Honda Africa Twin Euro Review With Tournanti.com, Day 1

There is a distinct, unfiltered magic that happens when you mix a legendary Japanese adventure motorcycle with a near endless array of hyper-focused alpine switchbacks. For American riders used to wide-open interstate slabs, swapping the grid for the vertical labyrinth of Western Europe is the ultimate bucket-list awakening.

On Day 1 of the Maritime Alps Tour, curated by German-based motorcycle touring company Tournanti, the mission was clear: sample some of the finest asphalt ribbon Western Europe has to offer from the saddle of a 2023 Honda Africa Twin ES Adventure Sports. Starting from the hazelnut and wine-rich hills of La Morra, Italy, the route punched straight west, tracking higher into the Maritime Alps before descending into the dramatic, red-rock canyons and emerald-blue waters of eastern France.

The Machine: An American Favorite on European Soil

Riding a bike halfway across the world that matches the one parked in your home garage might sound repetitive, but the nuances of this European-spec Africa Twin ES brought plenty of fresh perspectives.

Unlike the 2026 dual-clutch transmission (DCT) version back home that utilizes a more street bike-oriented 19-inch front tire, this 2023 rental came equipped with Honda’s traditional, off-road-ready 21-inch front wheel and a crisp 6-speed manual gearbox. Shedding the DCT apparatus drops the bike’s curb weight by roughly 25 pounds, bringing it down to a highly manageable 530 lbs with its massive 6.5-gallon fuel tank topped off.

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While a “pizza cutter” 21-inch front tire isn’t mathematically ideal for aggressive sport-touring pavement, Honda’s chassis geometry defies conventional logic. Wrapped in fresh Metzler Tourance rubber, the front end tracked beautifully through tighter corners, showing off the nimbleness and mid-corner stability that has made the platform an international benchmark.

The heart of the bike remains the 1,084cc Unicam parallel-twin engine. Thanks to its 270-degree offset firing order, it barks with an authentic, V-twin-like character. It is an incredibly spunky powerplant, delivering predictable, linear power that feels entirely at home when slick, rain-drenched mountain passes demand delicate throttle manipulation.

Packing Light Without a Chase Vehicle

Toranti’s guided tours run just under $1,100 per day, offering premium lodging, local gastronomy, curated routes, and pristine bike rentals. However, there is a catch: you must carry your own gear. Without a support vehicle trailing the group, choosing luggage that can handle both heavy loads and violent downpours is critical.

The Africa Twin was packed to the gills with a comprehensive load-carrying setup from Giant Loop Moto:

• Great Basin Saddlebag: This massive 68-liter soft luggage system swallowed clothes, extra footwear, a tool kit, a laptop, and a Starlink terminal. Despite taking the brunt of a high-altitude deluge, the interior remained bone-dry.
• Buckin’ Roll Tank Bag: A compact 1.5-liter bag tailored specifically to the short, steep slope of the Africa Twin’s fuel tank.
• Fandango Diablo Tank Bag: A larger 6-liter option that features a quick-zip base for hassle-free refueling.
• Zigzag Handlebar Bag: A simple, ultra-handy $50 pouch perfect for microfibers and small essentials.

Testing Gear in Mother Nature’s Fury

The ride served as a brutal real-world test for Tourmaster’s affordable Zephyr jacket ($350) and pant ($250) combo. Billed as a modern evolution from the brand’s historically baggy aesthetics, the Zephyr features a full mesh exterior that breathes exceptionally well during hot valley climbs. When the sky opened up into a violent mountain deluge over the French border, the included waterproof exterior liner kept the rider’s upper torso impressively isolated from the wind and rain.

Down low, the mesh pants eventually gave way to the elements, but footwear saved the day. The deep forest green Sidi Taurus GTX touring boots ($600) utilized a heavy-duty Gore-Tex membrane and a dual-dial BOA closure system. Even when wading through standing water on the road, they kept feet entirely warm and dry.

As the rain stopped and temperatures stabilized near 21°C (70°F), the red-rock gorges of eastern France—bearing a striking resemblance to a European Sedona—came into view. With the Africa Twin’s multi-stage heated grips cranked to maximum, the chill melted away just in time to climb the final hillside toward the night’s destination: the historic Chateau de Trianglance.

2023 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES Technical Specifications