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Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin DCT Recalled Over Software Error

One of the most popular dual-sport motorcycles currently in production, the Honda Africa Twin has been recalled stateside to the tune of 1,561 examples. More specifically, motorcycles from the CRF1100 series manufactured for the 2020 and 2021 model years.
Honda Africa Twin 9 photos
Photo: Honda
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According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Japanese company received the first report of an engine stalling while riding in the Japanese market in July 2020. The second followed suit in September 2020 in Italy, and three months later, Honda received the third report from Germany.

The European division repurchased the German motorcycle in March 2021 with the intention of analyzing the issue, yet Honda couldn’t recreate the symptom. Come November 2021, the company investigated the issue with the possibility of abnormal data production when OBD (on-board diagnostics) data was recorded.

The first U.S. market report, with two vehicles stalling while riding, was received in August 2022. A few weeks later, Honda determined that “a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed.” On the upside, no crashes or injuries related to this software error were reported.

Supplied by American Honda Motor Co., the engine control unit features “improper settings in the on-board diagnostics data management program.” The programming issue produces abnormal data that resets the engine control unit, causing the controller area network (CAN) communication to disconnect and the clutch to be released on DCT-equipped models. No fewer than four different engine control units are listed in the attached report: 38770-MKS-A51, 38770-MKS-AV1, 38770-MKS-A52, and 38770-MKS-AV2.

Known owners of the 2020 to 2021 Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin will be contacted by first-class mail with instructions to take their bikes to a Honda Powersports dealer for an ECU reflash. The condition has been corrected with proper OBD data management for all 2022 model year Africa Twins for the North American market.

Called as such after its two-cylinder engine, the dual-sport motorcycle carries an MSRP of $14,399 for the 2021 model year. The 2022 model is presently listed on Honda’s website at $14,499.
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 Download: Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin recall (PDF)

About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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