2021 Honda Africa Twin 1100 (CRF1100L) : Stuck in the Middle

This was a pretty negative review. Strange, for someone who procededs to buy on as your main adv bike!

How do you compare this vs the husky 901?

Hope you have a school for riding!tnx

Love your reviews but KTM & Husqvarna should not be compared to anything you review as they tend to be unreliable. We go on long rides and when our friends with KTM machines want to join in we say if you break down thats on you because it happens every time

Go Big Rock 👍👍👍
We love your cool and very informative video! One of the best channels I have ever seen.

In all fairness it's 505 lbs is not light and possibly the electronic suspension is probably filtering the bumps out more. Maybe somebody should be testing the manual vs the DCT to see if the manual tops it for the average rider.

Your reviews are great and trustworthy. Obviously you don’t sell magazines! I am researching a Honda AT ES DCT and only one comment on your videos, when you have several on the same brand/type although different generations, could you number the videos please.
Many thanks for your videos they are some of the best anywhere.

Great review as usual. I get spoiled watching your thorough and well produced reviews so that not many others stand up by comparison. I was waiting for how top heavy it feels. I'm guessing very top heavy. Presentation note: smile. Keep up the good work!!!

Very nice 👌🏽 pros and cons well balanced views, glad to know about the soft suspension. I don’t think I’ve seen you lift the bike though, curious how it weighs lying down

I'm so hung up between a t7 and this.

Thanks for the copay to the older 2016 model

Thanks for the review, very helpful and comprehensive. Wondering if you know whether the sticky fork issue was fixed on the 2020+ (1100 models) - hope I didn't miss anything. Cheers

You don't need to change a thing Ian. You give us the bestestisis reviews!

Would You say that with somewhat complicated electronics, still soft suspension and lugging D mode, considering price compared to old model DCT theres just too little to justify relatively expencive upgrade?

Great review do not need to change your style nor content. Very helpful.

The 2018-19 models of Africa Twin where great despite being a bit heavy and expensive compared to other mid-sized adventure bikes. With the new 2020 model Honda took a strange turn and put the Africa Twin in the upper premium segment and left a hole in the product line for the rumored Transalp or CRF850L that never came out. The base model of CRF1100L is flawed compared to CRF1000L with added technical complexity that most riders don't need. Until Honda can release a proper mid-priced and mid-sized adventure bike the older CRF1000L seems to be a better buy. Even the new 2022 model of CB500X with better suspension and brakes is a serious alternative for a less complicated and no-nonsense budget adventure bike.

Good explanation I've heard the screen is a nightmare and you confirmed it

Man! Thanks for the vid on the screen rebooting and erasing previous settings every time. That ain't nice at all and a very decision affecting factor.

I bought a CRF1100L Africa Twin standard DCT, and yesterday I took it out for my first ride on it - I'm coming from having learned on manual bikes: the DT125R and the CB500. Yesterday I got about 20' down the hill from my garage & dropped it. The throttle response at low revs was kinda chunky/jerky, and in a panic I grabbed for the nonexistent clutch lever, then the front brake, which dumped me. Received wisdom is to use the back brake as a sort of substitute clutch but I'm trying to get the procedure solidified in my mind. Could you maybe do a short video narrating which controls you're using & how, so I can get sequence & so on straight?

Great review full of information

At last an honest review!! I've tried the DCT and had the same results!! Didn't like it at all!! But someone is pushing the DCT as hard as they can!! A lot of these u-tubers are trying to push them!! They lose all credibility for me.. these things are terrible off road! Thank you for a good honest post!

Just bought a 2022 your review helped influence my purchase.
Excellent and precise review.
Thank you sir!
Keep up the great job.
See you out there!

Thank you for the honest review. Software design is ruining great motorcycles....its the one thing the owner cannot modify or buy something better aftermarket to change.

I did not see or I did not remembered this video about heat and now i have one atas that I have to sell. But DCT and car play are great, so I am indecisive but I hate the heat

Hello to the motorbike community. I have a question for anyone with the knowledge and experience. I am contemplating buying a brand new ADV this spring. I basically have it narrowed it down to 2 options.
Option A) 2023 Honda Africa Twin Super Adventure Manual. Like the style and look, I am concerned about the continual maintenance on the chain. It is not uncommon for me to jump on my current bike and put ~500 km's on it in a day on the weekend (311 miles). I am also concerned about the comfort, both in the seat and wind protection. I read lots of information and people love them and of course people will gripe as well and for good reason, experience on the bike. Everyone is different. Is this bike going to be comfortable enough for a few very long days in the saddle from time to time? Although we all get off our bikes every 2-3 hours to fuel on a long trip, still good to have really good comfort when needed. Is this bike the one to have if a person gets an upholsterer to redo the seat to your butt contours? Will that make it an awesome long haul machine?

Option B) 2023 Yamaha Super Tenene 1200. I understand this bike is boring (perhaps compared to some of the competition) but with that come great all day comfort in the saddle and super easy maintenance and reliability. Maybe not as much fun as some of the competition, but my current bike also has shaft drive and has had zero issues in 13 years of ownership. So maybe I don't want to give up reliability and low maintenance? Also, perhaps the Tenere is reaching it's last year of production, what happens if they do this year and I want to own the bike for 10+ years?

This bike that I buy will be a long long time purchase and possibly my last bike (maybe not), but as we get older we look for more comfort. The riding I will do is 80-90% on the pavement and 10-20% gravel and fire roads. HOWEVER, I live an hour away from the mountains and perhaps with an ADV, that ratio will switch to less highway and more gravel/fire roads..........we'll see, the ADV could open a whole new chapter in my riding. The Honda would be a no brainer, but does the Yamaha do the same job with a little less fun factor?

Would love feedback from all people that have/had either or both bikes and let me know based on your experience and knowledge. Thank you!

Excellent video! Great work. Thanks a lot!

Still torn on the at vs t7. I think the at will be really heavy for any off-road other than well maintained dirt roads. But the t7 won’t be as comfy on long long rides. The t7 may also feel weak in the highway. Idk. The t7 is beautiful and seems like it would do me better for most things locally but my dream is to go for week long rides

Since you asked for feedback, and thanks for all your vids btw, I would say a slight bit of mod coverage would be nice in terms of what your opinion of the bike would be with certain mods. For example here, what would it cost to upgrade the suspension, wind protection and seat, and what would you think of it then?

Great job!

Thanks for a great review!

very interesting review. Just looked at a 2021 and was strongly considering jumping on it. It only had 3,500 miles on it. $11,999 did not seem horrible. Now after this video I am torn. I will look at it again as it is full of great pro's and con's for the base model. What do you guys think?

The crf1100 was my top pick after riding a rental on a two-day adventure bike tour. Obviously I was initially enamoured by the engine and looks of the brand new machine. However, further research revealed some serious issues.
You are very correct about the slow TFT. I believe Honda is skimping on components, using cheaper chips during the chip shortage. This philosophy is evident in other areas of the bike. Scratch the surface and there are a host of build quality problems. Finally, to this day I’m not entirely convinced that Honda addressed the fork stiction and tank welding issue.
Sad. Will probably push most potential customers, me included, towards Triumph.
PS: The suspension feels like they pulled it off an old f800gs. You can feel the front end flex under the weight of the machine.
PPS: The plastics are very brittle.

point of sale price point is way to high to warrant hitting the after market for suspension upgrades....come on honda, thanx for nothing!

Not a fan of the dingley music

Guys, do you know whether Ian owns an Africa Twin 1000cc? I am not sure if he told it in this video ^^

Great Review as always, thank you!

Great review as always. Thanks

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

1) If you were to buy this bike (non Adv Sports) - what Suspension Components would you recommend? 2) Any Clue if the 2022 or 2023 improved the lack of "Memory" of the TFT / ABS / DTC issue?

Ruined with too much electronics and that especially that display. Too much dislike to that dispaly and button cluster on my 2020.

"The ups and downs of a DCT model" - me laughing in Dad joke (Increased compression, from 10:1 to 10.5:1 often results in more heat too - often running quite lean - interesting its the new normal. )

As AT owner for more than a year I would like to comment some of dislikes since I believe Ian is not doing justice here:

1. suspension to soft: you bought the wrong version. You should buy Adventure sports with electronic suspension, it does ton of difference On and Off Road.

2. control layout: there are so many different buttons you can control all functions just by feel, no need for touch screen as Ian is complaining. In one month I could switch functions without even looking at the controls.

3. bike does not memorize settings: ABS on is mandatory by the law. If you turn off the key Ian is right, you will loose current setup. But if you just kill the bike with kill switch all settings will be preserved.

All I can say about the buying AT is that you need to understand why you have bought it. I found it very good, capable bike, don't regret buying it a minute.
The only complaint I have is that could come with the more power for the street use. Personally I would be fine with 140HP+.

big rock moto Sir am in Africa teach as abat djebel Suzuki xc 250

The problem with Honda is that they don't listen to customer feedback. Well good luck to them.

You just glance over the fact of going 30 in 5th gear. The bike did that on its own?

the paint and frame on the Africa Twin get rust very quickly