engine settings for 2022 make a great feature even better.

WHEELIE CONTROL: Front and rear wheel-speed sensors working with the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) let you dial in three levels of wheelie control. There"s also an "off" position—you"re the wheelie control here.

REAR SUSPENSION: Not only is the Africa Twin’s rising-rate Pro-Link® rear suspension fully adjustable, it offers a 220mm stroke for 8.7 inches of rear-wheel travel. Even better, there’s a special remote preload adjuster—you just turn a convenient knob, and you can compensate for varying loads like a passenger or full panniers.

TIRES AND WHEELS: Real adventure bikes use spoked wheels because they better survive the dings and hits of off-road riding. All Africa Twin models feature a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear for superior performance, especially when it comes to off-road riding.

• 2021 Honda CRF 1100 Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT Review While researching the development and history of the Africa Twin I was impressed by what I learned. When Honda entered the 1986 Dakar Rally they went on to win four straight victories, an extremely rare feat for any manufacturer in their inaugural season. This race bike, the NXR750, would go on to become the inspiration for the production model we know and love today. Having been a longtime fan of Dakar and what it embodies, when I was given the opportunity to swing a leg over the current Africa Twin, it was exciting.

After the production version of the Africa Twin was launched in 1988, the line-up went through several upgrades over the years, but production eventually ceased in 2003. Then, after a 12-year hiatus, the Africa Twin was reborn in 2015. Known for being a more off-road oriented bike in the adventure segment, it did not disappoint.

DCT was first introduced in the 1200VFR in 2010 and the Goldwing received its DCT in 2017. It behaves like the automatic transmission in your car and, if you’ve ridden a scooter, you’ll be familiar with the twist-and-go functionality. Orders for Africa Twins outfitted with DCT have been steadily increasing over the years and now comprise 37% of all models sold. Honda has been investing a great deal of time and money into this technology. I had never tried DCT so was curious to learn what the riding experience would be like.

The motorcycle looks great. You can see some of the design’s heritage, but gone are the rounded styling cues in favor of a more modern angular approach. As the technician was going over the bike, I couldn’t help but be impressed at the package that Honda put together. You have lean-sensitive ABS, four factory and two user ride modes, throttle by wire, cruise control, heated grips, 12-volt and USB accessory outlets, adjustable windscreen, paddle shifters, and a 6.5-inch TFT display that even shows your power, engine braking and traction control settings along with Bluetooth, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto. Man, motorcycles have come a long way.

At first this felt weird. Even though the brakes are obviously the primary means to arrest acceleration, it felt odd not having the clutch to modulate power delivery during slow-speed maneuvering. To its credit, the throttle response is pretty smooth, and there is the feel of a friction zone. Honda saw fit to give the rider four drive mode variants (D or SI, SII, or SIII) that can modify any of the six user (four factory and two user) modes. This includes Touring, Urban, Gravel and Off-road. The standard D mode is mellow, almost dull. It quickly shifts through the gears to keeps the rpms down under 3,000. This sometimes leaves the rpms too low for my taste. I imagine it’s there for fuel economy and/or to have a mild setting for new riders on big bikes. For those craving more, thankfully the S modes wake up the bike, not only offering shift points higher in the rpm range but staying in gear longer before upshifting. I spent a good amount of time in SII as it just felt like the right balance for the mix of spirited street, freeway and canyon riding I enjoy.

For off-road, there is a dedicated mode which will take some of the snap out of the throttle input in order to be more forgiving over rough stuff, but you can dial it back up with the S modes. Between the factory ride modes and the fine tuning, every rider should be able to find a combination to their liking. There’s also a slew of rider aids (traction control, wheelie control, engine braking, power delivery, ABS) available with their respective range of settings and, while I tend to prefer the lowest settings, I’m a big fan of modern ABS in those “Oh shit!” braking scenarios. Each aid can be dialed in according to rider preference and, again, there should be a setting for everyone as Honda has given the rider a good range of flexibility.

Powering the Africa Twin is the recently enlarged 1084cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected Unicam parallel twin, making 101 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 77 ft.-lb. of torque at 6,250 rpm.

Braking is handled by twin 310mm rotors and two four-piston hydraulic calipers up front and a single 256mm piston hydraulic caliper in the rear. Braking feels firm and responsive both in terms of lever feel and seat of the pants.

While the standard Africa Twin tips the scales at 501 lb., the touring-oriented Adventure Sports ES comes it at 530 lb. wet/ready to ride. The DCT variants add 23 lb. to either model, while fuel capacity is increased from 5 to 6.5 gallons to allow for extra range on those long rides.

As mentioned earlier, this bike has much of the same tech (and then some) as more expensive bikes in the 1000cc and up class. The big news for 2021 is the addition of Android Auto and Apple Car Play for navigation and music. Other features include heated grips with five settings, cruise control, turn signal cancellation, and access to the menu from the left grip cluster. The 6.5-inch TFT display is large and clear and you can customize what is shown for each riding mode.

All in all, the Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT is a do-anything motorcycle that can take you far, in comfort, with confidence, and in charge whether there are roads or not. And isn’t that what this market segment is all about?

LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin doesn’t just look like an adventure bike—it’s the real deal. Exhibit A: Check out its long-travel front suspension. The inverted Showa fork is fully adjustable with huge 45mm tubes and 9.1 inches of travel—the most front-end travel in the 1000cc off-road class.

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES and Adventure Sports ES DCT are equipped with SHOWA EERA® (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) electronically controlled suspension. You can choose between five suspension damper settings: hard, medium, soft, and off-road, as well as a customizable “user” setting. It’s easy to switch between them, too, so you can choose one for the highway and another when the going gets rougher.

STEEL FRAME: This second generation of Africa Twin features a frame that is almost four pounds lighter than our earlier bikes. And while it may be lighter, we fine-tuned it by making the steering head more resistant to twist.

SEMI-DOUBLE-CRADLE-FRAME: The Africa Twin’s semi-double-cradle frame layout has been proven in countless Honda dirtbikes. In principle it’s similar to the design we use on our CRF450R Rally factory Dakar racebike—a machine that’s designed to perform in the challenging Dakar rally and similar events.

FOUR-PISTON CALIPERS: Up front, the Africa Twin features twin four-piston brake calipers for powerful braking performance. The radial-mount design also helps make them stiffer, increasing brake feel and control.

43-DEGREE STEERING LOCK: With 43 degrees of steering lock both left and right, the Africa Twin provides excellent maneuverability on tight trails. This is one of the reasons the Africa Twin feels so much more nimble than many of the other bigger adventure bikes out there.

HOLLOW AXLE SHAFTS: The Africa Twin uses large-diameter hollow steel axles front and rear. They’re super strong, durable, but also light: a combination which describes just about everything associated with this bike.

Honda SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL: The Africa Twin’s throttle-by-wire system lets us offer Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). You can dial in exactly the kind of power delivery you want for the conditions at hand. Honda Selectable Torque Control features seven settings for a wide range of conditions, from pavement to fast, loose fire roads to challenging singletrack. You can also turn it off. New engine settings for 2022 make a great feature even better.

WHEELIE CONTROL: Front and rear wheel-speed sensors working with the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) let you dial in three levels of wheelie control. There"s also an "off" position—you"re the wheelie control here.

REAR SUSPENSION: Not only is the Africa Twin’s rising-rate Pro-Link® rear suspension fully adjustable, it offers a 220mm stroke for 8.7 inches of rear-wheel travel. Even better, there’s a special remote preload adjuster—you just turn a convenient knob, and you can compensate for varying loads like a passenger or full panniers.

TIRES AND WHEELS: Real adventure bikes use spoked wheels because they better survive the dings and hits of off-road riding. All Africa Twin models feature a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear for superior performance, especially when it comes to off-road riding.

In its basic form, it’s £12,399 (or £13,399 for the DCT model) – correct at the time of writing in April 2022 after Honda’s price increase of £400 on each model.

I can’t for the life of me understand why Honda clumped everything together in the messiest assortment of buttons I’ve ever seen. And then stuck it on the handlebars.

To make it worse, these buttons exist only because the touchscreen doesn’t work when the bike is moving. I wish Honda would either make it so the touchscreen works when riding or dispense with the touchscreen altogether and pass on the cost reductions to the customer!

It’s the same engine that’s in the Africa Twin. But to me, at least, it doesn’t feel like it! I’m pretty certain that my 2019 AT is quicker than the NT1100 – despite the smaller displacement.

Many people thought the original Honda Deauville was dull. And I can imagine them thinking the NT1100 is just as lacklustre. I must admit, I was expecting a little more oomph from its 1,084cc’s.

Lastly, the NT1100 appears to be less frugal than my Africa Twin. Throughout my ride, I averaged around 48mpg. And in a world where petrol prices are through the roof, that’s a concern.

One of the most important requirements for my next bike is that it’s lightweight. So I was somewhat bemused when I saw the DCT version of the NT1100 was a full 20kg heavier than my non-DCT Africa Twin.

I currently pay around £170 per month (over three years) for my Africa Twin on PCP. For the NT1100 with DCT, the payments work out (for me and my specific circumstances) at £185 over FOUR years, or £215 over three years.

That said, the NT is incredibly easy to ride and supremely comfortable. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Honda will sell lots and lots of NT1100 units!

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES and Adventure Sports ES DCT are equipped with SHOWA EERA® (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) electronically controlled suspension. You can choose between five suspension damper settings: hard, medium, soft, and off-road, as well as a customizable “user” setting. It’s easy to switch between them, too, so you can choose one for the highway and another when the going gets rougher.

STEEL FRAME: This second generation of Africa Twin features a frame that is almost four pounds lighter than our earlier bikes. And while it may be lighter, we fine-tuned it by making the steering head more resistant to twist.

SEMI-DOUBLE-CRADLE-FRAME: The Africa Twin’s semi-double-cradle frame layout has been proven in countless Honda dirtbikes. In principle it’s similar to the design we use on our CRF450R Rally bike—a machine that’s designed to perform in the challenging Dakar rally and similar events.

LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION: The Africa Twin doesn’t just look like an adventure bike—it’s the real deal. Exhibit A: Check out its long-travel front suspension. The inverted Showa® fork is fully adjustable with huge 45mm tubes and 9.1 inches of travel—the most front-end travel in the 1000cc off-road class.

FOUR-PISTON CALIPERS: Up front, the Africa Twin features twin four-piston brake calipers for powerful braking performance. The radial-mount design also helps make them stiffer, increasing brake feel and control.

43-DEGREE STEERING LOCK: With 43 degrees of steering lock both left and right, the Africa Twin provides excellent maneuverability on tight trails. This is one of the reasons the Africa Twin feels so much more nimble than many of the other bigger adventure bikes out there.

HOLLOW AXLE SHAFTS: The Africa Twin uses large-diameter hollow steel axles front and rear. They’re super strong, durable, but also light: a combination which describes just about everything associated with this bike.

Honda SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL: The Africa Twin’s throttle-by-wire system lets us offer Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). You can dial in exactly the kind of power delivery you want for the conditions at hand. Honda Selectable Torque Control features seven settings for a wide range of conditions, from pavement to fast, loose fire roads to challenging singletrack. You can also turn it off.

WHEELIE CONTROL: Front and rear wheel-speed sensors working with the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) let you dial in three levels of wheelie control. There"s also an "off" position—you"re the wheelie control here.

TIRES AND WHEELS: Real adventure bikes use spoked wheels because they better survive the dings and hits of off-road riding. All Africa Twin models feature a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear for superior performance, especially when it comes to off-road riding.

The ever-increasing influence of the smartphone on our day-to-day lives is something you might love or hate but Android Auto (like it’s rival Apple CarPlay) makes for a seamless transition of the technology onto four-wheels. And onto two wheels now, as the Honda has announced the software can be uploaded onto the TFT display of its CRF1100L Africa Twin and Africa Twin Adventure Sports models.

Although not the first bike to get Android Auto – the Gold Wing was given the capability last year – the Africa Twin is a far more mainstream offering, and no doubt marks the opening of the floodgates that will see the system appear across a host of models in the months and years to come. Apple’s take on the idea, CarPlay, was introduced to the Africa Twin as part of the bike’s mild refresh for 2020, but by adopting the Google-developed Android Auto, Honda brings similar tech to a whole new group of Android-using customers.

In case you’re been restricting yourself to a decade-old Nokia, the idea of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is to allow your bike’s TFT screen access to your phone’s apps, storage and processing power, all dressed in visuals and a user interface intended to make them easy to understand and operate on-the-go.

Importantly, given the speed with which technology moves, the adoption of the system means the Africa Twin’s multimedia tech shouldn’t get left behind. Provided Android (and Apple in the case of CarPlay) continue to support the system, your on-board tech evolves with that of your phone.

To use Android Auto on the Africa Twin, your bike will need a software update installed by a Honda dealer, and you’ll need a Bluetooth headset fitted to your helmet to allow the audio, calls and voice control functions to work.