2022 Honda Africa Twin Overview [A Personal Adventure Bike Test]

They are saying age is only a quantity, however inform that to my hip, which determined that my “lively way of life” was an excessive amount of and has packed it in. As I wrestle to throw my leg over the 34.3-inch seat top of the 2022 Honda Africa Twin, I query my unquenchable thirst for journey and the bikes that can take me there.Realistically, most of my journey using as of late consists of long-distance street touring with dust roads and path using at my vacation spot. I noticed some time in the past that 500+ pound journey bikes loaded with gear usually are not a lot enjoyable in very difficult off-road situations. Don’t get me improper. Having the flexibleness to go down any street I discover with the arrogance that my bike can deal with it’s unbelievable, and I like having that choice even once I don’t train it.The Honda Africa Twin is a perennial favourite and on any quick record when contemplating the acquisition of an journey motorbike. The AT sits in a little bit of a singular spot. With a 1084cc engine and weighing in at 529 kilos with the DCT, it has the size of an open-class journey bike. Nevertheless, with 100 horsepower on faucet and extra of a dust bike feel and look, it has extra in frequent with middleweights than the 1200-and-larger ADV bikes.As an avid journey bike tourer, I’ve ridden or owned many sorts of journey touring bikes over time. I gravitate in the direction of the upright stance, and I like the flexibility that comes with them. Whereas the Africa Twin has been on my record for a very long time, it has by no means made its method into my storage.Regardless of its beauty, repute, and reliability, the numbers by no means added up for me. A 529-pound motorbike with solely 100 horsepower and a seat that didn’t look tremendous snug, the Africa Twin didn’t appear aggressive with different bikes within the class for my wants. I knew there was in all probability extra to the AT, so I used to be anxious to get to know the Honda higher.My first impressions when choosing it up? The Africa Twin is handsome. The entrance lights look critical and prepared for enterprise. The proportions and look of the AT make it appear like an overgrown dust bike that was prepared for some enjoyable, although the seat nonetheless didn’t look snug. The excessive stance and 21-inch entrance wheel made me assume it wouldn’t be as enjoyable within the twisty canyons round LA. Nevertheless, as soon as I threw my leg over the seat, it felt well-built and proportional.Beginning up the engine was an enormous shock for me. The repute of Honda powerplants precedes it, so I used to be anticipating some buttery clean Japanese mill to fireside up. As a substitute, I acquired a loud clattering engine extra like a single-pot dust bike than a buttery clean journey tourer. It didn’t sit proper with me initially.The subsequent impression wasn’t significantly better than the engine sound. Trying on the cockpit, all of the switches and buttons on varied components of the handlebar, and the Africa Twin’s two screens, I instantly felt that it’s too cluttered. I used to be sure I might discover makes use of for all of the controls, however there needed to be a cleaner strategy to execute it. As I pulled out, trying to find the flip sign, I instantly hit the horn, one thing I might do time and again as I rode the Africa Twin.Out on the road after which accelerating onto the freeway ramp, the Africa Twin’s engine began to indicate its character. The preliminary clattering sound gave strategy to a a lot smoother sound, offering linear energy with rather more thrust than I anticipated. Though three have been nonetheless some vibes within the grips, the engine began to hum alongside in a really good method. I wouldn’t say it’s the quickest 1000+ cc journey bike I’ve ever ridden, however I by no means felt it was underpowered.Weaving by means of LA visitors, I acquired a really feel for the AT’s nimbleness and maneuverability. These emotions continued all through the check, no matter situations. When it got here time for sport using, the Africa Twin offered very spirited canyon using and high-speed passes on Angeles Crest Freeway.The usual mannequin I examined has adjustable Showa suspension, although not the semi-active digital suspension of the Journey Sports activities ES version. Thankfully, the suspension because it comes is terrific, offering a agency trip and well-planted really feel.The Africa Twin’s soaked up the varied imperfections of the tarmac however by no means felt too gentle or washy like some journey bikes can. I didn’t make any changes to the suspension, although I might in all probability soften up the settings just a little if I have been to do long-distance touring and off-road. For the canyon using and visitors dodging I did in Southern California, it was arrange completely.Like most journey bikes, the Honda Africa Twin will not be for the vertically challenged. At 6-foot with a 31-inch inseam, the balls of my toes have been on the bottom at stops, however the seat nonetheless felt excessive.Most of my private bikes are taller scramblers or journey bikes, as I desire the leverage of that top within the turns. The Africa Twin, with its 21-inch entrance wheel and lengthy journey suspension, isn’t fast in transitions, but it surely by no means feels ponderous. On a day devoted to pictures within the Angeles Nationwide Forest, I used to be chasing Final Motorcycling Editor Don Williams on a a lot sooner BMW S 1000 XR. I stored up, although it’s doable Don was simply being good. Editor’s Observe: He wasn’t.Maintaining with a bike just like the XR requires establishing the Africa Twin in the appropriate strategy to get essentially the most efficiency for a way I trip. Fortunately the AT provides fairly a little bit of adjustability and customization.Like many motorbikes at the moment, the 2022 Honda Africa Twin has a wide range of dash-controlled trip modes that help you modify energy, engine braking, traction management, wheelie management, and ABS (in addition to suspension, in case you have the Journey Sports activities ES and its semi-active suspension). The AT comes with 4 preset using modes, plus two totally customizable modes.The 4 preset modes are Tour, City, Gravel, and Off-road. Every mode has acceptable ranges of digital intervention, and permits for simple switching in several using situations. Oddly, there was no designated Sport mode, although the 2 Consumer modes means you may customise a sport mode (or two) to your style.The Africa Twin I examined has the twin clutch transmission (DCT, an $800 choice). Adore it or not, it really works very effectively. I’ll admit I’m not a fan of computerized transmissions, as there’s something about utilizing a clutch and choosing the shift factors that appeals to me. That being stated, I get pleasure from utilizing a quickshifter on commonplace transmissions in sure circumstances, and I just like the shiftless energy supply of electrical bikes.My largest subject with DCT is that it tends to shift up too rapidly and down too slowly, and I usually discovered myself in fifth or sixth gear at a lot slower speeds than I would love. This made attempting to maintain up with Don difficult no matter how a lot “energy” I dialed within the Consumer mode.

Fortunately, the Honda has given the Africa Twin customizable energy, ABS, traction management, engine braking, and shifting aggressiveness to tailor the expertise to precisely what a rider desires. The AT additionally gives for manually altering gears with paddle shifters across the left grip, although they received’t help you upshift too quickly or downshift too aggressively.After experimenting with the varied drive modes, I dialed within the Consumer mode for extra energy and aggressive engine braking. DCT Sport stage 2 executes sporty shift factors with out being too aggressive.I just like the three show modes the Africa Twin provides for its console. Every mode gives rising ranges of knowledge on the show. I like lots of data in entrance of me, so I settled on the very best stage.Honda throws fairly a little bit of technical wizardry at you, together with a cockpit that has a corresponding complexity. I used to be initially overwhelmed by all of it. Nevertheless, the extra I rode the motorbike, the extra I acquired used to it. As soon as I adjusted every thing to my liking, I really loved using the Africa Twin. The 2022 Honda Africa Twin DCT is sporty and cozy for street using, but it nonetheless appears like an enormous, enjoyable dust bike.Whereas I didn’t put it to the check in aggressive off-road using, the occasions I did get into the dust, the Africa Twin felt composed and confidence-inspiring regardless of using on road-biased Metzeler Karoo Avenue tires. As talked about above, the AT sits in a little bit of an odd spot between the middleweight and heavyweight ADV segments.The usual 2022 Honda Africa Twin with DCT is priced at $15,299, which compares to different middleweight ADV bikes. Whereas the power-to-weight ratio could not seem favorable, the seat of the pants really feel tells a distinct story. The Africa Twin ought to be on the shortlist for anybody wavering between the middleweights and heavyweights of the category.Pictures by Don WilliamsRIDING STYLE2022 Honda Africa Twin DCT SpecsENGINE

• Kind: Parallel-twin w/ 270-degree crankshaft
• Displacement: 1084cc
• Bore x stroke: 92.0 x 81.5mm
• Compression ratio: 10.1:1
• Valvetrain: SOHC, 4vpc
• Fueling: Two 46mm throttle our bodies
• Transmission: 6-speed
• Clutch: Totally and semi-automatic DCT w/ slipper operate
• Ultimate drive: 525 chain

CHASSIS

• Body: Metal, semi-double-cradle
• Entrance suspension; journey: Totally adjustable Showa 45mm inverted fork: 9.1 inches
• Rear suspension; journey: Linkage-assisted totally adjustable Showa shock; 8.7 inches
• Wheels: Wire-spoke tubeless
• Tires: Metzeler Karoo Avenue
• Entrance tire: 90/90 x 21
• Rear tire: 150/70 x 18
• Entrance brakes: 310mm floating discs w/ radially mounted 4-piston calipers
• Rear brake: 256mm disc w/ single-piston caliper
• Parking brake: Cable-actuated single-piston caliper on rear disc
• ABS: Normal (adjustable)

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

• Wheelbase: 62.0 inches
• Rake: 27 levels
• Path: 4.4 inches
• Seat heights: 34.3 or 33.5 inches
• Floor clearance: 9.8 inches
• Gasoline capability: 5.0 gallons
• Curb weight: 529 kilos
• Colour: Grand Prix Pink

2022 Honda Africa Twin DCT Worth: $15,299 MSRP

2022 Honda Africa Twin DCT Overview Photograph Gallery