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Honda Africa Twin Colors, Base Price, and More Tech Features Revealed

It looks like the specs leaked yesterday show the truth about the all-new Honda CRF1000L, much better known as the new Africa Twin. This means that the new machine is a rather conservative one as far as the power and torque figures go, with around 94 hp and 98Nm (72.2 lb-ft). Definitely enough for serious off-roading, but modest compared to what other rivals make.
2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 10 photos
Photo: Honda
2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin off-roading2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin wading rivers2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin front view2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin jumping desert dunes2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin on the road
However, real-life tests out in the wilds and along highways will prove if these numbers are enough, whether the bike lacks in this department, or if Honda simply went spot-on and just didn't want to make things more complex than needed.

If we are to believe pianetariders, the modest 18.5-18.8 liter (4.9 US gal) tank should be enough to cover as much as 400 km (248 miles) before a refill is needed. Again, road tests will show us the real deal. The bike is said to arrive in dealerships in late 2015, obviously as a 2016 model year, but odds are that Honda will showcase it with all the bells and whistles at all major bike shows if the fall.

Three Africa Twin versions in four colors

Honda has prepared three Africa twin flavors, the Standard, the ABS and the DCT-ABS. However, the Standard is an interesting presence in the roster, mostly because we know that ABS is mandatory on all bikes over 125cc in Europe. Is the Standard a bike aimed at the US and other markets that don't hold ABS as a mandatory piece of equipment? Probably, and time will tell. On the aesthetics side, the AT comes in CRF Rally, Tricolour, Silver, and Black liveries, will all-LED lighting clusters.

The good news is that Honda seems to keep the Dual Clutch Transmission an optional feature. No matter how much the big red advertises the DCT and how advanced it may become, there will always be a lot of riders who prefer shifting gears manually and doing all the clutch work themselves. It's not a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of preferences.

Africa Twin comes indeed with a three-mode Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system that can be turned off and dual mappings. The Drive mode offers the best balance between performance and fuel economy, while the Sport one is dedicated to riding hard. And because Honda says that the CRF1000L is dedicated to high performance, the S mode has three additional sub-modes, S1, S2 and S3.

The ABS can be disengaged for the rear wheel while retaining full functionality for the front one. A G master sub-mode is also present and can be activated regardless of the chosen mapping. It makes shifting smoother off-road and maximizes both traction and traction control efficiency.

Now, on the money side, the 2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin is said to arrive with a €12,400 (equivalent to $) price tag, but we can't tell if this price is for the European version or just the base one. This detail is important because the EU version means that the bike is already equipped with ABS. Stay tuned for more info due to arrive soon and enjoy the first high-res photos.
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