Summary
Honda has introduced SENSING RIDE, a motorcycle rider-assistance system using millimetre-wave radar at both ends of the bike. The company says the 27YM CRF1150L Africa Twin Adventure Sports will be its first model to feature the system.
Honda introduced SENSING RIDE, a motorcycle safety and rider-assistance system, at EICMA 2026 in Milan on November 3. Honda says the 27YM CRF1150L Africa Twin Adventure Sports will be the first model equipped with it, with more equipped models to follow.
The system draws on technologies developed for Honda SENSING in the company’s cars, adapted with motorcycle-specific functions. Millimetre-wave radar units mounted at each end of the motorcycle detect its surroundings. Honda says the system assesses the status of both rider and motorcycle, then provides notifications, warnings and operational assistance.
A mix of alerts and riding assistance
Honda lists 10 functions. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) helps maintain a set speed and following distance from vehicles ahead. ACC with Stop & Go extends this assistance to stop-start traffic, reducing the rider’s need to accelerate and decelerate. Group Ride Assist is intended to help riders maintain spacing while travelling together, including in staggered formation.
Other functions address specific situations. Distance Assist adjusts following distance when the motorcycle approaches a vehicle ahead under the rider’s positive throttle input. Emergency Brake Assist provides braking assistance when the rider is braking and a collision with a vehicle ahead is at risk. Forward Collision Warning alerts the rider on the meter; Brake Pulse works alongside it to increase awareness.
Blind Spot Information signals when a vehicle enters the blind spot diagonally behind the motorcycle, using an indicator on the mirror. Rear Collision Warning flashes the indicators to alert traffic behind, while Rear Distance Information displays a warning when a vehicle approaches from the rear.
These functions combine rider alerts with assistance that can affect the motorcycle’s operation. The announcement describes them as support for the rider, rather than as a replacement for the rider’s attention.
The role of Honda’s dual-clutch transmission
Honda also describes SENSING RIDE working with its motorcycle Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT), an automated clutch-and-shift gearbox. DCT uses two clutches, removing the need for the rider to operate a conventional clutch and enabling gear changes without interrupting power delivery, according to Honda.
That pairing is particularly relevant to ACC with Stop & Go: Honda says DCT’s gear shifts support the process of stopping automatically and starting smoothly in traffic. The company presents the combination as a way to reduce rider stress and fatigue while retaining the riding experience.
Honda cautions that each assistance function has limits, including in its recognition and control capabilities. Its operation may vary with road, weather and vehicle conditions, among other factors; riders are instructed to remain attentive to their surroundings.