Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2019 vs. BMW R 1250 GS 2019

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2019

BMW R 1250 GS 2019

Technical Specifications Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2019 compared to BMW R 1250 GS 2019

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2019

BMW R 1250 GS 2019

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2019

BMW R 1250 GS 2019

Engine and Drive Train

Engine type	Engine type	In line	Engine type	Boxer
Bore	Bore	92 mm	Bore	102.5 mm
Stroke	Stroke	75.1 mm	Stroke	76 mm
Engine power	Engine power	95 HP	Engine power	136 HP
Rpm at Max. Power	Rpm at Max. Power	7,500 rpm	Rpm at Max. Power	7,750 rpm
Torque	Torque	98 Nm	Torque	143 Nm
Rpm at Torque	Rpm at Torque	6,000 rpm	Rpm at Torque	6,250 rpm
Fuel system	Fuel system	Injection	Fuel system	Injection
Starter	Starter	Electric	Starter	Electric
Clutch Type	Clutch Type	Multiplate in oil-bath	Clutch Type	Antihopping
Transmission	Transmission	Chain	Transmission	Prop shaft
Transmission Type	Transmission Type	Gearshift	Transmission Type	Gearshift
Number of gears	Number of gears	6	Number of gears	6
Cylinders	Cylinders	2	Cylinders	2
Strokes	Strokes	4-Stroke	Strokes	4-Stroke
Valves per cylinder	Valves per cylinder	4	Valves per cylinder	4
Cooling	Cooling	liquid	Cooling	liquid-air
Can be restricted for A2 licence	Can be restricted for A2 licence	Yes	Can be restricted for A2 licence	Yes
Displacement	Displacement	998 ccm	Displacement	1,254 ccm

Suspension Front

Front suspension	Front suspension	Upside-Down telescopic fork	Front suspension	Telelever
Adjustment	Adjustment	Compression, Preload, Rebound	Adjustment	Preload

Suspension Rear

Suspension	Suspension	Swing arm	Suspension	Single swing arm
Shock absorber	Shock absorber	Monoshock	Shock absorber	Monoshock
Adjustment	Adjustment	Compression, Preload, Rebound	Adjustment	Preload, Rebound
Material	Material	Aluminium	Material	Aluminium

Chassis

Frame	Frame	Steel	Frame	Steel

Brakes Front

Type	Type	Double disk	Type	Double disk
Diameter	Diameter	310 mm	Diameter	305 mm
Piston	Piston	Four pistons	Piston	Four pistons
Actuation	Actuation	Hydraulic	Actuation	Hydraulic
Technology	Technology	radial	Technology	radial

Brakes Rear

Type	Type	Disc	Type	Disc
Diameter	Diameter	256 mm	Diameter	276 mm
Piston	Piston	Double piston	Piston	Double piston

Assistance Systems

Advanced Rider Assistance Systems	Advanced Rider Assistance Systems	ABS, Traction control	Advanced Rider Assistance Systems	ABS, Anti-slipping control, Riding modes, Ride by Wire

Dimensions and Weights

Front tyre width	Front tyre width	90 mm	Front tyre width	120 mm
Front tyre height	Front tyre height	90 %	Front tyre height	70 %
Front tyre diameter	Front tyre diameter	21 inch	Front tyre diameter	19 inch
Rear tyre width	Rear tyre width	150 mm	Rear tyre width	170 mm
Rear tyre height	Rear tyre height	70 %	Rear tyre height	60 %
Rear tyre diameter	Rear tyre diameter	18 inch	Rear tyre diameter	17 inch
Length	Length	2,335 mm	Length	2,207 mm
Width	Width	875 mm	Width	952.5 mm
Wheelbase	Wheelbase	1,575 mm	Wheelbase	1,525 mm
Seat Height	Seat Height	850 mm	Seat Height	850 mm
Seat Height up to	Seat Height up to	870 mm	Seat Height up to	870 mm
Kerb Weight (with ABS)	Kerb Weight (with ABS)	232 kg	Kerb Weight (with ABS)	249 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity	Fuel Tank Capacity	18.8 l	Fuel Tank Capacity	20 l
License compliancy	License compliancy	A	License compliancy	A

Pros and Cons in comparison

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2019

The new Africa Twin has come exactly as fans expected: Well controllable, unagitated and a wonderful travelling companion. The fact that it also looks extremely good was a pleasant bonus. So there is no reason to fundamentally change the Africa Twin, what was good remains good on the new one - and much has been improved. Thanks to Ride by Wire, you can now also enjoy performance modes on the Africa Twin, and the traction control can be adjusted 7-fold (instead of 3-fold previously) and switched off. The optional DCT is still a big hit and a lot of fun, but it also costs a lot.

Reliable engine

comfortable seating position

well-tuned chassis

good looks

good brakes

optional DCT

performance modes

not quite optimal wind protection

no cruise control

ABS on front wheel cannot be switched off

BMW R 1250 GS 2019

The BMW R 1250 GS also presents itself as a very complete bike in 2022. Confident and well-balanced, it impresses on intensive rides. The bike scores points with its superb engine, great ergonomics and practical riding aids including great app integration. However, in a direct comparison with other top-of-the-range touring enduros, it shows its first weaknesses in terms of features and components. In direct comparison, however, the 136 hp from the boxer engine is convincing in every situation.

Extremely high-torque boxer engine

comfortable seating position, suitable for long distances

great app integration

sophisticated operating concept

great ergonomics

many customisation options

great handling with strong confidence in the front

easy to ride

Shifting at low revs is choppy

seat too slack

brakes and suspension no longer at the level of the strong competition