Honda has just released the first look at their latest updates to the ever-popular CRF1100L Africa Twin & Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports bikes, due for a 2022 release.
Available with a choice of Dual Clutch Transmission that’s popular for riders on-road and off, there are a few tweaks made by Honda to tempt adventure riders in 2022 - with a raft of competitors eager to take some of the spoils.
Specifically for 2022, the Japanese giant is making refinements to its range-topping adventurers by bettering their daily practicality - including adding an aluminium rear carrier on the CRF1100L Africa Twin as standard, a shorter 5-stage adjustable screen on the Adventure Sports model, and honing the DCT gearbox in the first two gears for even smoother handling with updated settings.
It goes without saying that both models will also receive new colourway options for 2022, with new graphic looks titled ‘Big Logo’ and ‘Cracked Terrain’ due for the standard Africa Twin & Adventure Sports models respectively.
Building on the success of the 2020 revamp with a torquey larger capacity 1084cc motor, lightweight chassis paired with Bosch MM7.10 six-axis IMU (with all the electronic gadgets) ensures riding characteristics are unmistakably high-end-adventure.
Pricing is yet to be available or confirmed for either of the new Africa Twin models, but the 2021 model currently sits at £13,049.
Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin 2022 model year updates
For 2022, the CRF1100L Africa Twin now features refined Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) settings for even smoother handling in 1st and second gears, standard fitment for the aluminium rear carrier, and striking ultra-modern ‘Big Logo’ graphics.
Adding to the style and design are all-black aluminium side covers, and a new standard fit aluminium rear carrier. You can pick a colour from Pearl Glare White Tricolour, Grand Prix Red, Matte Ballistic Black.
The 6.5” TFT display will also bring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity to the touch-screen that can be navigated with gloved fingers (Android Auto was introduced in 2021), along with standard-fit cruise control & four default rider modes - Tour, Urban, Gravel, & Off-road - and two User modes.
Of particular note for the ’22 model is revised timings for the DCT, allowing for smoother control when pulling away and in lower gears - something Honda has refined over 200,000 DCT-equipped motorcycles since its launch in 2009 on the VFR1200F.
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports 2022 model year updates
The more off-road biased of the two (and with more lights up front), the Adventure Sports model is privy to the ’22 updates of its sibling but is also blessed with a shorter (by 110mm from previous) screen with 5-stage adjustment, tubeless wheels and the same DCT refinements with revised timings are brought over too.
Colour choice on the Adventure Sports consists of new ‘Cracked Terrain’ graphics, with colour options Pearl Glare White Tricolour & Matte Ballistic Black Metallic.
It’s not quite an extensive overhaul of the Africa Twin model range for 2022, but refinements to the DCT ‘box will be welcome, alongside other small tweaks that may not have been included on the release notes. We’ll have to look forward to a 2022 test to find out for ourselves and let you all know.
For pricing, we’ll have to wait to find out where these adventure models are priced for a 2022 market, but it’s looking likely that they’ll be around the same price as the 2021 models floating in the £13,000 region (but we can always hope for a surprise price cut).
