
Honda Africa Twin Crf1000l Review
"Honda's most capable adventure bike rewards patient, committed buyers enormously."
Used Buyer Review
The Africa Twin is one of those bikes that genuinely earns its reputation rather than just coasting on Honda's badge. The parallel twin is bulletproof in real-world use — I've seen DCT examples push past 60,000 miles with nothing more than consumables. Buy one with service history and you're getting something that'll run forever. The DCT transmission divides opinion sharply, but once you stop fighting it and let it do its thing on loose stuff, it's actually brilliant. That said, the original CRF1000L has a few honest flaws worth knowing. The seat is notoriously flat and uncomfortable past two hours — budget for an aftermarket unit immediately. Wind protection is also surprisingly poor for a supposed adventure tourer, and at highway speeds the buffeting gets genuinely tiring. The stock suspension is competent but wallows when you load it up with luggage and a pillion simultaneously. Used prices are strong because demand stays high, so don't expect bargains. Check the valve clearances — they're due every 16,000 miles and get skipped constantly.
Pros
Cons
You want sporty ergonomics or frequent pillioning
Similar Adventure Reviews
"The adventure benchmark that justifies every penny, used or new."
Tall touring riders wanting one bike only $11,000-$17,500
"The best big adventure triple money can buy used."
Long-distance tourers wanting genuine off-road credibility $10,000-$16,000
"The benchmark adventure bike, best bought used with patience."
Experienced riders wanting the ultimate adventure touring machine $16,000-$22,000
"The sensible used adventure bike that genuinely delivers on every promise."
Riders wanting reliable, versatile, fuss-free adventure touring $4,500-$8,500