Has 30-seconds of video ever been more seductive? Wait, don’t answer that because we’re concentrating on bike porn here, specifically Honda’s teaser for the new 2020 Africa Twin — giving a quick peek of the front of the new bike. 

At first all we see is inky black until a key light begins to caress the front of the Africa Twin’s re-sculpted fairing, revealing a smoother, broader surface area. The height of the windshield and outline of crash bars let us know we’re glimpsing the Adventure Sports version of the AT. Then a dramatic pop to light up the bike’s striking, new round LED irises, followed by low beams and then auxiliary lights.

23.09.19 jumps into frame as a climax, letting us know the teaser is teasing the actual reveal date of new Africa Twin. And judging by the way the two logos split during the video — one the text-only standard Africa Twin logo and the other, the Adventure Sports logo, with its stylized outline of the African continent, means we’re likely to see both bikes drop simultaneously.

An interesting asset that slips out in the shadowy scene is the hint of an extra pair of lights glimmering below the main headlamp module. We presume these are lean-angle activated cornering lights, shown in more detail in the official filing photos we recently reported on.

Other changes we’ve previously reported include a displacement bump of 86cc, increased fuel capacity, new frame and bolt-on subframe, TFT display, reworked exhaust and new tail section and hand guards. The Adventure Sports version is also expected to receive cross-spoked tubeless wheels, a deeper saddle, crash bars, and the auxiliary lighting.    

Sadly, there is no hint of whether those silhouetted hand guards hide the one button everyone is talking about. Yes. Cruise control. Even our friends at American Honda refuse to confirm or deny the addition of this sorely missed touring feature.

Okay Honda, we’re worn out after watching this teaser a couple dozen times. Enough with the seduction. Show us your Twins! 

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.