Honda previews the CB1000R and confirms price of Africa Twin and X-ADV

At the Malaysia Autoshow 2018, Boon Siew Honda, the official importer for Honda motorcycles in Malaysia, showed the naked CB1000R, but it also confirmed the prices of the adventure bike Africa Twin and also the revolutionary moto-trail-scooter X-ADV.

So let’s start with the ones we already know the price.

The CRF1000L Africa Twin is Honda’s weapon for the big adventure segment, and counts with a parallel twin-cylinder engine capable of producing 94 hp and 98 Nm of torque. Together with an advanced electronic package, the 2018 Africa Twin doesn’t go for the all out power some of its competitors show on the spec list, but instead, Honda have built an adventure bike that’s easy to maneuver and ride no matter the terrain or conditions.

A true all-rounder!

The Africa Twin will be available in two versions: one with manual clutch and six-speed transmission, and a second version fitted with the famous Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). Instead of being manual, this DCT version allows the rider to choose different transmission modes, two automatic and one semi-automatic.

The price announced by Boon Siew Honda for the Africa Twin is RM74.198,94 for the base version and RM80.558,94 for the DCT version. Both prices are GST included.

As for the radical scooter X-ADV, which mixes concepts from a maxi-scooter with an adventure bike, Boon Siew Honda revealed that the price for this model will be of RM61.478,94 for the normal version, while the Special Color version will be priced at RM63.598,94. This is basic prices with GST included.

The X-ADV is also fitted with a parallel twin-cylinder engine, but a bit smaller than the one on the powerful Africa Twin, with 745 cc, the X-ADV has suspensions that allow for more wheel travel, perfect to tackle rough terrains, the wheels themselves are spoked, but if you’re just riding on asphalt, the seating position, typical of a maxi-scooter, is there to let you enjoy the ride in a comfortable manner.

It’s also important to remember that the Honda X-ADV is only available with Dual Clutch Transmission, for smoother and faster gear changes, and various riding modes available.

But the star of the show was the powerful naked CB1000R, which Boon Siew Honda previewed at Malaysia Autoshow 2018.

The CB1000R is a complete change in style compared to the previous generation, and Honda didn’t go for a radical design this time. This generation mixes style cues from a streetfighter with other elements we usually see on more classic cafe racers. The result is a motorcycle with a powerful stance!

This bike was officially revealed at last year’s EICMA show in Milan, and is also known as the “Neo Sports Cafe”. European motorcycle journalists already had the chance to get the first taste of this bike, and their opinions couldn’t be more positive! And that makes us even more eager to test ride the CB1000R!

Fitted inside a new steel frame, lighter than the one used in the previous generation, the CB1000R has the CBR1000RR engine derived from the previous generation of this superbike. This engine is an inline four-cylinder engine with 998 cc and lots of changes were made to make it much more usable in everyday riding.

The focus was to maximize power and torque at lower revs, so compression is now of 11.6:1, pistons are forged and not cast, air goes into the airbox through a more direct path, and also the exhaust system was developed to not only enhance emotions by giving a more vicious sound, but because it helps the engine to develop 143 hp and 104 Nm of torque.

With fully adjustable suspensions by Showa, the CB1000R promises to be a real demon on the road, and with a wet weight of just 213 kg, many electronic options – power modes and traction control, Engine Brake, etc. -, the rider will surely be happy with this new generation of the Honda CB1000R.

According to some comments from Boon Siew Honda, which have been replicated by some specialized media, the CB1000R could be priced at around RM80000 when it finally reaches Malaysia, but this is something we cannot confirm at the moment.