Adventure bikes are today’s sweethearts of the motorcycling universe. Combining touring-bike range and comfort features with the brawn of a dirt bike and the accessories of a globetrotting nomad, ADVs enable the exact life many riders long to experience. Indeed, it’s easy to be captivated by the styling of Honda’s Africa Twin and Adventure Sports entries, directly influenced as they are by the famous Dakar Rally racers. Power comes from a 998cc parallel twin, civilized by liquid-cooling, fuel injection, and a ride-by-wire throttle. Suspension travel—9.1 inches front and 8.7 rear—slots in between dedicated street- and dirt bikes.
With the 21-inch front and 18-inch rear tires, Africa Twin seat heights soar from 33.5 to 34.3 inches. On top of the bike’s 507-pound curb weight, this begs a big, strong rider. The Adventure Sports model ups fuel capacity 28 percent to 6.4 gallons, wheel travel increases nearly an inch, the seat climbs further to 35.4 to 36.2 inches, and claimed curb weight jumps to 533 pounds. We’re talking big, folks. A dual-clutch transmission is optional on both models.
Likes: The long-awaited reboot of Honda's beloved 1987 Transalp
Dislikes: Bulky and heavy for dirt duty. How about a lighter-weight special edition?
Verdict: All your excuses are hereby nullified. Get going!
