The 2027 Honda Africa Twin is a full model change. Honda revealed the new CRF1150L Africa Twin series for Europe on November 2 (UK magazine MCN had the details at 9:29 AM IST), and made its formal world premiere at EICMA 2026 in Milan on November 3.
Three things are confirmed. The engine grows to 1,131cc and now makes 87.5kW and 119Nm. A new Africa Twin Enduro Sports joins the standard and Adventure Sports models. And the Adventure Sports becomes the first Honda motorcycle offered with Honda SENSING RIDE, a radar-based rider-assistance system.
What is not confirmed yet is price, the exact European on-sale date and any India timing. Here is what changed, which version suits which rider, and what the radar system really does.
What is new on the 2027 Honda Africa Twin?
The 2027 Honda Africa Twin gets a bigger 1,131cc engine with 87.5kW and 119Nm, a lighter frame and swingarm, a fuel sub-tank under the seat for a lower centre of gravity, new compact twin headlights, an updated interface and a new Enduro Sports model. The Adventure Sports DCT can be ordered with radar rider aids.
Honda describes the range under the line “Shaped by You. True Adventure for All.” The new frame body and swingarm together are 1.4kg lighter than before, with revised rigidity. The standard Africa Twin also gets an electrically adjustable screen, Showa EERA electronic suspension with Honda Skyhook control and a Honda Smart Key system.
There are six default riding modes, which combine engine character, traction control, ABS, DCT and suspension settings. A new “Honda Flagship WING” emblem sits on each side of the main tank.
How powerful is the new Africa Twin 1150?
The new parallel-twin engine displaces 1,131cc and makes 87.5kW (about 117hp) at 7,500rpm and 119Nm at around 5,700-5,750rpm. Honda’s global release and its UK spec sheet quote the torque peak slightly differently. The outgoing CRF1100L had 1,084cc, about 75kW and 112Nm.
Honda says the gains come from more displacement, a higher compression ratio, a larger bore, revised intake and exhaust, and new gear ratios. Honda UK lists a 94mm bore, an 81.5mm stroke and a 12.1:1 compression ratio. In other words, the stroke is unchanged and the extra capacity comes from a wider bore, which usually helps an engine rev freely while adding mid-range punch.
| Specification | 2027 CRF1150L Africa Twin | Outgoing CRF1100L Africa Twin |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,131cc parallel twin | 1,084cc parallel twin |
| Power | 87.5kW at 7,500rpm | About 75kW |
| Torque | 119Nm | 112Nm |
| Bore x stroke | 94 x 81.5mm | 92 x 81.5mm |
| Frame and swingarm | 1.4kg lighter | Previous design |
| Fuel layout | Main tank plus sub-tank under the seat | Single tank |
What is the Africa Twin Enduro Sports?
The Africa Twin Enduro Sports is a new, more off-road-focused member of the range. It uses a front suspension with specifications equivalent to Honda’s Dakar CRF450 Rally and exclusive rally-inspired styling, including a “CRF streamline” line from front to rear fender. It shares its mechanical base with the standard Africa Twin.
Visordown reports that it uses the same 1,131cc engine with a six-speed manual or optional DCT gearbox. The Enduro Sports is aimed at riders who spend real time on dirt and found the standard bike too road-biased. It sits alongside the touring-focused Adventure Sports, which has a 24-litre tank and a 19-inch front wheel.
Which 2027 Africa Twin model should you choose?
Choose the Enduro Sports if you ride off-road often, the standard Africa Twin if you want a balance of trail and touring, and the Adventure Sports if you cover long distances on tarmac. Only the Adventure Sports DCT can be ordered with Honda SENSING RIDE radar aids, so commuters and tourers gain the most from it.
| Model | Best for | Key hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Africa Twin | Mixed trail and touring | Showa EERA with Skyhook, electric screen, Smart Key |
| Africa Twin Adventure Sports | Long-distance touring | 24-litre tank, 19-inch front wheel, optional SENSING RIDE (DCT only) |
| Africa Twin Enduro Sports | Serious off-road riding | CRF450 Rally-spec front suspension, rally styling |
What does Honda SENSING RIDE do?
Honda SENSING RIDE uses a millimetre-wave radar at the front and rear of the bike to watch surrounding traffic. It provides adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go, Group Ride Assist, Distance Assist, forward collision warning and emergency brake assist, plus blind-spot information, rear distance information and a rear collision warning.
Group Ride Assist is the unusual one. It adapts cruise control to riding in a group, keeping consistent gaps between bikes. Blind Spot Information lights or flashes LEDs in the mirrors when a vehicle sits diagonally behind you. Rear Collision Warning flashes the indicators rapidly to warn a driver closing in too fast.
The system is tied to Honda’s DCT gearbox, which makes Stop and Go possible: the bike can slow to a halt in traffic and, with rider input, move off again. Honda has not said how much the option will cost.
There are caveats. Radar units add weight, cost and parts that need careful alignment after a fall, and an adventure bike falls over more often than a sports tourer. Buyers who mostly ride trails may be better served by the simpler standard bike or the Enduro Sports, and should check insurance and repair costs before ticking the box.
Will the 2027 Africa Twin come to India?
Honda has not announced India plans for the 2027 Africa Twin. The Adventure Sports has been sold here through Honda’s premium BigWing network, so an update is likely at some point, but timing, variants and whether SENSING RIDE will be offered in India are all unconfirmed.
CarBike Insight Analysis
The 2027 Honda Africa Twin is a meaningful update, not a facelift. More power and torque address the most common complaint about the old bike, and the Enduro Sports finally gives dirt-focused riders a model built for them.
The radar package is the bigger story for the industry. Front and rear radar are becoming the new battleground for big adventure bikes, as our 2027 Triumph Tiger 1200 radar report showed. Honda’s twist is pairing radar with DCT to allow genuine Stop and Go riding.
For Indian riders, the more relevant fight remains in the middleweight class, where our Kawasaki KLE650 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 comparison sits. Radar rider aids could also matter here in future, as India moves towards mandatory AEB rules for cars.
Who should buy? Touring riders who value low-stress traffic riding should wait for the Adventure Sports DCT with SENSING RIDE. Who should wait? Indian buyers, until Honda confirms local timing and prices.
FAQ
What is new on the 2027 Honda Africa Twin?
The 2027 Honda Africa Twin, coded CRF1150L, gets a 1,131cc twin with 87.5kW and 119Nm, a lighter frame and swingarm, a fuel sub-tank under the seat, new headlights, a new Enduro Sports model and optional radar-based Honda SENSING RIDE on the Adventure Sports.
How much power does the Africa Twin 1150 make?
Honda quotes 87.5kW, about 117hp, at 7,500rpm and 119Nm of torque. The outgoing 1,084cc Africa Twin made about 75kW and 112Nm, so the new 1,131cc engine is clearly stronger across the range, according to Honda’s figures.
Which Africa Twin gets Honda SENSING RIDE?
Only the Africa Twin Adventure Sports with the DCT gearbox can be ordered with Honda SENSING RIDE. It is an option, not standard. The standard Africa Twin and the new Enduro Sports do not offer the radar-based system, according to Honda.
What is the Africa Twin Enduro Sports?
The Africa Twin Enduro Sports is a new off-road-focused model in the 2027 range. It uses front suspension with specifications equivalent to Honda’s Dakar CRF450 Rally and rally-inspired styling, while sharing the 1,131cc engine and core mechanicals with the standard model.
When will the 2027 Africa Twin launch in India?
Honda has not announced an India launch date. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports has been sold through Honda’s BigWing network before, so a local update is likely eventually, but timing, prices and SENSING RIDE availability in India are not yet confirmed.
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