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Honda’ s most recognisable globetrotter surges into 2026 with a fresh burst of colour and confidence, as the CRF1100L Africa Twin family enters the new model year mechanically unchanged but visually revitalised. Forty years on from the XRV650’ s first arrival in Europe, the name that came to define modern adventure riding remains one of Honda’ s most important stories— an icon that has evolved with the times without losing the essence that riders fell in love with.
That lineage is clear when you trace the Africa Twin’ s arc. Launched anew in 2016 as the CRF1000L, the model was a clean-sheet rethink, embracing the values of the original— power, light weight, and genuine all-terrain capability— while opening the door to a new generation of riders. By balancing long-haul comfort with athletic off-road intent, Honda minted a machine that became a real-world all-rounder. Subsequent upgrades kept momentum flowing: throttle-by-wire arrived in 2018, along with expanded riding modes and broader Honda Selectable Torque Control. The platform itself widened, too, with the Africa Twin Adventure Sports stepping deeper into globe-spanning territory through bigger fuel range, more protection, and longer-travel suspension.
A landmark year followed with the 2020 jump to the larger-capacity 1,084cc engine, a shift that lifted torque and power while allowing Honda to sharpen the CRF1100L Africa Twin’ s shape into a compact, purposeful rally silhouette. Weight fell, off-road focus rose, and the Adventure Sports gained the option of Showa’ s sophisticated Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment( Showa EERA™). Steady refinements continued: smoother Dual Clutch Transmission( DCT) behaviour, expanded electronics logic, updated chassis tuning and— more recently— extra grunt and equipment across the range. Mechanically, the 2026 lineup holds course, but visually and strategically it feels like a model cycle hitting its stride.
The numbers tell part of the story. Since 2016 the Africa Twin has been the second most popular motorcycle in Europe’ s 1000cc-plus adventure class. More than 121,000 units have been sold bearing the resurgent nameplate, and the bike has sat inside Honda’ s top three over-125cc sellers for six of the past eight years. Nearly half of buyers now select DCT— still a rarity in this market, and still a Honda-only technology.
For 26YM the core CRF1100L Africa Twin remains the purist’ s pick— lean, tall, and trimmed for the dirt. Its 1,084cc parallel twin continues to deliver 75kW and 112Nm, with power managed through a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit working in concert with multi-level wheelie control, HSTC, cornering ABS, rear-lift mitigation and DCT cornering detection where applicable. A slim seat and high-set bars establish an aggressive yet
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comfortable riding triangle; the upper fairing carries a five-way adjustable screen; and dual LED DRLs underline visibility. Cruise control is standard, tubeless tyres simplify roadside repairs, and the full-colour 6.5-inch touchscreen brings Apple CarPlay ®, Android Auto ®, Bluetooth and deep machine system access.
Two variants continue to define the mainline range: a Showa coil-spring suspended Africa Twin, and the Africa Twin Electronic Suspension model that adds Showa EERA™ for real-time damping adjustment and on-themove rear preload changes. Those choosing Electronic Suspension also gain heated grips and an ACC socket as standard, aligning with the broader spec of the Adventure Sports.
Sitting alongside it is the bigger-mileage CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports— the long-distance partner built for transcontinental days, big mileage and rough edges. Sharing the same frame and engine, it diverges in intent. The 19-inch front wheel, lower 835 / 855mm seat height and revised suspension stroke put a premium on loaded-road stability without losing off-road capability. A 24.8-litre fuel tank pushes range past 500km, while wind protection, sump guard, aluminium rear carrier and tubeless wheels round out the practical toolkit. Showa EERA™ comes standard, with four core damping modes plus a programmable user map, supplemented by on-thefly preload adjustment. Cornering lights join the DRLs to widen vision at lean, and all electronics correspond with the base Africa Twin via the same IMU architecture.
If 2026 brings no mechanical overhauls, it instead celebrates the maturation of a thoroughly evolved platform. Honda’ s confidence in the CRF1100L architecture is matched only by the appetite of riders who continue to buy it in huge numbers, whether as commuters, explorers, or round-the-world dreamers. A trio of bold new liveries land across the standard Africa Twin— Grand Prix Red, Matt Ballistic Black Metallic, and Pearl Glare White— each accompanied by revised frame colours and updated graphics, while Adventure Sports adopts its own new looks via Matt Iridium Gray Metallic and Pearl Glare White with bold Tricolore accents. Even after a decade of evolution, paint and presentation still matter when the underlying formula is this well balanced.
From the XRV650’ s desert-drenched debut to the hightech CRF1100L of today, the Africa Twin story is a study in continuity: relentless refinement, constant evolution, but an unbroken thread of purpose. Light enough to be confident in the dirt, comfortable enough to swallow continents, and adaptable enough to serve first-timers and veteran travellers alike, Honda’ s flagship adventurer enters 2026 ready for more miles— its spirit unchanged, its appeal as strong as ever. TRAVERSE
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