2017 EICMA: New Honda Africa Twin Unveiled

Ever since its launch, the Honda Africa Twin has garnered rave reviews for its off-roading capabilities. Despite the ever increasing competition in the adventure-tourer segment, the Africa Twin was able to stand on a firm ground. However, it did trail its rivals in terms of sophistication. To strengthen its foothold, Honda has announced updates to the 2018 Honda Africa Twin. So, what has changed? Let’s see! 

Same Numbers 

The vital numbers still remain the same. The Africa Twin is still powered by the same 998cc parallel-twin engine. The big motor’s twin cylinders dishes out 95PS of power at 7500 rpms and 99Nm of torque at 6000rpm. But, things have changed!

What's New?

Electronic wizardry - For starters, the new Honda Africa Twin now comes with ride-by-wire technology and three different riding modes - Tour, Urban and Gravel. These modes come with presets for Power, HSTC (Honda Selectable Traction Control) and Engine Braking (EB). There is also a fourth mode - User, which allows the rider to save a preferred combination from three levels of Power, seven levels of HSTC and three levels of EB. The outgoing model had just three levels of HSTC. Just like the older model, you can also turn it off completely if you want to.

Better midrange - The 2018 model now features an all-new modified air box, which features a 20mm longer funnel length, along with new exhaust internals to boost mid-range response and sound. The dual-clutch transmission continues to offer three levels of aggressiveness to suit your needs. 

Lighter and better for the rider - Thanks to the new lithium battery, the 2018 Africa Twin is 2kg lighter at 230kg (wet). Other updates include wider footpegs and a redesigned pillion footpeg hangers to allow more room for the rider's feet while standing. The instruments are now angled in a way that allows the rider to see them easily while standing on the footpegs too. 

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New features - The rear indicators of the updated Africa Twin now come with an 'Emergency Stop Signal' function. This system is capable of flashing the hazard lights to warn others on the road when a hard stop is detected. They also come with an auto-cancel feature which does not employ a timer. Instead, the system compares the speed difference between the front and rear wheel to calculate when to stop the indicators, relative to the situation. 

Tougher  - The 2018 model sports stainless steel spokes for increased durability. Honda will also let you fit block pattern tyres as an aftermarket fitment.

Rounding Up 

Honda’s decision to launch the Africa Twin in India did get a lot of Indian riders excited. The updates to the Africa Twin promises to make it a more punchy, more sophisticated and more intuitive motorcycle to use. This should make it an even more tempting option for those looking for an adventure motorcycle that takes its rough roading credentials seriously.