Adventure bikes have truly taken over the motorcycle scene. Ever since Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman strong-armed their BMWs across the world in Long Way Round, people have been crazy about these bikes. In efforts to capitalize on this craze, Honda brought the Africa Twin back in 2015. Since then, it has been a goal for many adventure riders to own. 

2018-2020 Honda Africa Twins have been recalled

According to ADVPulse, American Honda Motor Co. issued a recall on the Africa Twin Adventure Sports models for a fuel filter issue. 2,690 bikes are affected by the recall officially issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The report states that zinc-oxide corrosion, which is often a result of the manufacturing process, can contaminate the fuel and build up, eventually leading to the fuel filter clogging and making the bikes run poorly. 

The real danger of such a fuel clog is that once the fuel filter gets sufficiently clogged, the bike’s engine can hesitate or even can stall abruptly. This is dangerous for normal bikes, but stalling on a trail could be really dangerous given the nature of adventure riding. Some riders reported that after a stall and the debris settles, the bike can be restarted, but this is only a false sense of security. 

How to get your recalled Honda Africa Twin fixed

If your bike is one that is affected by the recall, you will be notified and instructed to take the bike to an authorized dealer for service. ADVPulse says the dealers will drain and flush the tank and the fuel system and replace the fuel filter assembly at no charge. Furthermore, Honda has also issued a stop-sale on all Africa Twins that fall within the recall years. 

The recall was announced on December 15, 2020. If you have a bike affected by the recall, you can call Honda’s customer service at 1-866-784-1870 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. 

The Honda Africa Twin is still a legendary adventure bike 

As a bike that has previously won the Paris Darkar four times, I think it’s safe to say the Honda Africa Twin has earned its “legend” status. When Honda brought the bike back, officially, for the 2016 sales year, bikers were stoked to see the legend return. So, when Honda updated the Africa Twin for 2020, expectations skyrocketed. 

It still looks similar to the 2016 model and even keeps some design cues from the early Dakar monsters. Although it looks great, that is not what makes it such a serious bike. According to ADVPulse, some of the biggest updates are the narrower frame and new 1100cc engine. These two updates serve the bike’s size and power and have shaved a few pounds here and there. The 2020 Africa Twin also has a new swingarm that is also lighter and more rigid, adding maneuverability and handling. 

The Honda adventure bike is stepping into the 21st century

The 2020 Honda Africa Twin got a massive tech update. The handlebars are now home to a 6.5-inch touch screen, which even has Bluetooth. ADVPulse’s tester bike had the six-speed manual (these come with an automatic transmission option). When full of fluids, the manual verison weighs 501 lbs. Suppose you choose the automatic option that drops the bike’s overall weight down 7 lbs. 

The new dimensions, fresh motor, and updated tech make the already rugged adventure legend even more capable than before. Once this out-of-character recall is settled, the Honda Africa Twin can resume its place in the pantheon of adventure bikes.