2022 Honda Africa Twin vs Ducati Multistrada 950 S vs Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

The updated Honda Africa Twin is here, and it comes with a host of new updates to its powertrain and list of features, which make it a more compelling option in the litre-class adventure tourer category. With a starting price of Rs 16.02 lakh, the Honda Africa Twin is also continued to offer with the exclusivity of a dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is priced at Rs 17.56 lakh.

However, it is the standard manual version of the Honda Africa Twin which seems like a compelling competitor to its direct European rivals, the Ducati Multistrada 950 S and Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. We find out which one of the three motorcycles is the best fit for you at the Rs 15-16 lakh odd price point:

Price

At Rs 16.02 lakh, the Honda Africa Twin is slightly pricier than the Ducati Multistrada 950 S and Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, both of which are almost similarly priced at Rs 15.49 lakh and Rs 15.51 lakh respectively. All these three motorcycles are brought to India through the CBU route..

(Both prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, pan India)

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Engine and Chassis

The inline-twin 1083cc engine of the Honda Africa Twin might be the biggest in this trio, however, it is the L-twin 937cc engine of the Ducati Multistrada 950 S. The inline-three 888cc engine of the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro is the smallest here, and is the least powerful too, though, with an additional cylinder, it feels the most refined of the lot. However, when it comes to peak torque output, it is the Africa Twin which wins the battle.

When it comes to mechanical hardware, it is the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro with the most tech-packed and premium suspension and brakes. This, along with the Honda Africa Twin, feels like the more hardcore and proper off-road oriented motorcycles. The Multistrada 950 S is also not too far behind either, with the fattest front forks. The Africa Twin has the biggest front brakes and the widest rear tyre.

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Dimension

Out of all the here motorcycles here, the Honda Africa Twin has the least seat height and the heaviest kerb weight, while the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro has the smallest wheelbase and height. Dimension wise, it is the Ducati Multistrada 950 S which is the tallest, widest and longest motorcycle out of the trio.

Design and Features

All the three motorcycles here look distinctive, are heavily loaded with features and have their personalities, so choosing one out of the three is a tough task if you ask us.

Let’s start with the newest of them all, the updated Honda Africa Twin. The Honda Africa Twin looks like a purposeful go-anywhere motorcycle and features a five-way adjustable front windscreen, 6.5-inch touchscreen TFT instrument console with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, cruise control, ride by wire, cornering ABS, six riding modes (tour, urban, gravel, off-road, user 1 and user 2), three-level wheelie control, selectable torque control, dual-LED headlamps with daytime running LEDs and auxiliary cornering lights and LED tail lamp and turn indicators.

Ducati is always known for equipping its motorcycles with the best of what the world has to offer, and the Multistrada 950 S is no exception. This adventure tourer gets a slew of features like LED headlamps and tail lamp, cornering ABS, traction control, riding modes, power modes, cornering lights, 5-inch TFT instrument console, vehicle hold control, up-and-down quick-shifter, cruise control, backlit switchgear and self-cancelling LED turn indicators.

The Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro is the top-spec variant in the Tiger 900 lineup and is rightfully equipped with the best of state-of-the-art features like a 7-inch TFT instrument console, cornering ABS, traction control, up-and-down quick-shifter, six riding modes (road, rain, sport, off-road, off-road pro and user), backlit switchgear, heated seats, tyre pressure monitoring system and auxiliary lamps.

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Verdict

All the three motorcycles here try to make the strongest case here with their traits, thus making them special in their ways.

If you want something extreme in its off-road behaviour, the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro feels the liveliest with its proper off-road setup and mechanical hardware. It looks the sleekest and has the best off-road-ready stance with the tallest seat height, thus making it a perfect fit for seasoned riders. It also has the most sophisticated electronic wizardry out of the three motorcycles here.

If long-distance touring is your mojo, the Ducati Multistrada 950 S is the perfect motorcycle for you. It looks the largest and most accommodating, while the comfort-oriented suspension setup and ergonomics make it a perfect mile muncher. The sophisticated setup of electronics and most powerful engine out of the trip makes it a great motorcycle to tour long distances on.

However, it is the Honda Africa Twin, which feels the most balanced out of the three. While it offers the no-nonsense approach of the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, it also offers the comfort and torquey performance of the Ducati Multistrada 950 S. It also has all the riding aids provided in the other two motorcycles (well, most of them!), and with the refined and torquey Japanese engine, it also feels the most bullet-proof reliable here.

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