Updated 2024 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports Confirmed
Swiss certification data hints at engine and chassis updates
Honda has submitted certification data in Switzerland for updated Africa Twin models, with evidence of substantial changes in store for the adventure-tourer.
The preliminary data is specifically for new Africa Twin Adventure Sports models, with both a manual or dual clutch transmission. The data is only partially complete, but what has been released indicates the Africa Twin Adventure Sports is getting an updated engine and changes to its chassis. As of this writing, there is no data about updated versions of the non-Adventure Sports models, but we expect that will be available very soon.
The certification filings list a new engine code “SD13E” for the manual Africa Twin Adventure Sports (codenamed CRF1100A4) and the DCT version (codenamed CRF1100D4). Since the 2020 model year when they changed from the previous 998cc engine to the current 1084cc displacement, the Africa Twin models were certified with the engine code “SD08E”.
We can confirm the new engine will remain at the same 1,084cc displacement, and that the peak horsepower output remains certified for the same 101 hp at 7,500 rpm, but the torque output sees a jump from the current 77.4 lb-ft. at 6250 rpm to 82.6 lb-ft. at 5,500 rpm.
The engine isn’t the only change coming. According to the certification data, the new model has a wheelbase of 1,570 mm (61.8 inches); that’s 5 mm, or 0.2 inches, shorter than the Africa Twin’s current wheelbase, which has remained at 62.0 inches across all variants since the update from CRF1000L to CRF1100L for the 2020 model year. The overall length decreased by 25 mm (1.0 inch) to 90.7 inches, which cannot be accounted for by the new wheelbase alone.
The data also shows a weight increase of 3 kg (6.6 pounds) for both DCT and manual versions. The new Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT is listed with a weight of 328 kg, including a 75 kg rider. That translates to a curb weight of 253 kg, or 557.8 pounds, compared to 250 kg, or 551.1 pounds certified for the current model. Likewise, the manual transmission Adventure Sports model lists a new weight of 318 kg (again, with a 75 kg rider). That works out to a curb weight of 243 kg (535.7 pounds), compared to the claimed curb weight of 529.1 pounds for the manual transmission 2023 Africa Twin Adventure Sports.
The certification data doesn’t tell us where that extra 6.6 pounds comes from, but if we were to hazard a guess, one possible reason could be a radar system. A front-facing radar would allow for the adoption of adaptive cruise control, while a rear-facing unit would enable a blind spot detection system. We know for certain that Honda has filed multiple patents for possible ways to equip a radar on a motorcycle, but hasn’t yet offered the technology on a production model. The Africa Twin and the Gold Wing are the most likely candidates in Honda’s lineup to receive this kind of technology.
We expect data on the regular Africa Twin models will be added to the Swiss certifications soon, but an official announcement from Honda likely won’t come until EICMA.
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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I kind of like the Transalp name better. It brings back fond memories of the late 1980s.