Honda Africa Twin vs Yamaha Ténéré 700: Which Adventure Bike Wins?
South Africa remains a major hub for adventure motorcycling, with its varied terrain and vast, wide-open spaces. Although there are many brands to choose from, South African adventure bikers still choose one of two big brands. Here's how they stack up.
South Africa is arguably the spiritual home of adventure riding. From the sweeping open stretches of the Great Karoo and the twisty tarmac of the Garden Route to the technical, rutted climbs of Sani Pass, our terrain demands a motorcycle that can crunch long highway miles without flinching when the asphalt ends.
Related: Adventure Bike vs. Sport Bike vs. Cruiser: Choosing Your Ride in SA
Two Japanese titans dominate this middle-to-heavyweight adventure landscape: the Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin and the Yamaha Ténéré 700 (affectionately known as the T7). While both carry legendary rally heritage, they approach the adventure brief from opposite philosophies. One is a tech-laden touring weapon; the other is a lean, mechanical dirt tool.
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Styling and ergonomics
Park them side by side, and the difference in design ethos is immediate. The Honda Africa Twin presents a commanding, broad-chested stance. Its wide front cowl, protective fairing, and lush dual seat hint at its long-haul intentions. Standard rider comfort is high, with a relaxed rider triangle, generous legroom, and an adjustable seat height that accommodates riders of varying statures.
By contrast, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 looks like it rolled straight off a Dakar rally stage. It features a tall, narrow rally-style front tower with distinctive quad-LED headlights, a flat bench seat, and a minimal body kit stripped of excess weight. The T7 puts you in an aggressive, upright "attack stance" that makes standing on the pegs natural and effortless off-road. However, that narrow bench seat begins to feel firm after two hours in the saddle on highway liaisons.
Engine and performance
Under the skin, the two powertrains cater to distinctly different riding styles:
- Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin: Powered by a 1,084 cc parallel-twin engine producing roughly 75 kW and 105 Nm of torque, the Africa Twin provides effortless roll-on power. Cruising at 120–140 km/h on the N1 with pillion and panniers feels smooth and unstrained. Honda also offers its proprietary Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) alongside the standard 6-speed manual, giving riders automatic shifting tailored for long tours or urban commutes.
- Yamaha Ténéré 700: Utilises Yamaha’s praised 689 cc CP2 crossplane parallel-twin, delivering 54 kW and 68 Nm of torque. While down on raw horsepower compared to the Honda, the CP2 engine is celebrated for its instant, linear low-end torque and bulletproof reliability. It punches out of low-speed corners and tractor-crawls through rocky climbs with zero fuss.
On open road stretches, the Africa Twin’s extra displacement and wind protection win out comfortably. But when navigating tight single-track or thick sand, the T7’s lighter curb weight (~204 kg wet vs ~226 kg manual / ~236 kg DCT for the Honda) makes the Yamaha far easier to manhandle.
Electronics and tech
The disparity between these two machines widens when you look at the dashboard.
The Honda Africa Twin is a modern tech showcase. It features a full-colour 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, multiple customisable riding modes (Tour, Urban, Gravel, Off-Road, and custom User modes), multi-level wheelie control, cornering ABS, and cruise control. It is designed for maximum safety and comfort over vast distances.
The Yamaha Ténéré 700 deliberately takes the minimalist route. While recent updates bring a colour TFT dash with basic smartphone connectivity and selectable ABS modes (On, Rear-Off, or Fully Off), it skips traction control, power modes, and electronic rider aids. Yamaha designed the T7 on a simple premise: fewer electronic modules mean fewer components to fail in remote back-country environments.
Technical Head-to-Head
| Feature | Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin | Yamaha Ténéré 700 |
| Engine Type | 1,084 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin | 689 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin (CP2) |
| Power | ~75 kW @ 7 500 r/min | ~54 kW @ 9 000 r/min |
| Torque | 105 Nm @ 6 250 r/min | 68 Nm @ 6 500 r/min |
| Transmission | 6-speed Manual or DCT | 6-speed Manual |
| Wet Weight | ~226 kg (Manual) / ~236 kg (DCT) | ~204 kg |
| Fuel Capacity | 18.8 Litres (Standard) / 24.8L (Adv Sports) | 16 Litres |
| Seat Height | 850 mm – 870 mm (Adjustable) | 875 mm |
| Wheel Setup | 21-inch front / 18-inch rear | 21-inch front / 18-inch rear |
| Cruise Control | Standard | Not available |
| Rider Aids | 6-axis IMU, Traction, Wheelie, Cornering ABS | Selectable ABS (Off-road mode) |
Off-road capability
Both motorcycles ride on dirt-focused 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels, meaning tyre choices for severe off-road work are abundant.
On gravel highways and sweeping district roads, both bikes feel planted and secure. However, when the terrain deteriorates into loose riverbeds, steep rocky inclines, or thick mud, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 shines. Its lighter weight, narrower frame, and raw throttle response allow riders to correct lines quickly and muscle through obstacles with confidence. Picking up a dropped T7 on a solo trail is manageable; lifting a fully loaded Africa Twin requires serious effort. Where the Honda strikes back is suspension refinement and long-range composure. Its long-travel Showa setup absorbs big hits effortlessly at speed, and its chassis remains remarkably stable on corrugated gravel roads.
Verdict
Choosing between these two legendary adventure bikes comes down to how and where you plan to ride across Southern Africa.
Buy the Honda Africa Twin if your ideal adventure involves long cross-border trips, carrying a passenger, riding big highway kilometres to get to the dirt, and enjoying modern luxuries like cruise control and touchscreen navigation. It is the superior long-distance tourer and daily all-rounder.
Buy the Yamaha Ténéré 700 if you prioritise pure off-road agility, mechanical reliability, simplicity, and active weekend trail riding. It is an unpretentious, highly capable dual-sport machine that encourages you to explore technical trails without fear.
