What do you get when you package together the twist-and-go ease of a scooter and the go-anywhere rideablity of a dual-sport adventure bike? Essentially, that’s what the Honda X-ADV really is.

Unveiled during EICMA 2016, this hybrid of a scooter and adventure dual-sport bike caused quite a stir. By merging the qualities of two different bikes, it appeared as if Honda had set out to create a machine that could theoretically do it all.

We decided to find out first hand by taking one on test and, by chance, we were able to sample it for a considerable amount of time – nearly 10 days. At the end, we still weren’t able to conclusively decide on what it really is. What’s certain though is that this is one rather fun and versatile bike indeed.

On the surface, the X-ADV is neither pretty nor ugly. ‘Futuristic’ and ‘Rugged’ were the most common terms we’ve received from most onlookers who came for a closer look. Some may argue this is far from pretty, but we’ll leave this subjective area for you to gauge...

Right off the bat, the torque-rich nature of the X-ADV’s heart becomes clear through its direct and sharp throttle response. It took a little getting used to, but there’s no hiding that this bike’s liquid-cooled 745cc parallel-twin heart with a 270-degree crank mounted underneath is a gem.

The mill decently outputs 54hp and 68Nm of twist, the latter being made available from down low and well into the mid rev ranges. It easily gets the X-ADV’s claimed 238kg kerb bulk going rapidly, and that’s even before we toggled the throttle into Sport mode.

If you haven’t ridden any DCT-equipped Honda bike, then you really should get around to savouring it. Honda’s the only bike maker that employs this transmission type in bikes, with many hailing it as a marvel thanks to its flawlessly smooth and precise operation. The unit primed in the X-ADV is no exception.

For those wanting a little more control, a manual override mode is present, as well as the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons mounted on the left of the bar. This is useful when you need to go down a gear or two for overtaking sprints, or for when you go off road as well. Adding to the latter is the fact that there’s no clutch lever to manage.

Speaking of which, the X-ADV was indeed designed and built with off-road riding in mind. This explains the presence of high-travel suspension front and aft, as well as the dual-sport tyres shod on those aforementioned spoked wheels too. Couple that with the decent ground clearance present and the X-ADV is ready for some fun in the rough.

Seasoned off-road riders will argue about said ground clearance, more so about standing on floorboards. Adding to this is the absence of a traditional fuel tank to pin in between your legs whilst riding standing up. Nevertheless, this peppy hybrid of a bike can still tackle terrains should you master its ergonomics.

For those who prefer staying on the black top, the bonus lie in how comfortably the X-ADV rides, all thanks to both the high-travel suspension mentioned earlier and adequate wind protection present. The only thing missing here is a cruise control suite, which would add to the X-ADV’s touring credentials.

Surprisingly good here too is the X-ADV’s agility on road. The lean angles this so called scooter is able to command on a typical B-road corner-carving jaunt is unbelievable to say the least, and will be quite the joy for any avid weekend warrior.

Are there any quirks? Just a few, but one annoyance stands out most. This is one rather large bike with a long wheelbase, meaning manoeuvering it in and out of tight bike parking lots found in most shopping malls will be a stressful affair.

But that’s no deal-breaker considering how well endowed the X-ADV is for daily commutes. There’s a practical and handy 21-litre under-seat storage bin that also features a 12-volt charging socket, as well as both a side and centre-stand. The presence of a dual-channel ABS suite and multi-level traction control adds peace of mind too.

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