New Africa Twin 2014

I spoke to a dealer yesterday and he told me that a new Africa Twin will be presented this autumn, probably at the Milan Bike show in November. He was absolutely sure it will happen but has no details about the bike. He thinks the engine size will be about 800cc. I suspect this may be true as for months here in Italy the Transalp 700 has been on special offer and they have literally sold out. In europe it looks like the Transalp is effectively being replaced by the NC700X and the new Africa Twin. The NC700X has been very popular and the manual version has a delivery time of three to four months.

I´ve had several Africa Twins in the past, and would most certainly like to see a new version, never understood, why they quit it in the first place....

but frankly, it does not appear to be happening, and unless this dealer had something to back up this claim, I´d say it´s just the normal empty gossip, that you hear around this time of year, when everyone (including the magazines, with ´photoshopped´ pictures), are trying to predict, what´s coming for next year.

Well if you like the AfricaTwin that much i might have something for you

But read this first:
The thing you are about to see is NOT made by Honda, it is by some Germans that dedicated their Life to the AfricaTwin! But its official and its true.

Some of you already might know Africanqueens:
Their homepage in english

Here's their "Africa Twin Legend" Project (sorry at the moment only available in german but i will translate the basics for you):
The AfricaTwin Legend Project
Test drives have already been made, presentation was a few days ago.

They come in 3 variants, here are the specs (that are known so far):

AQ means AfricanQueens (the girls and boys behind that project)

Basic model:

Chassis:
Front
- WhitePower USD 50 with 280mm range of spring and one Brakedisc
Back
- Öhlins suspension AQ standart

Wheels:
Front
- Nabe Talon Anodized Golden
- 21 inch with 36 enhanced black spokes
Back
- Nabe Talon Anodized with backdamping Golden
- 18 inch with 36 enhanced black spokes
- Revised Aluminum swing arm

Engine:
- refined engine with 8 horsepower more on the back wheel than "old" AT
- Africanqueens stainless steel Manifolds and Silencer

Fuel Tank:
- two separate 20 litre Kevlar-Carbon Tanks with electrical magnet field pump

Fairing:
Front
- lightweight Kevlar-Carbon Rallye Fairing
Back
- lightweight Kevlar-Carbon Rallye Side covers
Fender
- Kevlar-Carbon Front and Back
Engineprotection
- Kevlar-Carbon Protection

Instruments:
- AQ Standard Unit (Digital and Analog)
- AQ Aluminum housing

Other:
- Aluminum Handlebar
- AQ Bench
- H4 Double Lights front
- LED Backlight
- AQ Steel-Aluminum Luggage Rack
- White-Blue-Red HRC colour

Price unknown


Travel model:

Chassis:
Front
- WhitePower USD 50 with 280mm range of spring and one Brakedisc
Back
- Öhlins 4B AQ suspension adjustable

Wheels:
Front
- Nabe Talon Anodized Golden
- 21 inch with 36 enhanced black spokes
Back
- Nabe Talon Anodized with backdamping Golden
- 18 inch with 36 enhanced black spokes
- Revised Aluminum swing arm

Engine:
- refined engine with 8 horsepower more on the back wheel than "old" AT
- Africanqueens stainless steel Manifolds and Silencer

Fuel Tank:
- two separate 20 litre Kevlar-Carbon Tanks with electrical magnet field pump

Fairing:
Front
- lightweight Kevlar-Carbon Rallye Fairing
Back
- lightweight Kevlar-Carbon Rallye Side covers
Fender
- Kevlar-Carbon Front and Back
Engineprotection
- Kevlar-Carbon Protection with integrated Toolcase

Instruments:
- AQ Standard Unit (Digital and Analog)
- Tripy GPS unit
- AQ Aluminum housing

Other:
- Aluminum Handlebar
- AQ Bench
- H4 Double Lights front
- LED Backlight
- AQ Steel-Aluminum Luggage Rack
- Cases AQ Travel 2x 38 litre Aluminum
- Black Steel Crashbars
- Macrolon light protection
- White-Blue-Red HRC colour

Price unknown


Rallye model:

Chassis:
Front
- WhitePower USD 50 with 280mm range of spring and one Brakedisc
Back
- Öhlins 3 B AQ suspension adjustable

Wheels:
Front
- Nabe Talon Anodized Golden
- 21 inch with 36 enhanced black spokes
Back
- Nabe Talon Anodized with backdamping Golden
- 18 inch with 36 enhanced black spokes
- Revised Aluminum swing arm

Engine:
- refined engine with 890cc and 25 horsepower more on the back wheel than "old" AT
- Africanqueens stainless steel Manifolds with ceramic coating and Silencer

Fuel Tank:
- two separate 20 litre Kevlar-Carbon Tanks with electrical magnet field pump
- one additional 7 litre Tank on the backsinde
- 3 litre water Tank

Fairing:
Front
- lightweight Kevlar-Carbon Rallye Fairing
Back
- lightweight Kevlar-Carbon Rallye Side covers
Fender
- Kevlar-Carbon Front and Back
Engineprotection
- Kevlar-Carbon Protection with integrated Toolcase and integrated Water tank

Instruments:
- AQ Standard Unit (Digital and Analog)
- Tripy GPS unit
- Roadbook carrier
- AQ Aluminum housing

Other:
- Aluminum Handlebar
- AQ Bench with Toolcase
- Xenon Double Lights front
- LED Backlight
- Floodlights
- AQ Steel-Aluminum Luggage Rack
- White-Blue-Red HRC colour

Price unknown

Some pics of what they got until now:
Dem picturrs :)

They presented it live a few days ago but no news until now, no new pics or prices. Have to wait for it.

Aside of that i really hope and pray that Honda itself is making a all new Africa Twin for us!

A new Africa Twin is coming for sure, but most likely in 2015.
This info has been revealed by an Italian manager of Honda here:
http://www.gazzetta.it/Passione-Motori/Moto/01-07-2013/nuova-africa-twin-honda-20695394307.shtml#0

On the Austrian AT forum there is a topic initiated by the Head of Honda Austria. He seems to be involved in the development of the new Africa Twin as also the Dakar team.
http://www.africa-twin.at/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2909

I have summarized his info revealed so far here:

Philosophy- it will be a REAL AT, light, but not too light to survive hard trails
Engine- around 1000cc, inline
HP- around 90

Front wheel - 21
Rear wheel- still discussing, but 17 might be the choice because of available tyres
Spokes- YES
Tubeless- Not sure yet
Front Fender- high
Clutch- they are discussing cable activation because of simplicity
DCT- YES, there will be a version with automatic transmission
When?- Most probably somemthing to show in November

Kind regards,
Christoph

Just found a new bit of info. Looked on a thread in xrv.org.uk, with a link to an article on the new AT, arriving in 2015. I am afraid it is in Italian:

http://www.gazzetta.it/Passione-Motori/Moto/01-07-2013/nuova-africa-twin-honda-20695394307.shtml#0

Basically, the General Manager of Honda Italy states that it will follow the look and spirit of the original with very good off-road abilities. Possibly a new engine and the bike will need the minimum of maintenance.

I hope the USA has a shot at this one!

I'd heard a while back that there was a 1000cc version of the NC motor in the offing. I know the NC700 has been a raging success for Honda. Let's hope this is more than just wishful thinking..

Agreed, unless Honda screws the pooch again with over engineering and over complexity.

And while we're tripping in Neverland Michael Jackson will do a song and dance for us.

Engrish translation of the Italian article linked above

"The phrase that has warmed the hearts of all Enduro riders in the world it delivered Vito Cicchetti, general manager of Honda Italy, during an interview with Motorcycling: "He will come the new Africa Twin and will have a two-cylinder engine." Evidently, in the house of the Wing must have realized that they had at home a treasure that for some reason had stopped to exploit. Who led an Africa Twin knows what that means: the XRV750 (the acronym of production of the last Africa Twin, license plate 2003) was an excellent bike, steady like a train, very good both on the road and highway, but even better on the dirt road. And above all he needed little maintenance. Not by chance still on the Italian roads will circulate many: the proverbial resistance of the bike makes it still an investment that never gets old.

Waiting to be discovered - Details are few, but we do know that the new Africa Twin will not see the light until 2015. It will therefore be unveiled to the public during the Intermot in Cologne in 2014. A long wait will be worth the effort with numerous innovations. It will be a revolutionary bike and very devoted to off-road vehicles, according to statements by Honda managers. It is therefore likely that will have a completely new engine, while many details cycling and style will be taken dall'immarcescibile Africa Twin produced from 1988 (when the displacement was 650). Imagine also that, given the type of bike, it could be equipped with the DCT semi-automatic transmission that is becoming increasingly popular in the Honda range. The only thing on which we would like to put my finger on it is that at least one of the liveries will be presented the classic white with red stripes and blue, with dark blue saddle. "

I have found something like that

"In the interview published on Motorcycling in July, Vito Cicchetti, general manager of Honda Italy, finally announced the arrival of the much-needed Africa Twin. But it will not be ready for the 2014 season because they have to wait another year. However, the bike should really recall the image of the legendary and best-selling off-road version, before 650 and then 750 cc. So it should have a 21-inch front wheel and a strictly two-cylinder engine. Then we would like a line that was still dakariana and functional approach in the dirt."


Source: http://translate.google.com/transla...te-tempo-di-novitahellip-autunnali-moto-55723


Rgds,
D

Legal to import to North America in ...........2030.

oops.......... 2030 to Canada.
.................2040 to the US.

And, not CARB approved until 2132

Well...every year we have some kind off gossip floating around about new Africa Twin. With our hopes up , we get pretty disappointed every time when we realize it's just a rumor .
This time I think it's a real deal . Why do you think all of the sudden Honda decided to run a factory team in Paris Dakar rally ? I think they using it as a real world lab to do research and can you find a better lab for off road adventure oriented bike than Paris Dakar rally ???
I hope Big Red is for real this time ...

I hope the rumors are real too as I may well be in the market in 2015 for a new Adventure bike. As to Honda using the Dakar Rally to possibly test a prototype of the rumored new AT, I thought the Rally had a 450cc maximum limit?

Yes, they put a 450 cc limit a while ago to stop KTM reign and make other brands more competitive. Although Honda used the existing bike crf450 for last Dakar, I think lessons learned can be used to build any off road oriented bike.
I'm due for an updated off road oriented adventure bike too , so far I see only Yamaha Super Tenere as a replacement for an Africa Twin , a little on a heavy side Yamaha is an excellent go around the world machine . I'm still holding tight to what Honda is up to . I hope they won't leave us hanging for long...

There are other rallies like the Pharons.rally which is more of a "run what you brung" type of thing.







But really a bike that is great for "real world use" is a bit different and it should be judged by that, don't you think?

Honda could go soft roader or hard core. I am sure they have ample expertise either way.

It will be more a case of whether they want to impress the wannabe, which is a much larger market, or the hardcore which is small, or take the limited production path and do the real deal and hope that the wannabe's just buy because it makes them look hardcore.
But that might require a prime time TV documentary series as a back up.

Sad but true....

There is hope. Honda has officialy registered the name 'Africa Twin' for the US marked:

I'm not going to start another 'new Africa Twin' topic here... the last time the desolution was a NC700X... :eek1