2024 BMW R 1250 GS vs 2026 Honda Africa Twin - Spec Comparison
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2024 BMW R 1250 GS
The 2024 BMW R 1250 GS is a versatile adventure motorcycle designed for riders seeking comfortable long-distance travel with genuine off-road capability. Its 1254cc boxer engine delivers 136 horsepower and 143 Nm of torque, providing smooth power across a wide range of conditions. The R 1250 GS remains the benchmark adventure bike, celebrated for its balanced handling, reliability, and ability to excel both on highways and challenging terrain.
2026 Honda Africa Twin
The 2026 Honda Africa Twin is a versatile middleweight adventure bike designed for riders seeking genuine off-road capability combined with on-road comfort. Its 1083cc parallel-twin engine delivers 101 horsepower with strong mid-range torque, making it equally adept at highway cruising and challenging terrain. Best known for reliable performance and approachable handling, the Africa Twin suits both experienced adventurers and those new to adventure touring.
2024 BMW R 1250 GS vs 2026 Honda Africa Twin: the key differences
Both are adventure bikes, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2024 BMW R 1250 GS makes 35.5 hp more (136 vs 100.5 hp).
- The 2024 BMW R 1250 GS has 31 Nm more torque (143 vs 112 Nm).
- The 2026 Honda Africa Twin is 18 kg lighter (231 vs 249 kg).
- The 2024 BMW R 1250 GS has a 21 mm lower seat (850 vs 871 mm), which helps shorter riders.
2024 BMW R 1250 GS: Designed as a do-it-all adventure tourer that blends long-distance comfort, light-to-moderate off-road capability, and confident everyday road performance.
2026 Honda Africa Twin: Built for long-distance adventure riding that mixes highway miles with genuine gravel, dirt, and rugged trail sections.
Verdict: Choose the 2024 BMW R 1250 GS if you want more power, more torque and a lower seat. Choose the 2026 Honda Africa Twin if you want lighter weight. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2024 BMW R 1250 GS | 2026 Honda Africa Twin |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Adventure | Adventure |
| Color Options | Black Storm Metallic/Black/Agate Gray, Gravity Blue Metallic, Light White/Racing Blue Metallic/Racing Red, Light White | Matte Black Metallic |
| Comments | 3 Ride Modes (ECO, Rain and Road). Traction Control. Hill Start Control. USB charging. | Small windscreen. Model Id: CRF1000L. |
| Fork tube size | 37 mm (1.5 inches) | 45 mm (1.8 inches) |
| Brake fluid | DOT 4 | DOT 4 |
| Tire pressure front | 36 PSI (2.5 Bar or 250 kPa) | 33 PSI (2.3 Bar or 225 kPa) |
| Tire pressure rear | 42 PSI (2.9 Bar or 290 kPa) | 36 PSI (2.5 Bar or 250 kPa) |
| Fuel Tank Material | - | Metal |
| Sprockets | - | 16/42 (front/rear) |
| Chain size | - | 525 |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 1254.0 ccm (76.52 cubic inches) | 1084.0 ccm (66.15 cubic inches) |
| Engine Type | Boxer, four-stroke | Parallel Twin, four-stroke |
| Fuel Consumption | ✓4.80 litres/100 km (20.8 km/l or 49.00 mpg) | 4.90 litres/100 km (20.4 km/l or 48.00 mpg) |
| Bore x Stroke | 102.5 x 76.0 mm (4.0 x 3.0 inches) | 92.0 x 81.5 mm (3.6 x 3.2 inches) |
| Compression | 12.5:1 | 10.1:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Lubrication System | Dry sump | - |
| CO2 Emissions | - | 133 CO2 g/km |
| EPA Certificate No. | - | THNXC01.1CSD-011 |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | - | 5.67 L/100km (41.5 US mpg) |
| EPA CO Emissions | - | 0.9 CO g/km |
| Ignition | - | Full transistorized ignition |
| Aspiration | - | Naturally aspirated |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓136.0 HP (100.0 kW) @ 7750 RPM | 100.5 HP (75.0 kW) @ 7500 RPM |
| Torque | ✓143.0 Nm (14.6 kgf-m or 105.5 ft.lbs) @ 6500 RPM | 112.0 Nm (11.4 kgf-m or 82.6 ft.lbs) @ 5500 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.5462 HP/kg (wet) | 0.4345 HP/kg (wet) |
| Top Speed | 199.6 km/h (124.0 mph) | - |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Two-section frame, front- and bolted on rear frame, load-bearing engine | Steel semi-double cradle type with high-tensile strength steel rear sub-frame |
| Front Suspension | BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm, central spring strut | Showa 45mm cartridge-type inverted telescopic fork with dial-style preload adjuster and DF adjustments |
| Rear Suspension | Cast aluminium single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever; WAD strut (travel-related damping), spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable (continuously variable) at handwheel, rebound damping adjustable at handwheel. | Monoblock aluminium swing arm with Pro-Link with SHOWA gas-charged damper, hydraulic dial-style preload adjuster and rebound damping adjustments |
| Front Wheel Travel | 190 mm (7.5 inches) | 231 mm (9.1 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 200 mm (7.9 inches) | 221 mm (8.7 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 25.7° | 27.5° |
| Trail | 102 mm (4.0 inches) | 114 mm (4.5 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 185 mm (7.3 inches) | 250 mm (9.8 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Shaft | Chain |
| Clutch | Wet clutch with an anti-hopping function, hydraulic activation | Wet, multi-plate with coil springs, aluminum cam assist and slipper clutch |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Double disc. ABS. Floating discs. Four-piston calipers. | Double disc. Switchable ABS. 4-piston calipers and sintered metal pads |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 305 mm (12.0 inches) | 310 mm (12.2 inches) |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. ABS. Floating disc. Two-piston calipers. | Single disc. Switchable ABS. 2-piston caliper and sintered metal pads. |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Front Tyre | 120/70-R19 | 90/90-21 |
| Rear Tyre | 170/60-R17 | 150/70R-18 |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | - | 256 mm (10.1 inches) |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1514 mm (59.6 inches) | 1575 mm (62.0 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2207 mm (86.9 inches) | 2330 mm (91.7 inches) |
| Overall Width | 953 mm (37.5 inches) | 960 mm (37.8 inches) |
| Overall Height | 1430 mm (56.3 inches) | 1395 mm (54.9 inches) |
| Seat Height | ✓850 mm (33.5 inches) | 871 mm (34.3 inches) |
| Wet Weight | 249.0 kg (549.0 pounds) | ✓231.3 kg (509.9 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | ✓19.70 litres (5.20 US gallons) | 18.80 litres (4.97 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 4.00 litres (4.23 US quarts) | 4.70 litres (4.97 US quarts) |
| Reserve fuel capacity | 4.00 litres (1.06 US gallons) | 3.80 litres (1.00 US gallons) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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