Honda Africa Twin Review: What to Know Before Renting in Lisbon

The Honda Africa Twin is the big adventure bike almost everyone recognises by its looks and few people have actually ridden. Our Lisbon fleet has the CRF1100L ABS 2026 with a six-speed manual gearbox, and this article is here to help you decide whether it is the right bike for your days on the road. We take Honda's official figures and the listing in our shop and translate them into what they mean in a corner, on a windy motorway, on a gravel track and when you put a foot down at a traffic light.

In short:

• 1,084 cm3 twin-cylinder engine, 75 kW (102 hp) and 231 kg ready to ride.
• 870 mm seat, 18.8 L tank and a range of around 380 km.
• Rental at €139.50 per day (October 2026 prices), 2-day minimum, 400 km per day included.
• €1,100 deposit, category A licence, minimum age of 21 and two years of experience on bikes in this class.
• Great for long roads and loose surfaces; it demands respect from anyone who has never ridden a bike weighing more than 200 kg.

What the Africa Twin is and where it comes from

The name goes back a long way. According to Wikipedia, the first Africa Twin arrived in 1988 as the XRV650, derived from the NXR-750 that won the Paris-Dakar four times in the late eighties. The XRV750 followed, then the CRF1000L in 2016 and, since 2020, the CRF1100L we rent out. The idea has never changed: a touring adventure bike with rally genes, lighter and more at home off the tarmac than the big road-oriented adventure bikes.

That heritage explains its character. The Africa Twin does not try to be a sofa on wheels. It has a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear, long-travel suspension and a standing riding position that genuinely works. At the same time, in 2026 it comes with modern electronics: a 6.5-inch touchscreen TFT display compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four riding modes and a six-axis inertial measurement unit. The details are on the official Honda Portugal page.

The numbers that matter

A table helps before we get into the details. The values come from the bike's listing on our website and from Honda.

Feature	Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin ABS
Displacement	1,084 cm3, inline twin
Maximum power	75 kW (102 hp) at 7,500 rpm
Gearbox	6-speed, manual
Weight ready to ride	231 kg
Seat height	870 mm (shop listing)
Tank and range	18.8 L, around 380 km
Suspension (travel)	230 mm front, 220 mm rear
Ground clearance	250 mm
Display	6.5-inch TFT

Engine and gearbox: strength down low, no rush up top

The 1,084 cm3 twin delivers 102 hp, but the number that counts is torque. Honda says the current generation gained 7% more torque in the low and mid range without losing peak power, and that is where you live on a big adventure bike: pulling out of a tight corner in second, overtaking a lorry on an A-road, climbing a dirt track with luggage on the back. You do not need to keep revving the engine to get a response.

The throttle is electronic (throttle by wire). If you are coming from a smaller bike, the practical message is simple: with this much torque, open the throttle gently, because the weight and the power are still there.

Honda also sells the Africa Twin with a dual-clutch gearbox (DCT), but the one in our fleet is a manual with six speeds. That is an advantage on dirt tracks, where clutch control is part of the technique, and a small drawback in city traffic, where your left hand works hard. If your question is DCT versus manual, the choice has been made here: it is manual.

Chassis and suspension: what sets it apart

The frame is steel, the swingarm is aluminium inspired by the CRF450R, and the Showa suspension has 230 mm of travel at the front and 220 mm at the rear. The rear shock, with a Pro-Link system, allows compression and rebound adjustment. The 250 mm of ground clearance rides over rocks and ruts without drama.

The cost of that geometry is the seat height. Our listing says 870 mm, while Honda mentions an adjustable seat, with 850 mm as the lowest value on its page. If you have short legs, you will want to try the bike while stationary before deciding. On a Lisbon hill with a traffic light at the top, or when parking on a sloping surface, the 231 kg does not forgive a foot that only reaches the ground with its toes.

Electronics: what it does for you

The Africa Twin has a serious electronics package that is, more importantly, easy to understand. The six-axis inertial unit tracks the bike under braking, in corners and under acceleration. Seven-level torque control, three-level front wheel lift control and cornering ABS all depend on it. There are four preset modes, Urban, Tour, Gravel and Off-Road, plus a User mode where you adjust each parameter.

In practice, if you are renting for just a few days, the advice is not to fiddle with everything in the first kilometre. Start in Tour, ride for an hour, then try lowering the torque control if you want more freedom on loose surfaces. On a rainy day, the most intrusive torque control level is a good friend.

The 6.5-inch TFT display brings all of this together, and the CarPlay and Android Auto connection is there for navigation. A phone holder is available as an extra, at 3 euros per day, according to the terms and conditions.

On the road: motorway, A-roads and city

On the road, the Africa Twin behaves like a serious touring adventure bike. The screen is taller and wider than on the previous generation and adjusts to five positions, so you can choose between more wind on your helmet or more protection. On the motorway that matters, because a day of crosswind tires you more than the distance would suggest. Adjust the screen while the bike is stationary.

The advertised range of around 380 km on 18.8 litres is a useful figure. The rental includes 400 km per day, so if you use the whole allowance, you will stop for fuel at least once a day, and it is worth planning the fuel stop next to a café or a viewpoint. The bike runs on 95-octane petrol.

In the city the picture changes. It is a 231 kg bike, wide, with wide handlebars and a tall seat. Crossing Lisbon between trams, wet cobblestones and cars double-parked is possible, but it is more tiring than on a 125 cc scooter. If the centre is only the starting point and the plan is to head for the hills, the Africa Twin pays off.

Off the tarmac: what to expect

Honda fits the Africa Twin with tubeless tyres on the 21- and 18-inch rims, with redesigned spokes to make roadside repairs easier. For anyone travelling in remote areas, this is a serious argument. The combination of suspension travel, ground clearance and a reasonable weight for the category makes the bike capable on packed-dirt tracks, forest roads and the goat paths of the Alentejo.

But the Africa Twin is still a 231 kg bike. In soft sand and on technical climbs, the difference from a mid-size adventure bike is enormous, and anyone with little off-road experience should stick to wide, dry tracks. If you have doubts about the kind of route you plan to take, talk to the team at the shop in Sobreda before booking. The goal is for the bike to come back in one piece and for your day to go well.

Africa Twin vs Transalp, Tenere 700 and NC750X

In our fleet, the closest alternatives are three adventure bikes with different profiles. The values below are from the shop, in October 2026.

Model	Power	Price per day	Deposit
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L	75 kW (102 hp)	€139.50	€1,100
Honda Transalp 750	67.5 kW (91.8 hp)	€110	€1,000
Yamaha Tenere 700 Rally	54 kW (73.4 hp)	€120	€1,300
Honda NC750X	43 kW (59 hp)	€100	€1,000

The Transalp is the most obvious comparison, because it is also a Honda and also a twin. If you are torn between the two, our Honda Transalp 750 review shows where the smaller sister wins: less weight, a lower seat, more agility. The Africa Twin wins on power, on stability at speed and on the ability to carry luggage and a passenger. The Tenere 700 is lighter and more hardcore on loose surfaces, but has less engine for the motorway. The NC750X is the most accessible and the most economical, designed for road and city, with no off-road pretensions.

The price difference between the Africa Twin and the Transalp is 29.50 euros per day. On a three-day rental, that is 88.50 euros. Pay it if you need the extra torque, the screen protection and the more complete electronics; if your plan is a relaxed coastal ride, the Transalp is enough.

Who can rent the Africa Twin

The requirements are on the bike's page and in the terms and conditions. You need an ID card or passport, a category A driving licence and to be at least 21. Because the displacement exceeds 700 cm3, the terms also require proven experience of at least two years on motorcycles with similar characteristics and power. The shop may refuse the rental if it concludes that the rider lacks the skill to ride the bike safely, and in that case there is no refund of what has already been paid.

To understand how categories A1, A2 and A differ, see the page on driving licence categories at the IMT (Portugal's mobility and transport institute). If you have a licence from another country, check with the shop before booking, so you do not arrive in Sobreda unable to collect the bike.

What it costs, in concrete terms

The price is €139.50 per day in October 2026, with a two-day minimum. There is no long-rental discount, so the cost grows in line: two days are €279, three days are €418.50. The price includes all taxes (23% VAT), third-party liability insurance, travel assistance, 400 km per day, a basic helmet with a visor and a lock. Each additional kilometre costs €0.49.

To book, you pay 30% now and the rest at pick-up. On a two-day rental, that is €83.70 as a booking payment and €195.30 at pick-up. The €1,100 deposit is a pre-authorisation on a credit or debit card in the rider's name, held separately at pick-up and released within five working days after return, if the bike comes back in the same condition. Cash is not accepted for the deposit. When you are ready, you can rent the Africa Twin by choosing your dates on the page.

Pick-up is at the shop in Sobreda, at Estrada Nacional N10-1 189, every day from 09:00 to 19:00. Airport or home delivery is available as a paid service. If you need gear, the extras listed in the terms are the full-face helmet at €5 per day, gloves at €2 and the protective jacket at €5. For anyone flying in without their own gear, that is 12 euros per day to be fully kitted out, an amount worth counting in your budget.

Who it is for and who it is not for

The Africa Twin suits anyone who already has a few years of riding behind them and wants to take a real trip: three or four days through the interior, a loop of the Costa Vicentina, a run to Évora with a detour along dirt tracks. It also suits two-up riding, because the torque and the seat space handle a passenger and luggage without suffering. Anyone who has never ridden a bike weighing more than 200 kg should think twice.

On the other hand, it is not for a city weekend with difficult parking and heavy traffic. Nor is it the ideal bike for a first taste of adventure bikes: in that case, an NC750X or a Transalp gives you more margin for error. And if the idea is just an afternoon coastal ride to Cabo Espichel, a lighter bike does the same with less effort.

How to prepare for the day

Start by sitting on the bike at the shop, with the team beside you. Take a short ride before leaving Sobreda, preferably on a road with no traffic, to get a feel for the weight and the turning circle. Bring water, a USB charger for your phone and a bag for whatever is left over from your helmet and gloves.

Plan to refuel every 300 km, even though the advertised range is 380 km. In the interior, petrol stations are further apart. To choose destinations for a longer route, the official tourism portal Visit Portugal is a good starting point.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rent the Honda Africa Twin in Lisbon?

In October 2026, the price is €139.50 per day, with a two-day minimum, 400 km per day included and each additional kilometre at €0.49. The deposit is €1,100 and is released within five working days.

What licence do I need to ride the Africa Twin?

You need a category A driving licence, a minimum age of 21 and, according to the terms and conditions, two years of experience on bikes with similar characteristics. The accepted ID documents are the citizen card and the passport.

Is the Africa Twin you rent automatic or manual?

The bike in our fleet has a six-speed manual gearbox. Honda also sells a version with dual-clutch transmission (DCT), but it is not the one available for rental.

Can I take the Africa Twin to Spain?

The terms and conditions provide for extension insurance for Spain, which costs €58 per 10 days. Talk to the shop before booking to confirm the dates and the documents needed for the trip.