Radar comes to touring motorcycles: Tiger 1200, Versys 900 and Africa Twin
Adaptive cruise control has been around in cars for a long time. On a motorcycle, it was another story — until EICMA Milan 2026. This year, not one but three big touring bikes arrive with radar: the Triumph Tiger 1200, the Kawasaki Versys 900 and the Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports. Radar is no longer a show curiosity: it is entering motorcycle travel through the front door.
A normal cruise control holds the speed you chose. An adaptive one sees the traffic ahead through a radar and adjusts speed to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. On the highway, in traffic, or in a group, it handles the slowdowns — you keep your hands on the bars and your mind on the road. Manufacturers add blind-spot detection, collision warning and emergency braking. For riders who string together long touring days, this is assistance that could change end-of-day fatigue.
The most complete of the three is the Triumph Tiger 1200, presented on October 27 and shown in Milan. Its 1,160 cc triple makes 158 hp (8 more than before) and 130 Nm. It carries a dual Bosch radar, front and rear: adaptive cruise, group ride assist, emergency braking, blind spot and distance warning. The semi-active Showa suspension with HeightFlex lowers the seat by 30 mm at a standstill — handy when the bike is loaded. 7-inch TFT display, heated grips and seat as standard. Weight between 250 and 268 kg depending on the version, and a 19-inch front wheel on all versions. In Italy, prices are announced: €22,795 for the GT Pro, €24,395 for the GT Explorer and €25,395 for the Rally Explorer. Arrival remains uncertain: December 2026 according to one source, March 2027 according to the German press.
The Kawasaki Versys 900 is the first Versys to receive the ARAS (Advanced Rider Assistance System). Its 948 cc inline four makes 122 hp and 97.3 Nm. Adjustable seat from 825 to 845 mm, 5-inch TFT display with navigation. Its “Lite” adaptive cruise acts on the throttle, with front collision warning, blind spot and emergency stop signal. It made its public debut at EICMA, Hall 11, Stand N46. The price is not confirmed by Kawasaki; the Austrian press reports it from €14,349, with arrival in spring 2027.
The Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports gets the Honda SENSING RIDE system, as an option on the DCT gearbox version only. Front and rear radars, Stop&Go adaptive cruise, group ride assist, distance assist, emergency braking, blind spot and rear collision warning. This is the first time Honda has pushed rider assistance this far on a motorcycle. The new CRF1150L grows to 1,131 cc and makes 119 hp and 119 Nm. The Adventure Sports version weighs 256 kg in DCT form, with a 19-inch front wheel and a 24.2-litre tank for about 480 km of range. Price and arrival date not announced.
Let us be honest: nobody has tried these systems on the road yet. We do not know how the radar and cruise behave in the rain, in corners, or in a convoy, and the exact definitions of the acronyms (ACC, ARAS) are in the manuals, not the press releases. Prices and arrival dates vary from one source to another, and availability in Canada is not confirmed for any of the three versions. But the direction is clear: after cornering ABS and traction control, radar is the next big rider aid coming to our touring bikes. For the traveller, the question is no longer whether radar will catch on, but whether it will truly make long days less tiring — and safer.
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Photos
Main photo: Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports 2027. Honda press photo.
