Honda Africa Twin

The motorcycle was based on the NXR-750, which won the Paris-Dakar rally four times in the late eighties.

It was preceded by the eponymous XRV650 Africa Twin, a lighter, higher specification version made in 1988 and 1989 by Honda Racing Corporation, featuring a 650 cc engine producing 42 kW (56 hp).

It became available in the UK in late 2015 and early 2016 in the US, reviving their Africa Twin line.

The original V-twin Africa Twin was first sold in Europe from 1988 to the final production year of 2003 but was never brought to the United States.

The CRF1000L is also seen as a response by Honda to the heavier, on-road-focused adventure touring motorcycles such as the BMW R1200GS, Ducati Multistrada, and Triumph Tiger Explorer, offering a lighter, more off-road-focused machine.