Introduced in 1979 by French native Thierry Sabine, the Oasis Rally, as it was known that first year, saw Yamaha win the rally on modified XT500’s, finishing 1st and 2nd places respectively in the motorcycle category, with only 34 of the original 90 entries completing the distance. The following year would prove it wasn’t a fluke, as the Yamaha team were once again the 1st through 4th across the line.

As you can imagine, the resulting sales of XT’s was substantial to say the least. BMW certainly took note, developing and then entering their own R80G/S, claiming 1st in 1981 with teammate following in 4th behind the Yamaha XT’s.

The following year would prove mechanically problematic for the BMW team, however waiting in the wings was a new entry from Honda, which would take the win. Honda knew that longterm their existing line up of singles would be hard pressed to fend off the German Flat-Twin competition and so in late 1984, the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was created. What followed would help shape the genre of adventure bikes as we know it today.

Purpose built from the ground up by HRC and with their sights fully set on dominating the 1986 Dakar, the NXR750 would take shape.

With a top speed of 112mph and comfortable sitting at 95mph in up to 50°C temperatures thanks to a liquid cooled V-Twin 779cc engine. A clever 45° angle cylinder and 90° crankshaft configuration allowed the overall package to remain as slender as a single cylinder engine. The narrow footprint of the Africa Twin would proove useful for tight offroad terrain, aided by a lower centre of gravity over the competition, despite the huge fuel tank. The unconventional 24-litre saddle-bag design of the fuel tank further added to the low down weight distribution and was capable of a range of around 280 miles from the 70bhp twin.

Light enough at around 190kg for the rider to manouver when stuck, and in true Honda fashion, reliable -with only a small compliment of tools required to complete most maintenance tasks in the field.

Honda’s efforts paid dividends, as that year’s Paris Dakar 1986 came to a close, Honda’s NXR750 took first and second place with Cyril Neveu and Gilles Lalay at the yokes. Honda immediately began work on turning this factory built race bike into a reality for the adventurous consumer. The rest, is history.