Ride quality & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)
The impeccable fuelling and throttle connection makes for assured rapid progress, but the 94bhp motor fails to truly inspire. It lacks the bottom and mid range engagement of the 125bhp BMW GS boxer twin, and doesn’t have anything close to the top end rush from KTM’s ballistic 150bhp 1190 Adventure. But that is not to say it’s a slow bike. It has a decent torque figure of 68.6ftlb, and through the confidence-inspiring throttle-to-rear tyre connection it means that it’s easy to access every bit of the power on offer. It just doesn’t deliver it in an overly exciting way.
On the road the bike is seriously comfortable, the seat is spacious as is the relation to the foot pegs, meaning that there is plenty of room for 6ft plus riders. Yet the bike itself has an impressively low seat height meaning that at 5ft 10in tall I can put both feet flat on the ground at a standstill – a first for me on a big-capacity adventure bike. This was part of Honda’s design brief to make the bike as manageable as possible and has been achieved through integrating the oil tank and pump within the bottom of the crank case, which in turn reduces the overall height of the engine and resulting seat height. The seat itself is also particularly narrow where it meets the fuel tank, which means as a rider your legs aren’t splayed wide like they are on a BMW GS, which is significant for shorter riders. But move back on the seat and it gets wider, which is key to the high levels of rider comfort on the move. The handlebar position feels neutral yet purposeful and immediately gives great leverage, control and inspires a high level of confidence.
Сравнение с аналогами
Несмотря на разнообразие мотоциклов в классе тур-эндуро, аналогов найти не так легко. Многие компании ушли чуть больше в сторону комфортных и громоздких туристов. Но выявить основных соперников Хонды все же удалось. С ними мы сейчас и сравним.
| Спецификация | BMW F800GS Adventure | Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin | Triumph Tiger 800 XCa |
| Цена | $17500 | $17000 | $15500 |
| Двигатель | 798 сс | 998 сс | 800 сс |
| Диаметр цилиндра x Ход поршня | 82,0 x 75,8 мм | 92,0 x 70,3 мм | 74,1 x 61,7 мм |
| Компрессия | 12,0:1 | 10,0:1 | 11,3:1 |
| Клапана | DOHC, 8 v | SOHC, 8 v | DOHC, 12 v |
| Топливная система | Электронный впрыск | Электронный впрыск, проводной | Электронный впрыск, проводной |
| Сцепление | Многодисковое | Многодисковое | Многодисковое |
| Трансмиссия/ привод | Шестиступенчатая/цепной | Шестиступенчатая/цепной | Шестиступенчатая/цепной |
| Рама | Трубчатая/сталь | Трубчатая/сталь | Трубчатая/сталь |
| Передняя подвеска | 42 мм вилка с ходом в 231 мм | 44 мм вилка с настройкой преднагрузки, компрессии и отбоя пружины и ходом в 229 мм | 42 мм вилка с настройками отбоя и компрессии и ходом в 218 мм |
| Задняя подвеска | Амортизатор с ходом в 216 мм | Амортизатор с ходом в 218 мм | Амортизатор с ходом в 216 мм |
| Передние тормоза | 300 мм диски с двухпоршневыми суппортами | 310 мм диски с четырехпоршневыми суппортами | 308 мм диски с двухпоршневыми суппортами |
| Задние тормоза | 265 мм диск с однопоршневым суппортом | 256 мм диск с двухпоршневым суппортом | 255 мм диск с однопоршневым суппортом |
| Передние шины | 90/90-21 Pirelli Scorpion Trail | 90/90-R21 Dunlop Trailsmart | 90/90-21 Bridgestone Battle Wing |
| Задние шины | 150/70-R17 Pirelli Scorpion Trail | 150/70-R18 Dunlop Trailsmart | 150/70-R17 Bridgestone Battle Wing |
| Рейк/Трейл | 26,1°/116,8 мм | 27,4°/111,8 мм | 24,2°/96,5 мм |
| Высота по седлу | 889 мм | 851/871 мм | 841/861 мм |
| Колесная база | 1575 мм | 1574 мм | 1543 мм |
| Вес | 239,1 Кг | 244,5 Кг | 268,5 Кг |
| Объем бака | 23,9 литра | 18,8 литра | 18,9 литра |
| Средний расход на 100км | 5,7 литра | 5 литров | 5,88 литров |
| Пробег на одной заправке | 429 км | 371 км | 320 км |
Engine
4 out of 5 (4/5)
While its smooth, linear power doesn’t necessarily excite on-road, off-road it’s close to perfect. The brilliant fuelling gifts you predictable throttle control, immediately generating the confidence to switch off the impressive three-stage traction control (Honda Selectable Torque Control). Using level one the bike spins up and it will hold a slide, but will ultimately intervene to keep the rear wheel in check so that you don’t have to. Level two is more intrusive, while level three constantly interrupts the power in loose conditions, but still finds any available grip and keeps you moving. I experimented by stopping on a loose, rocky incline then restarting with the TC in level three and, while progress wasn’t fast, it reached the top of the hill with minimal fuss.
Equipment
5 out of 5 (5/5)
The 3-stage traction control is not only effective, but it’s simple to use. The Africa Twin has a dedicated toggle lever just above the passing light on the left-hand bar that changes the setting. Off-road-specific ABS, which allows the rear to lock, is also activated by a simple push button on the dash.
The all-digital dash displays speed and revs clearly in the top section with a lower section showing gear position, traction control, temperature, fuel gauge, trip meters and mpg. On either side of the dash are warning lights to indicate if the traction control has been activated.
