The 2019 version of famed ADV Honda Africa Twin has been launched in India by the Japanese giant. The brand will sell this bike only through its ‘Wing World’ dealerships across India and the bookings for the superbike have already commenced. The Japanese brand has only set aside 50 units for sale in India and the limited supply is sure to sell out the stock pretty quickly. One can book the bike at any of the aforementioned 22 special dealerships run by Honda across the nation.
What makes the Africa Twin so special is that currently this the only bike in the segment to offer a dual clutch transmission that is an automatic. The Japanese brand has launched the legendary ADV in a blue and white paint scheme with red accents and has termed the color as Glint Wave Blue Metallic. On the new version the handle has been colored golden and the same treatment has been given to the rims of the bike. The price for the 2019 version of Honda Africa Twin has been set at Rs. 13.5 lakhs (ex-showroom India), which is a hike of nearly Rs. 27,00 as compared to the previous model.
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria talked at the launch of 2019 Africa Twin and stated,
Since its Indian debut in 2017, the mighty Africa Twin has always seen high demand. The adventure seekers in India experienced the revolutionary DCT for the first time & were highly impressed with its unmatched performance. The 2019 Africa Twin takes the ‘go anywhere’ spirit one step ahead with its fresh new appearance. The proud Africa Twin tribe is growing and we are ready to welcome enthusiasts to the tribe.
Honda Africa Twin locks horns with Triumph Tiger 800, Ducati Multistrada 850 and BMW F850 GS in India. Honda Africa Twin comes with parallel twin 999.11cc engine rated to deliver a maximum power of 87.7 Bhp at 7500rpm and 93.1Nm of torque at 6000rpm. This massive engine is mated to a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, it is the presence of this DCT gearbox that distinguishes the Africa Twin from other rivals in the segment.
Talking about the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) on offer with the Honda Africa Twin, it comes with three switchable riding configurations. The first is a normal ‘D’ mode meant for comfortable riding on roads under normal circumstances. Next is the ‘S’ mode that shifts the gearing in a way so that the rider gets the maximum from his ride. Then comes in the ‘G’ mode that allows the rider to shift to off-roading mode, under the ‘G’ mode the bike can also perform a wheelie! 2019 Africa Twin allows the rider to select from 3 levels of power and engine braking pre-set modes. Additionally, the Throttle By Wire (TBW) on the bike delivers the best performance for different conditions by varying the throttle response for its 4 riding modes (Tour, Urban, Gravel and User).
Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) is another good feature on the bike that offers different levels of traction control for riding at different places, also the feature can be turned off as well. Africa Twin offers dual channel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) as standard, however the ABS is also switchable that makes the bike more capable when it comes to off-roading. Having cut its teeth in the Dakar Rally, Honda Africa Twin is one among the most preferred bikes for any adventure off-road enthusiast over the world.