2020 Honda Africa Twin to pack more power and features

The upcoming model will reportedly pack more power and features to compete against the existing crop of adventure tourers. The Honda Africa twin bridges the gap between the middleweight contestants – like the Triumph Tiger XC range, the and BMW F750GS and the BMW F850GS – and the range-topping adventure tourers like the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro and BMW R1250GS.

Honda's current Africa Twin made its debut back in 2016 and the motorcycle received Throttle by Wire (TBW) along with the new Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system in 2018. The ace up the Africa Twin's sleeve is the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The current Honda Africa Twin comes in two variants – Standard and DCT and the upcoming 2020 model would likely retain those options.

The upcoming model will grow in displacement. The existing Honda Africa Twin packs 998cc engine, which would grow to 1080cc with the 2020 model. The performance numbers would get a marginal bump too and the existing figure of 95 bhp could increase by another 6 bhp. The engine would retain the parallel twin format with a 270-degree crank to offer a V-Twin like character. Needless to say, the upcoming Honda Africa Twin would comply with the Euro-V emission norms.

Evidently, the nomenclature would also change from CRF1000L to CRF1100L. The added displacement isn't a surprising move as we have already seen the Ducati Multistrada (1200 to 1260) and BMW GS (1200 to 1250) move up the ladder.

Honda would also use the Euro-V upgrade as an opportunity to add new styling and features to the Africa Twin. The current generation Africa Twin is quite a head turner itself but the new model could take things several notches higher. While the details about the visual upgrades are scarce, a render by Japanese magazine presents an appealing probability.

The fascia could feature a revised headlight design that could draw styling cues from the Fireblade. The instrument console could receive a revision and we could see a full-colour TFT display. We could also see smartphone integration via Bluetooth to control music and calls on the go. The new console may also receive a turn-by-turn navigation system. The option of keyless ignition and cruise control cannot be ruled out. We hope Honda considers the addition of cross-spokes for installation of tubeless tyres on the updated model.

If Honda is working on such model for 2020, we could get the first glimpse of the motorcycle at the EICMA motorcycle show in late 2019.