Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin

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Honda
Honda Africa Twin XRV750T.jpg
Factory code RD 07
XRV 750
Manufacturer Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Sales description Africa Twin
Production period 1990 to 06.2003
class motorcycle
design type Travel enduro
Motor data
Liquid-cooled V-engine with two cylinders
Displacement  (cm³) 742
Power  (kW / PS ) 44 kW (60 hp) at 7200 min -1
Torque  ( N m ) 66.7 at 5400 min -1
Top speed (  km / h) 178
transmission 5 courses
drive Chain drive
Brakes front Ø 276 mm double disc brakes,
rear Ø 256 mm disc brake
Wheelbase  (mm) 1564
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm): 2380 × 895 × 1430
Seat height (cm) 86
Empty weight  (kg) 205
Previous model Honda XRV 650 Africa Twin
successor Honda CRF 1000 L Africa Twin

The Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin [ ˈæfrɪkə twɪn ] is an off-road motorcycle from the Japanese manufacturer Honda , which was produced from 1990 to 06.2003. The design of the touring enduro is derived from the Honda XL 600 V Transalp , a further development of the Honda XRV 650 Africa Twin and is powered by an enlarged two-cylinder engine from the Honda NT 650 Hawk .

history

In response to the motorsport successes of the BMW R 80 GS in the early 1980s, the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was commissioned in 1984 to develop an all-terrain motorcycle suitable for the desert for the Paris-Dakar rally . In 1985 the NXR 750 V was presented with a water-cooled two-cylinder with a displacement of 779 cm³ and a rated output of 48 kW (65 PS). This motorcycle won the Paris-Dakar rally four times in a row from 1986 to 1989 and was therefore also called the “Queen of Africa”.

The Africa Twin XRV 650 with manufacturer code RD 03 is not based on the factory rally motorcycle NXR 750, but after the success of the NXR at the Paris-Dakar rally in 1987, it adopted its look. Despite a weight of 220 kg, the travel enduro was easy to move both on and off-road. In Germany, due to the cheaper type class, the power was reduced by throttling from 57 hp to 50 hp and the motorcycle was sold at a price of 10,570 DM. The top speed is 165 km / h at an engine speed of 7,640 min −1 . The aluminum rims have steel spokes and are fitted with diagonal tires at the front and rear. The RD 03 decelerates at the front with a disc brake with a two- piston caliper and at the rear with a disc brake with a single-piston caliper. Until 1991 the motorcycle was only available in the color combination (white-red-blue) of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).

Model variants of the XRV 750

RD04 from 1990 to 1992

Tripmaster above the speedometer

In 1990 the displacement of the successor model RD 04 was increased from 647 to 742 cm³, whereby the output rose from 57 to 59 hp. Due to changed timing, a larger carburetor cross-section and a compression reduction from 9.4 to 9.0, the maximum torque increased from 55 to 61 Nm. Honda wanted to improve stability with a stronger clutch, larger connecting rod and crankshaft bearings and a higher flow rate for the oil and water pumps . Compared to the previous model, the RD 04 had an oil cooler , a reinforced frame with a swing arm extended by 5 mm, a modified fairing, a double disc brake system and, from 1992, a digital trip meter called Tripmaster. The larger engine and the upgrade increased the weight from 220 to 238 kg, but the top speed also increased from 165 to 174 km / h.

RD 07 from 1993 to 1995

The Africa Twin was extensively revised in 1993 and also offered in a dethrottled version with 44 kW (60 PS). Thanks to the new flat slide carburetors, the nominal power increased by 10 HP. The air filter is mounted above the carburetor to suck in less dust thrown up by the front wheel, which also increases the fording depth . The modified double-loop tubular frame was 4 kg lighter. A shortened rear swing arm reduced the seat height from 88 to 86 cm. The front and rear brake calipers have been modified to make it easier to replace the brake pads. A tank reduced to 23 liters reduced the total weight to 230 kg and the range to 300 km with an average fuel consumption of 6.2 liters of regular gasoline per 100 km.

Overall, the RD 07 was more suitable for touring than its predecessors, but not more sporty.

RD 07a from 1996 to 2000

The RD 07a is the last evolutionary stage of the Africa Twin, which was manufactured until production was stopped in 2000. The former two pulse generator and ignition coils have been replaced by one each, which supplies both spark plugs with voltage. The gold anodized rims, the air support of the telescopic fork and the adjusting screw for the compression damping were omitted compared to the RD 07.

The models sold from 2001 to 2003 were assembled or sold from stock. Honda had sold a total of 72091 units in Europe by the end of 2003, including 20,823 in Germany.

Model comparison

Model code RD03 RD04 RD07 RD07a
Sales description XRV  650 XRV  750
model J to K L to N P to S T to Y
Construction year 1988-1989 1990-1992 1993-1995 1996-2000
rated capacity 37 kW (50 PS) 44 kW (60 hp)
overall length 2295 mm 2330 mm 2380 mm
width 895 mm
height 1290 mm 1420 mm 1430 mm
wheelbase 1564 mm 1565 mm 1564 mm
Seat height 890 mm 860 mm
Dry weight 187 kg 210 kg 205 kg
Tank volume (with reserve) 24 liters 23 liters

Model succession

The successor model XRV 850 with an output of 59 kW (80 PS), discussed in the press, was not realized by Honda, instead the much more powerful and approx. 40 kg heavier Honda XL 1000 V Varadero appeared in 1999 . At EICMA 2014, the prototype of the Honda CRF 1000 L True Adventure was presented, which was positioned by Honda as the successor to the NXR 750 V and came onto the market in 2015 as the Honda CRF 1000 L Africa Twin .

Technical specifications

drive

The liquid-cooled two - cylinder engine generates a nominal output of 44 kW (60 hp) and a maximum torque of 66.7 Nm at a speed of 5400 min −1 from a displacement of 742 cm³ . The four-stroke engine is mounted transversely in the frame so that the two cylinders of the V-engine are one behind the other at an angle of 52 ° to the crankshaft . Each cylinder head has a toothed chain- driven camshaft that controls an exhaust and two intake valves via rocker arms . The two cylinders have a bore with a diameter of 81 mm, the pistons have a stroke of 72 mm with a compression ratio of 9: 1.

The unit of engine and transmission block is divided vertically in a plane perpendicular to the crankshaft and made of an aluminum alloy. The crankshaft transmits its torque via gears to a multi-disc oil bath clutch on the input shaft of the transmission. The transmission has five gears and is linked to the rear wheel by a chain. The motorcycle accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 178 km / h.

landing gear

The chassis consists of a single- loop tubular steel frame with a double top made of rectangular profiles and a classic rear frame. The two stanchions of the telescopic fork have a diameter of 43 mm and a spring travel of 230 mm. They are connected to one another by a fork bridge above the front wheel. The suspension strut on the aluminum rear swing arm has a deflection system and is infinitely adjustable in terms of both spring preload and damping.

cooling

The engine cooling system uses a mixture of water and antifreeze to dissipate the heat of combustion from the two cylinders to the ambient air via two radiators . A coolant pump driven by the oil pump conveys the hot coolant via a thermostatic valve to the radiators and back, whereby the thermostat only opens completely from an operating temperature of 95 ° C. The right radiator has a cooling fan as additional cooling for coolant temperatures above 100 ° C.

Reviews

“As a serial offshoot of the legendary works rally racers, the massive touring enduro won many fans with its versatility and reliability. The V2 engine is almost unbreakable, the robust chassis is suitable for brisk country roads as well as for off-road passages on long-distance trips - there is also plenty of comfort and space for luggage.

- Michael Pfeiffer : 2 wheels

“If you are looking for a good motorcycle for the road as well as for off-road trips, Honda's Africa Twin can compete well with others in its class as an entry-level machine. It offers a decent performance with a top speed of 174 km / h. It might not get the blood pumping too much, but it is pleasant to drive at 160 km / h. "

- Alan Dowds : Motorcycles

“The aiming accuracy is excellent, the chassis remains stable and calm at all times, and the freedom of lean angle is almost infinite. The Africa Twin is the born Big Twin horror, its nerve-saving engine and chassis design makes it easy for beginners to concentrate fully on the enjoyable swinging. For mechanics and hobbyists, however, the Honda is rather disappointing. It just doesn't want to break. 80,000 kilometers without any problems are easy. If at all, the speedometer cable, steering head bearings or the fuel pump only need to be replaced. "

- Klaus Herder : Kradblatt

“Robust, cultivated, with a handy but stable chassis on asphalt and gravel. [...] The gearbox shifts smoothly, the brakes anchor effectively. The reliable three-valve V2 has no weaknesses apart from its sometimes fragile fuel pump, it is good for astronomical mileage without large donations, runs smoothly and can withstand bad fuel. "

- Markus Biebricher : Motorcycle

“The old RD 04 didn't like tight turns that much. Their center of gravity was high up, the wide 24 liter tank and the extreme seat height increased the feeling of insecurity in inexperienced drivers when the load tipped over. […] You waited just as in vain for the new Africa Twin as for the old one for a brute performance. Fortunately, the 750 was still nothing for fans of high performance characteristics. Long-distance travelers are more into turbine-like power output, and this is where the Africa Twin was and is unbeatable. The engine pulls through between 3000 and 7500 rpm without any drop in performance and completely evenly. "

- Klaus Herder : bma, edition 11/1998

“Vital, unforgettable in memory, loved by globetrotters and adventurers because of its indestructibility. The Africa Twin, most recently with the famous 750 V2, is an icon. She will forever get an extra podium in the motorcycle building hall of fame. It was the motorcycle for deserts, continents, wanderlust. "

- Thomas Delekat : The world

literature

  • Matthew Coombs: Honda XL 600/650 V Transalp and XRV 650/750 Africa Twin . 2nd Edition. Delius Klasing Verlag, Bielefeld 2003, ISBN 3-89595-185-4 .
  • Thomas Jung: Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin from year of construction 1993 . Bucheli Verlag, 1995, ISBN 3-7168-1883-6 .

Web links

Commons : Honda XRV750  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b Honda XRV 650/750 Africa Twin . In: motorcycle . No.  1 , 2004 ( motorradonline.de ). motorradonline.de ( Memento of the original from February 22nd, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorradonline.de
  2. a b c Alan Klee: Reincarnation of a legend . In: Touring Driver . No. 1 , 2016, ISSN  0933-4440 , p. 108-111 .
  3. Rolf Henniges: On the disappearance of the Honda Africa Twin. (No longer available online.) In: Motorrad , issue 25/2003. November 9, 2003, archived from the original on August 24, 2013 ; Retrieved September 17, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorradonline.de
  4. a b Markus Biebricher: Request concert . In: motorcycle . No. 17 , 2013, p. 104–110 ( motorradonline.de ).
  5. Fred Siemer: The tendency towards perfection. (PDF; 3.5 MB) In: Motorrad . Edition 9/1988. September 1, 1988, accessed February 22, 2015 (pp. 84–90).
  6. Michael Pfeiffer: 2 wheels . No. 4 , 2009, p. 51 .
  7. Alan Dowds: Motorcycles - The World's Breathtaking Superbikes. Amber Books Ltd., 2004, ISBN 3-89736-329-1 , p. 169.
  8. a b Klaus Herder: Honda Africa Twin model report. (No longer available online.) In: bma. Edition 11/1998. July 23, 2008, archived from the original on March 14, 2013 ; accessed on May 6, 2018 .
  9. Thomas Delekat: Cult motorcycle: All details about the new Africa Twin. In: The world . July 27, 2015, accessed August 14, 2015 .