Introduction
It’s not often in the world of motorcycling that a fresh line of thinking emerges to create a new breed of machine. But Honda specialises in innovation and for 17YM unveiled a completely new concept, straight out of left field – the X-ADV.
The thought processes that led to its birth? Consider the attributes of the average adventure-style motorcycle – tough ‘go-anywhere’ appeal, an upright riding position giving superb visibility and remarkable all-round usefulness, work or play. Then look at the typical commuter: it might be a scooter or motorcycle, but in either case it will be easy to manage, nimble and loaded with convenience, efficiency and useful storage space. Honda’s forward-thinking engineers combined the two together, and something special happened.
The machine they created had a rugged, stylish SUV image fully at home navigating the urban sprawl. And while it was loaded with all the premium features that enable easy life in the big city, it also had the looks, engine power and chassis ability to inject every ride with the promise of adventure.
The X-ADV captured the essence of two-wheeled freedom in an exciting new form and garnered the attention of an army of riders around Europe, eager for something new, and has proved itself a genuine sales success.
And it has not stood still. In 21YM Honda upped the X-ADV’s engine performance, trimmed weight, enhanced looks and added even more usefulness; in 2023 the X-ADV was Honda’s second best-selling motorcycle in Europe, and since its introduction to the line-up, nearly 60,000 have been sold across the continent.
For 25YM the X-ADV received updates to style, tech, all-round usability, plus a new colour palette. It also adopted a more sustainable manufacturing process to continue its charge as an innovative two-wheeled pathfinder.
Model Overview
Long standing apart from the crowd, the X-ADV has always cut a unique shape. For the 25YM refresh, the bodywork was redesigned to introduce an even sharper, more aggressive look with a premium frontal light signature. Dual LED headlights feature highly visible Daytime Running Lights (DRL), which in a world’s first for motorcycles, also subtly integrated the bike’s indicators. For easy ground reach the seat is carefully contoured at the shoulders. The under-seat storage has a 22L volume and houses a USB-C charging point; there’s also a useful glovebox.
A 5-inch full colour TFT screen features a clear array of images, colourways and menu structures, and is designed for easy readability on bright days and features Honda RoadSync connectivity. Managed by an easy-to-use four-way lefthand backlit toggle switch, the rider can enjoy on-screen, turn-by-turn navigation in addition to other smartphone features. Cruise control was a useful 25YM addition for longer highway journeys and works exceptionally well with the DCT to provide a high-quality, less tiring ride when touring.
The parallel twin-cylinder engine blends strong low-to mid-range performance with easy manners and excellent fuel efficiency. Peak power is set at 43.1kW with an impressive 69Nm of torque. Throttle By Wire (TBW) serves up four default rider modes with pre-set combinations of settings for Power, Engine Braking and Honda Selectable Torque Control plus a ‘customisable’ USER option. The 3-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) features newly refined inputs for its Gravel and Rain settings. The Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) has automatic shifting schedules that integrate with the riding modes, as well as the option to select the favourite shift pattern in the USER set-up; it has also been updated for smoother low-speed response.
A tough chassis is comprised of a tubular steel frame, 41mm USD front forks, rear monoshock (with Pro-Link) and aluminium swingarm. A 17-inch front wheel is matched to a 15-inch rear with dual, radial-mount four-piston calipers braking up front.
The 26YM X-ADV will be available in the following colour options:
- Graphite Black
- Pearl Glare White
- Matte Deep Mud Gray
Also, a unique Special Edition X-ADV will be available in a *NEW* tricolour Mat Pearl Glare White special edition with blue and red graphic set, that channels Honda’s larger adventure bikes – the Transalp and Africa Twin.
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