2016 Honda VFR1200X

Now that the news of the still-vaporware 2016 Honda Africa Twin has become old news, it is interesting to note that, even though the 1000cc Africa Twin is not available yet, Honda has published the fact that the USA will be receiving the 1200cc V-4 powered Adventure Touring "Crosstourer" model that the rest of the world has been enjoying for years. And even though it's a road bike that weights 600lbs, I can't get out of my head how cool it would be to take a big road ride on a comfy long-travel suspensioned V-4 Honda.

It even looks cool.

2016 Honda VFR1200X

2016 Honda VFR1200X Instruments

2016 Honda Africa Twin Releaved, Mostly

After months of checking the motorcycle blogs every day for real info on the upcoming Africa Twin, finally Honda spilled the beans and the blogs caught on fast.

The verdict is US prices have not been revealed yet. The bike is coming in grossly overweight from expectations, but that does not want to stop me from grabbing one. The wet specs are 511 lbs for the ABS model and 534 lbs for the ABS/DCT version. This starts at around 60 lbs heavier than hoped for, but isn't the end of the world. Future iterations will hopefully get the weight down to near liter sportbike standards. If anything, a fancy aftermarket exhaust will heal part of that woe. And if weight really is a True Issue, just wait for the smaller Honda ADV bikes to emerge in the years to come (think new Transalp and perhaps an Elsinore).

The all-new 998cc parallel twin engine with a fortunate 270 degree crank sounds about right. Judging by the relatively low peak horsepower and high peak torque specs given, this thing is going to be a nice smooth stump-puller like the ol' 1998 - 2005 Honda VTR1000F Super Hawk was. The only semi-surprise here is the use of a single camshaft -- but then again the little CRFs have that too for simplicity's sake. Sure they sign-off early, and so will the Africa Twin, but this new one is, after all, a CRF! Feeding this thing is fuel injection and a 5-gallon gas tank. Sounds good... but isn't touring overkill like we all think we want.

America gets the "Rally" red/white/black and the silver color schemes. Elsewhere get the boring kill-me-dead black and the desirable white/red/blue "Tricolor" with gold wheels and handlebar that everyone is going to want. When the time comes, I'll just have to settle for the sedate "Rally" colored bike.

2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin

It's official. It's coming. This is the moto I've been waiting for my whole life. It's almost a year off yet in the US, but it's definitely coming. It's not a question of if I'll be riding one, just a matter of when.

First CRF1000L Video:

Honda CB500X

While still waiting for my beloved Honda CRF 1000 Africa Twin vaporware, I recognize I need in my life another good, fun, street/touring bike... something that doesn't cost a lot... something with a good brand name history... something to make great memories with.

A smaller, thrashable, trashable, certain run-of-the-mill, not too small, not too big, steed is now in order.

It's the Honda CB500X.

Perfect!

What does it need? For fun? Nothing. But gearing it down, putting some robust dirt bike handlebars on it, and perhaps some sticky sport rubber and a pipe and Power Commander would spice things up!

Just say yes, MotoBum. Just say yes.

A white Honda CB500X; I'll take it

The Honda CB500X cockpit; a nice looking place to the spend the day

2015 Honda CRF 1000 Africa Twin

My absolute dream bike is in development -- the replacement to the Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin (RD07), which ceased production in 2003 and was never, ever, available in the USA.

Not a lot is known about the new bike yet other than that it is definitely coming. Leaked by the CEO of Honda Italy early in August, 2013, it was announced that a proper Honda dirt-worthy ADV bike was coming for 2015 and that it would be a twin. Simultaneous Honda Uh'merica filing of the "Africa Twin" name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office sealed the leak to be truth -- a new Honda Africa Twin is definitely being made *and* it will be available for me and all of my closest friends to purchase and ride.

Life just keeps getting better.

A week ago, German publication Motorrad published an artist's conception of what this machine could very well look like. It looks oh-so-tasty. Combined with an article Moto.it published around the same time, the purported spec sheet is worth salivating over, especially as we can predict this motorcycle won't be too expensive.

Rumored Specs:

• 900-1000cc parallel twin engine (let's hope for a 270 degree crank)
• 100 bhp
• 397 lbs dry weight / 440 lbs wet weight
• 5.2 gallons of fuel
• 21" front wheel (spokes front and rear)
• Visually similar to CRF 450 Rally bike

Reference posts:

Asphalt & Rubber: Rumor: New Honda Africa Twin Coming? To the USA Even?!

Asphalt & Rubber: More Honda Africa Twin Rumors from Europe

http://www.moto.it/news/nuova-honda-africa-twin-crf-1000.html

Honda NM4

March 20, 2014 -- Honda displays an amazing "Neo-futuristic" concept bike at the Osaka Motorcycle Show. The thing looked like a production Akira feet-forward motorcycle. I thought they'd never make it. They called it the NM4

April 1, 2014 -- Honda announces the NM4 will be available mid-2014 as a 2015 model. The USA market gets the NC700X/CTX700 670cc DCT platform while the rest of world gets the revised NC750X/NC750S/Integra 745cc DCT version. US EPA bureaucracy is probably responsible for the discrepancy. Oh, well. Time will tell.

I've waited my whole life for a bike like this. It's only a matter of when, not if, I will be getting one.

Asphalt & Rubber blog concept announcement

Honda Worldwide site concept announcement

Asphalt & Rubber blog production announcement

American Honda production News Release

Honda USA site -- NM4

2014 Honda Valkrie

Big cruisers are good for one thing and only one thing -- burnouts. And this big new Honda is no exception. I'll take it!