Honda Africa Twin Accessories: Seat Covers, Exhaust, and Protection Upgrades

The Africa Twin: A Serious Adventure Bike Deserving Serious Aftermarket Support

The Honda Africa Twin — whether you ride the CRF1000L or the updated CRF1100L — is one of the most capable adventure motorcycles on the market. Designed to handle everything from motorway miles to mountain tracks, it's built tough. But tough doesn't mean perfect out of the box. Riders who push their Africa Twins across diverse terrain quickly discover where the stock setup leaves room for improvement: the seat becomes uncomfortable on long days, the exhaust feels restrained, and the suspension can feel compromised when you stray off tarmac. The right aftermarket upgrades don't just personalise your bike — they transform it into a machine that genuinely keeps pace with your ambitions.

Seat Covers: Long-Distance Comfort on the CRF1100L and CRF1000L

One of the first modifications most Africa Twin owners make is addressing the seat. The standard seat is competent, but hours in the saddle — especially on rough ground — expose its limitations. Aftermarket seat covers offer a practical, cost-effective solution that doesn't require replacing the entire seat unit.

There are important fitment differences to know. The CRF1000L (2016–2019) has a different seat profile to the CRF1100L (2020 onwards), so always confirm compatibility before ordering. Additionally, riders with the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) model should check whether their seat cover is specified for DCT or manual variants — the rear seat sections can differ slightly in shape between the two.

For adventure riding, grip-pattern seat covers are particularly popular. A non-slip surface helps you stay planted when standing on the pegs or shifting weight on trails. For long-distance touring, padded covers with added foam density ease pressure points significantly. Alcantara-style surfaces offer a premium feel, while ribbed vinyl replacement covers balance durability and practicality for year-round UK riding.

Explore our full range at Honda seat covers — filtered to Africa Twin-compatible options.

Exhaust Upgrades: Slip-On vs Full System

The stock exhaust on the Africa Twin is tuned to meet Euro 5 emissions standards, which means it prioritises compliance over performance and character. For many riders, that's where the aftermarket steps in.

A slip-on exhaust is the most accessible upgrade. You retain the stock headers and mid-pipe, replacing only the end can. This delivers a noticeable improvement in sound character — less muted, more purposeful — along with a modest weight saving of 1–3 kg depending on the system and material (titanium cans saving the most). Installation is straightforward, usually requiring no ECU remapping for slip-on fitment.

A full system exhaust — replacing headers, mid-pipe, and end can — offers the greatest performance gains. On the CRF1100L, a full system can improve throttle response throughout the rev range and achieve weight savings of up to 5–7 kg over the stock system. This route typically benefits from a tune or fuel controller to realise the full gains.

Browse Africa Twin-compatible options in our Honda exhaust systems collection.

Suspension: Improving on the Factory SHOWA/Pro-Link Setup

The Africa Twin's factory suspension — a SHOWA USD fork up front and the Pro-Link rear linkage — is well-regarded, but it's tuned for a broad middle ground. Riders who spend significant time on technical trails or loaded touring find the stock setup either too soft for aggressive off-road riding or too harsh for extended road use with luggage.

For trail-focused riders, upgrading the fork springs to a stiffer rate and fitting a higher-quality rear shock transforms the bike's composure on rough ground. Aftermarket units typically provide spring rates matched to the rider's weight and intended use.

Touring riders benefit from rear shocks with adjustable preload and rebound damping. Units with remote preload adjustment are particularly convenient for multi-day trips where load varies day to day.

Explore options in our Honda suspension and steering collection.

Shop Related Collections

Ready to upgrade your Africa Twin? Browse our curated collections for CRF1000L and CRF1100L compatible parts: Honda Seat Covers for long-distance comfort and grip, Honda Exhaust Systems for slip-on and full system upgrades, and Honda Suspension and Steering for trail and touring performance improvements. All parts are selected for fitment accuracy and quality — because your Africa Twin deserves aftermarket support as serious as the riding you do.