EICMA 2026: Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin Unveiled - Bigger Engine, More Tech & New Variants

The 2027 Honda Africa Twin, badged CRF1150L, has been unveiled at EICMA 2026 in Milan. It gets a 1,131cc parallel-twin engine, a redesigned frame and a new off-road-focused Enduro Sports variant.

The Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin range includes the standard Africa Twin, the Adventure Sports, a radar-equipped Adventure Sports Sensing Ride and the Enduro Sports. Honda has not announced India launch plans for any of them.

Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin - Engine, Chassis & Electronics

For 2027, the parallel-twin engine has grown from 1,084cc to 1,131cc with a 94mm bore and a 12.1:1 compression ratio. Throttle bodies increase from 46mm to 52mm, and Honda has revised the pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and balancer shafts.

The new engine pushes out 119hp along with 119Nm of torque. The 270-degree crankshaft and uneven firing interval carry over, and buyers can still pick either a six-speed manual gearbox or the Dual Clutch Transmission.

The frame and swingarm are now 1.4kg lighter, and a new 49mm fork replaces the previous 45mm unit. A fuel tank under the seat, an idea Honda took from the NXR750, lowers the centre of gravity. Showa EERA electronic suspension with Honda Skyhook control is now fitted to the base Africa Twin and the Adventure Sports. Riding modes go up from four to six, all of which customisable.

Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin Variants

The standard Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin keeps 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels and an 18.8-litre fuel tank. Claimed kerb weight is 237kg for the manual and 247kg for the DCT. Seat height adjusts between 850mm and 870mm. An electrically adjustable windscreen and Honda Smart Key are also fitted.

The Africa Twin Enduro Sports gets rally-inspired styling, an HRC Tricolour paint scheme and front suspension derived from the CRF450 Rally. Travel is 240mm at the front and 230mm at the rear, against 220mm and 210mm on the standard model.

It rides on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel with Metzeler Karoo Street tyres. Ground clearance is 260mm, and seat height adjusts from 870mm to 890mm. Claimed kerb weight is 228kg for the manual, 9kg less than the standard model, and 239kg for the DCT.

The touring-focused Adventure Sports has a 19-inch front wheel, a 24.2-litre fuel tank, a larger windscreen and heated grips. Honda quotes a kerb weight at 245kg for the manual and 255kg for the DCT.

Within the Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin range, the Adventure Sports Sensing Ride is DCT-only and, according to Honda, the first motorcycle to get the its Sensing Ride system with front and rear radars enabling adaptive cruise control, blind spot information, forward collision warning and emergency brake assist. The added hardware lifts kerb weight to 256kg, making it the heaviest model in the range.

The instrumentation and infotainment setup on the 2027 Africa Twin features 5.7-inch and 7-inch displays respectively with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.