1991 Africa Twin Rebirth begins in the garage, with the stripdown and refurbishment of a true adventure motorcycling icon — the Honda Africa Twin RD04 XRV750L.
In this first episode of the series, we take a 35-year-old Africa Twin and begin the careful process of bringing it back to life. The legendary RD04, powered by Honda’s 742cc V-twin engine, helped define the golden era of Dakar-inspired adventure bikes. Built for long-distance travel, overland exploration and real-world durability, the XRV750L remains one of the most respected classic adventure motorcycles ever produced.
This is not a quick flip or cosmetic tidy-up. This is the beginning of a proper restoration and sympathetic refurbishment. Fairings come off, panels are removed, wiring is exposed and the true condition of this 1991 Honda Africa Twin starts to reveal itself. Years of use, age and wear are laid bare as we methodically strip the bike down, assess components and prepare for the rebuild ahead.
For riders who love classic adventure bikes, vintage Honda motorcycles and old-school Dakar rally machines, the RD04 represents something special. It sits at the crossroads between rugged simplicity and long-distance capability. In this garage episode, we document the first half of the teardown, sharing the process, the challenges and the honest reality of working on a 35-year-old motorcycle.
If you’re restoring a Honda Africa Twin, rebuilding an XRV750, or simply enjoy motorcycle restoration projects, this series will follow every step of the journey. From stripdown and inspection through to refurbishment, mechanical refresh and eventual road return, the aim is to honour the spirit of the original bike while ensuring it is ready for many more miles of wandering.
Episode 2 is already close behind, where the stripdown continues and we go deeper into the mechanical side of the project.
The Motorcycle Wanderer is about more than just riding. It’s about the stories behind the machines, the light in the workshop, the quiet satisfaction of turning spanners and preserving motorcycles that shaped adventure riding history.
Subscribe to follow the full Africa Twin RD04 restoration series, future garage rebuilds and upcoming road films once this 1991 XRV750L returns to the open road.
Motorcycle: 1991 Honda Africa Twin RD04 XRV750L
Engine: 742cc V-Twin
Series: Africa Twin Rebirth – Episode 1
Location: The Garage
Classic adventure motorcycle restoration. Honda Africa Twin rebuild. RD04 stripdown. Dakar-inspired legend reborn.
Chapters
00:28 Pre-Strip Tour
03:44 Oil & Fuel Drain, Crash Bars & Bash Plate Remove
06:21 Side Panels, Seat, Luggage Rack, Tank Fairings, Headlight Fairing & Fuel Tank Remove
11:20 Rear Indicators, Rear Fenders, Rear Subframe, Exhaust End Can, & Rear Footpegs Remove
15:00 Air Box Disconnect. Headlight Assy, Instrument Bezels, Fwd Wiring Loom, Front Indicators, Instrument Tree & Fuse Box Remove
22:21 Left & Right Switchgear, Chain Guard, Rear Wheel, Air Box & Rear Brake Remove
26:16 Labelling. Left Radiator, Fork Fairings, Front Fender, Fork Brace, Front Brake & Upper Crash Bar Bracket Remove
30:40 Front Engine Guard, Horn, Left Radiator (cont), Radiator Fan, Right Radiator, Thermostat Housing, Front Sprocket Cover, Oil Cooler, Main Wiring Loom & Throttle Cable Remove
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