Honda has unveiled an all-new, more off-road-focused Africa Twin Enduro Sports as part of a major overhaul of its flagship adventure bike range for 2027. And there’s plenty to get excited about, including a bigger engine, more power, a redesigned chassis, and a host of new technology.
It’s been 10 years since Honda brought the Africa Twin back to life, and in that time it’s become one of the most popular big adventure bikes around. But while the Japanese manufacturer has steadily refined the motorcycle over the past decade, the changes for 2027 represent something much more substantial with three new models.
There’s a new 1,131cc engine producing 117bhp, a lighter chassis, revised styling, and more sophisticated electronics. Honda has also expanded the range with the intriguing new Enduro Sports model that puts off-road riding firmly in the spotlight.
And that’s where we’ll start, because the new Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin Enduro Sports looks like it could be the pick of the bunch for riders who spend as much time exploring trails as they do touring on tarmac.
Before we get stuck in, do you want to test ride the new Africa Twin? You’ll be able to do just that along with all the latest and greatest adventure, touring, and trail bikes at the ABR Festival 2027 (25-27 June, Ragley Hall Estate, Warwickshire). It’s like Glastonbury with motorbikes, posh loos, hot showers, and plenty of good times. Find out more HERE.
New Honda Africa Twin Enduro Sports: built for the dirt
Honda has taken the new Africa Twin and stripped away some of its touring comforts to create what it describes as its most off-road-capable version yet.
The result is a motorcycle inspired by Honda’s rally racing machines, complete with a high front mudguard, compact LED headlights, a small screen, and minimal rear bodywork. But it’s what lies beneath the new styling that’s particularly interesting.
The Enduro Sports weighs 228kg in manual form, making it 9kg lighter than the standard Africa Twin. That’s a decent saving on a big adventure bike, particularly when you’re picking it up after a tumble on a trail.
It also gets a substantial suspension upgrade, with fully adjustable 49mm Showa closed-cartridge front forks based on those used by Honda’s CRF450 Rally race bike. There’s 240mm of front suspension travel and 230mm at the rear, compared with 220mm and 210mm respectively on the standard Africa Twin.
Ground clearance also increases from 240mm to 260mm, giving the Enduro Sports more room to negotiate rocks, ruts, and other obstacles.
Adventure friendly
The bike retains the adventure-friendly combination of a 21″ front and 18″ rear spoked wheel, fitted with tubeless tyres. Honda has specified Metzeler Karoo Street rubber as standard, although Michelin Anakee Wild tyres are also approved for riders looking for more traction off road.
The seat is adjustable between 870mm and 890mm, which is 20mm taller than the standard Africa Twin. That’s worth bearing in mind if you’re shorter in the leg, although the extra height is hardly surprising given the suspension upgrades.
Interestingly, Honda is offering the Enduro Sports with either a conventional six-speed manual gearbox or its Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), giving riders the option of automatic gear changes even when heading off road.
The motorcycle also benefits from the new engine and chassis shared across the 2027 Africa Twin range, which brings us neatly to the next big development.
More power from a bigger 1,131cc engine
The Africa Twin’s familiar parallel-twin engine has undergone a major redesign, with capacity increasing from 1,084cc to 1,131cc. Peak power rises by 16.5% to 117bhp at 7,500rpm, while torque increases from 112Nm to 119Nm at 5,750rpm.
These figures don’t rival the spec sheets of the Multistradas or GSs of this world, but the Africa Twin engine has always been a wonderfully tuned motor, with a knack of providing power exactly where you want it.
In short, there has always been more than enough grunt so it’s reassuring to see Honda has not been tempted to chase power in some sort of bhp measuring contest.
Honda has achieved the increase it has made through a combination of larger throttle bodies, a redesigned intake system, higher compression, revised cylinder heads, and changes to numerous internal components.
There’s also new gearing aimed at providing stronger acceleration while reducing engine revs at motorway speeds. The result, Honda claims, is an Africa Twin that’s quicker to respond when you open the throttle but more relaxed when covering big distances.
And with a new Offroad+ riding mode joining Sport, Touring, Urban, Rain, and Offroad settings, riders have more options for tailoring the engine’s performance to different conditions.
A lighter chassis and lower centre of gravity
Honda hasn’t stopped at the engine. The new Africa Twin’s chassis has also received a substantial overhaul. The steel frame and aluminium swingarm are a combined 1.4kg lighter than before, but perhaps the most interesting development is the relocation of some of the fuel.
Taking inspiration from Honda’s Dakar-winning NXR750, the new Africa Twin incorporates a fuel sub-tank positioned beneath the rider’s seat. This allows Honda to lower the centre of gravity, which should make the motorcycle feel more manageable, particularly during slow-speed manoeuvres and when riding off road.
It’s a promising development for a motorcycle that still weighs well over 200kg, although we’ll reserve judgement on just how much difference it makes until we’ve ridden one.
The riding position has changed too, with narrower handlebars positioned higher and further forward, footpegs moved slightly inwards and rearwards, and additional seat padding designed to improve comfort over longer distances.
The standard Africa Twin gets a major technology upgrade
While the Enduro Sports grabs the headlines, the standard CRF1150L Africa Twin hasn’t been forgotten. Along with the bigger engine and redesigned chassis, it now receives Honda’s electronically adjustable Showa EERA suspension, as well as a fetching sand-coloured new paint scheme.
The system incorporates new Skyhook technology, which continually adjusts suspension damping to help the motorcycle remain stable and comfortable over changing road surfaces.
The standard Africa Twin also gets a new electronically adjustable windscreen, LED headlights with cornering lights, and a redesigned dashboard combining a 7″ TFT touchscreen with a separate 5.7″ information display.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, while a lockable compartment in the fuel tank cover provides storage for a smartphone alongside a USB-C charging socket.
Other practical additions include a Honda Smart Key system, cruise control, heated grips, and a rear luggage carrier.
The standard motorcycle retains its 21″ front and 18″ rear wheels, 18.8l fuel tank, and adjustable seat height of 850mm to 870mm. A new suspension setting can temporarily lower the seat by a further 10mm.
All told, it’s a substantial upgrade to an already capable adventure bike.
Africa Twin Adventure Sports goes further into touring territory
At the other end of the range sits the updated Africa Twin Adventure Sports, which continues to prioritise long-distance touring comfort over outright off-road performance.
It shares the new engine and many of the chassis and technology upgrades, but retains a more road-focused 19″ front wheel and a larger 24.2l fuel capacity.
Honda claims a potential range of around 300 miles from a tank, which should appeal to anyone planning long-distance tours.
The Adventure Sports also benefits from the new Skyhook electronic suspension, a relatively low adjustable seat height of 830mm to 850mm, and an electrically adjustable screen complemented by additional wind deflectors.
Wet weight starts at 245kg for the manual model, rising to 255kg with DCT. But Honda has another trick up its sleeve for riders who want the latest technology.
Honda Sensing Ride introduces radar-assisted safety technology
Joining the Adventure Sports range is a new flagship model equipped with Honda Sensing Ride, a comprehensive suite of radar-based rider assistance systems.
Available exclusively with the DCT equipped model, it uses front and rear radar sensors to monitor surrounding traffic and provide additional support while riding.
The technology includes adaptive cruise control which can manage the distance to vehicles ahead even in slow-moving traffic.
There’s also Group Ride Assist, designed to adjust following distances when riding with other motorcycles, along with blind spot warnings, forward collision alerts, and Emergency Brake Assist.
Combined, this adds up to the most technologically advanced Africa Twin we’ve seen to date, designed with covering big miles in comfort at its core.
With the Sensing Ride model weighing just 1kg more than the standard Adventure Sports DCT, Honda has managed to incorporate the additional technology without a significant weight penalty.
Which 2027 Honda Africa Twin would you choose?
Honda’s decision to expand the Africa Twin range in two very different directions is an interesting one.
On the one hand, there’s the stripped-back Enduro Sports, with its long-travel suspension, rally-inspired styling, and reduced weight. On the other, there’s the technology-packed Adventure Sports Sensing Ride, designed to make long-distance touring as comfortable and convenient as possible.
Sitting between them is the standard Africa Twin, which continues to offer a balance of road comfort and off-road capability.
For us, the Enduro Sports is undoubtedly the most intriguing addition. Its more focused suspension, higher ground clearance, and lighter weight suggest Honda is serious about making its flagship adventure bike even more capable when the tarmac ends.
But with plenty of competition in the big adventure bike market, we’ll be interested to discover how all three new Africa Twins handle when we get our hands on them.
UK prices and availability for the 2027 Honda Africa Twin range have yet to be confirmed.
