Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin in the 1000PS Offroad Test 2024

With the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin, we visited the largest enduro park in Europe, the Red Stag terrain, in Rohr im Gebirge. The expansive area, about an hour southwest of the Vienna city limits, offered a perfect testing environment with 15 kilometers of forest roads and 28 different off-road trails. There are plenty of opportunities for every riding level to let loose for an entire day. With our large adventure bikes, we were mostly on the wider forest paths. However, we also integrated some green trails (easy difficulty level) into the test schedule to thoroughly put the big and noble bikes to the test.

Few other machines in our test were as comfortable to ride as the Honda Africa Twin. Road riders and beginners in the off-road sport will find an easy off-road experience thanks to the low seat height and a variety of well-functioning (albeit rather conservatively designed) assistance systems. Small drifts are allowed by the traction control on the lowest setting. The bike feels solid and stable on unpaved surfaces, which builds confidence. The engine delivers enough grunt from low revs and offers a great running smoothness. The power delivery matches the Honda's good-natured character and never overwhelms. However, at higher speeds and on rough terrain, the suspension reaches its limits and offers too little reserve for sporty, aggressive riding in serious situations. The higher the speed, the more the ergonomic layout reveals itself as a hindrance for truly sporty maneuvers. Specifically, the distance between the handlebars and the pegs is too short for my taste. This means that in steep sections, you have to hold on to the handlebars with considerable effort. But the Africa Twin does not want to position itself as overly sporty; it is a solid and exceptionally comfortable touring machine for globetrotters. It continues to handle light to medium terrain effortlessly. The high-quality workmanship and robust detail solutions make it clear that it can withstand quite a bit even in serious off-road use. It confidently leaves the sporty stage to other representatives in this category.

The Honda Africa Twin left me somewhat disappointed from a sports rider's perspective, but perhaps my expectations were simply too high, given the classic's consistently positive and sporty image. In practice, I experienced the Africa Twin as a good, solid travel companion, but it didn't impress me as much in sporty off-road riding. The engine character was a bit too tame for my taste, the chassis lacked some reserves, and the riding position was too conservative, more suited for long-distance seated riding than for aggressive off-road riding while standing. For example, during rocky uphill sections, the windscreen offered little room for the upper body to move forward. The electronic riding aids worked reasonably well, but the menu navigation was annoying, and having to re-enable or disable certain parameters after turning off the ignition was frustrating.

The legend of Honda is rightly still one of the most popular protagonists in the adventure bike segment in 2024. Especially as a hobby rider, you appreciate its virtues, such as travel comfort, Japanese sovereignty, and reliability. However, it must be said that the competition is not sleeping, and the Africa Twin has been surpassed in some areas. The sportier and tougher it gets, the more you feel, even as an amateur, that the Honda is leaving its comfort zone. The new semi-active suspension successfully expands this comfort zone, but ergonomics and the high center of gravity make ambitious off-road riding a challenge. In summary, the Honda Africa Twin is a great machine for long distances and light off-road terrain. However, for really rough terrain, there are machines that make life easier for the hobby enduro rider.

The intense off-road test conditions were optimal for putting our equipment to the test. When it came to helmets, the 1000PS crew uniformly trusted the new Tour-X5 from Arai. The helmet sits perfectly balanced on the head and behaves very neutrally in the wind, regardless of speed. The fit of the helmet is generally comfortable. It provides a snug contact feeling over the entire head area. As is typical with Arai, the padding also pleasantly encloses the jawbone without creating any uncomfortable pressure in the cheek area. The interior lining of the Tour-X5 feels luxurious and high-quality on the skin, even after a long, intense, and sweat-inducing day. With various ventilation openings in the forehead, chin, and upper head area, you can get plenty of fresh air when needed. The craftsmanship is top-notch - the helmets not only look elegant and beautiful when new, but they also remain in excellent condition even after several tough days off-road. Ventilation openings and visor locking mechanisms can be perfectly operated even when dirty. A great, versatile helmet for all kinds of motorcycle adventures. We give it our highest recommendation!

During our adventure bike test, we uniformly wore gear from the renowned manufacturer Leatt. Our editors were equipped with either the Flow Tour Suit or the Multi Tour Suit. LEATT, well-known for high-quality motocross and hard-enduro apparel, has recently started offering robust and versatile protective clothing for adventure bike riders in their new ADV Collection. The Flow Tour Jacket particularly impressed us with its outstanding ventilation, providing pleasant cooling even in hot conditions up to 35 degrees. Thanks to the integrated hydration bladder system, our testers stayed well-hydrated even on dusty trails. The generous, waterproof pockets offered ample storage for personal items and allowed for convenient access while riding. The Multi Tour Suit, on the other hand, scored points with its versatility and three-layer construction, offering optimal protection and adaptability to different weather conditions. Both models are equipped with CE-certified protectors at critical points, providing maximum protection without restricting freedom of movement. Even a LEATT Neck-Brace is compatible with the jackets. We particularly liked the split chest protector on both models, which not only ensures safety but also offers high wearing comfort when the zipper is open. LEATT's gear proved to be ideal for our intensive tests. Robust, safe, and providing the necessary comfort for long riding days under extreme conditions.