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30-Year Arcs / ADV / Honda Africa Twin Lineage
Honda Japan

Honda Africa Twin. 30 years on.

Honda's flagship adventure bike. The 1996 and 2006 columns are sub-1000cc — the original Africa Twin was a 742cc V-twin and stayed that capacity for its entire 1988-2003 run. The CRF1000L brought it back as a true heavyweight in 2016.

1996
XRV750 RD07
2006
No EU Africa Twin
2016
CRF1000L
2026
CRF1100L
Continual audits are underway to verify local pricing for every bike in every market. Apologies for any gaps you see while this is in progress.
1996 30 yrs ago · Sub-1000cc
1996 XRV750 Africa Twin

XRV750 Africa Twin

742cc V-twin (under cap)
Original Dakar-bred Africa Twin

742cc V-twin (under cap)
60 bhp
62
205
870
ABSFuel injectionTraction controlRide modesTFT dash742cc V-twinTwin headlights
Known issues
  • Carb syncing drift on the V-twin — all years, regular service item
  • Reg/rec failure — all years
  • Cam chain rattle on cold start — high-mile examples
  • Fork seal weeping under hard off-road use — all years
£6,500
£13,000
£3.5–6k
2006 End of original · 2006
2006 XRV750

XRV750 (last)

Last year of original AT in EU
Same 742cc — emissions killed it

Last year of original AT in EU
60 bhp
62
205
870
ABSFuel injectionTraction controlRide modesTFT dash742cc V-twinSame as
Known issues
  • Carb syncing drift continues on V-twin — all 2000-03 final-run bikes
  • Reg/rec failure carries over — all years
  • Wiring loom corrosion in airbox area — high-mile UK bikes
£7,500
£12,600
£4–7k
2016 Gen 1 CRF · 2016
2016 CRF1000L

CRF1000L

Africa Twin reborn (2016)
998cc parallel twin

Africa Twin reborn (2016)
94 bhp
98
232
870
ABSFuel injectionHSTC traction4 rideTFTDCT21" front
Known issues
  • Cam chain tensioner noise on early CRF1000L — 2016-17
  • Fork seal weeping under hard off-road riding — all years
  • DCT solenoid issues (rare but expensive) — 2016-19 DCT-equipped
  • Otherwise highly reliable — Honda parallel-twin platform
£10,500
£13,650
£7–10.5k
2026 Current · 2026
2026 CRF1100L AS

CRF1100L AS

1084cc parallel twin
Adventure Sports trim

1084cc parallel twin
101 bhp
112
253
850
Cornering ABSRide-by-wireIMU-based HSTC4 modes6.5" colourDCTCruise control
Known issues
  • Too new to have well-documented field issues — current model launched 2024
£13,399Verified MSRP
£13,399
£16.5k new
// 30-Year Delta

What actually changed.

1996 → 2026 · 30 years of "progress"
Power gain +41bhp 60bhp → 101bhp. The original Africa Twin made very modest power for its size — its Dakar heritage was about reliability and capability, not horsepower. The modern one is 70% more powerful.
Torque gain +50Nm 62Nm → 112Nm. Almost double the torque. Bigger engine, modern fuel injection, and the parallel twin layout helps low-end grunt.
Weight gain +48kg 205kg dry → 253kg wet. The modern AS trim is significantly heavier — bigger fuel tank (24L), more electronics, full fairing.
Real cost change +£3.5k £6,500 in 1996 ≈ £13,000 today. The 2026 AS ES is £16,499. About 27% more expensive in real terms — but you go from carbs and round headlights to Apple CarPlay, cornering ABS, electronic suspension and a 24L tank.
Rider aids count 0 → 8 1996: nothing. 2026: cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes, cruise, hill control, lift control, slide control, smartphone connectivity.
Production gap 13 years Honda killed the original Africa Twin in 2003 and didn't make another until the CRF1000L in 2016. For 13 years, if you wanted a Honda heavyweight ADV, the answer was 'we don't make one'.
Cheapest way in £3.5k A clean 1996 XRV750 today. The bike that won four Paris-Dakars in the 80s — for less than a 125 commuter. Now collectible — prices rising fast.
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// Sources

Where these numbers come from

Every figure on this page is from a published manufacturer spec sheet or a reputable review publication. No press junkets, no opinions in the spec data. Inflation calculated using Bank of England's CPI tool.

1996 XRV750 Africa Twin Manufacturer specs · MCN · Bennetts BikeSocial
2006 XRV750 (last) Manufacturer press · MCN Reviews · autoevolution
2016 CRF1000L Manufacturer UK specs · MCN · Total Motorcycle
2026 CRF1100L AS Manufacturer UK · Bennetts BikeSocial · Cycle World