Honda Africa Twin
Honda's CRF1100L Africa Twin — the brand's flagship adventure tourer, reviving the desert-rally name with a 1084cc parallel-twin and serious off-road capability. The DCT (dual-clutch transmission) option is unique in the segment: properly capable off-road without a clutch lever, and superb in stop-start traffic. UK buyers pick the Africa Twin over R 1300 GS / 890 Adventure when they want Honda reliability, lower premiums than BMW, and the DCT option. Adventure Sports variant adds larger 24.8-litre tank and crash bars.
Default variant: CRF1100L Africa Twin
- Engine
- 1084cc
- Power
- 102 PS
- Torque
- 105 Nm
- Weight
- 228 kg
- Seat
- 850 mm
- Economy
- 52 mpg
heavy
tall
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£4,006
Per year
£1,335
Per mile
£0.17
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 12/17 · ABI motorcycle scheme · Annual policy
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bikes use the ABI motorcycle group scheme (1–17, not the 1–50 used for cars) — Group 1 is cheapest to insure. Pick the risk profile closest to your circumstances.
Estimated annual premium · typical
£780/ year
Roughly £65 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Profile | Annual premium |
|---|---|
| Lower risk | £580 |
| TypicalSelected | £780 |
| Higher risk | £1,200 |
How we estimate this
Typical premium reflects . Lower/higher risk profiles synthesised from the observed underwriting range. Motorcycle premiums are far more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) and rider age than car insurance — younger riders or those on a CBT pay considerably more than this baseline. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | DCT clutch judder 5k-15k mi (2020-2021 units) | £500 dealer |
| medium | Stator 25k-35k mi | £280 |
| low | Subframe mounting corrosion Any (coastal UK) | £150 + paint |
| low | Throttle body sync 15k-25k mi | £90 |
| low | Wheel bearings 25k-30k mi | £60 per wheel |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Variant comparison
Default standard model. DCT variant (auto) adds ~£900 new and £600+ on used. Adventure Sports (24.8L tank, crash bars) adds £1500-2000.
Known issues
- DCT clutch judder on 2020-2021 (TSB)
- Stator failure ~25-35k mi
- Subframe mounting corrosion (coastal areas)
Strengths
- +DCT option — proper off-road capability without a clutch lever
- +Honda reliability — fewer surprise expenses than European rivals
- +Strong residuals — particularly Adventure Sports trim
- +Lighter than R 1300 GS (228 kg wet base; 240 Adventure Sports)
- +Lower service costs than KTM or BMW alternatives
Watch-outs
- −DCT clutch judder on early 2020-2021 units (£500 dealer service)
- −Stator failure ~25-35k mi (Honda parallel-twin pattern)
- −Stock seat hard on rides over 3 hours — aftermarket common upgrade
- −Not as off-road-capable as KTM 890 Adventure in serious terrain
- −Subframe mounting corrosion in coastal areas (£150)