Honda has been on a roll off-late. Not with new motorcycles, but with some mind-bending patent filings. One of these revealed a self-balancing tech for the Gold Wing, while the other included a never-seen-before Jump Control electronic aid. The latest instance, however, might be the most interesting, as it shows Honda’s plans to supercharge its flagship ADV, the Africa Twin. Let’s dive in.

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Honda Files Patent For Supercharged Africa Twin

Supercharged Honda Africa Twin Patent
Young Machine
The patent filings blend perfectly with the Africa Twin

When you think of superchargers and motorcycles, the mind instantly wanders off to the Kawasaki Ninja H2. It’s the only mass-produced supercharged motorcycle you can buy and primarily focuses on peak engine performance. But Honda’s plan for the Africa Twin is a tad different. The patents (sourced by trusted Japanese site Young Machine) show the bikemaker has whipped up a twin-screw supercharger, instead of the centrifugal unit on the Kawasaki.

Why, you ask? Well, because a twin-screw setup runs directly at the engine speed. This not only enables a wide spread of torque right from the lower end of the revs but also omits a lag since it has a direct drive. This can prove detrimental for an adventure motorcycle like the Africa Twin, especially when you’re off-roading and need instant torque to power through obstacles or just slide around. In contrast, the centrifugal supercharger prioritizes high-end power and needs considerably higher revs to produce the boost. For instance, the Ninja H2’s supercharger works best at a whopping 130,000 RPM.

Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L static shot
Honda Africa Twin
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L standing against a snowy background

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Torque aside, the twin-screw setup will also boost horsepower by a decent chunk. And the 101-HP Africa Twin needs it. After all, this is 35 horsepower shy of the BMW R 1250 GS, 47 down on the Triumph Tiger 1200, and a whopping 69 ponies less than the Ducati Multistrada V4. So with the supercharger in action, we could see the Honda ADV jump to around the 150-HP mark.

Oh, and since the patents show the same 1,084cc, twin-cylinder mill, we don’t think there’s a new engine in store. If that’s the case, this could open Honda to an entire supercharged lineup, as this mill also serves duty on the Rebel 1100 and NT1100. Just like the ADV, a bump in horsepower and torque will make these ever-so-likable.

Supercharged Honda Africa Twin - When Will It Arrive?

Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L
Honda
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L riding through mud

The first patents of the supercharged Africa Twin CRF1100 came out in 2020. At the time, most of us thought these were just experimental plans, with no scope for production. But now that Honda has backed them up with new filings, it seems the supercharged Africa Twin plan is taking shape for good. Sadly, the bikemaker has never confirmed the plan, so we don’t have a timeline yet. Meanwhile, in similar news, the Japanese giant also has a camera system in store for the Africa Twin, as well as a crash detection system.