2020 Africa Twin Adventure Sports (Euro Version) announced, with photos
 

So it's finally been announced - and there are two version, the "plain" Africa Twin "off-roady" version and the Africa Twin Adventure Sports, the more touring oriented "luxury"? version.

Below is the Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES.






It's certainly very pretty! ;)

With a 1048cc engine from a 5mm stroke, and 100 HP and 77 lb-ft of torque, it's got 6 more HP than the previous version and 4 more lb-ft of torque, it gets a useful increase, though nothing earth-shattering.


Honda DID listen to the cries about weight and made a number of changes to cut it down rather than the usual increase. The changes to the frame, including an aluminum bolt on sub-frame (not so sure about that from previous ally sub-frames history!) and other mods resulted in a 5kg loss of weight. Not as much as we'd all like, but it's a step in the right direction, so kudos to Honda.

Suspension is essentially the same.

The Adventure Sports gets tubeless tires and "outside" spoke rims as you can see in the photo, but the base model stays with tubes as previously. The AS also gets an adjustable windscreen, bigger tank, heated grips - yay! and electronic suspension.






Lots more details on Honda's website


So is one of these on YOUR shopping list?

I’m on a 2018 AT at the moment. It’s great for straight-line travel on reasonable surfaces— comfy, powerful. well-balanced, pleasing to the ears—but no fun at all on rutted, steep, slippery gravel. I don’t have the patience for all the electronic options; who even knows what all these traction settings really mean, anyway? Not the folks I rented it from.

In a few days I’ll trade it in for an old 650GS, and probably complain bitterly about that, too. At the moment, I’d prefer my elderly Vstrom at half the price, but l give the AT a few more days to prove itself.

Mark (from Zugdidi, Georgia)