Honda is introducing advanced radar-based safety technology for motorcycles with Honda Sensing Ride, a new rider-assistance system designed to reduce fatigue and improve safety during long journeys and heavy traffic. Unveiled at EICMA in Milan, the system will make its debut on the 2027 Honda CRF1150L Africa Twin Adventure Sports.
What Honda Sensing Ride Can Do
Honda Sensing Ride uses millimeter-wave radar units mounted at the front and rear of the motorcycle to monitor surrounding traffic, warn riders about potential hazards and assist with braking.
The system includes several safety and convenience features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Automatically adjusts speed to maintain distance from vehicles ahead.
- Stop-and-Go Adaptive Cruise Control: Extends cruise control functionality to traffic involving frequent stops and starts.
- Group Riding Assistance: Helps riders maintain spacing when traveling in groups.
- Forward Collision Warning: Alerts riders to potential collisions ahead.
- Emergency Brake Assist: Provides assistance with braking in emergency situations.
- Blind-Spot Information: Warns riders about vehicles in their blind spots.
- Rear Collision Warning: Flashes the indicators to alert approaching traffic behind the motorcycle.
- Brake Pulse: Adds an additional alert alongside the forward collision warning.
How Honda’s Radar System Could Reduce Rider Fatigue
One of the main benefits of Honda Sensing Ride is its potential to reduce the demands of riding in congested traffic. The system works alongside a dual-clutch transmission, eliminating the need for manual clutch operation and gear changes.
With stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, the motorcycle can manage both throttle and braking in traffic. This combination is designed to reduce rider stress and fatigue, particularly during journeys involving frequent stops.
However, the technology will not be available across the entire Africa Twin lineup. It will be offered as an option exclusively on the Adventure Sports version equipped with the dual-clutch transmission.
Pricing, an on-sale date and the markets where the system will be available have not been announced.
Honda Enters a Growing Motorcycle Radar Technology Market
Honda is not the first manufacturer to introduce radar-based cruise control for motorcycles. BMW, Ducati, KTM, Kawasaki and Yamaha already sell motorcycles equipped with this technology.
Honda plans to expand the availability of Sensing Ride to additional models over time. The move is also connected to the company’s goal of reducing traffic fatalities involving its motorcycles and cars per 10,000 units sold by 50 percent by 2030, compared with 2020.
Honda Highlights the System’s Limitations
Despite its advanced features, Honda emphasizes that Sensing Ride is a rider-assistance system, not an autonomous riding technology.
Each function has limitations, and riders should not overestimate its capabilities. Road, weather and vehicle conditions can also affect how the system operates.
2027 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports Specifications
The 2027 Honda Africa Twin features an all-new 1,131cc parallel-twin engine rated at 117 horsepower.
The Adventure Sports will be the first motorcycle to receive Honda Sensing Ride, bringing radar-based safety and rider-assistance features to the company’s motorcycle lineup.
