Adventure bikes are all the rage nowadays. And for all the right reasons, since they offer unmatched versatility. Want to go off the road? Check. Want to do cross-country trips? Check. Want to commute to the office? Check. Want to ride to the track, ride on the track, and then ride back? Check and check.
So with the increasing popularity, all bikemakers have plenty of ADVs in their lineup today. Honda is no different, offering as many as four ADV-type motorcycles in the US alone. While all of these technically marry off-road capability with highway comfort, one in particular stands out. Let’s dive in.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Honda Powersports.
The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES Is The Honda Bike That Marries Off-Road Capability With Highway Comfort
Price: $17,599
The crème de la crème of Honda’s ADV lineup is the Africa Twin, and we’ve gone the extra mile to pick the Adventure Sports ES variant. We believe it’s the perfect balancing act between highway touring and off-road abilities, thanks to its new 19-inch front wheel. The base Africa Twin has a 21-inch wheel in comparison, which is clearly more off-road-focused.
Another reason to pick the Adventure Sports is the ‘ES’, aka electronic suspension. It will make your life easier when you switch between rough and smooth tarmac by automatically adjusting the required damping for a smooth ride. We’d also like to mention the engine was updated last year. It now has more punch across the rev range. We’ll dive into that in a bit.
What about other contenders? Well, the Honda NX500 is the budget alternative to the Adventure Sports. It has a 19-inch front wheel, an uber-punchy and reliable powerhouse, and a proven chassis platform that works both on and off-road. Having jumped it around an off-road course and ridden it on a highway, we can surely say it marries off-road capability with highway comfort.
Finally, we have the NC750X. It sits between the NX500 and Africa Twin in Honda’s “Adventure” lineup. Although marketed as an ADV, it is clearly a highway-biased machine, evident from the 17-inch wheels and low-travel suspension. Now, we know Honda must call it an ADV for a good reason, but we believe the other two balance the off-road and highway usability much better than this. Pick the NC750X only if your use case involves a lot of paved roads.
Off-Road And Highway Capable Honda Bikes In 2025
- Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES
- Africa Twin
- NX500
- NC750X DCT
A Punchy Parallel-Twin Engine Powers The Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Power: 100 HP
To enjoy highways and off-road tracks, you need an engine with a lot of punch. By punch, we mean low-end torque as well as well-spread peak power. The Africa Twin hits the mark on both counts. Its 1,083cc parallel-twin engine boasts 100 horsepower and 82 pound-feet, which are concentrated under 8,000 RPM and 6,000 RPM, respectively.
Add to that the crossplane crankshaft setup, and you should have ample oomph for quick overtakes or sliding the rear effortlessly. All the while, if you keep it pinned long enough, you can see speeds of up to 130 miles per hour. Safe to say freeway speeds (75-80mph) will be a cakewalk.
Honda Africa Twin Engine Specs
|
Capacity |
1,083cc |
|
Layout |
Parallel-twin with 270-degree crank |
|
Power |
100 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
82 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed manual (DCT optional) |
|
Compression ratio |
10.5:1 |
|
Top speed |
~130 MPH |
The Africa Twin Adventure Sports Flexes Showa Electronic Suspension At Both Ends
Tied To Off-Road-Ready Wheels
This is where the Adventure Sports really shines over its rivals. As the ‘ES’ in its name suggests, you get a Showa electronic suspension package, called EERA (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment). It adjusts the damping level based on information from three sources: bike speed (from the ECU), the bike’s stance and attitude (from the Inertial Measurement Unit), and the fork behavior (from the stroke sensor). You get five suspension modes as well, namely:
- HARD: High damping forces for both high and low suspension-stroke speeds
- MID: Intermediate damping forces, between HARD and SOFT
- SOFT: Soft damping characteristics for both high and low suspension-stroke speeds
- OFF-ROAD: Progressive front-suspension characteristics, with damping force rising gradually between low and high stroke speed
- USER: A customizable mode that allows fine damping adjustments front and rear, along with 24 points of rear-spring preload, to meet rider preference.
Joining hands with the suspension is a set of 19/18-inch spoke wheels. These promise a balance between on-road and off-road abilities, courtesy of the cross-spoke pattern and dual-purpose tires. Meanwhile, braking is via two 310 mm front discs and a single 256 mm rear disc. You’ll need all the firepower, too, since the Adventure Sports weighs 535 pounds wet.
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports Underpinnings And Dimensions
|
Chassis |
Double-cradle |
|
Front suspension |
45 mm USD forks (electronic adjustment) |
|
Rear suspension |
Monoshock (electronic adjustment) |
|
Wheels |
19/18-inch spoke wheels |
|
Brakes |
2x 310 mm/single 256 mm (F/R) |
|
Weight |
535 pounds |
|
Saddle height |
32.8 inches |
Loads Of Modern-Day Features Come Standard On The Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Instrument Cluster: TFT + LCD
Last but not least, the Adventure Sports ensures highway as well as off-road comfort with an army of electronic features. There are six riding modes, namely Tour, Urban, Gravel, Off-Road, User 1, and User 2. Each riding mode adjusts power output, level of engine braking, suspension damping (hard/standard/soft), front ABS (on-road/off-road), and rear ABS (active/inactive). Aside from this, you also get Honda’s Selectable Torque Control. It comprises traction control, slide control, and wheelie control, all working in tandem with the IMU.
Coming to creature comforts, all of the fancy bits are accessible via a huge TFT instrument cluster. It has smartphone connectivity as standard via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. This is topped by a small LCD below, three-stage cornering headlights, a USB port, and cruise control. The big miss, however, remains a two-way quickshifter. But let’s not forget Honda does sell a DCT version of the ADV, which takes gearshifts out of the equation altogether.
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES Key Features
- 6.5-inch TFT instrument cluster
- Six ride modes
- Engine brake control
- Wheelie control
- Traction control
- Cruise control
- Switchable ABS
- Electronic suspension
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Cornering headlights