Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2017 - In-depth review

This motorcycle belongs to my friend's rental company Canary Ride (www.canaryride....) here in Gran Canaria. Thank you for lending me the bike for this review!
This is an in-depth review of the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin model 2017. It is not the model 2018, which has updated exhaust, dash and electronic throttle, but I believe it is still valuable to look closely at this very well selling bike.
Here’s what I dicuss in my video:
00:46 History and development of the Africa Twin, design of the new model
02:32 CRF1000L engine, architecture, torque and power
04:43 Supsension, wheels, brakes
06:46 Ergonomy, comfort, downsides of the bike
08:56 Road test
14:41 Off-road test
18:40 My conclusion
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[@actstuntcam]

What an excellent review. It seems the longer I dig on KZbin, the more I come across better reviews. Massive thanks for posting this:)

[@thaddeusjad6323]

instablaster

[@duncanmcginnis]

Thanks for the review! I've been riding an 09 R1200GSA and I am about to trade it on a BRAND NEW 2017 Africa Twin just like this one.

[@rovers10001]

Welcome to the club, you’ve picked the right colour. Some things you’ll need to do straight away are change the exhaust (transforms the performance of the bike) and add crash bars at the front. Enjoy!

[@sebastianr1759]

Does it really boost the output?

[@oldtimer3824]

JF you are a confident and excellent rider as evidenced by trail riding next the cliff, nicely done. If all goes well I’ll be buying a lightly used 2017 AT in 3-days and I won’t be on goat trails next to a cliff. Lol.

[@actstuntcam]

I love watching you ride this hard on the tarseal. Almost the only video anywhere that shows spirited road riding:) AWESOME!! :)

[@davexs]

Great review as usual , I am considering one of these bikes and your comments have helped a lot. Many thanks 'Big Foot' :-))

[@JFMotorcycles]

Great! :)) Thanks for watching.

[@daverose4774]

Great video Very in depth Good lad

[@richardvalitalo3670]

I love this bike, a keeper

[@marcrigo694]

Great review Lots of information Thank you

[@stafbasson9989]

thank you for a good review packed with information.

[@ktm99038]

hello, I'm hesitating between the honda africa twin and the tiger 800 XRT.... which is the best for you

[@kevincook6341]

Debating the same,, what did you choose?

[@zerotonine807]

one question: what camera did you use when riding? mounted at the lower part of the helmet? perfect video btw....thanks

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

I come from a BMW GS and the Honda AT seems very boring in comparison. I am hopefully trying out the adventure sports this year as my background is with Honda from the 70's.. XR75 70's .. XR400R.. 2002 - VA700 Transalp 2008 - 2010 R1200GS .. 2013 F800GS.. 2015 R1200GS Adventure.. What next?? AT Adventure sports or BMW R1250GS Rallye HP edition.

[@nebojsajovanovic3933]

Greath video.....would you recomend this bike for beginner?

[@lpage601]

How tall are you..? I'm 6'1 I have a world one but I would like to know what it feels small to me being 6'1 tall

[@vibhorsharmax]

Woa i really admire this bike, and yea bro you are definitely right the bike is well proportional,. It is not huge like other brand, even the super sport CBR fireblade is a lil smaller and compact than other brands, which gives honda a slight advantage, specially for this bike, you can control it easily but it is a bit difficult to control heavy bikes like bmw g series and Ducati multistarda, on harsh roads, i mean i am a small guy 5:9 and i feel that this bike would be a better choice over any other adventure machine

[@JFMotorcycles]

Hi! Thanks for comment. I definitely think it would be easier to handle for you than Ducati or BMW. I truly remember my 5 minutes with Africa and 5 minutes with Ducati. Africa was something I knew and was able to ride to fast from the first second and enjoying the ride. On Ducati it took me day and half to start feeling confident in the corners finally. I am not saying it is worst, in the end it was really fun... but Hondas were and are always little bit easier to ride. I hope you decided for one one day and enjoy every day :)

[@ervinmallari5896]

4:33 nice shot which drone you flying?

[@MiguelCamposAfricaTwin]

Very, very good video! Congratulations!!!

[@suvolens]

Great review! I rode the Africa Twin for the first time yesterday and my first impressions are as follow: Rode the legendary #africatwin today. After poring through a ton of reviews online, it was time I tasted the ‘Wing’ for myself before giving in to temptations. My short-ride impressions - DCT is a wonderful thing. It’s good to have in traffic and I’m sure, great to have at cruising speeds too. And the DCT in the Honda is almost faultless in its gear selection, whatever the speed. But, it’s not as visceral as being able to mash down a gear in anger, to blow past the irritating moron on the phone in the car ahead. It’s just that little bit in the grey where you’re left wondering if a burst of gas would be too much motion to carry forward in a sardine-packed situation. But I’m sure one can get used to it. Next - a front wheel the size of a Ferris wheel from the country fair! At 21”, it cant help imparting a relatively vague-ish steering around areas that require quick turn-ins as in twisty mountain roads. It’s almost a southern drawl against the staccato Latina of my smaller wheeled Bonneville. What this bike has in gobs is torque! Between the massive bottom end and the seamless DCT, the numbers on the speedo climb faster than you’ll believe, but brings with it an unacceptable amount of turbulence on the face if you’re taller than 6’. Calls for an accessory screen over the OEM one. Seat is super comfy and the suspension justifies the price of this almost-slender beast over the dug up Delhi roads. I have no doubt from the brief ride that this machine is a trail-raider’s dream. And I suppose it’ll be a great tourer as well. But I came away a little underwhelmed personally. I went, expecting to fall head over heels in love. But “she didn’t do it, like you can do it. She didn’t do magic to me”. The Bonnie lives on.. You've ridden both the Tiger xRT and the Africa Twin. My question: moving up from a Bonneville, would the xRT make a better choice than the Africa? I prefer better road handling to off-road capabilities and am essentially on the hunt for a comfortable tourer with great handling. Your channel has great content btw. Cheers!

[@ElieBlaxBlaze]

Some writing skills there. However you are triumph lover and it doesn't affect AT's legendary status for all the reasons and more as described by you.

[@MrArjanOskam]

I want to buy an Africa Twin next year. But I am in doubt between 2017 model and 2018 model... Don't know what to choose. I hear the 2018 had better road handling.

[@richardvalitalo3670]

Tank issues on 18&19

[@alffrommelmac9349]

...how tall are you?

[@michelemicoli]

Great review! How is the africa twin on faster twisty roads? Cheers !

[@JFMotorcycles]

Due to very high suspension travel there are surely faster bikes, but for the category of adventure bikes it is really really good! Yesterday I took my Yamaha XSR 900 for a trip with my girlfriend and I was really thinking over the day, hmm this time it would be probably more comfortable and better trip on the Africa. Let's see what happens in the future

[@1Mcoach]

Amazing. I had it from 2016. Lovely bike.

[@storidiot1]

great and interesting video again j.f :-) i bought the nc750x last month,great bike.but now im looking at the 2018 africa twin.hope you test it soon jf!

[@JFMotorcycles]

Hi Hans. So you already thinking to replace it? Or buy and own two bikes? I am now on my motorcycle mission :)) in Italy to review Italian bikes and meet people from the industry here, but hopefully I'll get to my country in July and be lucky to get the new Africa 2018 possibly Adventure sports for a review. Which version are you mostly interested in? With the manual trasmission?

[@storidiot1]

hi J.F :-) thanks for answer! nc 750x i a great motorcycle,easy and fun to drive,very economic,use only 0,28l pr 10km.but im not satiesfied with the wind noise,i have order a bigger windshield maybe it will be better then .Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports looks very interesting! very very nice bike.i maybe will sell the nc750 and buy the Africa twin.i will go for the manual transmission.but i will wait for your video of the 2018 africa twins,because you make very interesting and professional videos.thanks alot J.F :-)

[@JFMotorcycles]

Such kind words. Thank you so much. So I will take your comment and show it in Honda. Hopefully then they will give me Africa Twin for the review... Also, I think it would be a massive upgrade for you from NC to Africa and you would be probably very happy about it. Except you would lo the awesome storage of NC :)

[@storidiot1]

you earn every nice word because your videos are great to all of us who planning to buy a new motorcycle.you test them proper and tell us what good and bad with them.your videos and review are the best on youtube.hope Honda will give you the 2018 africa twin for review soon :-)

[@1Mcoach]

hans I have Hondas Africa 2016 and nc750x 2014. Both are great bikes, just different level. My advice for Nc take Honda (or givi) larger windshield and add givi wind deflector. I’m 187cm and no problem at all with wind buffering even 150kph. Cheers :)

[@bicmac333]

Where is this in Gran Canaria? Regards from Berlin

[@shezaanmohamed8511]

Is this 2017 model a throttle by wire ??

[@JFMotorcycles]

No no, this one has still a standard cable throttle. It all started in 2018. I hope I am going to review the new version soon :)

[@johnroll513]

its not

[@solelmi]

well done a good motorcycle show

[@JohnDoe-uc7et]

how tall are you?

[@jamesjohnson6239]

The bike has a seat height of 34" its above mid thigh on him. He's a big dude! !

[@johnroll513]

I can not believe you you can travel 500 mil I have got arse pain after 60 mils

[@vivimu]

John Roll you don't ride enough so your body is not conditioned

[@JozsaMarton]

*by all respect please try not to use "you know" that much. cheers!*

[@wilshirewarrior2783]

CMs give me a headache..inches and feet please

[@phdtobe]

Jeff Martin use google to convert to imperial. Should be possible for someone who knows how to access KZbin and make comments.

[@shezaanmohamed8511]

Is this 2017 model a throttle by wire ??

[@richardvalitalo3670]

No it has wire cable.