2027 Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin

Honda has unveiled the 2027 CRF1150L Africa Twin series, a major update to its flagship adventure motorcycle range. The big changes are a larger 1,131cc parallel-twin engine and a lighter frame and swingarm. There is also a new Enduro Sports variant, which joins the standard Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports.

India is expected to see the 2027 Honda Africa Twin around in the second half of next year, with an expected starting price of Rs 21 lakh (ex-showroom).

The styling has been refreshed across the range. Up front are redesigned twin LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights, and at the back there's a new LED taillight. The fuel tank has also been reshaped to centralise mass and keep the centre of gravity low. While the overall profile continues to look slim, the exhaust is a bit too beefy for our liking. Blame the tightening emissions, though. 

This one comes in three variants, and the differences are easy to spot visually. The standard Africa Twin has an 18.8-litre fuel tank. The Adventure Sports carries a bigger 24.2-litre tank and a different front wheel setup. The new Enduro Sports is the off-road-focused one, with a 21-inch front wheel, more ground clearance and a taller seat.

Convenience Features

Every model has a massive 7-inch colour TFT touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so phone connectivity is sorted without any cables. This also means it has proper full-fledged navigation. Honda Smart Key operation means the key can stay in your pocket, and USB Type-C charging keeps your devices topped up on the move.

Lighting is full-LED, and the cornering headlights light up the inside of a turn as you lean in. You also get six riding modes: Sport, Touring, Urban, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road+, so you can tune the bike to the conditions.

Safety Features

The core electronics package includes Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), wheelie control, cornering ABS and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).

The Adventure Sports DCT goes a step further with Honda SENSING RIDE, a radar-based rider assistance system. It brings adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, forward and rear collision warnings, blind-spot information, group ride assistance and riding distance assistance.

Honda has reworked the riding position across the range. The chassis is narrower, the handlebars are higher, and the footpegs have been repositioned, all aimed at giving riders more control, especially off-road.

Seat height depends on the variant. The standard Africa Twin can be set to 850mm or 870mm. The Adventure Sports is lower, at 830mm or 850mm. The Enduro Sports sits tallest at 870mm or 890mm.

The standard Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports also get an electronically adjustable windscreen, which can be moved while you ride. With its larger tank, the Adventure Sports is the more touring-focused bike of the three.

Power comes from a 1,131cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin with a 270-degree crankshaft. It makes 119PS and 119Nm of torque. It's paired with a six-speed gearbox, and you can pick either a conventional manual or Honda's Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), depending on the model. The Enduro Sports is manual only, while the standard Africa Twin and Adventure Sports are offered with both.

The same six riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road+) let you tune the electronics to the conditions.

The brand has trimmed 1.4kg from the revised frame and aluminium swingarm. That's a small saving on paper, but the aim is better agility and control, particularly when the tarmac ends.

The standard Africa Twin and Enduro Sports ride on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheel setup, wearing 90/90-21 front and 150/70-R18 rear tyres. The Adventure Sports uses a smaller 19-inch front wheel with the same 18-inch rear, fitted with 110/80-R19 front and 150/70-R18 rear tyres.

Suspension on the standard Africa Twin and Adventure Sports is electronically controlled Showa units. It adjusts damping based on how the bike is moving, which cuts body movement and improves ride comfort. The Enduro Sports instead gets fully adjustable mechanical Showa suspension, with a 49mm closed-cartridge front fork.

Ground clearance is the clearest sign of each bike's character: 260mm on the Enduro Sports, 240mm on the standard Africa Twin and 220mm on the Adventure Sports. Braking is handled by twin 310mm front discs with radial-mounted Nissin four-piston calipers. ABS is standard, and you can switch off the rear ABS for off-road riding.

The 2027 Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin will compete with the Triumph Tiger 1200, Ducati Multistrada V4, BMW R 1300 GS, KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, and the Kawasaki Versys 1100.